Francine was elected to the Board in March, 2019 and holds one of our Board seats representing vacation rental homeowners. She self-manages her lovely mid-century modern Alexander home in the Sunmor neighborhood. Her first visit to Palm Springs back in the mid '90s was the beginning of a love affair with the desert. She has owned a Palm Springs vacation rental since 2011 and splits her time between Palm Springs and Los Angeles.

It's easy to say Francine has been deeply involved in the Palm Springs politics impacting vacation rentals. When vacation rentals became a big political issue in July 2016, she was at the City Council meetings speaking up against over zealous regulations. Francine has been a VRON supporter and member since Day 1, attending our very first meeting when a handful of like-minded vacation rental owners met in a living room to discuss the possibility of banding together for our common cause. Francine founded and manages a Facebook group for Palm Springs Vacation Rental Owners, helping to disseminate the latest tips and recommendations for VR hosts.

Francine’s work as a filmmaker and photographer has spanned 36 years where she has directed numerous commercials, films, episodic television and documentaries. She opened her interior design business - Francine McDougall Design - as a side venture in 2017 after so many guests and visitors to her Palm Springs accommodations requested her assistance with their own homes. 

Francine is involved with various non-profit groups including fundraising for We Are Limitless, a charity dedicated to placing Rwandan orphans and in-need children into boarding schools and colleges, and Pablove Shutterbugs, where she mentors children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography.