diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/joinvre/server/JoinServiceImpl.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/joinvre/server/JoinServiceImpl.java
index 8f94faf..4dacd33 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/joinvre/server/JoinServiceImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/joinvre/server/JoinServiceImpl.java
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package org.gcube.portlets.user.joinvre.server;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ import org.gcube.application.framework.core.session.ASLSession;
 import org.gcube.application.framework.core.session.SessionManager;
 import org.gcube.common.portal.PortalContext;
 import org.gcube.portal.custom.communitymanager.OrganizationsUtil;
+import org.gcube.portal.custom.communitymanager.impl.OrganizationManagerImpl;
 import org.gcube.portal.custom.scopemanager.scopehelper.ScopeHelper;
 import org.gcube.portlets.user.joinvre.client.JoinService;
 import org.gcube.portlets.user.joinvre.shared.UserBelonging;
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ import com.liferay.portal.security.permission.PermissionThreadLocal;
 import com.liferay.portal.service.OrganizationLocalServiceUtil;
 import com.liferay.portal.service.UserLocalServiceUtil;
 import com.liferay.portal.theme.ThemeDisplay;
-import com.liferay.portlet.expando.model.ExpandoBridge;
-import com.liferay.portlet.expando.util.ExpandoBridgeFactoryUtil;
 
 /**
  * @author Massimiliano Assante, ISTI-CNR - massimiliano.assante@isti.cnr.it
@@ -47,7 +45,6 @@ public class JoinServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements JoinService
 
 	private static Log _log = LogFactoryUtil.getLog(JoinServiceImpl.class);
 	private static final String REQUEST_BASED_GROUP = "Requestbasedgroup";
-	private static final String CATEGORY = "Virtualgroup";
 	private static final String IS_EXTERNAL = "Isexternal";
 	private static final String URL_IF_EXTERNAL = "Url";
 
@@ -171,20 +168,6 @@ public class JoinServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements JoinService
 		return portalBasicUrl;
 	}
 
-	
-
-	public List<String> getVirtualGroups() throws PortalException, SystemException {
-		try {
-			ExpandoBridge expandoBridge = ExpandoBridgeFactoryUtil.getExpandoBridge(OrganizationsUtil.getCompany().getCompanyId(), Organization.class.getName());
-			String[] groups = (String[]) expandoBridge.getAttributeDefault("Virtualgroup");	
-			return Arrays.asList(groups);
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			e.printStackTrace();
-			return null;
-		}		
-	}
-
-
 	public VRECustomAttributes getVRECustomAttr(Organization organization) throws PortalException, SystemException {
 		VRECustomAttributes toReturn = new VRECustomAttributes();
 		
@@ -226,27 +209,6 @@ public class JoinServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements JoinService
 
 
 
-	public String getCategory(Organization organization){
-		try {
-			long companyId = OrganizationsUtil.getCompany().getCompanyId();
-			_log.debug("Setting Thread Permission");
-			User user = UserLocalServiceUtil.getUserByScreenName(companyId, ScopeHelper.getAdministratorUsername());
-			PermissionChecker permissionChecker = PermissionCheckerFactoryUtil.create(user, false);
-			PermissionThreadLocal.setPermissionChecker(permissionChecker);
-			_log.debug("Setting Permission ok!");
-
-			if (organization.getExpandoBridge().getAttribute(CATEGORY) == null ||  organization.getExpandoBridge().getAttribute(CATEGORY).equals("")) {
-				_log.warn(String.format("Attribute %s not initialized.", CATEGORY)); 
-				return null;
-			} else {
-				String[] values = (String[]) organization.getExpandoBridge().getAttribute(CATEGORY);   
-				return values[0];
-			}
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			e.printStackTrace();
-			return "Exception ";
-		}
-	}
 	/**
 	 * 
 	 * @return the Virtual groups with their VREs in the order estabilished in the LR Control Panel
@@ -257,7 +219,7 @@ public class JoinServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements JoinService
 
 		LinkedHashMap<VRECategory, ArrayList<VRE>> toReturn = new LinkedHashMap<VRECategory, ArrayList<VRE>>();
 		//before iterating the actual groups create the virtualGroups in the correct order
-		List<String> virtualGroups = getVirtualGroups();
+		List<String> virtualGroups = OrganizationManagerImpl.getVirtualGroups();
 		for (String vg : virtualGroups) {
 			String[] splits = vg.split("\\|");
 			String gName = splits[0];
@@ -310,7 +272,7 @@ public class JoinServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements JoinService
 				boolean isExternal = attrs.isExternal();
 				String urlIfAny = attrs.getUrlIfAny();
 
-				String catName = getCategory(vreOrganization);
+				String catName = OrganizationManagerImpl.getVirtualGroupName(vreOrganization);
 				String[] splits = catName.split("\\|");
 				catName = splits[0];