I'm in, I sit. Things are no better. Become an activist and stay informed
110% agreement. Offering every choice possible is a sign of an owner controlled Board. A restriction on third party offerings MAY (but do to circumstances such as the original documents which are usually written by a developer) be a red flag of a hanger on Developer but not always. Each case needs to be looked at. Usually if the independent owners hold the majority of Board seats then the resort is owner controlled. Now work to make it WELL owner controlled as simply having owners on the Board doesn't magically make things better or well run. A good owner Board that keeps a bad management group (and they can be VERY hard to dislodge!) may still have problems they shouldn't. You have to look at the whole picture and those in charge need to do the work!
I'm not quite sure what this has to do with owner control. It seems to me that owner control is all about not dictating to owners what they should and should not do.
For example, at Winners Circle (which is probably one of the best examples around of an owner controlled resort) the all owner board (which includes at least one TUGger) feels that it isn't any of the resorts to decide how owners can use their units. If some owners want to use RCI weeks - fine. If some owner want to use RCI Points, fine. If some owners want to use II - fine. If owners want to use an independent - fine.
I can see no reason why an owner controlled board should want to take choices away from members. I can, however, see many reasons for developer controlled resorts to attempt to limit the privileges of owners.
110% agreement. Offering every choice possible is a sign of an owner controlled Board. A restriction on third party offerings MAY (but do to circumstances such as the original documents which are usually written by a developer) be a red flag of a hanger on Developer but not always. Each case needs to be looked at. Usually if the independent owners hold the majority of Board seats then the resort is owner controlled. Now work to make it WELL owner controlled as simply having owners on the Board doesn't magically make things better or well run. A good owner Board that keeps a bad management group (and they can be VERY hard to dislodge!) may still have problems they shouldn't. You have to look at the whole picture and those in charge need to do the work!