Pahio Kauai Beach Villas board election

[Jeff From Salem]

Karen - thanks for that insight. While I would agree that passion is desired element in a perspective BoD member, I would also add - all things in moderation. When you are so blinded by passion that you think it is acceptable to engage in a whisper campaign against a fellow owner - I would say that your passion is clouding your judgement. Not something I want to see in a BoD member.

Eric, I'm not whispering. I'm perfectly out front about it.

There are a number of important factors here:

1) Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Wyndham has been staging secretive campaigns to take over control of both BODs (the AOAO and the IOA). We have evidence of this. Their goal is to reinstate Wyndham Management as manager of KBV. That assertion is not "fake news". It was their stated goal in the inter-Wyndham memo shown on the saveKBV.org website (the 2016 memo showed plan to knock Trish Harrington off the AOAO, which they successfully did last year, and to put a Wyndham friendly person in as President. They did (Linda Kolstad). And that was all in an effort to ensure that Wyndham wouldn't lose the contract to manage the AOAO responsibilities.). Look for the Wyndham's Smoking Gun tab if you haven't seen it.

So we need STRONG voices and leadership in order to counter Wyndham's forces. Larry Warner has clearly been in Wyndham's camp. Lou has not been a very vocal counter to Wyndham's moves. So passivity doesn't help here. We don't have much time. WE, as owners, have to make STRONG, decisive choices.

2) When I staged a somewhat similar campaign last year in support of re-electing Trish Harrington, Lou Columbo was vehemently vocal against me, particularly over using an old owners list in order to both promote keeping Trish Harrington on the IOA board, but also warning about Wyndham. Lou was quite nasty toward me, saying that I had no right to use the list (I did - I was using a list owned by Trish Harrington to promote her re-election). He also publicly and angrily gave me a "How DARE I tell him and other owners who to vote for!!". I was certainly taken aback. Not ONCE did he tell me that my heart was in the right place, that my fight to help individual owners maintain control of the direction of KBV was a good one, or anything positive. What was I supposed to think, particularly after Wyndham put some votes behind him (not a ONE behind Trish Harrington)?? And for the record, y'all know that I can only suggest. I can't make any one of you do anything. I can suggest strongly and passionately, of course. But I have a right to speak out. And as a concerned and passionate owner, it's my duty to do so as a citizen of KBV, so to speak. And I don't think I would have started this to begin with if I hadn't generated a lot of conversation since I started writing for TimeSharing Today. When I started writing articles shortly after my 2005 visit to KBV regarding my treatment from the Wyndham person at the owners update, I didn't think I'd get the feedback that I did. So I know that there were others out there with the same concern. And seeing Wyndham attempt to do this same scheme elsewhere, as well as seeing other companies, notably Diamond Resorts do the same thing, I felt it was worth the effort to try to see if I could counter it.

So, sorry, I don't have any patience to wait it out. The Grand Pacific contract to renew will be up for voting on next year. If Linda and Dani were to survive the votes this and next year, yes, they'd need to abstain from the actual vote for either a renewal of Grand Pacific or bringing in another company. But it would still likely leave an overall Wyndham friendly majority. That would leave the decision to the 3 remaining Board Of Directors. Larry, Dani, and Trish will be up for re-election next year. We'll need to keep Trish on. And that means we'd need at least one of the remaining members. We can't afford to have Trish as the only IOA Board member we can count on. If Larry and Lou end up voting for ending Grand Pacific's contract and bring back Wyndham, that will be it for at least the following 3 years. Do you really want to have Wyndham come back in as KBV Manager, with all we know about them?

Sincerely,

Jeff

 

[ecwinch]

Jeff - clearly you have personal grudge against Lou. Even Karen - who would seem to be better situated to opine on his independence acknowledges that he is an independent owner. Yet you want to speculate and use innuendo to paint a picture that he is under Wyndham's control, as noted on the saveKBV.org. :

In 2017, again, using their voting proxies, Wyndham elected another, presumably, “Wyndham Friendly” Owner to our Board. This gave Wyndham control of 80% of our Board....

I find these smear tactics distasteful and anyone who employs them is not worthy of being on the BoD. Lou is not under Wyndham's control, and you know that.

Based on the blast emails Lou has sent out, I believe Lou is a moderate that thinks like I do. That the single largest interest at KBV is Wyndham, and any plan to improve KBV is doomed without their support. This is not OVI where the BoD is attempting to keep Wyndham from getting a foothold - Wyndham has been there 10 years, and has supported the resort by paying m/f on weeks surrendered by defaulting owners. You seemingly ignore that fact.

And in today's world I think we need more moderates that can see both sides of an issue, not zealots that are blinded by passion. Because you can campaign for someone without incorrectly reporting on their voting record or speculating that they are under Wyndham's control. You can chose to run a positive campaign - like Karen's statement - explaining why Jack is a better choice without impugning the volunteer service of a fellow owner. You can avoid using incorrect speculation to tarnish someone's reputation. Try that if you want my support.

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Eric, you belittle and dismiss what I'm saying. Why would I hold a "personal" grudge against Lou? I don't know him personally. I didn't know him before last year. And none of what I'm doing is because of some personal slight. I have been studying this issue for about 13 years. I have people who I know and trust who attend the meetings regularly. I have my own research. And I'm doing the best thing for individual owners, of which I am one of them.

They're not smear tactics. You can say that, but it doesn't make it true. I, alone, didn't come to the conclusion that Lou wasn't working in our interests. He just has not been vocal or spoken in dissent. It's like the famous
Martin Niemöller quote:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

If Lou didn't treat my efforts with such hostility last year, rather than encourage or acknowledge the need for independent owners to coalesce and take action, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and think he was merely naive or uninformed. He may just not be that interested or concerned. Okay. But then he's not the person I and many others would want representing us on the IOA board given the urgent circumstances.

I am not alone and have consulted with many in the industry. This is a serious matter that requires a great deal of urgency. You don't acknowledge the astonishing arrogance of the Wyndham memo.

But by muddying the waters, you undermine what is a really urgent issue. You do what you want. I'm not forcing you to do anything. If you're really concerned about the long-term vision of having an independent board, run by individual owners without an affinity or loyalty to a large corporation, then I recommend you get behind what Karen and I and Jack, as well as a host of other independent KBV owners are trying to do. If you aren't, then good luck and I hope the best turns out for all of us.

As the Michael Corleone character said to his brother in The Godfather (one of my all-time favorite movies!), "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."

Jeff

 

[DeniseM]

A couple of points: People who are vested in Wyndham points may have a different view point regarding who should manage the resort, than weeks owners. These two positions may be unreconcilable.

I believe that this debate has brought attention to the election, and that's a good thing, but once again, let's debate the issues and not veer off into personal attacks.

I don't think there is anything wrong with evaluating a candidates worthiness for office, but again, let's focus on the candidates position on the issues, and not make it personal.

 

[ecwinch]

Denise - yes, by all means let focus on the candidates position on issues - not some whisper campaign that someone is under Wyndham's control. Let's hear a candidate talk about a realistic plan for improving the resort and working with the single largest owner. Focus on issues, instead of engaging in speculation about someone being under Wyndham's control.

Because like or not, Wyndham has a large ownership stake. And as you correctly observe - there are also a lot of votes residing with owners who have converted to points - so recognize that your message may not have the impact you desire with those owners. Bottom line - there is no long-term future at KBV unless Wyndham buys into that plan. Any BoD candidate who cannot recognize that fact is just wasting everyone's time.

 

[DeniseM]

Eric - I am confused by your use of a the expression "whisper campaign." You may not agree with Jeff's criticism, but since he's been very open about it and posted his claims in a public forum, it's hardly a whisper campaign.

The definition of a "whisper campaign," is when someone privately spreads negative info., but does not come forward in public with their claims. It's a small thing, but I think your label is incorrect in this situation.

Definition:

A whispering campaign or whisper campaign is a method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are spread about the target, while the source of the rumors seeks to avoid being detected while spreading them (for example, a political campaign might distribute anonymous flyers attacking the other candidate).​

As far as being required to work with Wyndham - I personally know of other resorts where the owners voted the management company off the board, and the owners run their own resort. I don't think that's easy to do, but with enough owner support, it is definitely possible.

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Let me add this, if I may-

Even without the vitriol and lack of appreciation for what I was trying to do last year (again, not for me, but for traditional KBV owners), Lou has shown a seeming lack of interest and/or concern about Wyndham's role here and their history here and elsewhere. He hasn't been vocal as a board member. His broadcast letter to owners was very gentle and sweet. He states that he's a nice guy and wants to just be helpful. Of course, anyone can write a letter when they're trying to get elected. I mean, in general political elections, many candidates try to be everything to everybody, and they used to go to the point of needing to get photographed kissing babies. But he could turn out to be a really nice person, in spite of how he interacted with me last year. But his letter lacked any conversation about the Wyndham issue, or a concern about connecting the past with the present and future in terms of Wyndham's participation.

Lou wasn't sympathetic for what I tried to wake everybody up about last year concerning Wyndham, and what Karen and I, with Jack's help, are trying to do now. What we're doing is very pointed and motivated. We need pointed and motivated people on the IOA board if we're going to accomplish what we need to accomplish. We have no time to waste.

So again, it's not personal. It's strictly business.

Mahalo,

Jeff

 

[ecwinch]

Jeff - I believe your observations about Lou are equally true of many of the independent owners that sat on the BoD for years - including Trish. For all the years I have owned at KBV, the BoD's efforts regarding communication with owners have been minimal and same is true for transparency. For years I have read the rumor about the pool funds being diverted to Bali Hai - something that we now know is false. But why was this not common knowledge among the many of the devoted KBV owners who frequent this forum?

For the 10 years that Wyndham had the mgt contract, the BoD approved the dues increases that mgt requested and was responsible for ensuring the funds were being effectively utilized. If Wyndham was not effectively managing the resort as you imply - where was the communication from the BoD members on these matters? How effectively were the incumbent BOD members exercising oversight of Wyndham as manager?

You have posted about how Trish is the only BoD member we can count. If that is true, why does she seemingly place such a low priority on owner communication. Why cant she take the time to communicate with the KBV owners on a more regular basis and why the lack of communication for the past 10 years?

ps. Here is one issue I would like to hear some communication from the BoD about - currently what is happening with weeks from defaulting owners? GPR seems to be renting weeks out basically for mf. Is that sustainable in the long-run? Seems to me that will always result in a drain on Club finances unless GPR is able to rent out 100% of the inventory and take no commission on the rentals.

 

[ecwinch]

Eric - I am confused by your use of a the expression "whisper campaign." You may not agree with Jeff's criticism, but since he's been very open about it and posted his claims in a public forum, it's hardly a whisper campaign.

The definition of a "whisper campaign," is when someone privately spreads negative info., but does not come forward in public with their claims. It's a small thing, but I think your label is incorrect in this situation.

Definition:

A whispering campaign or whisper campaign is a method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are spread about the target, while the source of the rumors seeks to avoid being detected while spreading them (for example, a political campaign might distribute anonymous flyers attacking the other candidate).​

As far as being required to work with Wyndham - I personally know of other resorts where the owners voted the management company off the board, and the owners run their own resort. I don't think that's easy to do, but with enough owner support, it is definitely possible.

Yes, the definition of smear campaign is probably more appropriate. Both are similar in regard to using rumors and innuendo.

Where have you heard of a mgt company being voted off the BoD when they own 20% of the resort? I dont believe that has ever happened or will. Keeping someone who owns 20% of the interest off the BoD would likely lead to a messy and expensive situation in the long run. I also do not believe that having Wyndham and GPR at the resort is workable in the long run. So either GPR is willing to buy out Wyndham's interests, or GPR loses the contract. I believe that just a matter of time.

A smear campaign, also referred to as a smear tactic or simply a smear, is an effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda.

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Jeff - I believe your observations about Lou are equally true of many of the independent owners that sat on the BoD for years - including Trish. For all the years I have owned at KBV, the BoD's efforts regarding communication with owners have been minimal and same is true for transparency. For years I have read the rumor about the pool funds being diverted to Bali Hai - something that we now know is false. But why was this not common knowledge among the many of the devoted KBV owners who frequent this forum?

For the 10 years that Wyndham had the mgt contract, the BoD approved the dues increases that mgt requested and was responsible for ensuring the funds were being effectively utilized. If Wyndham was not effectively managing the resort as you imply - where was the communication from the BoD members on these matters? How effectively were the incumbent BOD members exercising oversight of Wyndham as manager?

You have posted about how Trish is the only BoD member we can count. If that is true, why does she seemingly place such a low priority on owner communication. Why cant she take the time to communicate with the KBV owners on a more regular basis and why the lack of communication for the past 10 years?

Wow, several fair questions -

You might have not read many of my posts carefully, because I have talked about the BOD oversight (or sometimes lack thereof). For a long time, many on the BOD assumed that David Walters and Lynn McGrory would attend to the details. They believed that David and Lynn would make the right decisions.

Trish Harrington has always made herself available. She was the VP of the BOD for a long time. She was the one broadcasting emails to an admittedly limited audience (as many owners didn't have emails). She has made her personal email available. Anyone can write her. Here it is, in fact. I know she won't mind: trish@aleapaheadit.com

Soon after the 2005 incident at the owners update when a Wyndham representative offered to take my oceanfront deed plus $7000 in exchange for membership into Club Wyndham (which I found unethical given that we were paying them to manage OUR resort, not run their own membership business), I contacted Trish. She had not been aware (nor were others on the BOD seemingly aware) that Wyndham was doing this at the owners updates. I started asking about how they were running the resort. I started pushing. KBV and Wyndham were entwined in a long-term contract for both the AOAO and IOA caretaker responsibilities.

I'd keep in touch every so often, and eventually she started to report that Wyndham was not running the place as well as they thought Wyndham was. She pointed out poor purchasing decisions regarding furnishings, dishware, and the like. We saw maintenance fees go up regularly but we weren't seeing upgrades in conditions. Wyndham was buying mediocre quality items, but paying premiums for them. She pointed to poor maintenance. The poor Wyndham performance led to fees needing to be raised to cover the poor choices that Wyndham had made over time. Wyndham has done this at other resorts, resulting in lower owner interest over time. Wyndham could wait it out, and then take over the resorts through lack of interest from owners.

They tried to work with Wyndham. The only other choice they had was to try to sue them to get out of the contract. Wyndham wasn't interested. So the choice was to simply let the contract run out - on both sides of the resort management. David Walters had died, and Lynn McGrory was out of the picture. Trish took over as President of both BODs.

Jeff

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Yes, the definition of smear campaign is probably more appropriate. Both are similar in regard to using rumors and innuendo.

Where have you heard of a mgt company being voted off the BoD when they own 20% of the resort? I dont believe that has ever happened or will. Keeping someone who owns 20% of the interest off the BoD would likely lead to a messy and expensive situation in the long run. I also do not believe that having Wyndham and GPR at the resort is workable in the long run. So either GPR is willing to buy out Wyndham's interests, or GPR loses the contract. I believe that just a matter of time.

A smear campaign, also referred to as a smear tactic or simply a smear, is an effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda.

Eric -

You keep saying "Someone" owning 20%. This isn't a someone. It's a corporation. Wyndham is a corporation. This isn't Todd Rundgren buying up 1100 weeks of units because he has 20 extended family members who would like to live at KBV year 'round. Neither the President of the Board, Linda Kolstad, nor the other Wyndham employee on the IOA board, Dani Ramos, own ANY timeshares at KBV!! Their interest is solely in Wyndham's corporate interest. Honestly, I don't think you have read the saveKBV.org website.


And a "smear" campaign?? Nothing I have pointed out is untrue. WE (and I mean, many, including Karen Blackford, myself, Trish Harrington, Ross Tilton, etc.) have evidence backing up our assertions. And choices have to be made. To me, Eric, you're muddying the waters here. You're being blind to what is obvious to most everyone else.

You're trying to make this about me personally. I have no other stake in the game other than I'm an owner. I see a tidalwave potentially coming. Wyndham has done this elsewhere. If you're not aware of it, go do your proper research. You haven't even spoken about the saveKBV.org website. Have you actually been there and done some reading? Have you studied up on the Olympic Village Inn resort situation in California?

Eric, I really implore you to stick to the issues. I'm not interested in discussing Lou Columbo, and whether I'm whispering, or shouting, or smearing, or any other gerund regarding Lou Costello. I really need to stick to working on taking back the majority of the IOA BOD for the individual owners. I have made my suggestions as to who to vote for and why. You are welcome to do whatever you want that you feel is in your own best self-interests.

Jeff

 

[ecwinch]

Jeff - while I commend your passion, I dont find you a reliable source of information. Sorry. It is far to easy to be revisionist when viewing the past, and even in this thread you have gotten things wrong.

Clearly KBV has my email address, and I have all my emails - even spam - for the past 10 years. The only communication I have received from Trish was last year when she asked for my vote. Communicating to a small group of supporters does not pass muster in my book.

If Wyndham was not doing their job, owners should have been notified. Oversight of mgt is the BoD's fiduciary responsibility - and the burden falls on the BoD President to ensure it happens. If Trish was unable to do that, why should she be on the BoD? What happens if GPR starts performing in a similar fashion - do we have to live with it until we can cancel the contract? That seems like poor and passive BoD mgt to me.

Heck - there was not even any communication prior to the decision to terminate the mgt contract? Why not? Seems like a pretty big item that the BoD might want to survey the members on. Not the shot in the dark I have to learn about on TUG.

 

[ecwinch]

Eric -

You keep saying "Someone" owning 20%. This isn't a someone. It's a corporation. Wyndham is a corporation. This isn't Todd Rundgren buying up 1100 weeks of units because he has 20 extended family members who would like to live at KBV year 'round. Neither the President of the Board, Linda Kolstad, nor the other Wyndham employee on the IOA board, Dani Ramos, own ANY timeshares at KBV!! Their interest is solely in Wyndham's corporate interest. Honestly, I don't think you have read the saveKBV.org website.


And a "smear" campaign?? Nothing I have pointed out is untrue. WE (and I mean, many, including Karen Blackford, myself, Trish Harrington, Ross Tilton, etc.) have evidence backing up our assertions. And choices have to be made. To me, Eric, you're muddying the waters here. You're being blind to what is obvious to most everyone else.

You're trying to make this about me personally. I have no other stake in the game other than I'm an owner. I see a tidalwave potentially coming. Wyndham has done this elsewhere. If you're not aware of it, go do your proper research. You haven't even spoken about the saveKBV.org website. Have you actually been there and done some reading? Have you studied up on the Olympic Village Inn resort situation in California?

Eric, I really implore you to stick to the issues. I'm not interested in discussing Lou Columbo, and whether I'm whispering, or shouting, or smearing, or any other gerund regarding Lou Costello. I really need to stick to working on taking back the majority of the IOA BOD for the individual owners. I have made my suggestions as to who to vote for and why. You are welcome to do whatever you want that you feel is in your own best self-interests.

Jeff

Jeff - if you had started with the issues and supported your positions with verifiable information, we might be having a different discussion. But that is not how you came at this. You have speculated on things that have proven to be untrue (i.e. Lou voting to keep you off the ballot). So how do I separate the "wheat from the chaff" when I read your statements? Sure you corrected your false statement, but not without some prodding.

And Jeff - our discourse would be more polite if you stopped assuming I am not well-versed in owner advocacy issues. Yes, I am well aware of OVI - I am also a Worldmark owner. I also have helped numerous owner advocacy efforts understand the legal documents governing their resort. I actively follow court cases regarding timeshares, and read Timesharing Today. I have followed the battles at Worldmark, Marriott's Ocean Club, Festiva at Southscape, Innsbrook, Sunchaser, Diamond at Poipu Point and Tahoe Beach, to name a few. I am not new to these issues.

 

[ecwinch]

They tried to work with Wyndham. The only other choice they had was to try to sue them to get out of the contract. Wyndham wasn't interested. So the choice was to simply let the contract run out - on both sides of the resort management. David Walters had died, and Lynn M

Here is the timeline as I understand it:

July 2006 - Wyndham acquires Pahio Resorts, acquiring mgt contract for KBV.
Oct 2009 - David Walters dies
??? 2016 - KBV BoD votes to terminate IOA mgt contract. I cant tell you exactly when this happened as BoD minutes are not published. Nor do I know what the process was to bring GPR on-board.
Jan 2017 - GPR takes over management contract.

Now from Trish's only email to me, it appears that after that vote Wyndham used their interest to place three members on the BoD. Now that implies that prior to decision to terminate the mgt contract, Wyndham had less than three members on the BoD. Implying that the majority of the members where independent owners. Right?

So your position seems to be that Wyndham was cutting corners and raising fees. Implying to some degree that malfeasance was taking place. And yet the BoD only saw two options - sue to get out of the contract or ride the contract out. Why not sue for specific performance? Or bring in an auditor to do a forensic audit of the books? 2009 to 2016 is seven years. That is a long time to keep owners thinking things are going well at the resort. I mean that is what would read on the HOA website - pretty much sunshine and rainbows - no mention of any of these problems.

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Here is the timeline as I understand it:

July 2006 - Wyndham acquires Pahio Resorts, acquiring mgt contract for KBV.
Oct 2009 - David Walters dies
??? 2016 - KBV BoD votes to terminate IOA mgt contract. I cant tell you exactly when this happened as BoD minutes are not published. Nor do I know what the process was to bring GPR on-board.
Jan 2017 - GPR takes over management contract.

Now from Trish's only email to me, it appears that after that vote Wyndham used their interest to place three members on the BoD. Now that implies that prior to decision to terminate the mgt contract, Wyndham had less than three members on the BoD. Implying that the majority of the members where independent owners. Right?

So your position seems to be that Wyndham was cutting corners and raising fees. Implying to some degree that malfeasance was taking place. And yet the BoD only saw two options - sue to get out of the contract or ride the contract out. Why not sue for specific performance? Or bring in an auditor to do a forensic audit of the books? 2009 to 2016 is seven years. That is a long time to keep owners thinking things are going well at the resort. I mean that is what would read on the HOA website - pretty much sunshine and rainbows - no mention of any of these problems.

First of all, Eric, you don't know, with all due respect, but I do. I have laid out the issues not only in TimeSharing Today for many, many years, but to as many owners as I could prior to last year's vote. If you weren't on the list, I apologize. It was not my personally compiled list. It was a list last used when Wyndham was managing. Since then, there has been a lot of work done to update the lists.

I have talked about the issues on other pages in TUG, from my recollection. Most people here seem to know them. You seem to be in the minority that doesn't. I recommend doing a search here. You can also ask for other owners who received my reports from last year to supply you. You need to do your own homework here. Furthermore, anything supplied to you seems to be met with cynicism, if not skepticism. I don't don't recall you even commenting or being shocked by the inter-company Wyndham memo posted on the saveKBV.org website. You need to read that website's material. You really ought not to comment until you have looked at it fully. There may be something in there that you might be skeptical about, but you aren't equally plussed by anything that seems to be damning of Wyndham. So I don't understand where you're coming from. The evidence of Wyndham's goal is clear. It has not only been shown here, but has been exemplied many times elsewhere outside of KBV. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels with you. I have been really trying to work with you and your skepticism. But eventually, it has made me consider that you might be their pockets as well, only here to muddy the water.

Initially, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and I was thinking that your questions could help focus my communication. But beyond that point, your comments have just been repetitive, and haven't really forwarded the action for anyone.

I hate to say it, but at this point, you're either for us (for individual owner control) or you're against us. We have just a few weeks to go. I'm not going to respond to anymore of your posts unless they are supportive of ousting Wyndham in order to maintain individual owner control of the IOA (and AOAO) board.

I'm at least actually doing something about it. It's my analysis and what I have decided needs to be done. Fortunately, I'm at not at all alone in this. I have many partners, including Karen Blackford and Jack Goodstein, and many, many others.

Jeff

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Aloha Folks -



1) With the election 2 weeks away, it's SO important that you go to our website, saveKBV.org and read it. Particularly pay attention to the Wyndham's Smoking Gun part of the site. It's astonishing and disturbing to read an actual inter-Wyndham document showing proof of Wyndham's ulterior motive to take and keep control of the resort, even to the point of overthrowing an existing President.



2) You probably received a large postcard about the website. I have talked to a few who dismissed the postcard as just another piece of advertising. I assure you that it's not. You really need to go to that website and read up.



3) You need to vote. And, as outlined on that website, we're asking that you give your Proxy to Karen Blackford by writing her name in on the appropriate line and checking off that option. And then you need to leave the actual candidates selection blank.



We're trying to get enough votes so that both Jack Goodstein and I can be voted onto the board (I would be nominated from the floor). If there are enough votes, we would end up voting Linda Kolstad, a Wyndham employee and someone who doesn't own any weeks at KBV, off the board entirely. She is astonishingly the current President of the KBV IOA board. Right now, Wyndham possesses 20% of the KBV deeds, yet pro-Wyndham people comprise a majority of the IOA board. If we can vote both Jack and me onto the board, we'll have Jack, me, and Trish Harrington, giving individual owners the majority. As much as I don't think having a corporation like Wyndham owning 20% of the deeds is a good idea, at most, they should only have 1 representative on the 5-member board.



In the end, if we don't get enough votes for this meeting's vote, then Karen will put all of your votes solely behind Jack Goodstein. Jack is a good man who has a goal of greatly increasing the number of individual owners voting so that we can firmly be in control of the direction of KBV. So please give your Proxy to Karen Blackford when you vote, and leave the individual candidate section blank.



4) Finally, this project that Karen and I are running does cost money (the cost of the postcards, the mailing, the hosting of the website, etc.). If you'd like to help us defray some of the costs, you can do so on the saveKBV.org website. Any help will be appreciated.



Mahalo,



Jeff Bellin

 

[vice]

I am not telling anyone how to vote but this is what I decided to do as a KBV owner. I assigned my 4 votes to Karen Blackford as my Proxy.
There was some mudslinging, name calling, and egg on face between Jeff and Eric and I can tell that both of these KBV owners care a great deal about the future of KBV. I don't know Karen or Jeff from Salem, but after spending hours reading this thread and other information sources, it came down to money and service.

Money: "Grand Pacific's work at increasing rental income resulted in going from ~$115,000 Wyndham's previous year as timeshare manager to ~$800,000 in their first year as timeshare manager. That's a big deal"

Service: Every time I have had to deal directly with Grand Pacific as my management company for anything from a simple phone call all the way to checking-in at KBV when we visited this January has been a very good experience.

For those who want my TLDR version of the previous 166 posts-
Minority Wyndham overlords want to rule majority KBV independent owner peasants by controlling the board. Jeff, Karen, and other independent KBV owners are banding together to form a resistance and save the KBV timeshare universe from evil corporate overlord that just wants to sell crappy memberships and collect management fees.

 

[schenriq]

We're able to reserve (at 10 months out) @KBV using our Wyndham points but we also own a biennial week deeded at building H. So I have a vested interest on both camps. Having said that, I do believe on an independent board and have already assigned my proxy to Jack.

 

[Jeff From Salem]

I am not telling anyone how to vote but this is what I decided to do as a KBV owner. I assigned my 4 votes to Karen Blackford as my Proxy.
There was some mudslinging, name calling, and egg on face between Jeff and Eric and I can tell that both of these KBV owners care a great deal about the future of KBV. I don't know Karen or Jeff from Salem, but after spending hours reading this thread and other information sources, it came down to money and service.

Money: "Grand Pacific's work at increasing rental income resulted in going from ~$115,000 Wyndham's previous year as timeshare manager to ~$800,000 in their first year as timeshare manager. That's a big deal"

Service: Every time I have had to deal directly with Grand Pacific as my management company for anything from a simple phone call all the way to checking-in at KBV when we visited this January has been a very good experience.

For those who want my TLDR version of the previous 166 posts-
Minority Wyndham overlords want to rule majority KBV independent owner peasants by controlling the board. Jeff, Karen, and other independent KBV owners are banding together to form a resistance and save the KBV timeshare universe from evil corporate overlord that just wants to sell crappy memberships and collect management fees.

Thanks, Vice. Thank you for giving your Proxy to Karen. It will be helpful, and I can assure you that Karen will do the right thing in your interest as an individual owner.

But don't pooh-pooh our efforts. I'd prefer you step out on a limb and give your honest assessment of the situation. That memo showing Wyndham's intent to undermine individual owners' will is bad. We are really putting in time and money into this effort. I hope you don't make light of it.

Regarding mudslinging, I can only speak for me, and I really haven't done any. I have been very, very thoughtful about this whole process, and have been researching this for over a decade. I talk to people who regularly attend all of the meetings. They tell me things that we owners don't know because the detailed minutes of the meetings are not posted. Only the actual voting is posted, so what goes on between the votes, the conversations, we aren't privy to unless you know people who attend (or you attend yourself).

I'm not perfect. I'm not a professional at this. I'm doing due diligence as a concerned homeowner, really, and I want to be as informed as possible. Everything I have said I have had evidence (sometimes 2nd hand, sometimes circumstantial) to back up my assessment. Eric has merely questioned and seemingly seemed to, at times, try to undermine my assertions. I just don't get that he has done any real research of his own, nor has he acknowledged any of our findings, including the direct evidence against Wyndham. Again, at least Karen and I are trying to do something about it in a major way.

Jeff

 

[Jeff From Salem]

We're able to reserve (at 10 months out) @KBV using our Wyndham points but we also own a biennial week deeded at building H. So I have a vested interest on both camps. Having said that, I do believe on an independent board and have already assigned my proxy to Jack.

It will be better if you assign your Proxy to Karen. Our project is about trying to get BOTH Jack and me on the IOA board. If that is successful, we, as independent owners will have retaken control of the board. If that is successful, Linda Kolstad will be voted off the board. We'll be able to have an independent owner as the President of the board.

Karen with help from others, will determine whether we have enough Proxy votes to put BOTH Jack and me on the board. If so, she'll divide up the votes. If not, she'll put all of the votes behind Jack. If only Jack gets voted onto the board, then we, individual owners, will still have a minority of the board and Linda will likely remain as President of the IOA, in spite of her not owning any KBV deeds and being a Wyndham employee (working out of their Kapaa office). So what will be more helpful, if you're so inclined, schenriq, is to give your Proxy to Karen Blackford and leave the individual candidate selection section blank.

Anyone can vote again. The only vote that counts is the last one you place. Each successive one overrides the previous one.

Jack will be working with us anyway, but it will be easier to have all of the Proxies in Karen's hands.

Thanks,

Jeff Bellin

 

[OnlyKauaiTimeshares]

I bought my first timeshare week in KBV H in 2006, and currently own 3 weeks in G and H. I have experienced the problems that Wyndham has in being responsive to owners concerns, and adequate maintenance. I was very skeptical when Grand Pacific entered the picture, but as they have come up to speed I have been very pleased. Trading out of Wyndham Bali Hai using RCI we stayed at KBV for a total of 5 weeks this year. I have had ample opportunity to see the improvements in on site activities, building maintenance, recycling, appliance repair and replacement, and front desk responsiveness. GP actually does what they say they will do. I believe that GP Has been a change for the better for us owners.

I was exposed to two of the infamous Wyndham "Owners Updates" and was given a high pressure "opportunity" to trade in my three KBV oceanfront fee simple deeds for for Wyndham Points for only $7000 - $8000 each. Such a deal! Especially with no guarantee that those points would ever get me back to Kauai or KBV!

I have found the high pressure push for "owner updates" from the Wyndham concierges consistently offensive across multiple Wyndham properties. This suggests a Wyndham policy to collect weeks, and their votes for purposes that have been discussed above.

I suggest that owners consider the positive changes that they have experienced since Wyndham's direct influence on KBV daily operations has been reduced.

Believing that it is not in my best interests as an owner to have Wyndham with a 20% ownership stake have control of our KBV boards I have assigned my proxy for 6 votes to Karen.

 

[KYHOME]

Interesting comment, Eric - we are all entitled to our own opinions and I respect yours. All I can say is that I want what is best for Kauai Beach Villas. It is true that I do not believe that Wyndham controlling our Board of Directors is in the best interest of our owners. There are 5 seats on the BOD. Since WYN has 20% of ownership, one seat should be all they hold. I am not sure what you mean by engaging in a whisper campaign. I do not feel that I have been whispering about anything. If I was - - why would I come out and speak openly on this forum? That is certainly not a whisper.

I understand that some owners may blame the past BOD for not moving faster to make some of the desired changes at KBV - I might feel the same had I not been on the Board and knew what was driving those delays. Your BOD had an Action Item List - - that mostly was ignored by Wyndham. Of course, you can challenge the word choice (ignored), but I am saying that your BOD put things on that list - - but when we the Action Item List was reviewed at the next meeting, we often found nothing had been done about most items on the list. We would then obtain promises that these items would be handled - - only to return to the next meeting to find nothing (or very little) had been done again. This happened over and over again - - as a result, I cannot in good conscious say that Wyndham was a good management company for Kauai Beach Villas. I will say that towards the end of their time as KBV's management company, things did get done. Interesting that it didn't happen until then... you can draw your on conclusions/opinion about why that happened. Have you noticed that things are being done since 1/1/17? Yes, that Action item list is being tended to under Grand Pacific's management.

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Jeff, I appreciate your candidacy and would like to support it. Are you sending out a letter to owners directly? I will need to assign proxies for my two units.

Look forward to vote for you Jack and Jeff. Been thinking of unloading my oceanfront unit, but I want to see how things improve. I think progress can be made. It is too bad that MF's are the same regardless of view. I realize the upkeep is no different if the unit is in Building A or Building H, but it sure makes a difference on the vacation experience. Best of luck on the upcoming election!

Thank you.

But here's the thing - EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Please vote in the following manner. It is the best way to help us individual owners: GIVE YOUR PROXY TO KAREN BLACKFORD. Put her name on that particular line and check that box. LEAVE THE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE SECTION BLANK!!!!

Karen Blackford will take your proxy votes and either split them between me and Jack IF we have enough owner votes to guarantee that both Jack and I will be able to get onto the board and oust Linda Kolstad (who is a Wyndham employee and owns no KBV deeds). IF we do NOT end up getting enough votes to get both Jack and me onto the board, then Karen will place ALL of your Proxy votes behind Jack. The Wyndham controlled committee would not place the 2 candidates who have been openly against Wyndham continuing their dominance of the board. I will be nominated from the floor onto the ballot (Wyndham did this for the AOAO and the IOA boards after they got hold of the 1100 deeds, using their then newly gained voting power to oust anti-Wyndham factions on both boards and get themselves into the majority.).

So again, PLEASE give your Proxy to Karen and leave the candidate section blank.

Secondly, please go to our webpage, saveKBV.org. Read as much as you can there and educate yourself as to the stakes of this election.

Mahalo,

Jeff Bellin

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Aloha Everyone!


I'll know more about this later today, but the Wyndham-dominated board is set to vote this Wednesday to keep those who aren't up-to-date with their maintenance fees from voting.


There is, apparently, a rule in the by-laws which officially, if enacted, will keep those who aren't up-to-date with their maintenance fees from voting (or having their vote count). While this may seem to make sense at one level, we're not sure whether the IOA board has actually implemented this rule in the recent past. I'm trying to find out.


If this turns out to be a new development in implementation of the rules, then it will an obvious move by Wyndham to reduce the possibility of individual owners being able to win the majority back.


In the meantime, you can cover your rear end and ensure your vote will count by making sure you are not delinquent with your maintenance fees.


Ironically, part of me also assumes that part of the reason that some may be hesitant to pay maintenance fees (I don't know what the numbers actually are) is due to what they have seen regarding their experience at the resort when it was under Wyndham's management. But keep in mind that it serves all of us to have everyone pay their maintenance fees. If an owner does not, it only adds to the burden of other owners, meaning we have to pick up the slack, or there is less money for upgrades.


Of course, the money that is raised has to be used and spent well and efficiently. Fortunately, everyone who has been at the resort recently has noticed how much of an experiential improvement there has been in areas where Grand Pacific has been able to affect the resort.


Aloha,


Jeff

 

[Jeff From Salem]

Aloha Folks -

Following up on the previous post, Trish Harrington told me yesterday that in her work as a member of the IOA board for the last 12 years, owners' votes were never rejected because they were late with their maintenance fees. In order to implement a policy restricting votes counted to only those who are up-to-date with their maintenance fees has to be voted on by the IOA. The IOA has not voted on this in at least the last 12 years.

So again, this policy has not been enforced and is potentially arbitrary. So why is this suddenly being brought up now??

Moreover, interestingly, in the 2 years that Linda Kolstad, a Wyndham employee, has been President of the IOA,, this has never been brought up until now. So why is this suddenly being brought up now??

The actual by-law is below:

"Members in good standing: A member shall be considered in good standing if he is current in the payment of all maintenance fees, charges, or other financial assessments with the Interval Association. The right of a member to vote may be suspended by the board of directors if a member is delinquent in paying any maintenance fees, charges, or other financial assessments. The right of a member shall automatically be reinstated upon paying any delinquency." By-laws Article 2.06

So notice that it states "may be suspended". Not "will be". Arbitrary.

So again.......Why do you think the Wyndham people are bringing this up now??

Jeff