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Letter from Polynesian Isles Re: DRI

Are you folks aware that board members are individual owners and volunteer to be on the board. There is no paycheck for their time as would be for developer/management company employees. Please contact SPM at the phone # given in the letter the board sent. Perhaps they could contact board members for you.
 
Apology Not Needed, Not Wanted, Not Called For. No Harm & No Foul.

Alan - I understand SIZE does matter.

No offense intended, and I hope none was taken. My apologies if I offended you.
Offended ?

Me ?

Nonsense !

Your concern is appreciated, however, even though no offense was taken -- nor could it have been.

Regarding size, etc., the way I look at it is that if it were not OK to use those various type sizes & styles, then the Grand Pro would not have given us those options here on TUG-BBS.

A point I was trying to make earlier in this discussion topic is that the information being presented here by various new arrivals at TUG-BBS would be easier to understand & evaluate if the newbies would, in effect, introduce themselves in their initial TUG-BBS entries. Otherwise we're left to guess where they're coming from, what ax they might be grinding, whose interests they are championing, etc.

(Just saying.)

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
Extra Freebies For H. O. A. - B. O. D. Members.

There is no paycheck for their time as would be for developer/management company employees.
But they can stuff all the extra Timeshare Soap they want into their suitcases when they head home after unpaid, volunteer HOA-BOD meetings -- if they do it when nobody's looking.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
Are you folks aware that board members are individual owners and volunteer to be on the board. There is no paycheck for their time as would be for developer/management company employees. Please contact SPM at the phone # given in the letter the board sent. Perhaps they could contact board members for you.


Board members can be owners in name only. There are many developer employee's that own a unit and sit on the BOD's. Not just with DRI, but with many (most) developer managed resorts.
 
I'm MORE than confused...

:wall: This morning I found an email from DRI, rebutting what I received in the mail from my Poly I HOA Board. I don't know WHO to believe, and I'm not sure now what we should be doing over there! I did already sign and return my proxy to my Board last week; haven't actually received anything in the mail from DRI to sign and return (though they are encouraging me in their email to print out the proxy attachment--not pasted below, for brevity--and fill out and fax back to them, or fill out online). Here is their email to me:

"Dear Polynesian I Resort Owner,

By now you have received notice that your Board of Directors has called a Special Meeting of the Owners and is asking you to terminate your management agreement with Diamond Resorts Management, Inc. The mailing and follow-up email your Board sent you includes inaccurate information and omits other important facts, the most important of which is that a change in management could cost you more than $600 per week in maintenance fees this year and put you at risk of a special assessment. Before you make a decision, you need to know:


Diamond has not increased fees in over seven years and has agreed to keep its management fees the same for at least the next three years. But your Board—who are the only three people that can increase your fees—want you to give them the power to change management companies—a change that could increase your management fees by $40 per week immediately.

Diamond is not responsible for the decrease in RCI scores. Since Diamond brought in a new resort manager late last summer, your current RCI scores are tracking well above Gold Crown status.

Diamond is an owner just like you and owns 15% of the inventory at Polynesian Isles I. This means that for every dollar in maintenance fees collected or spent, Diamond’s share is 15 cents. Diamond thinks like an owner and wants you to have a memorable vacation experience at a quality resort for a reasonable price.

Sometimes owners cannot make their maintenance fee payments and delinquent accounts result, especially now in these economically difficult times. It is ridiculous to think that Diamond can control this.

Instead, Diamond assumes responsibility for carrying these delinquent owners off of your shoulders and pays 100% of these fees and the costs incurred to either recover the fees or recover the inventory. This process takes years. In 2009 alone, Diamond will relieve you from paying almost an additional $163 per week in delinquent fees.

Recovery fees would cost you more than $400 per week for the same services you are receiving from Diamond for free. Under management by Diamond, you are assured to be 100% collected each year. We are told that SPM does not offer this service. Currently more than 30% of your fellow owners are delinquent. Without Diamond’s assistance, you will be required to increase your operating budget to include these delinquent fees.

Please carefully review the attached proxy immediately. We are asking you to appoint Linda Riddle to vote your proxy. Your signed, dated proxy must be returned no later than April 4, 2009. If you do not want to wait to receive your materials in the mail, you may return this proxy 1) by email of a scanned or pdf copy of this proxy to polyproxy@smartinfo.us; or 2) by facsimile to (610) 683-5616. Or you can complete this proxy online at: https://smartinfo.us/polyproxy. In order to return your proxy online, you will need to enter the following information:

Member Number: XXXXX
Election Validation Number: XXXXX
Time Share Unit XXX, Unit Week XX"


I am confused over who is right and who is wrong; I want my timeshare week to be safe and sound and not end up costing me thousands of dollars to own, in the future. I don't know enough about anything at this point to make an intelligent decision, and I can't leave town for Florida (especially in such a short timeframe!!) to investigate to get to the bottom of this. I'm pretty sad about it all right now...I wish I had an unbiased, totally on the ball in-the-know advocate here...{{{{sigh}}}}
 
I Dunno Either. But Maybe I Can Help Suss It Out For You.

This morning I found an email from DRI, rebutting what I received in the mail from my Poly I HOA Board. I don't know WHO to believe, and I'm not sure now what we should be doing over there!
Me neither.

And fortunately for me, I don't have a dog in this fight.

However that may be, if I were forced to choose between the timeshare company's version of the situation & the independent HOA-BOD's version of it, knowing no more about it than can be divined by reading the competing claims & counterclaims -- that is, having to pretty much take a shot in the dark -- then I'd go with the independent, owner-controlled HOA-BOD over the timeshare company in a flash.

Look at where they're coming from.

The timeshare company's interest is in the bottom line of the profit-loss statement for the benefit of the corporate shareholders.

The independent, owner-controlled HOA-BOD's interest is in running the resort for the benefit of the regular, walking-around timeshare owners.

If that's all we know for sure, then which of those is more likely to be telling it the way it is ?

Duh.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
Thank you, Alan!

:) Even if I called the people on the emails from both DRI and the HOA, I wouldn't know who to believe!!! They are all so convincing and sincere in their beliefs that I'm befuddled...:doh:
 
The timeshare company's interest is in the bottom line of the profit-loss statement for the benefit of the corporate shareholders.

The independent, owner-controlled HOA-BOD's interest is in running the resort for the benefit of the regular, walking-around timeshare owners.

If that's all we know for sure, then which of those is more likely to be telling it the way it is ?



I agree with you, Alan.

Sue
 
Hold on Here

[The independent, owner-controlled HOA-BOD's interest is in running the resort for the benefit of the regular, walking-around timeshare owners.

There are three things that I bring up.

First, Board of Directors do not always represent the interests of all owners. Most times, they are the ones that return year after year to the home resort. For the majority of owners who exchange, the Board does not represent the same interest.

Second, Boards of Directors do not get a paycheck, but they do usually get paid expenses for their trips to board meetings which for many is very enjoyable. Take away these, and see how many would continue to be on the Board.

Third, I am not saying this is occurring, but Boards can be easily wooed by third party management companies. I know of 3 examples where the President accepted freebies from bidding mgmt companies

So, just because you do not know the facts, do not assme that the Board is making the right decision.
 
Who is telling the truth

Several months ago Diamond International Management Company notified the Board of Director of a immediate 15% increase in management fees.

We have an easy question here. Goldman is stating the above and DRI is stating the complete oppposite.

"Diamond has not increased fees in over seven years and has agreed to keep its management fees the same for at least the next three years."

Can Goldman answer this question? And also the one about DRI Club that I previously aske
 
I agree with you

Somebody on the board ought to know HOW MUCH MONEY YOU WILL BE SAVING by switching. I haven't seen that information posted. A logical question is WHY NOT!

Finally, someone that is a veteran poster has a good post. Too many newbies posting with the "good news" to be relied upon.
 
I have to admit that this is true

Board members can be owners in name only. There are many developer employee's that own a unit and sit on the BOD's. Not just with DRI, but with many (most) developer managed resorts.

I agree with this. I know an example of a company that purposely deeded units over to employees so that they can run as owners vs. developer members. To some degree, this was the start of the demise of them.

For Poly, obviously, this is not the concern.
 
Assuming Nussing.

So, just because you do not know the facts, do not assme that the Board is making the right decision.
Absolutely correct.

However, when I can't get all the facts & when what factual information I can glean is incomplete or inconsistent or conflicting & all I know for sure is that 1 bunch is company-controlled & the other is independent (i.e., non-company) & owner-controlled, then by me the odds are I'm better off tilting toward the independent, owner-controlled HOA-BOD.

Just being non-company & independent & owner-controlled is no guarantee that an HOA-BOD is honest & competent & all that.

But it's a start.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
Resort Manager

My memory is not that good, but if I remember, the Board at Poly was "attached" to the Resort Manager, Dottie. Now that was many moons ago. I think I read somewhere that Dottie was replaced by DRI recently. Is that really the crux of the problem?

This is another interesting topic when resort managers tend to try and befriend the Board versus their employer. It can be very interesting.
 
We can agree to disagree

Absolutely correct.

However, when I can't get all the facts & when what factual information I can glean is incomplete or inconsistent or conflicting & all I know for sure is that 1 bunch is company-controlled & the other is independent (i.e., non-company) & owner-controlled, then by me the odds are I'm better off tilting toward the independent, owner-controlled HOA-BOD.

Just being non-company & independent & owner-controlled is no guarantee that an HOA-BOD is honest & competent & all that.

But it's a start.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​


I do not assume this.

Board members do not always make them competent. I know of an example of a Board member who aged too much and started to miss meetings and fall asleep during them.

Let me ask this. Do these type of battles take place with HGVC, Marriott, Starwood, etc.?
 
Nothing Unique

Let me ask this. Do these type of battles take place with HGVC, Marriott, Starwood, etc.?

Yes, they do. Look around for the various threads and you'll see them all represented. It is a very common situation and problem.
 
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Management / Boards cannot undo what you paid for - even exchange services

Are you in a position to make statements for the Diamond Club?

The use of Diamond Club, except for Trust members, is voluntary. It amounts to another RCI/II type option for exchange. The fact that Diamond does or does not operate the resort as management does NOT impact the ability of the Club member to use previously assigned Club memberships. They would still get XXX points each year for use within DRI Club regardless of who operates the resort as long as the member stays current with annual Club fees (and resort fees but those are billed separately from Club). It is often referred to as "grandfathering" the points / membership as new members may or may not be able to sign up with Club if the management changes depending on what the situation with sales presence is at a given resort. Again DRI does not have to be the management in order to be the on-site sales organization.

So it is safe to say that regardless of who ends up as management those owners that opted for DRI Club will still be in the Club and have the traading / use rights that carries with it.
 
Open Letter to Poly Owners

Dear Owners,
Thanks! Please unbderstand it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to respond to each of you individually.

I recieved 1256 responses. Iam a VOLUNTEER spending countless hours on this project. IY IS IMPORTANT to the viability of our resort that we respond to the letter and send the proxie in A.S.A.P.!!!

Diamond is up to no good threatening your board members with law suits and attempting to gain control of OUR resort. Tell your friends they must be stopped and control returned to the home owners association.

Many owners have points and are unsure how this effects them. The points system or club is TOTALLY separate from the resort ownership and will operate as always with no disruption. SPM if awarded the management contract manages many other resorts and club or points exit there. Diamond is under a contractual obligation to club memebers to provide exchanges.
Thank you for your understanding,
Carlos A. Costa
 
Dottie should be flattered with all this attention!

Diamond is up to no good threatening your board members with law suits and attempting to gain control of OUR resort.

What would be the grounds for them to sue the Board members or the HOA when you would be terminating their agreement in accordance with it? Have they really said that in writing or is this just an assumption? Everything here that I read does not threaten that from DRI.

I still think it is all about Dottie!

I do not own at Poly but I own at other DRI resorts and I do not think it is good when Club seperates from DRI management. I am not saying it is not possible, but I think it is not optimal.
 
I am trying to stay out of this but I can't because of what I see going on. The decision to stay with DRI or go with another company should be made on facts and facts alone. Goldman does not present any facts - at least on this thread. That is a warning sign to me. DRI made very specific statements about managment fees and collections. Goldman has not refuted these statements or addressed them in any way on this board. The board will be making a monetary decision that impacts every owner at the resort. Before obligating the owner's money, the HOA board should clearly detail the managment costs under the proposed new managment agreement. If the HOA board does not know what, if any, savings there will be, they would not get my proxy were I an owner. If they know and don't want to tell the owners that is suspicious to say the least. It is one or the other at this point.
 
Goldman does not present any facts - at least on this thread. That is a warning sign to me.

I am glad that someone else see this as a warning sign. Like you, I was going to stay out of this one, but it is troublesome when you have a new member popping in and making one-sided posts without responding to followups questions or clarification.

And how many different versions of the letter/e-mail from DRI are there?
 
Poly 1

The Board of Directors of Poly 1 were carrying on business as usual until we recieved notice of the 15% increase in fees from Diamond. At that point it become apparent we were missing something, the Diamond Finacials have always been hard to read, and we began to make inquiries in charges and discovered there might be a better way. Since Diamond had invited to inquiry of other companies we did so, in fact into three other companies. They all sent us their information which we read and studied, which has brought us to this place. We are asking our home owners association to consider changing management companies. Poly 1 as many Floridian was hit be the hurricanes which caused the increase in owners fees, we have also just began a complete renovation of all the bathrooms. Maintance of Florida properties has it own set of extra costs built in, and requires the over sight of a good management organization. We have presented to our owners a proposal which we feel is cost effective and should keep our costs as low as possibly. Can't give you firm figures, because we do not have a go ahead from our owners to change management company. The next step would be to provide our owner with all the details, if they vote in the affirmative. We have been told in the past if we remain with Diamond we can expect increases in our fees. However, board members are volunteers and can only do what the owners chose to do.
 
In reponse to Goldman/Mr. Carlos Costa

With all due respect and in my opinion, Goldman/Mr. Carlos Costa is not making much sense here. Let me address his recent response:

1. The Board of Directors of Poly 1 were carrying on business as usual until we recieved notice of the 15% increase in fees from Diamond. I have asked this before. DRI states in a letter that they were willing to freeze their fees for 3+ years. Goldman makes this statement with no back up. This is either right or wrong. What is the true story and how was the Board notified.

2. At that point it become apparent we were missing something, the Diamond Finacials have always been hard to read, and we began to make inquiries in charges and discovered there might be a better way. You are saying that you are missing something because of this conversation. Financials are hard to read??? Financials are not hard to read as they are pretty standard stuff and saying it now after attending how many board meetings does not speak well for past performance

3 Since Diamond had invited to inquiry of other companies we did so, in fact into three other companies. They all sent us their information which we read and studied, which has brought us to this place. Hold on here. There are many other reasons that this all started per all of the above posts. Getting bids for management companies is NOT what got you here. I still say that the real issue is that some board members had allegiance to Dottie Arnold.

4. We are asking our home owners association to consider changing management companies. Poly 1 as many Floridian was hit be the hurricanes which caused the increase in owners fees, we have also just began a complete renovation of all the bathrooms. Maintance of Florida properties has it own set of extra costs built in, and requires the over sight of a good management organization. I agree that holding management companies at close attention is a good practice.

5. We have presented to our owners a proposal which we feel is cost effective and should keep our costs as low as possibly. Can't give you firm figures, because we do not have a go ahead from our owners to change management company. The next step would be to provide our owner with all the details, if they vote in the affirmative. HOW CAN YOU NOT GIVE FIRM FIGURES!!!! How did you evaulate the bids then? Did you just decide who was the best looking!! Alright, I am out of control. But it is ludicrous and malfeasance to say, lets make the change and we will figure out the numbers later. Absolutely, the worse thing that a volunteer Board of Director could do with my maintenance fees.

6. We have been told in the past if we remain with Diamond we can expect increases in our fees.Another statement with no support as Diamond has put in writing that there will be no increase in fees.

7. However, board members are volunteers and can only do what the owners chose to do. Yes, I agree BUT it is wrong if you have put it in writing to the owners information that is not factual to sway the owners into giving you the proxy. If you do not give factual information, and things go haywire as a consequence, I hope that your D&O insurance is up to date and adequate. I say this as somewhat comical but it might not be a bad idea.

Ok, I am about to state that I am not going to make any more posts as my wife is asking me to do "honey do's". If she only knew what I was doing, she would not be happy. I spend too much time with the Board that I am on as it is.
 
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Huh???

We have presented to our owners a proposal which we feel is cost effective and should keep our costs as low as possibly. Can't give you firm figures, because we do not have a go ahead from our owners to change management company. The next step would be to provide our owner with all the details, if they vote in the affirmative. HOW CAN YOU NOT GIVE FIRM FIGURES!!!! How did you evaulate the bids then? Did you just decide who was the best looking!! Alright, I am out of control. But it is ludicrous and malfeasance to say, lets make the change and we will figure out the numbers later. Absolutely, the worse thing that a volunteer Board of Director could do with my maintenance fees.


I don't know all the fancy cut and paste... But this really got to me. As an owner in Phase I, I never received the proposal. Every proposal I have ever seen INCLUDES firm figures so that you can make an EDUCATED decision. I have yet to see one that says... Look at all our pretty pictures, we are the best, we will save you money... Cost? Cost? That is a small detail we can work out later, and by the way - Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain... Or is it a woman? Maybe this is all about Dottie....

:mad: Check the D&O, I know of at least one owner who feels like he might have just gotten snowed into signing a bs proxy "for the good of the association"


-John

:doh: I knew I should have bought at CP
 
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