RCI Suspended Eagle Village Tamiment

[nellevad]

The more I think about it, the more I think this partnership is a take over by the Oaks Group. This type of business deal just happened to the Historic Hollywood Beach Resort in Florida. The Chetrit Group bought out more than 50 percent of the timeshsare owners and condo owners. Then, with the majority of the voting interest, voted to close down the Timeshare Association. Then they had the building condemned by the city, forcing the remainder of hold-out owners to vacate the premises. It now stands empty, waiting for redevelopement plans. Just for fun, I have a hypothesis and ran some numbers. If there are 68 units at EV, and 68 x 51 weeks equals 3468 units. If more than 50% are now owned by the Oaks Group, lets say 2000, then they now owe maintenance on 2000 units. That would be 2000x760=$1,520,000. So in essence they bought out Eagle Village. There is no way an outside business is going to hand over money to a timeshare to fix it up so it can be part of RCI again for nothing. They will spend this year and maybe next year using our maintenance fees along with the 1,520,000 they sunk into it to fix it up. They will continue to buy up forfeited units. Then in the future, when it is all fixed up, use their majority to vote for it to close, and offer to buy out the remainder of owners (for pennies) who are in good standing, which will be less now that RCI is out of the picture. It will take years to renovate all those units and before RCI will reinstate it. People will stop paying as bnoble has suggested. So, the Oaks Group could pick up the property for perhaps $2,000,000 (or 3,040,000+ if it takes 2 years)--land and all the renovated buildings. If I was the Oaks Group, I'd be giddy over this partnership coup. I mentioned before EV was a sitting duck. I think it will be no more by 2027.
Well, that was fun. LOL.

 

[LisaC]

Can they really charge us for our maintenace fees while we still can't bank our trading power with RCI? It's almost like we are paying for nothing.

 

[bnoble]

Yes, because (presumably) you can stay at the resort.

 

[LisaC]

If you log in to myaccountinfo.com and select OPTIONS the ESTATEMENT HISTORY the below is attached to the 12/27 Billing PDF. I will be present for this meeting on 2/10 in person. I don't see how "partnering" with a group will fix the problems we have. It's apparent that for several years the units have been neglected. The office staff have a reputation of being unavailable and when reached unhelpful. Throwing money at this problem will not correct our situation if management is not corrected. It is most likely already too late. I'd be fine with selling the property off at this point which is sad.

Dear Eagle Village Property Owners Association Members: As Eagle Village POA enters into its 40th year of making family memories, we have also been tasked with the responsibilities of trying to keep the resort up and running with limited resources. Over the years we have lost over half of our membership, but your Board of Directors still made adjustments to keep your timeshare interest in place. These decisions however have come with a price. The decline in membership over the years and low annual fees has limited the budget ability to afford unit renovations, facility improvements and rising costs of maintenance with an aging property. Currently about 70% of Eagle Village POA are also members of RCI. RCI is a timeshare exchange company with over 4,300 affiliated resorts in 100 countries. Recently Eagle Village Owners who are also RCI members received a letter pertaining to their RCI membership. Your Board of Directors is cognizant that this information has caused confusion and unpredictability. You will be pleased to know that your Board of Directors has been exploring all avenues to have Eagle Village POA RCI memberships reinstated. This process has been long and tedious, but your Board has made a decision to bring Eagle Village POA into its next phase of new life. Your Board of Directors is working on partnering with The Oakes Group to help Eagle Village address its needs to help the association’s members in making new memories and vacationing experiences. The Oakes Group and its ownership’s affiliated companies last year acquired 200+ acres of land neighboring Eagle Village including the newly renovated and opened Amphitheater at Poconos Park and The Lake House at Poconos Park. In the last year the Poconos Park property has hosted various events ranging from concerts, 4th of July Fireworks, a motorcycle show, Halloween, private special events and more. Currently, Poconos Park is hosting Poconos Lights, a Drive-Thru Christmas Experience with over a mile of lights.. They recently had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of The Lake House at Poconos Park to begin accepting 2024 & 2025 bookings for weddings and other events. The Oakes Group will immediately endeavor to coordinate RCI reinstatement for Eagle Village Property Owners Association Members and will work on plans for unit renovations, facility improvements, operations, marketing and more. With our ownership continuing to dwindle and the rising costs this move to partner with The Oakes Group is a great accomplishment, and we believe the outcome of this partnership will benefit everyone. Eagle Village POA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that our 2024 Operating budget will not change. This is a conscious decision by your Board of Directors, always recognizing the need to upgrade and improve Eagle Village, but also trying their best to keep your dues much lower than the industry average. Attached is the Proposed Operating Budget for 2024 and a Budget definition sheet to help you better understand where funds are needed. The budget reflects an Annual Maintenance Fee of only $760.00. There will be no Annual Maintenance Fee increase for 2024. Your 2024 Annual Maintenance Fee payment is due before January 31, 2024. The meeting of the Board of Directors to consider adoption of the Proposed Budget will be held on Saturday, Feb 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at our Recreation Center. If you plan to attend, please call Eagle Village office @ 570 588 5380 ext. 7100 on or before 3pm ET on Feb 1, 2024.

Very strange that they wouldn't mail out this letter. I don't even have it under myaccountinfo.com...very weird!

 

[dioxide45]

If you log in to myaccountinfo.com and select OPTIONS the ESTATEMENT HISTORY the below is attached to the 12/27 Billing PDF. I will be present for this meeting on 2/10 in person. I don't see how "partnering" with a group will fix the problems we have. It's apparent that for several years the units have been neglected. The office staff have a reputation of being unavailable and when reached unhelpful. Throwing money at this problem will not correct our situation if management is not corrected. It is most likely already too late. I'd be fine with selling the property off at this point which is sad.

Dear Eagle Village Property Owners Association Members: As Eagle Village POA enters into its 40th year of making family memories, we have also been tasked with the responsibilities of trying to keep the resort up and running with limited resources. Over the years we have lost over half of our membership, but your Board of Directors still made adjustments to keep your timeshare interest in place. These decisions however have come with a price. The decline in membership over the years and low annual fees has limited the budget ability to afford unit renovations, facility improvements and rising costs of maintenance with an aging property. Currently about 70% of Eagle Village POA are also members of RCI. RCI is a timeshare exchange company with over 4,300 affiliated resorts in 100 countries. Recently Eagle Village Owners who are also RCI members received a letter pertaining to their RCI membership. Your Board of Directors is cognizant that this information has caused confusion and unpredictability. You will be pleased to know that your Board of Directors has been exploring all avenues to have Eagle Village POA RCI memberships reinstated. This process has been long and tedious, but your Board has made a decision to bring Eagle Village POA into its next phase of new life. Your Board of Directors is working on partnering with The Oakes Group to help Eagle Village address its needs to help the association’s members in making new memories and vacationing experiences. The Oakes Group and its ownership’s affiliated companies last year acquired 200+ acres of land neighboring Eagle Village including the newly renovated and opened Amphitheater at Poconos Park and The Lake House at Poconos Park. In the last year the Poconos Park property has hosted various events ranging from concerts, 4th of July Fireworks, a motorcycle show, Halloween, private special events and more. Currently, Poconos Park is hosting Poconos Lights, a Drive-Thru Christmas Experience with over a mile of lights.. They recently had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of The Lake House at Poconos Park to begin accepting 2024 & 2025 bookings for weddings and other events. The Oakes Group will immediately endeavor to coordinate RCI reinstatement for Eagle Village Property Owners Association Members and will work on plans for unit renovations, facility improvements, operations, marketing and more. With our ownership continuing to dwindle and the rising costs this move to partner with The Oakes Group is a great accomplishment, and we believe the outcome of this partnership will benefit everyone. Eagle Village POA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that our 2024 Operating budget will not change. This is a conscious decision by your Board of Directors, always recognizing the need to upgrade and improve Eagle Village, but also trying their best to keep your dues much lower than the industry average. Attached is the Proposed Operating Budget for 2024 and a Budget definition sheet to help you better understand where funds are needed. The budget reflects an Annual Maintenance Fee of only $760.00. There will be no Annual Maintenance Fee increase for 2024. Your 2024 Annual Maintenance Fee payment is due before January 31, 2024. The meeting of the Board of Directors to consider adoption of the Proposed Budget will be held on Saturday, Feb 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at our Recreation Center. If you plan to attend, please call Eagle Village office @ 570 588 5380 ext. 7100 on or before 3pm ET on Feb 1, 2024.

It sounds like a few members and perhaps BOD members trying to hold on to something that is failing and not worth keeping. It might be time to let go.

 

[LisaC]

Ignore the collections agency. There are generally no forfeiture costs (it's not worth a legal action for the small sum) and the credit hit is often marginal if it happens at all.

If I owned here, I'd just stop paying. The only reason to keep current is (a) you use this resort regularly and still think it is of value, (b) you think this Oakes Group Hail Mary has a chance of working, or (c) you think there is a chance that as the resort winds down, you will get a return once the timeshare is dissolved and the property is sold.

It doesn't sound like many people find themselves in Option A. If I were leaning towards Option B, I would not pay until and unless the RCI relationship was affirmatively reestablished. Yes, this means some late fees, but I think their odds are low in getting this to happen anytime soon, so taking on the chance of having to pay some late fees vs. not paying at all seems like a good risk.

As for Option C: This property can't be worth that much. It's probably a teardown, so the value is in the land underneath. It's in the Poconos, not on Oahu, and there are some very nice homes in Tamiment for sale for not very much money. From where I sit, the ROI on being one of the Last Owners Standing seems low, and it could take several years to get there.

As Dr. McCoy put it to Captain Kirk: "He's dead, Jim." Maybe not dead yet, but the writing is on the wall.

I wouldn't want to pay unless RCI was re-instated. I didn't buy this to use at Eagle Village. I bought this to trade. I have actually never visited Eagle Village and have owned for 20 years.

 

[nellevad]

I do not have an statement for the 2024 bill in my options menu. Also, I can't choose to have a paper one sent. Very odd. Perhaps they are trying to save money. And yes, RCI is a service you choose to join so you can swap. It has nothing to do with the management of the resort.

 

[dioxide45]

I wouldn't want to pay unless RCI was re-instated. I didn't buy this to use at Eagle Village. I bought this to trade. I have actually never visited Eagle Village and have owned for 20 years.

Why you bought it and what you bought are two different things. The only thing promised to you when you buy a resort is your deeded week and unit (though it may also float).

 

[nellevad]

I wouldn't want to pay unless RCI was re-instated. I didn't buy this to use at Eagle Village. I bought this to trade. I have actually never visited Eagle Village and have owned for 20 years.

If this helps, you can always rent your week/unit. I have done this every year I didn't either swap into RCI or used it. I quit RCI about 2 years ago when the points were so minimal and not worth the swap. I rent both EV and my unit in Hollywood Florida. I now rent on Airbnb. I have owned since 2001.

 

[mcara00]

My letter and invoice is in today’s mail. I get an email daily showing me what is coming and I can see the envelope from EV. Need to discuss with my wife - would prefer not to take a credit hit but this may be the time to let it go as EV is likely to see quite a few default rather than pay. In fact Oaks Group would be impossibly stupid to not be planning on a huge number of defaults and is likely planning on it to scoop up units on the cheap. Why don’t they just make an offer to take them for $1?

 

[LisaC]

If this helps, you can always rent your week/unit. I have done this every year I didn't either swap into RCI or used it. I quit RCI about 2 years ago when the points were so minimal and not worth the swap. I rent both EV and my unit in Hollywood Florida. I now rent on Airbnb. I have owned since 2001.

I doubt anyone would want to stay at Eagle Village.

 

[nellevad]

Yes they do. But you must have pictures of your unit. Since you have never been there that would be hard. I have 2 units in the summer. Most people come from NYC. It really is a very calm and serene place. That is what people are looking for. My units really just need painting and a bathroom do over. The structures are sound. Some units in phase 1 and 2 need roofs. What unit do you have?.

 

[LisaC]

My letter and invoice is in today’s mail. I get an email daily showing me what is coming and I can see the envelope from EV. Need to discuss with my wife - would prefer not to take a credit hit but this may be the time to let it go as EV is likely to see quite a few default rather than pay. In fact Oaks Group would be impossibly stupid to not be planning on a huge number of defaults and is likely planning on it to scoop up units on the cheap. Why don’t they just make an offer to take them for $1?

Do you think its worth to not pay the maintenance fee? I am just thinking being it sounds like we will never be able to trade again with RCI.

 

[LisaC]

Yes they do. But you must have pictures of your unit. Since you have never been there that would be hard. I have 2 units in the summer. Most people come from NYC. It really is a very calm and serene place. That is what people are looking for. My units really just need painting and a bathroom do over. The structures are sound. Some units in phase 1 and 2 need roofs. What unit do you have?.

I just know its a 2 bedroom unit

 

[nellevad]

Check your statements. Should be listed some number between 1001 and 1068

 

[moreyzoo]

Ignore the collections agency. There are generally no forfeiture costs (it's not worth a legal action for the small sum) and the credit hit is often marginal if it happens at all.

If I owned here, I'd just stop paying. The only reason to keep current is (a) you use this resort regularly and still think it is of value, (b) you think this Oakes Group Hail Mary has a chance of working, or (c) you think there is a chance that as the resort winds down, you will get a return once the timeshare is dissolved and the property is sold.

It doesn't sound like many people find themselves in Option A. If I were leaning towards Option B, I would not pay until and unless the RCI relationship was affirmatively reestablished. Yes, this means some late fees, but I think their odds are low in getting this to happen anytime soon, so taking on the chance of having to pay some late fees vs. not paying at all seems like a good risk.

As for Option C: This property can't be worth that much. It's probably a teardown, so the value is in the land underneath. It's in the Poconos, not on Oahu, and there are some very nice homes in Tamiment for sale for not very much money. From where I sit, the ROI on being one of the Last Owners Standing seems low, and it could take several years to get there.

As Dr. McCoy put it to Captain Kirk: "He's dead, Jim." Maybe not dead yet, but the writing is on the wall.

Can’t we all just insist the board put it up for sale with the profit used to pay all debts then anything left decided among us? We have owned there since early 1980’s and it is a disgrace what has happened there, but it happens all over so just pull the plug already and put us out of our misery

 

[LisaC]

Can’t we all just insist the board put it up for sale with the profit used to pay all debts then anything left decided among us? We have owned there since early 1980’s and it is a disgrace what has happened there, but it happens all over so just pull the plug already and put us out of our miseryI

 

[nellevad]

I read through the by- laws and there is no termination clause. It would require a vote of all owners...which just might be what will happen now that we are in a partnership.

 

[LisaC]

I read through the by- laws and there is no termination clause. It would require a vote of all owners...which just might be what will happen now that we are in a partnership.

What does that exactly mean....no termination clause??

 

[nellevad]

In many condominium declaration of conditions, covenants etc., what are commonly called by- laws of operations, there will be a clause stating that the association has to put a vote to the owners , usually 40 or 50 years into the existence of the timeshare, to dissolve it.

 

[dioxide45]

I read through the by- laws and there is no termination clause. It would require a vote of all owners...which just might be what will happen now that we are in a partnership.

Is there a clause related to amending the by-laws or condo documents? Generally that doesn't require a vote of all owners but does require a super majority. Certainly even without a termination clause, the condo could still be terminated.

 

[LisaC]

Can’t we all just insist the board put it up for sale with the profit used to pay all debts then anything left decided among us? We have owned there since early 1980’s and it is a disgrace what has happened there, but it happens all over so just pull the plug already and put us out of our misery

I think they should put it up for sale and definitely pull the plug. I just feel why should we pay maintenance fee on a dead end property. Exactly, where is the money going that owners are paying their maintenance fees? That's what I would like to know.

 

[bnoble]

Until the resort closes, it is open--and if it is open, the owners are obligated to continue contributing to its ongoing operations. We own at a Hawaii resort with a similarly uncertain future, but until it happens, nothing has happened.

 

[dioxide45]

This is where you need to get contact information for the BOD and start emailing them, writing letters, letting them know what you want. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but you need to make your voice heard.

 

[nellevad]

Yes, there is an amendment clause. I have attached a pic. An amendment would need to be recorded in Pike County and could be looked up. I believe our current MF's are only sufficient (or not) to pay for utilities, taxes and wages. We would need a true, transparent budget sheet to see. They do not provide that. Also, I know that it sounds like a terrible place to go to, when you read reviews. But if you have ever visited, you would see its charm. It really could make a comeback with an injection of cash, which is what this Oaks Group is offering to provide.