Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[Helios]

Hey fellow VGV Owners...

An important VGV vote is coming up and proxies have been sent out (received mine by email with password access) - so make sure you vote by Feb 21, 2016.

For myself - I am happy with how our 2 Owner-elected HOA BOD members (Robert Werbel and Phillip Schrag) have been handling their duties and well-represented the HOA.

So... I choose Robert Werbel for General and Limited Powers to vote in my behalf.

Also, there is a HOA BOD position open which I voted for Phillip Schrag as he is a great representative to protect our (VGV HOA) interests. I know Phil personally, and I am partly to blame (his words) for him getting on the VGV HOA BOD in the 1st place (refer to original WSJ thread).

So... make sure you vote! No complaining about the VGV HOA if you do not vote. Not voting is akin to allowing SVO call the shots for our HOA.

Philip Schrag
Philip G. Schrag is a law professor at Georgetown University. He has been an owner-elected member of the Virgin Grand Board of Directors for the last 5 1⁄2 years. He has a deep background in consumer protection. He served as the first official Consumer Advocate of the City of New York, and two of his fifteen books are on consumer protection. He has been an owner since 2001. He owns four unit-weeks at the resort and has never rented them. He seeks re- election to the Board based on his having looked out for the interests of owners by working for improvements to the property while reducing maintenance fees. His initiatives have included the freecycle shed, the earmarked fund to pay the insurance policy deductible in the event of a destructive hurricane, the online owner exchange bulletin board, the sail shades at the hillside pools, the water coolers that will be installed at those pools next year, and many others. He has attended every Board meeting and budget workshop during his service as a director, and he and fellow elected director Robert Werbel have written reports to owners after each Board meeting.

He wants to serve on the Board for another term because Virgin Grand is on the verge of three transitions: Starwood’s spinoff of Starwood Vacation Ownership as a new, separate corporation, and the acquisition of that corporation by another time share management company; the acquisition of Starwood by Marriott; and the closing of the Westin hotel and the conversion of its rooms into time share units. Without the hotel’s leadership, some new institutional mechanism will be needed for owners to have any voice in financial and programmatic decisions affecting common areas such as the pool, fitness center, and tennis courts. In the past, Starwood has made decisions regarding those areas without consulting the Virgin Grand Board, with the needs of hotel guests paramount. Mr. Schrag aspires to help to design an appropriate process or institutional mechanism for consultation about common concerns among the boards of what will soon be four different time share associations on the property. He will continue to propose low- cost improvements and to resist increases in maintenance fees.

I voted earlier today. While I don't know Philip or Robert, I share your thoughts and their vision. Coincidentally, my votes match yours.

 

[DavidnRobin]

People can vote anyway they want - for me, it is important to keep 2 people on the BOD voted for by the HOA, and not put on by SVO.
Remember - SVO-WSJ controls the vote - more than the standard lack of quorum - they get 4:1 vote dominance, and they own quite a few VGV VOIs (~10%). So, effectively, they can put anyone they want on the VGV HOA BOD. Robert/Phil were voted on when SVO-WSJ did not vote and allowed many to run. This is in the 1st WSJ thread.

If there are a substantial amount of votes for Robert/Phil. SVO-WSJ may consider the Owners happy (or at least satisfied) and keep status quo. I do not know Robert, but do know Phil - and trust him to make the best decisions for all.

At least Mr SueSueSue is not running... actually only 4 candidates. I forgot to copy/paste the others' profiles. One persons' was way short - that was odd.

Wonder if anyone other than Phil even knows about Starwood TUG? Phil was a Tugger, but had to drop due to reasons he thought were important. I met him when I was 1st researching buying WSJ (only VGV back then).

Anyway - hope Owners vote - and not leave it up to the Secretary due to lack of quorum.

 

[LisaH]

Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts. I would vote accordingly.

 

[SMHarman]

SMHarman -- how much longer will you be at WSJ? I want to send you a new camera with an image stabilizer.

Haha, I was thinking about the same thing...

Image stabilized

 

[okwiater]

People can vote anyway they want - for me, it is important to keep 2 people on the BOD voted for by the HOA, and not put on by SVO.

I have been very happy with the way the VGV HOA has been run since I picked up my pool villa 2 years ago.

Like you, I selected Robert Werbel for General AND Limited Powers, and selected Philip Schrag for the HOA BOD position.

 

[happymum]

Did a day trip with Island Roots on the new boat today. Jason was captain and we had an excellent day in and on the water. Thanks for the post that mentioned this new option. With only 2 of us, it was great to be able to completely choose our own itinerary.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Did a day trip with Island Roots on the new boat today. Jason was captain and we had an excellent day in and on the water. Thanks for the post that mentioned this new option. With only 2 of us, it was great to be able to completely choose our own itinerary.

You went on Mini-me - Jason's new boat? I saw it on FB. Like the alternative when only 2 people. Where did you go? Hurricane Hole?

 

[happymum]

Yes, we were on the mini. And you know his preferences well - Hurrican Hole, Waterlemon Cay (at my request), Haulover North and an unnamed spot since it was too rough to go all the way round the island. Saw a few sharks, some turtles,a lion fish and a few huge puffer fish. Unfortunately no octopus or spotted eagle rays!

 

[Crasherino]

Got online at midnight last night and was able to book a year out President's Week, no problem with our floating Platinum Plus. I was a little nervous as I figured it was the 2nd most popular week and we had a hard time booking Christmas week last time we tried. But didn't have any issues as far as availability goes.

I did, however, have a helluva time with the online booking tool. I got in almost exactly at midnight, pulled up an available villa got to the point where I was about to confirm it and then there were "Technical Difficulties" and got bounced out. I then tried about 10 more times and each time it told me I already had a reservation on hold despite nothing showing up. Tried this for almost an hour and got through varying degrees of the process before getting stymied. Finally, I checked on "future reservations" and it seems that one of them went through (no idea which time) and I received the email and everything so I think I'm finally good.

We didn't take our usual STJ vacation this year and I'm developing the yips from withdrawal. But I always feel better when I have something on the books to look forward to, even if its 364 days away.

Next up - the FF booking. Have about a month for that saga.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Yes, we were on the mini. And you know his preferences well - Hurrican Hole, Waterlemon Cay (at my request), Haulover North and an unnamed spot since it was too rough to go all the way round the island. Saw a few sharks, some turtles,a lion fish and a few huge puffer fish. Unfortunately no octopus or spotted eagle rays!

Sorry to jump in the middle of this, but did you only have two people? I have seen a flat rate for up to 6 people. Can you share how much the two person day trip was? This would be an awesome option for DH and I. Probably too late to book it though, we are there starting the 26th.

 

[LisaH]

I have been very happy with the way the VGV HOA has been run since I picked up my pool villa 2 years ago.

Like you, I selected Robert Werbel for General AND Limited Powers, and selected Philip Schrag for the HOA BOD position.

Did the same. Not sure if Phil will be present for the vote so I gave my proxy to Robert. Otherwise, I would have given it to Phil.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Sorry to jump in the middle of this, but did you only have two people? I have seen a flat rate for up to 6 people. Can you share how much the two person day trip was? This would be an awesome option for DH and I. Probably too late to book it though, we are there starting the 26th.

Jason added a smaller boat - I would also be interested in cost for smaller boat for 2 people.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Jason added a smaller boat - I would also be interested in cost for smaller boat for 2 people.

I did a little sleuthing around after I posted my question. It looks like it is $400 for two people plus fuel. Kinda pricey for privacy IMHO. But I guess that is for all day, it would cost that much for two two-tank dives for a couple, so I guess it isn't that bad.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I did a little sleuthing around after I posted my question. It looks like it is $400 for two people plus fuel. Kinda pricey for privacy IMHO. But I guess that is for all day, it would cost that much for two two-tank dives for a couple, so I guess it isn't that bad.

Yes - that is a premium over the ~$150pp we normally pay.

 

[happymum]

Our total came to $470 plus tip. Definitely pricey, but we really enjoyed it.

 

[GrayFal]

Our total came to $470 plus tip. Definitely pricey, but we really enjoyed it.

And your worth it! But realistically you could have done 4 people for that price, correct????

Do you go to that fabulous island off the east end???? dAvid?? I forgot the name. Where you saw the little shark and I saw the BIG shark????

 

[DavidnRobin]

And your worth it! But realistically you could have done 4 people for that price, correct????

Do you go to that fabulous island off the east end???? dAvid?? I forgot the name. Where you saw the little shark and I saw the BIG shark????

Flanagan Island? Great spot when the weather/seas cooperate.

 

[happymum]

Nope, no Flanagans this time. But sharks anyway!

 

[GrayFal]

Nope, no Flanagans this time. But sharks anyway!

I hate those freakin sharks. But not as much as the barracuda ....do we have a fish

 

[DavidnRobin]

I hate those freakin sharks. But not as much as the barracuda ....do we have a fish ����������������

Hello!!!

and Goodbye...

 

[GrayFal]

Hello!!!

You are mean. Last month I swam under the dock at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove and looked up to see that sucker 2 feet from me. Thank goodness I went the other way and swam with a big turtle for 15 minutes.

Happymum also LOVES moray eels ... We share a love of octopus.

Saw this guy at Christmas Cove at Great St James Island...hmmmm can't get him to load

 

[happymum]

David, I love your twofer shot. I have one of a stingray and a turtle, but nowhere near as clear as yours.
Pat, 3- 4 on that boat would be pushing it. There is only seating for 2 at the rear of the boat. If you had 2 more people upfront it would really limit the speed as the spray could be pretty unpleasant if the waves were up.

 

[DavidnRobin]

David, I love your twofer shot. I have one of a stingray and a turtle, but nowhere near as clear as yours.
Pat, 3- 4 on that boat would be pushing it. There is only seating for 2 at the rear of the boat. If you had 2 more people upfront it would really limit the speed as the spray could be pretty unpleasant if the waves were up.

I cheated - that was in Maui - but plenty of barracuda in USVI. I like them - but never corner them. Hard to get good photo of them - sneaky suckers.

This guy was probably close to 5ft - and came up on me FAST, then slowed to a crawl - freaky. I was goofing with quick photo shots with the turtle, and got frame-by-frame of this bugger coming up on me (scared the crap out of me at 1st - thought it was a shark... and I was alone very far off beach...). the turtle was coming up for air, and then decided better to head down - I guess they risk getting their limbs chomped upon.

Good to know about the smaller boat for Island Roots - normally there are 4 of us, but 2 is good option (albeit at a premium).

 

[vistana101]

Did they ever get a replacement for Cruz Bay Prime?

 

[SMHarman]

Did they ever get a replacement for Cruz Bay Prime?

Lemongrass? Having only been their once (recently), that is the restaurant in the Beach / dockside building.