Organizing an Owners Group
In order to be listed in the in the TimeSharing Today Owners Groups on the Website and in the magazine, send an email to us with the area and contact information.
What follows is an article written for us by the person who started the first owners group.
I'm happy to follow up on your letter whereby you asked that I provide the agenda that was followed in the organizational meeting of our local Timeshare Owners Association. You also asked about topics we plan to cover at subsequent meetings
I'll cover this in three parts: what was done in advance of our organizational meeting (3rd try and finally successful); outline of the agenda that I followed while presiding at the meeting (time did not allow all topics to be covered); and finally, what I hope to accomplish in upcoming months.
Preliminary steps: approximately 45 Timeshare owners had been identified in the greater Columbia, MO area. A meeting time and place was arbitrarily selected about two months in advance. The 45 owners were then called personally well in advance, telling them of the proposed concept, getting an idea of interest, and letting them know that they would be getting a mailing in the near future with specific information.
Three weeks prior to the meeting, a letter was sent out reiterating the purpose of the meeting.
Agenda followed at organizational meeting:
A. Set up room in advance of arrival of audience
1. Material laid out (copies of TimeSharing Today and reply cards, Exchange Company catalogs, etc.
2. Coffee, and tea prepared
3. Took supplies that might be needed (magic markers, chalk, scotch tape, etc.)
4. Name tags available
B. Start of meeting - Why We're Here
1. "To share with each other on topic of Timesharing"
C. Introduce ourselves and where we own
1. Pass around sheet for people to indicate name, address, where owned, and weeks owned
D. Indicate to people present, topics to be discussed and ask for other items of interest
1. Good experiences
2. Bad experiences
3. Possibility of internal exchange
4. Tips on reselling
5. Alternate exchange companies (besides II and RCI)
6. Tips on exchanging through II or RCI
7. What property owners can do to help themselves and their resort
8. Consumer information available - TimeSharing Today, Internet., etc.
9. Other topics of interest
E. Short presentation by local owner who had served on a Board of Directors of Property owners association for nine years
1. Questions and answers
F. Discussion on items mentioned in "D" above
G. Where do we go from here?
1. Is there a desire to have an organization such as this and a willingness to help it go?
2. Appoint a temporary board of directors to decide on next steps
H. Ask for volunteers for potential jobs
1. Time and place chairperson
2. Secretary
3. Bulletin editor
4. Treasurer
I. Pass the hat to help defray meeting, mailing expenses - a few dollars per person sufficient.
Future Plans:
A. Call meeting of temporary Board of Directors
1. Decide on number of meetings per year and date/format of next meeting
2. Put together a data base on computer of members
3. Decide on dues
4. Bulletin editor?
5. Appoint Treasurer
6. Publicity chair?
7. Have associate members such as travel agents?
8. Program chair?
9. Discuss By-laws for group
10. How do we cover expenses?
11. Should we expand to adjoining counties?
B. Other topics
C. Discuss topics that should be covered at future meetings and/or in bulletin articles
1. "What your P.O.A. should be telling you't
2. "Don't let your week(s) go to waste"
3. "Save and share those articles you read on Timeshare"
4. "Tips on reselling"
5. "Information available to Timeshare owners"
6. "What information is your resort furnishing you?"
Hopefully, the above information will be of help as other groups decide to form a local association. Obviously, there are many other scenarios which could be followed. To reiterate, I'll be happy to answer questions on our attempt to form a local Timeshare Owners Association.
Sincerely,
Wayne L. Behymer