Bluegreen Vacation Club annual meeting notes

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Okay. I attended the Bluegreen Vacation Club annual meeting. I am very tired right now after spending all day in meetings. So, I will just post a couple of things now and finish my notes tomorrow.

I did indeed prepare a summary of the feedback that everyone provided. It was very well received and it prompted about a 1.5 hour meeting after the annual meeting with managers to review many of the Bluegreen plans for various items. I will write up what I can on the public forum. We will discuss these items in the HOA forum in more detail for those interested. I was asked to keep much of what I was told private since it hasn't been announced yet. So, please keep that in mind as you ask me questions about it.

The most important thing people want to know is what will maintenance fees be. I'll post that now. There is another significant increase year over year. I have my own theory for why the increases are what they are. But, I'll need to do a complete year over year assessment of the data. Does anyone have last year's package with them? I didn't bring it. If someone can contact me, I'll do the analysis and share it in the HOA forum.

Trust Fund B:
- 2008/2009: $170 + $.058/point
- 2007/2008: $170 + $.051/point

Trust Fund D:
- 2008/2009: $.064/point
- 2007/2008: $.058/point

Trust Fund E:
- 2008/2009: $310 + $.0371/point
- 2007/2008: $290 + $.0335/point

Let's have feedback just on this topic first. I'll add more info after this major item.

[bfdretired Member Find all posts View Profile Close bfdretired]

boca/jim I was just about to post to ask if anyone was concerned about their maintenance fees. so thank you your timing was great...
I still have a couple questions...this is second year in row for special assessments or increased fees will this continue?
I am note sure how i am titled will that all be on my purchase papers .......in particular the trust fund type..... so that i can determine my costs.....
lastly are the maintenance fees the same accross the board. for example will those deeded in florida be higher than CMV???....
sorry one more ...how do our maint. fees compare to other time share co's.

thanks john

[nomasir Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nomasir]

Thanks, Boca

Looking forward to reading the rest of your notes. I hope the increase in maint. fees will be offset by the good stuff you heard.

Cheers!

[chap19150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chap19150]

how do I join the BG HOA forums?

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

how do I join the BG HOA forums?

It is private forum, you need apply and probably fill in some info.

Timeshare Home Associations Organizations - Timeshare Forums

Jya-Ning

[chap19150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chap19150]

It is private forum, you need apply and probably fill in some info.

Timeshare Home Associations Organizations - Timeshare Forums

Jya-Ning

I tried that link. When I click to join, I get the error "Your submission could not be processed because a security token was missing or mismatched."

[nicklinneh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nicklinneh]

maintenance fees

I remember it as being $290 + .027 in 2006-7 -ken
p.s. last year it was so high because of the Aruba SA

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I tried that link. When I click to join, I get the error "Your submission could not be processed because a security token was missing or mismatched."

To sign up for the Bluegreen HOA on Timeshare Forums, you must be a Bluegreen owner and a posting member of Timeshare Forums. So, first thing you must do is be able to post a message to this thread. Once you can do that, then you can go to this link and sign up on the Bluegreen HOA "Click Here" link: HOA Sign up Page.

If you get errors, send a private message to BigFrank or Quarterbore.

Jim

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

My notes from the annual meeting

Here are my notes from the annual meeting. I didn't take notes on everything. Only on those items that I thought would be useful to owners on this message board.

1) There are now 160,038 Bluegreen Vacation Club owners. Only 6050 proxies were submitted meaning that there once again was no quorum. So, no formal business was done in the owner part of the annual meeting. Marge Lennon was therefore appointed by Bluegreen as a director for another 3 year term. What they board did was take percentage of votes cast and named the person with the highest percentage of votes.

2) Kathy Foster, President of the Board, provided an update to the new component sites. Nothing new was shared although I was told privately that other resorts are being worked in the background as always. For those of you not familiar with those details. In the last year, the following have been added to the Club:
a) Odessey Dells in the Wisconsin Dells
b) Club 36 in Las Vegas
c) Shenandoah Crossing 3br log cabins and RV pads.
There are now 2 RVs that can be rented with points at SC.
d) Atlantic Palace in Atlantic City
e) Club La Pension in New Orleans
f) Long Creek Ranch, near Big Cedar

3) In addition, new amenites at existing resorts were described. New Swimming pool at (I think) Christmas Mountain Village. Larger accommodations at Patrick Henry Inn in Williamsburg, Large water park at The Fountains called Wakooka Springs. Also 10 Presidential units will be available at The Fountains in addition to the Presidential at Club 36 and Daytona Seabreeze.

4) Utilization stats. This was provided last year and voted upon by the board. We should watch these figures every year to see if there is a shift in utilization of Club inventory. As I recall, this is higher than it was last year. I believe that is good.
- 65% Club Points; 717k use nights
- 8.4% Bonus Time; 92k use nights
- 0.2% Exchange through RCI or II
- 7.3% for Sampler packages
- <1% for rentals at Bluegreen Rentals.com for delinquent owners
- 1.6% for employee use
- 5% for resort use and upkeep.

I believe Club usage was in the 58% range last year. So, the utlization is going up which is good to keep owners happily paying their maintenance fees.

5) 5 month Rule elimination. We learned that the average Bluegreen owner stay is 3.7 nights. Very surprising. So, elimination of the 5 months rule actually eliminated a lot of owners from booking full weeks only to cancel part of it when the 5 month mark is reached. Most owners book 4 months or less from checkin. With the exception of only a few resorts such as Shore Crest I in the summer, full week bookings have not been materially impacted. Very surprising findings.

6) Premier program overview. We all know it in detail. So, I won't repeat it here.

7) Maintenance fees overview. Described above.

8) Annual dues went up to $129 on August 1 after an emergency meeting. Also, sales tax is no longer required. So, the fees in essence went up $7 per year.

9) I asked about Select Connections. There have been about 800 Select Connections reservations since the program was started. For Shell owners, the main destination is The Fountains. About 30% of all Shell Vacation Club owners book Orlando. For Bluegreen owners, our favorite destinations are Arizona and Hawaii. The balance of trade is not material to the utilization stats. But, at my request, they decided to add it for next year.

10) Only a few minutes was dedicated to DRI and Bluegreen simply handed out the Press Releases saying that they cannot disclose anything due to SEC regulations.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

The more interesting meeting happened after the annual meeting.

Here is a summary of the input I got from about 3 dozen of you. I didn't put everything in. Only the stuff that was discussed a lot. It was very well received and our input will be shared with people who can do something about it.

I'll comment now on the first 4 items:

1) Internet access in units. Apparently, each resort makes it own decision. But, LodgeNet could be the standard. It's a fee based service. I used it recently at Daytona Seabreeze. If they do that, I'll be happy. I don't mind paying. I just want it. I am getting more info on it soon. When I do, I'll provide an update.

2) Online reservations. Guess what? I met the person who is designing the interface and I saw a formal plan and some mock ups of what online reservations will look like. I won't tell you the timetables I was told because I was told not to do so. But, don't be surprised if we get something pretty good in 2009. And, it's better than the Wyndham interface. Woo hoo.

3) Online history of reservations. We should be getting this in 2008. Yes. It looks good and will be announced soon. I also saw some nice updates to the points values in our accounts. It will make it much easier to manage large accounts.

4) Consolidated billing. The number 1 project for IT is consolidated billing. All new customers and upgrade customers will now be billed one month prior to the anniversary date for both annual dues and maintenance fees and taxes. In addition, owners will be provided with the opportunity to pay their maintnenance fees in 3 installments for a $25 fee.

Just those 4 projects above are really big things we could be seeing soon. I am so jazzed that Bluegreen is working on them.

[rstopps Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rstopps]

[QUOTE=BocaBum99;271614]The more interesting meeting happened after the annual meeting.

Here is a summary of the input I got from about 3 dozen of you. I didn't put everything in. Only the stuff that was discussed a lot. It was very well received and our input will be shared with people who can do something about it.

I'll comment now on the first 4 items:

1) Internet access in units. Apparently, each resort makes it own decision. But, LodgeNet could be the standard. It's a fee based service. I used it recently at Daytona Seabreeze. If they do that, I'll be happy. I don't mind paying. I just want it. I am getting more info on it soon. When I do, I'll provide an update./QUOTE]

A comment on internet access. I also would pay for internet use if there was reasonable charge. The few that I have stayed at have a $9.95 charge for 24 hours of use with another charge for longer usage. When on vacation I only use the internet for checking e-mail and to do any financal things that might need to be done. This always takes less than an hour. An hourly charge of say $1.00 would be something I wouldn't mind paying.

Richard

[swirg53 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close swirg53]

Internet

If that's your limit to using it (one hour per day), then just get a free dial up account; just be sure it is NOT even a local long distance phone call............I screwed this up at CMV, thinking any long distance number would require the "1" to dial it up. Not so...............if I had had lodgenet, It would have been bunches cheaper!

Wish BG would use that cheaper one than Lodge Net......................can't remember the name right off hand.

[chap19150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chap19150]

To sign up for the Bluegreen HOA on Timeshare Forums, you must be a Bluegreen owner and a posting member of Timeshare Forums. So, first thing you must do is be able to post a message to this thread. Once you can do that, then you can go to this link and sign up on the Bluegreen HOA "Click Here" link: HOA Sign up Page.

If you get errors, send a private message to BigFrank or Quarterbore.

Jim

I resolved it. Thanks

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

Christmas Mountain Pools

3) In addition, new amenites at existing resorts were described. New Swimming pool at (I think) Christmas Mountain Village.

I certainly hope so. Since 1998, BG has added some 60 three bedroom units and has not increased the number of pools. (Actually, I think amount of pool space has decreased since the new indoor pool is smaller than the one it replaced. It is better for kids but not for adults!!)

Charles

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

MF Increase Comments

this is second year in row for special assessments or increased fees will this continue?
I am note sure how i am titled will that all be on my purchase papers .......in particular the trust fund type..... so that i can determine my costs.....
lastly are the maintenance fees the same accross the board. for example will those deeded in florida be higher than CMV???....

Let's see. The dollar amount of everything else (except my retirement portfolio) has gone up so I am guessing the maintenance fees will continue to increase. It looks like my fees went up about 9.4%.

To figure out which Trust you are in, figure out how your fees were determined last year. If you bought BG points from BG since around 2003, it should be in Trust E. I have never seen it stated on any official BG papers in my many purchases.

If you are in Trust B, D, or E, maintenance fees are the same across the board.

Charles