Disney Files - ARDA-ROC PAC - WHAT THE HECK???

[Deb & Bill]

Anyone else get their new Disney Files today? I can't imagine the gaul of Jim Lewis to send a voluntary contribution card for ADRA-ROC PAC of which he is the chairman. This is a political contribution. In the member magazine and he devoted his entire column to that political group. And the money goes to Member Accounting.

Bad taste, Jim, bad taste.

 

[Disneypirate85]

YUP got ours too! We were a little confused as to what the heck it was?
We filed it.....Shawn

 

[BeccaG]

Anyone else get their new Disney Files today? I can't imagine the gaul of Jim Lewis to send a voluntary contribution card for ADRA-ROC PAC of which he is the chairman. This is a political contribution. In the member magazine and he devoted his entire column to that political group. And the money goes to Member Accounting.

Bad taste, Jim, bad taste.

Yup. . you said it.

 

[Sammie]

Have not gotten mine yet, so you are saying the contribution card is included in the magazine.

If so, tear it out and mail it back to him! Empty of course.

 

[BeccaG]

Have not gotten mine yet, so you are saying the contribution card is included in the magazine.

If so, tear it out and mail it back to him! Empty of course.

I like the idea. . debating if its worth the stamp!!! And yes its with the magazine, not in it, although his page is all about this "great" organization and all it has done for us and the timeshare industry.

 

[disneynutz]

I like the idea. . debating if its worth the stamp!!! And yes its with the magazine, not in it, although his page is all about this "great" organization and all it has done for us and the timeshare industry.

Hasn't done squat for me and Lewis has made some pretty poor member policy decisions lately. As a matter of fact, all Disney Execs have lost touch with reality. I hope something changes before things really get screwed up.

 

[Sammie]

I like the idea. . debating if its worth the stamp!!! And yes its with the magazine, not in it, although his page is all about this "great" organization and all it has done for us and the timeshare industry.

Don't waste the stamp, simply write a note on it, with suggestions for improving DVC, not asking for contributions to a political lobbying organizations that benefits developers.

One: who designed the bathroom/kitchenette in the BLT studios.

 

[Longhairbear]

That donation envelope is in bad form. I am surprised the higher ups allowed this.
The spouse suggested that we mail it back full of expired Fastpasses.
Actually I am going to send it back with suggestions concerning the DVC. One suggestion is a Fort Wilderness DVC. For those that love to camp, but are too far to drive/ don't have an RV or tent, and those that want to try camping without buying an RV, or tent. Members would choose from campsites including a restored retro travel trailer, or an actual tent supplied by the DVC. I'd stay there if the trailers were air conditioned.

 

[Dean]

Many timeshares, including most of the ones I own, include an ARDA donation as part of your fees. You can skip it, as I do on principle, but you have to pay a different amount than they list. With Marriott I think it comes up as $5 per week, with Bluegreen, it comes up as $5 per individual contract I believe. With BG it actually shows as a balance on my account for another month or so after I pay it. IMO, ARDA is a lot like ROFR, it is more for the developer than the member but there are some secondary benefits to the member as well. I wonder if the developer gets to take a tax deduction for our "donations". My guess is they are worthwhile to the system overall but I don't know enough about them to justify a donation as I take my donations very seriously.

 

[DVC Mike]

At the Dec 2008 Annual Member meeting, there was a presentation by ARDA about what it does and how it supposedly benefits timeshare owners by fighting for their rights (such as no taxation). It was also mentioned that DVD had joined ARDA and that Jim Lewis would be the next rotating chairman.

Since many timeshare companies are members of ARDA and also invite their members to contribute, I have no problem with this.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hasn't done squat for me and Lewis has made some pretty poor member policy decisions lately. As a matter of fact, all Disney Execs have lost touch with reality. I hope something changes before things really get screwed up.

I totally agree. I'm also one of those who will send back prepaid envelopes, but not one I need to put a stamp on.

 

[JimMIA]

At the Dec 2008 Annual Member meeting, there was a presentation by ARDA about what it does and how it supposedly benefits timeshare owners by fighting for their rights (such as no taxation). It was also mentioned that DVD had joined ARDA and that Jim Lewis would be the next rotating chairman.

Since many timeshare companies are members of ARDA and also invite their members to contribute, I have no problem with this.

Thanks for the explanation, Mike.

Sounds to me that this is much more about Jim Lewis being a "Big Man on Campus" with his buddies in the timeshare industry than either DVC or DVC Members. I'll pass.

 

[DeeCee735]

I'm not donating, and while this may be something intergrated in dues, or asked by other timeshare companies, I feel it doesn't belong in our membership magazine. Use another forum/mailing, whatever, to ask for money! Dues go up every year, ticket prices are ridiculous and increasing, as does food and beverage, photo's, souveniers, etc. As repeat visitors, I feel we spend enough visiting. And, especially in this economy, I feel there are much more "deserving" places to send my donations, as I too take my donations very seriously. JMHO

 

[tomandrobin]

Hasn't done squat for me and Lewis has made some pretty poor member policy decisions lately. As a matter of fact, all Disney Execs have lost touch with reality. I hope something changes before things really get screwed up.

This statement is not true. ARDA just recently was able to have legilation defeated in Florida that would have added a "transient stay" tax to timeshares. This would include DVC stays. This tax would have been charged to owners for every night they stayed in their DVC unit.

Don't Dis what ARDA has done if you don't know.

PS - I do not pay the ARDA fee that is included with my Starwood timeshares.

 

[tomandrobin]

Here is the link to the ARDA website.

ARDA site

 

[tomandrobin]

Here is a recent article on HB 61 that was supported by ARDA.

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2009 — According to The American Resort Development Association (ARDA), recent passage of legislation by Florida's state legislature ensures that important protections for timeshare owners are in place. In addition to ensuring timeshare owners will not pay tax on timeshare exchange transactions, the bill, HB 61, codifies a common industry practice regarding the taxation of transient stays at timeshare resorts as well as allows timeshare developers to offer "Debt-Cancellation" products to purchasers.

Though no state or jurisdiction currently collects a tax on timeshare exchange, it has become an increasing concern as state and local governments seek new revenue to fill ever growing budget shortfalls. Florida becomes the third state to pass legislation specifically protecting timeshare owners from taxes on exchange, one of the major attractions for timeshare buyers in recent years. HB 61 protects the competitive position of Florida timeshares and the ability of Florida timeshare owners to effectively use the exchange process by preventing taxes that could raise the cost and lower the desirability of exchanges into the state. "For 40 years, ARDA has worked with federal and state government officials in support of legislation to protect consumers," said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. "The value of our industry rests in the continued trust of our owners and members."

ARDA, along with its Resort Owner's Coalition, has advocated for state legislation guaranteeing that timeshare owners are protected from such taxes.

"Without the consistent and strong support from sponsors Sen. Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne) and Rep. Steve Precourt (R-Winter Garden), HB 61 could not have been enacted," said Jason Gamel, Vice President of State Government Affairs of ARDA. "This ARDA-backed measure clarified the existing tax status of exchange which had been questioned by some jurisdictions as they searched for revenue in a down economy."

HB 61 also cleared the way for timeshare developers to offer "Debt Cancellation" products. Much like products previously offered by auto manufacturers, these arrangements would allow purchasers to return a timeshare to the developer if hit with the loss of a job or the occurrence of other specified events without negatively impacting the consumer's credit score. The legislation also delineates the tax status of transient stays at timeshare properties. The common industry practice in such cases has been to remit tax in the same manner as a traditional hotel, but a recent court decision in South Florida called into question the taxability of these transactions. HB 61 updated Florida tax statutes to clarify that transient stays are taxable codifying the long-time practice.

The American Resort Development Association is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC).

http://www.resorttrades.com/news.php?act=print&id=3713

 

[Sammie]

And the contributions they made:

http://watchdog.net/lob/c/700070646

 

[Tigger031266]

These guys sound alright to me. Not really left or right slanted, just protecting vacations.... I would not waste my time donating but if DVC thinks they help us, I am alright with a card.

 

[KevGuy]

Please contribute to the millionare developer welfare program.....NOT!!!!!

 

[drusba]

The organization is mainly one to serve the interests of the developers and timeshare industry. That members may benefit at times as a result is a truism, e.g., the developers don't want timeshare vacation time taxed because they perceive it will affect timeshare sales and thus the organization lobbies against. However, we should not be fooled into thinking that its main objective is to protect timeshare owners.

What I find tacky is that this came as part of the Disney Files. Our dues pay for the creation and mailing of the Disney Files. For DVD to use it, and thus get free mailing paid for by us, to solicit political constributions to a developers pac is something I think should not be done.