TimeSharing Today Page 43 May / Jun , 2018
TIMESHARE BOARDMANSHIP : Being board president
By Lynne M . Kweder
Q . I have been asked to become the president of the board of directors of my timeshare resort . I have vacationed here for many years and love this resort . I joined the board to “ give back ” for some of the benefits my family has received from our ownership . After two years on the board , the other members have asked that I prepare to become the next president .
I am losing sleep considering whether to agree to take on the job . Please give me your perspective on what the job calls for .
A . Having been a board president , I do have a perspective on what the job requires . I also interviewed other board presidents to enhance the picture of the role . You already cited several characteristics important to being the president of a board :
• You “ love the resort .”
• You want to “ give back ” in volunteer work for some of the benefits you have received . So , you have a fitting underlying motivation to perform the role .
• You have served on your board for two years , so you have had an introduction to the complexity of the timeshare world .
• Finally , your colleagues on the board believe you are up to the job and are ready to support you .
Unique experience
No one enters the job of a timeshare board president having all the expertise needed to do the job . Most of those interviewed began with only a small portion of the knowledge they have today . Each president brings some previous relevant experience and then must acquire the remainder of the knowledge on the job .
Some previous experiences presidents cited as helpful in doing the job were having run a small business , accounting training , having been on the timeshare board as a member , being a trainer and consultant to non-profit boards , marketing , and purchasing and dealing with vendors . A large variety of other background experiences would be supportive to a board president and serve as a foundation and jumping-off place to learn the job .
( For an expanded list , see “ Recruit an effective board ,” Issue # 154 Jul / Aug , 2017 , pp . 42-44 . Even this list is not allinclusive . Even if the strongest person on a board has done something else , he / she can learn and use third-party experts for support .)
Interestingly , no one I interviewed for this article mentioned any history of property-management or hospitalityindustry experience .
Know what you don ’ t know
One of the presidents I interviewed spoke about how much education in timeshares “ no one would expect ” is needed to perform the role .
Laws and regulations covering condos , timeshares , conduct of owners ’ associations , non-profit organizations , financial and accounting , property and land-use , labor law , and provisions for
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