TS Today - Creating a Vision for the Future of Vacation Ownership Issue #142, Jul/Aug 2015 | Page 38

TimeSharing Today Page 38 Jul/Aug, 2015 Timeshare Boardmanship: Conflicts of Interest By Lynne Kweder Q. As a member of a timeshare owners’ association board, I suggested that we give my son-in-law an opportunity to bid on our large painting contract. Having given this further thought, I am considering withdrawing my suggestion because of the FRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVWZLWKP\UROHDVDERDUG member. My son-in-law says that he should be given a fair opportunity, and it isn’t a FRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVWLI,GRQ¶WYRWHRQWKHPDWter. What do you advise? (Anonymous) A. You’re wise in being concerned DERXWWKHPDWWHURIFRQÀLFWVRILQWHUHVWRQ a timeshare board. Your son-in-law also has a good point. The issue is complex and well worth the time to weigh your options and actions. Your central ethical responsibility as a board member is to always give the good of the whole—the whole resort and owners’ association—priority over your personal interests, and over the personal interests of anyone else on the board, or any other interested party. $SRWHQWLDOFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVWLVDVLWXation in which you have two “loyalties” ZKLFK FRQÀLFW ZLWK RQH DQRWKHU ± LQ WKLV case, loyalty to your family and loyalty to your resort and owners’ association. Interestingly enough, timeshare owners who are board members in deeded SURSHUWLHV VWDUW ZLWK D SRWHQWLDO FRQÀLFW RI interest: their interest in the welfare of the VSHFL¿FXQLWVWKH\RZQYVWKHZHOIDUHRIWKH whole resort! 3RWHQWLDO FRQÀLFWV RI LQWHUHVW DUH DOmost unavoidable. The challenge is to manDJHDSRWHQWLDOFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVWDQGDYRLG WXUQLQJLWLQWRDQDFWXDOFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVW or one which is widely perceived by the RZQHUVDVDFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVW Ethical Option #1: Avoid the possibility of a perception of wrongdoing. Withdrawing the suggestion that your son-in-law be given the opportunity to bid on a large contract is certainly one ethical option to be considered. The perceptions and impressions of the owners who elected you are often more powerful than the facts and