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.
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