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In This Edition Rental Reservations Homeowner Information Specials Offers Communication Numbers
Resort Manager's Report
Mark ZimmermanResort Manager
As of this writing, May 25th, we still have two to three feet of snow sitting in places in the watergarden and eight feet on the north side of the Aspen building. As you might imagine, landscaping is "on-hold" so we are in the process of deep cleaning and performing maintenance on rooms. If you visit OVI this summer I would imagine there will still be snow at the top of Squaw as they have received nearly 800 inches this year, an all-time record.Click to continue reading...
_President’s Report
Michael HarperPresident
The OVI Board met twice this spring to address two important issues. In March the Board of Directors held a special meeting to
A New Reality
“For those searching for something more than just the norm. We lay it all down, including what others call sanity, for just a few moments on waves larger than life. We do this
because we know there is still something greater than all of us. Something that inspires us spiritually. We start going down hill, when we stop taking risks.” – Laird Hamilton, Famous Big Wave Surfer
The seemingly endless storms of the past winter have done wonders for the Sierra Tahoe. Water supplies throughout the region have given notice of a break in a four year dry spell. This winter's legacy cannot be officially measured until the "water year" closes September 30th; however, it is likely to end up near the top ten of snowiest winters since 1878. Squaw Valley is not the "official" location of measurement but there have been over 700 inches of accumulated snowfall to date.
As we emerge now we have been delivered into a new collective existence; a fresh beginning with an incredible burst of moxie. This summer has all the ingredients of an amazing season, a time to seek out new places and undertakings. It is a time to lose and diversify oneself within a new reality.
The Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe summer will be a vivid display of activity, events, music, arts and fun. Squaw Valley USA will feature Tuesday's Bluesdays concert series, free outdoor movies, food and beverage events, and additional festivals and happenings. Indeed something for
address the long term health of OVI. Former OVI President Dale Watson agreed to be the facilitator for this meeting. The Board worked on a vision statement, a mission statement and identified possible goals that would insure the long term health of OVI. Click to continue reading...
Emails
Help us save money! If you have received this newsletter by regular mail it may be because we don't have an accurate email address for you. Please email us with your name and address: [email protected]
In This Edition• Resort Manager’s Report• A New Reality• President’s Report• Reservations In the Know• A Message from Greg Rankin• Timeshare Resale Scam Alert• Calendar of Events • Communication Numbers• Board of Directors Meetings• Yearly Usage Calendar (pdf)
all.
Of note in North Lake Tahoe is the return of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival featuring "The Twelfth Night" beginning mid-July. In addition, The Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance
Wooden Boat Show in August is always a great event. Just 50 miles to our east will be several Reno events of note. Mid-June brings the renowned Reno Rodeo. The popular Hot August Nights in early August is always a must do. September will bring The Great Reno Balloon Aces and the National Championship Air Races. Click to continue reading...
Reservations In the Know
Greetings! Let's recap your timeshare ownership here at Olympic Village Inn. Dues and usage are from June 1 through May 31 each year. We have included a use calendar in the insert or you can find it online at olympicvillageinn.com.Click to continue reading ..
A Message from Greg Rankin
Resort Realty Services at Olympic Village Inn
I have been involved in the timeshare industry and with Olympic Village Inn longer than most of you have been owners here at OVI. To this day I believe that ownership at OVI is one of the greatest values in the entire industry! Why?
To start, it is located at the base of a world renowned ski area, in a beautiful valley a short distance from Lake Tahoe and Truckee. This area offers unparalleled year-round activities and entertainment. The resort is very well managed, beautifully maintained, financially sound and
Connect with OVI! consistently receives excellent ratings.
For most of our owners, OVI is within driving distance which means they can get much more use from their ownership and they don't have to deal with the hassles of long distance travel. Click to continue reading ...
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Resort Manager's Report (continued)
On the financial end of OVI, we are close to our year end and performing well financially. Our reserve fund for replacement of assets is approximately $700,000, up from $542,620 last year. We will fall short of our operational budget goals this year largely due to propane costs running almost $50,000 over budget.
I would like to acknowledge Beatriz Munoz for achieving her 25th anniversary of employment here at OVI. Beatriz, a
housekeeping inspector, is our 3rd employee to achieve this 25-year milestone here at OVI. She does a great job.
I want to encourage all of our Owners to be sure to experience a vacation this year and every year. Our world still faces very challenging times and, if we don't make it a priority, an annual vacation can slip away one year to the next. I hope to see you here at OVI in the very near future.
Sincerely,
Mark Zimmerman, Resort Manager
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President's Report (continued)
Some of the common themes that the Board identified were the unique location of OVI, its 1960 Olympic roots, the broad seasonal experience provided by OVI, and the excellent maintenance of the resort. Over this coming year, the Board will continue to refine the statements and goals and will share their work with our owners.
In April, the Board held its regular spring meeting. This meeting is focused on the coming year's operating budget and reserves budget. Prior to delving into the budget discussion, our Resort Manager provided an overview of the State of the Timeshare Industry. A couple of topics that stood out as reported by American Resort Development Association (ARDA) concerned dues and bad debts. Dues over the last 5 years have on a national level had average annual increases of 9% while OVI has stayed at less than 3%. Bad debts – dues not being paid – is 13% on a national average while, again, OVI is at 3%. The great record that OVI has experienced is a result of the outstanding effort of our Resort Manager, Mark Zimmerman, and our excellent staff. In other spring Board meeting action, the Board preliminarily approved a code of ethics and procedures for the Board to guide its quarterly meetings; relations with management, staff and our owners; and other related matters.
I hope you have an opportunity to visit your resort this summer or fall as I don't believe you could find a better place to vacation.
Sincerely,
Michael Harper, President
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A New Reality (continued)
The Olympic Village Inn will always have a fun and varied selection of activities for your enjoyment. Look forward to guided hikes, several jewelry classes, and pottery-mosaic offerings. As always, riding our terrific bike path is always a must do during your stay. Not to be missed is our Guest Welcome Orientation. Whether you are a first time guest or a longtime owner, this event is your best source of information, ideas and expert thoughts to create that perfect stay. Be sure to check-out our Facebook page which is easily linked from our home page on The Olympic Village Inn web site. See year-round resort information, photos, activities and up to date events and announcements throughout the year.
Perhaps it is just romanticism, or perhaps we crave diversity within our surroundings, but summer makes the mind run untamed and unrestrained. And at that time something unexpected may happen; when you reach that peak on a perfect day and the lines ahead of you begin to blur into the horizon, a new reality grabs hold. The compass once again is pointing to this majestic destination; no regrets and a little swagger thrown in.
"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what's woven into the lives of others."” – Pericles: Statesman, Orator and General of Ancient Greece
I look forward to your return...
Lee B. Rump, Director of Recreation and Activities
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Reservations In the Know (continued)
You are encouraged to reserve your week with us as follows:
• 3 Week Owner or more – 1 year, 340 days in advance• 2 Week Owner – 1 year, 320 days in advance • 1 Week Owner – 1 year, 300 days in advance • Split Weeks – 1 year, 200 days in advance
Advance bookings allow you to select a choice week and if you change your mind you are welcome to select a different week at any time within your season subject to availability with no penalty. While you are eligible to reserve 2 years out you are only paying for your week every June when the new fiscal year begins.
Let's talk about Bonus Time. This is an owner benefit that allows Owners, those listed on your deed, and financially dependent children to stay for a couple of days during any time of the year. If you are not sure who is listed on your deeded ownership you can call us and we will help you with that information. Bonus Time is not guaranteed. The priority period is 17 days in advance to put yourself on a waitlist. This is still an awesome way to enjoy your resort outside of your scheduled week and for a great rate. If you want to guarantee your stay, Owner Rental is the way to go.
This can be done in advance and at 25% off the rack rate non-holiday. By the way, this is a great gift for friends and family to be able to visit with or without you and experience the reason you own here. For more detailed information you can refresh the last newsletter or give us a call. Curious about what's available for activities here at Olympic Village Inn? Check out "Facebook" on our website. Noelle does a fabulous job of posting pictures and current events on all the latest.
Can't use your week? RCI has a new "Weeks Enhanced" program that might fit your needs if you enjoy exchanging, and we do honor all exchange companies. Also, you can gift your week to a charity, or use our rental program. This year we have shared our inventory with some online booking sites to expose your rentals to a greater audience. We will always do our best with helping you make your timeshare work. Finally, it's great to see all of our returning owners and we extend a warm welcome to our new owners as well. Please stop by Reservations and introduce yourself. We are here M-F, 8am-4pm. Remember, Olympic Village Inn is "your home-away-from-home" so come and enjoy!!!
See ya' here.Sherrie Long, Reservations Manager
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A Message from Greg Rankin
Resort Realty Services at Olympic Village Inn (continued)
For owners also interested in traveling to other destinations, OVI now provides virtually every option for exchange. Since our owners have varied lifestyles and different vacation patterns they can pick something that fits their specific needs from the exchange options listed below:
RCI is the largest of the exchange networks in the time share industry and offers two systems of exchange to OVI owners:
RCI "Weeks" Exchange, originally begun in the mid 1970s, has recently been enhanced. They have taken a few of the benefits of the Points program, slightly modified them, and made them a part of the Weeks Exchange. As with Points, members can now see their exact Trading Power and that of resorts they are considering for exchange. They can also combine values, for a fee, if they want to trade for something of higher value. Members are, however, restricted to only exchanging for other weeks resorts and each exchange is in weekly increments.
RCI "Points" Exchange launched in 1999, RCI "Points" gives members the ability to exchange to all RCI resorts in their system (Points and Weeks) and does not restrict them to just weekly exchanges. Points members can exchange for individual nights, up to 40 nights, for just one low exchange fee. It also allows members to save unused Points automatically and possibly combine their values from OVI and other RCI Weeks properties that they own.
Interval International (II) is both the second largest and oldest of the timeshare exchange companies in the industry. It offers for exchange many high-end resorts (Marriott, Starwood, Hyatt, Four Seasons and more) and enjoys an excellent reputation. They have traditionally been a Weeks Exchange, but have recently launched their own version of a Points Exchange program. One significant difference in their system is the ability to search available exchanges before depositing your week and the ability to acquire additional Points for exchange directly from your home resort.
OVI also works with virtually all of the smaller boutique exchange companies; Trading Places, Hawaii Timeshare Exchange, San Francisco Exchange, GPX, Platinum Exchange, to name a few. All of these have a good reputation, but again, only offer weekly exchanges.
If you would like more information on any of these exchange options, plan to speak with me the
next time you are at the Olympic Village Inn, or give me a call. As always, I will be glad to answer all of your questions.
Lastly, I want you to know that we currently have some OVI ownerships available at prices that are lower than the original pre-construction sale in 1982 – starting at $1,590! These are available to owners, your family members and friends and INCLUDE all closing costs.
I look forward to talking with you.
Greg RankinResort Realty Services530-581-6020
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Timeshare Resale Scam Alert
The below is an article from the Editor of Timesharing Today regarding resale scams. If you are considering resale, please be aware.
The Editor's Frustration
Although we have been writing about timeshare scams for at least fifteen years, during the past two years we have had something about resale scams in almost every issue. We have repeatedly published articles about the most common current scam:
"We have a buyer for your week for $22,000; send us $2,000 to cover search and closing costs." Yet, every week, we receive emails, sometimes several in a day, asking if we are familiar with such-and-such company, which has a buyer for the writer's timeshare and needs a few thousand dollars to cover closing costs, or a search, or something. We would understand if the people who write to us were not subscribers and were not familiar with this common scam. Unfortunately, many emailers indicate that they subscribe to Timesharing Today. We know people read our articles, so we can only ascribe the willingness of readers to fork over money to these scammers to very short memories or very persuasive sales people.
And remember this:If you receive an unsolicited call that the there is a buyer for your week at a price that is unreasonably high, and you are requested to send money for some closing cost, it is probably a scam.
(I know that using the word "probably" means that we will continue to receive email inquiries about a particular company, so just mentally eliminate that word "probably" from the preceding admonition.)
However, if you cannot resist the temptations and the potential risk, we urge you to do the following:1. Do not, under any circumstances, rely on verbal promises, and2. Get everything in writing, and3. Have an attorney review the documents, handle the negotiations on your behalf and place all fees in escrow until the closing.
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Calendar Of Events
July 1-3, 2011Squaw Valley Fine Arts and Crafts Festival The intimate setting allows individuals to meet with more than 50 award-winning artists from throughout the west and features a wide variety of artwork including photography, watercolors and oil paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and more. www.pacificfinearts.com
July 5 - August 30, 2011Bluesdays at SquawCatch a FREE blues concert on the Events Plaza Stage, with well known regional blues musicians, 6-8pm every Tuesday in July and August. In between listing to the music, visitors can enjoy great
grab and go "blue plate" specials from the Village restaurants, cocktails from the "blues bar" and also explore the Village's unique shops and art gallery. Visit www.squaw.com/bluesdays-squaw for a musical lineup.
July 7 - August 25, 2011Free Outdoor Movie SeriesFamilies and friends can snuggle up under the stars while enjoying new releases and family classics on the big screen in the Events Plaza at The Village at Squaw Valley. A different movie shows every Thursday through August. All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. Visit www.squaw.com for a move lineup.
July 9, 2011Soaring Kites and Music Festival at High CampWatch high flying kites perform stunts in a stunning alpine setting. This special event features kite flying demonstrations, kids kite building seminars, and great live music at High Camp from noon to 5pm. www.squaw.com
July 16-17, 201110th Annual Art, Wine & Classical Guitar Music FestivalSquaw Valley's base village will burst with color, taste, and sound as fine artists, crafts makers, performers and musicians come to participate in this fun, two-day annual event. The event features two performance stages, restaurants and shops, and walkways lined with fine art booths and exhibits. www.squaw.com
July 23-24, 2011Wild West Weekend at High CampPony rides for children, petting zoo and live music are all free with a Cable Car ticket. Mosey on down to the paintball corral and have a shoot out with your closest buddies to see who has the fastest gun in the Sierra. www.squaw.com
August 13-14, 201110th Annual Brews, Jazz & Funk FestThe Village at Squaw Valley will pair up cold brews with hot music when some of the most recognized jazz and funk favorites perform under the peaks of Squaw Valley USA. Festival goers can listen to continuous live music on two stages while sampling the offerings of more than 20 breweries. Beers are available for $4 and entry fee is $5. All proceeds benefit Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. www.squaw.com
To learn more about these and other local events, check out these sites....
5quaw Valley USA Upcoming Events – www.squaw.com
North Lake Tahoe Event Calendar – www.gotahoenorth.com
Tahoe Snowfest – www.tahoesnowfestival.com
Lake Tahoe Events Calendar – www.tahoeactivities.com
Virtual Tahoe Event Calendar – www.virtualtahoe.com
Area Ski Resorts – www.olympicvillageinn.com
Weather/Road Conditions – www.olympicvillageinn.com
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Communication Numbers
Physical Address1909 Chamonix Place, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Mailing AddressP.O. Box 2395, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Important Phone NumbersMain Phone 530-581-6000Reservations Phone 800-VILLAGEMain Fax 530-583-3135Reservations Fax 530-583-4165
Websitewww.olympicvillageinn.com
Email AddressesReservations – [email protected] Manager – Mark Zimmerman: [email protected] Manager – Konny Garrett: [email protected]
All Other Departments – [email protected]
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Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for January 8th, 2011
A regular meeting of the Village Inn Owners Association (VIOA) Board of Directors was held January 8, 2011 at the Olympic Village Inn at 9:04am. Directors Cusick, Harper, Hooper, Spiller, Traenkner and Weekes were present.
Action Items• Minutes of the Sept. 25, 2010 Annual Meeting and Board Meeting were approved unanimously• Quarterly Financial Reports were approved unanimously • Insurance coverage's were approved unanimously
Other Items Discussed• Resale overview presentation• Compliance with the California Davis Sterling Act regarding homeowner associations• Day use policy• Foreclosures• Inventory projection chart
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for March 19th, 2011
A special meeting of the Village Inn Owners Association (VIOA) Board of Directors was held March 19, 2011 at Alan Traenkner's office in Oakland, CA at 9:35 am. Directors Cusick, Harper, Hartman, Sr., Hooper, Spiller, Traenkner and Weekes were present.
Items Discussed• Expectations of the Board of Directors Meetings• Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members• Roles and Responsibilities of the Resort Manager
• State of Vacation Timeshare Industry• Vision Statement/Mission statement
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for April 9th, 2011
A regular meeting of the Village Inn Owners Association (VIOA) Board of Directors was held April 9, 2011 at the Homewood Suites in San Jose, CA at 9:00am. Directors Harper, Hartman, Sr., Hooper, Spiller, Traenkner and Weekes were present.
Action Items• Minutes of the January 8, 2011 Board Meeting were approved unanimously• A certified ADA evaluation was approved unanimously• Quarterly Financial Reports were approved unanimously• McClintock Acct. Corp to do year end audit approved unanimously• Budget with dues at $642 was approved unanimously• Reserve study was approved unanimously• Billing and collection policy was approved unanimously• Board Travel Reimbursement proposal was approved unanimously
Other Items Discussed• Foreclosures• Vision Statement
These summaries are intended for informational purposes only. The formal minutes are available upon written request.
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