October 2009 Developments - 6

First Word Working with Legislators on Our Behalf ne of the great joys of writing this column in Developments magazine is the opportunity it gives me to address such a broad range of topics. From architectural achievements to economic challenges, this publication explores every aspect of our dynamic industry. Today, I get to shift gears entirely and talk politics. For 40 years, ARDA has represented our industry well through political lobbying and consumer advocacy, and I’m deeply proud to serve this dedicated organization. While I admired ARDA’s work long before I became Chairman, my new role has given me an even greater appreciation for the efforts of our association’s political arm, ARDA-ROC PAC (American Resort Development Association Resort Owners Coalition Political Action Committee). The committee enables owners to engage government ofﬁcials at all levels in constructive, ongoing dialogue and to participate in policy decisions affecting their vacation ownership experience. Year after year, timeshare owners are targeted by federal, state, and local lawmakers searching for various ways to raise revenue, and the search intensiﬁes as governments seek to ﬁll ever-growing budget shortfalls. Recognizing that the continued trust of our owners is critical to our industry’s success, the ARDA-ROC PAC is dedicated to protecting their economic interests. The recent passage of Florida bill HB 61 exempliﬁes these efforts. The bill protects timeshare owners from taxation on exchanges, which have become attractive beneﬁts for timeshare buyers in past years. HB 61 protects Florida timeshares’ competitive position and Florida timeshare owners’ ability to effectively use the exchange process that helps make our programs so appealing. Florida is the third state to adopt such legislation. The bill also cleared the way for timeshare developers to James M. Lewis O Backed by strong owner support, ARDA-ROC PAC is counted among the nation’s 20 most inﬂuential trade association PACs. offer “debt cancellation” products. Similar to those previously introduced by auto companies, these products allow purchasers to return a timeshare to a developer, in the event of job loss or other speciﬁed events, without impacting their credit score. This is just the latest example of ARDA-ROC PAC’s successful efforts. During the past decade, the committee has used voluntary contributions from owners to (1) engage attorneys and government affairs professionals, (2) pay for research to defend owner-legislative positions, and (3) contribute to elected ofﬁcials at the local, state, and federal levels who are supportive of owner-legislative positions. Funds are directed by the ARDA-ROC Executive Group, which is comprised of our industry’s most prominent leaders, including individual timeshare owners. ARDA-ROC has spearheaded more than a dozen successful legislative efforts, from a 2007 Florida bill that provided for an affordable alternative to obtaining insurance for sold-out homeowners’ associations to the prevention of a 2008 South Carolina bill that would have imposed an additional fee on non-owner occupied timeshare units. The ARDA-ROC PAC concept is relatively simple: owners across the U.S. join together to gain collectively what they’re unable to achieve on their own. With unity comes strength. Backed by strong owner support, ARDA-ROC PAC is counted among the nation’s 20 most inﬂuential trade association PACs. During the year ahead, ARDAROC PAC will work on our behalf on a number of critical efforts, from protecting timeshare buyers against predatory lending practices to ensuring that any comprehensive immigration reform law addresses the economic needs of both future workers and undocumented workers already in the United States. High-proﬁle debates over tax policy, predatory lending, and relaxed immigration laws will consume lawmakers in the coming months, and ARDA-ROC and ARDA-ROC PAC are dedicated to making our voice heard. As you read more about the legislative issues surrounding our industry in this edition of Developments magazine, rest assured that the ARDAROC PAC is continuing its tremendous work on our behalf. James M. Lewis Chairman Developments • October 2009

October 2009 Developments

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2009 Developments