Tom's right-on message in answer to Lynn Perkin's unjustified attack on Carl came as I was preparing an answer to her message where she certainly displayed a change-of-tune from the one she sang on April 5, 2006, when she was seeking the support of Carl and those owners who appreciated this site, started by him in spite of the refusal by his board to even consider a way for owners to interact with the Board.

When she wrote then, she stated clearly: "Carl's website is good, but I fear that it is not well enough known to provide the measure of independent support that we need." She asked for us to "Please cast your vote for me..." and promised "I will do my best to represent all of the owners." She said, "I believe that for too many years the FGH board has been led around by outside influences. It is my personal belief that the 'resort' (That would be Hospitality) and not Hilton is the greater threat, because they have so much more to gain by controling the FGH Board, ie (sic) get the exclusive right to list for rental or sale of our units and by encouraging owners to place their unit for rent through the resort so that they can receive the 35% rental fee."

She further stated: "...I believe that the present system of shared management is too complicated and (emphasis mine) I WOULD WORK TOWARD CHANGES THAT WOULD GIVE THE OWNERS MORE FREEDOM TO DO WITH THEIR UNITS AS THEY PLEASE."

Fast forward to today, two years later when possibly the compelling charm of a few free trips to Sanibel and concomitant on-site vacations have dulled her sense of responsibility to the members who elected her. Now she RIDICULES Carl, describing his complaints (remember, they were HERS, too) as "...his vendetta against the organizations that have the responsibility of making Casa Ybel a resort that a vast majority of owners love..."

Well, duh - OBVIOUSLY we love it, but that doesn't take away our right to complain as much as we - THE OWNERS - feel the need to!

She sneers that Carl's complaints are: "...he doesn't like Dick Jackson..." (Does ANYONE like the annointing of a "king" who rules forever?), "Hilton..." (I don't recall him complaining about Hilton), "Casa Ybel Hospitality..." (Let's see - YOU campaigned against their control of the board! Remember? See above), and the board of directors - (Ahem - YOU believed that the boards had been led around by Hospitality and YOU promised to work to make changes on that board!)

But NOW you apparently take your direction from the happy hour of the Tuesday morning coffees, which Tom accurately described as "... wasted two hours of valuable time." (Remember again - we PAY for that continental breakfast somewhere in the budget!)

Which brings up the point that she must have been brain-washed if she views it as OUR restaurant! OURS? Well, if you look at our annual payments towards upkeep of what they need and use - the driveway, their parking areas, the grounds and beach - they use for weddings, etc. - but - OURS? Is the INCOME shared? Hah! And, if you've actually eaten there in recent years, you know it costs a foot and an arm for even a light lunch! No help there!

Lastly, if any of us need to lower our adrenaline levels a little by continuing to grouse about the silent theft of our resort facilities, I think we can agree that here in good old America we HAVE the right to do so. Even Carl does, if he chooses to. I may not always agree with what Carl says or how he says it, but it IS his right to complain and he doesn't need Lynn's sanction! (I personally wish it would be changed into a CLOSED site so we don't publicly air our slightly-soiled laundry, but...?)

Now then, Lynn - how about spending the rest of your term on the board - the term we all helped you "win" - trying to really work to fulfill some of the politician-like promises you made? Tell us what you have done for US lately. Don't rest on your vague statement that you are "... always interested in...suggestions for improving Casa Ybel" and telling us to "...feel free to send them..."

O.K. - I'm sending this one now.

Joan Walker

Joan, you have jumped to a lot of conclusions and I think it is only fair that I respond to you.
FIRST: I am not a she, never was and never will be.
SECOND: I have never submitted a bill for any expenses to attend board meetings. The only feebies I have received are the lunches and refreshments we have at the board meetings. I purchased a fall week only because I wanted to be able to spend some time on Sanibel at the time of the fall meeting. Thus I think your remark about "free vacations" are completely off the mark.
THIRD: No one has brainwashed me, nor has there been an attempt to do so. It is true there has been no support on the board to support Carl's website. I am still dedicated to act for the betterment of Casa Ybel.
Pat Sweeney, who was elected last year has been very interested in working for an expanded web site. I was not able to attend the fall meeting as my wife fell and broke her hip on Sanibel the day before the meeting and she was in surgery the day of the meeting. If the subject comes up at the annual meeting I will be supportive.

I am disturbed that the greatest thrust of Carl's website is critical of the resort. I still believe that Casa Ybel is great and feel that an outsider would get an unfavorable opinion of it, if they knew nothing except what they read on the website.

Lynn Perkins

Sorry about the gender confusion, Lynn, and truly sorry to hear about your wife. I hope her recovery is well on its way!

Also, my less than successful attempt at humor in making a remark about "free vacations" obviously was out of place with you who has never submitted an expense account bill to the board, and it calls for an apology, here given.

However, as for my statements about the "platform" issues you put forth when you were running for election to the board, I still would appreciate answers about the statements - and promises - that you made regarding Hospitality's vs. owners' control of the board.

And - I still stand by my objection to your ridicule of Carl and this website. I can't imagine why anyone would bother reading or contributing to any kind of "bulletin" that wasn't put in place for those who were searching for something - a "thing" or an action. A bulletin or site that was started merely for those who needed the fix of a mutual "feel good" moment? I don't think so! You can find the latter - as Tom Defouw so accurately put it - in the "wasted two hours" of the Tuesday morning coffees.

So, please keep in mind that, if the owners bother with reading or contributing to this site, they (we) ARE searching for something, and we need the help of board members we put in place to do the job. I hope that in future meetings you will direct your attention to the causes - OUR causes - as you expressed them and as we accepted them in your pre-election platform.

I'm not cetain what you mean by the statement "hospitality vs. owner's control of the board". I don't know of any attempt by hospitality or action by the board that was based on hospitality's direction.
The whole operation works much better when we work together and I'll certainly give credit to hospitality for controlling the weddings. The music stops at 10:00 and most of the noise stops shortly thereafter. It wasn't that way until guests began complaining and hospitality took steps to correct the problem. I do recognize however that the 3 weeks that we own at Casa Ybel are in building F which is further removed. If the owners were to acquire hospitality, what do you see as a benefit to the owners? As a director, I would want nothing to do with running the restaurant, weddings or even the pool bar. I believe most of the owners want a nice place to vacation that is well maintained, free of hassles and is reasonably priced. If we were trying to run the business end and weren't successful, we could see our costs escalating out of our control. The pool and tennis courts probably should belong to the owners and that is one itme we might pursue. We have been paying a portion of the maintenance over and above our dues and hospitality might be happy to get rid of them.

Insofar as the purpose of this website is concerned. If outsiders are visiting the site and the owners want to use it as an avenue for renting our units, does it make sense to have such a large percentage of complaints on the site. If the site were closed, it might be different, but would you rent sight unseen if you read the negative remarks that are posted.

I'm sorry you feel like the owner's coffee are only "blowing smoke". Where else do you learn what is going on with the resort? There are some major renovation coming up that will be the subject of discussion at the coffee after the board meeting and it is helpful to meet our manager and staff as well.

Incidently, I will likely be asking for some reimbursement expenses for coming meetings.

Unbelievable that a site like this is not login and password protected. And that I, a now-owner is allowed to post here. I owned 5 weeks but sold all 15 years ago and realized a handsome return on my investment. You are right, airing your dirty laundry for all to see detracts from Casa Ybel and the value of your property. Why make all this negative stuff viewable to the public. I have been administrating condominium intranets for over 20 years and this is the poster boy for what not to do. This is not the way to enhance Casa Ybel. Sad to read all this negeative postings on such a potentially great property. MAKE IT PRIVATE!

I am pleased by your inputs indicating you both are seeking to level our playing field and explain the reasons for improving our understanding of each other.

One question was left in my mind:
Why do we have weekly meetings that obviously are boring to most owners stealing time from themselves to enjoy what they really came for, time to spend on the beach, not inside Thistle Lodge?

Why not use this web site to explain upcomming repairs and maintenance as they are planned?
Why do we waiste time with 6-10 owners out 3500 at a coffee every week which we are paying dearly for? A bill is placed every week for us to pay for the breakfast just explaining information that could be updated every week for free on this web? Or do the owners just get the same story over and over again each week at a large cost to the other owners?

Having the plans for maintenance listed on this web would create a continuous flow, that would be understood by all owners.

Food for thought.

Carl Appelberg

I don't think the owners coffees are a waste of time nor are they a waste of money. The coffee is an opportunity to meet other owners and to become acquainted with the owner's managers and hospitality's manager and the sales personnel. The owner's coffees ordinarily last 1 hour or less. If someones vacation is so tightly scheduled that they don't feel they have the time to spare, don't go!! I take vacations to relax, not to run, run, run.

The physical layout of Casa Ybel makes meeting other owners rather difficult and the social setting of the coffee provides a good way to get acquainted.