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April
Newsletters 2008
Week 13 &
Week 14
Week 15
& Week 16
PelicanNews - Weeks 13
& 14 - Date sent April 10, 2008
Be sure to check the web site for rentals and sales
@ www.pelicannews.net or email judy@navnet.net
Pelican Owner
Announcement, April 2008
An inquiry was made to the fact that, Royal Resorts has gone through the
process of De-Listing, moving its business from Grand Cayman to Belize.
The TAPRC Board is aware of this activity as it was thoroughly reviewed
by our attorney who confirmed that the transactions were all legal and
all contracts that Pelican has with Royal are whole and unaffected.
The TAPRC Board has performed its "Due Diligence on the De-Listing issue" and is
satisfied that everything is in order and the matter is now closed.
Jerry Luke, Treasurer TAPRC
Tom Hoshall, Legal Liaison TAPRC
****************************
**** IMPORTANT*** Be sure to put pelicansxm@yahoogroups.com
on your list of email addresses to receive the newsletter.
Visited the Resort web site - Pelicanresort.com
Register on line for your next stay www.pelicanresort.com
Read the 1st 2nd, 3rd
and 4th Quarter minutes 2007 & the
monthly financial information on line in the owners section.
ELECTION INFORMATION For the Nomination Sheet and
Election
Procedures for the 2008 Election of three (3) Members to
the Board of Directors Tenants’ Association Pelican Resort
Club (T.A.P.R.C.). All nominations must be submitted
by August 25, 2008.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on
December 2nd and 3rd 2008 at the Pelican Resort Club.
Owners renting their unit please notify the Resort by
email: memberservices@royalresorts.com
*************************************************
All the members Pelican can make the payments of
the AMF on via internet on the web page of Pelican.
**************************************
Note the listings of units for sale are in the
Pelican owners section at pelicanresort.com
*************************************
Candidate for 2008
Election
From: "Roy Martin" <royeiramartin@sympatico.ca>
Date sent: Sun, 23 Mar 2008
I am a management professional with over 30 years of experience
in Information Technology with Engineering and Finance organizations
in England, Canada and the USA. I am a certified Project manager
with many successful Computer Hardware, Software and Organizational
Change implementation in Banking and the Finance Industry. I retired
in 2003 and am now teaching project management to mature students
at a Canadian Technology College and organize mentoring programs
for project managers in Toronto. I also work as a volunteer for
the Timeshare Users Group and manage the Canadian Resort review
section of the groups web site.
As an owner of three units at Pelican Resort, I have over 30 years
of management experience and have owned timeshare in Canada,
Mexico and St Martin for over 20 years. We have owned at and
visited the Pelican Resort since 2001. I have worked with the
Timeshare Users Group in Toronto for more than six years.
I have been actively supporting Judy Young and the Pelican
News Web site for the past year and am committed to better
communication between owners, the Pelican Resort management
and the Royal Resorts organization.
My aim is to keep the Pelican a successful resort and to
improving owners and guest’s vacation experiences at the resort.
Now that I am retired my time now allows for my full participation
as a board member. I am confident that my project, financial and
general management expertise and my experience with the Timeshare
Users Group and two other timeshare resorts would be an asset to
the Board and to the Pelican Resort.
To reply by email: Type in your Name, Contract #, Unit # and
weeks owned.
Name___________________________ Contract # ___________
Unit #__________Weeks owned_____________
Please send your info to me at: "Roy Martin"
<royeiramartin@sympatico.ca>
******************************
From: Dan and Kat
Date sent: Sun, 30 Mar 2008
Subject: Pelican Beach Bar - On the Rocks
Hi Judy,
Some news from KAT for the e-mail list.
We have another Chef at the Beach bar, Gerard from Flamingo
has come on over to the "On the Rocks" Beach Bar and we have
a new expanded menu. Check it out!
JUNIOR is the Proud father of a New Baby Boy!
*******************************
Date sent: Fri, 28 Mar 2008
From: joseph fulton
Subject: Los Gouchos
Hi Judy, I just returned from 2 weeks at the Pelican. I must
tell everyone about the experience we had at Los Gauchos Restaurant.
Our son was married in the states last July but always wanted to
have pictures taken in St. Maarten. So we thought that as long
as he and his wife were dressed in their wedding garb, we would
have a dinner so that our Pelican Friends (20) could see the bride
and groom. I went to see Liesa Euton, the owner of the restaurant.
She not only agreed to accommodate us on short notice but printed a
special menu to honor the occasion. The food was excellent and the
service couldn't have been better. She even ordered a special
"wedding cake" for us. She certainly doesn't work on "island time".
We have dined there several times over the years and I would
recommend Los Gouchos to anyone.
*************************
Date sent: Wed, 2 Apr 2008
From: "Liesa Euton"
To: judy@navnet.net
Subject: Re: Los Gauchos
On 3/29/08, J. Stanley Smith M.D.wrote:
No need
She took care of it with the bank
I will not hold any grudges against you or Los Gauchos
and will return next year My dinner there was very good.
-----Original Message-----
From: "Liesa Euton"
To: Smith M.D., J. Stanley
Sent: 3/29/2008 01:22:01
Subject: Re: Los Gauchos
Dear Dr. Smith, If your daughter was double charged, please forgive
us, We only do what the banking machine tells us. If she did have a
double charge. We will be happy to fund your $$ I am sure the machine
gave some sort of message that allowed the waiter to ask for another
card. We are very honest church going people. Please do me a favor and
fax me both charges and I will forward payment you you asap. Sorry for
any unnecesary inconvience. Regards, Liesa
On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 4:11 PM, J. Stanley Smith M.D.
wrote: my daughter-in-law, Shana Brimer was there with her husband on
3/7 I think and charged her dinner to her credit card and was told
by the waiter that the charge was disapproved. She then put the
charge on her debit card. When she checked with the credit card
company, the charge was there and on her debit card. Since the
debit card is taken directly from her checking account she would
have had to pay twice. J Stanley Smith MD
*****************************
From: "PAT BRIODY"
To: "PELICAN JUDY" <judy@navnet.net>
Subject: Service Charge Shennanigans
Date sent: Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Dear Judy:
As you know, I recently passed along my complaint about restaurants
that hide their Service Charge as a tax line on the bill when, in
fact there is no food sales consumer tax on SXM. This is a deplorable
practice and I urge everyone to check their bills, and don't be afraid
to ask questions. In that regard, I want to raise some issues on the
whole process of a Service Charge--at least as understood by most
North Americans. I would appreciate any comments.
When I am asked to pay additional money as a Service Charge for a
meal, I assume that this is a tip, presumably for the servers who
waited on me. Whether or not these servers actually receive this tip
is beyond my scope. But if they do not receive it, I assume that they
are paid some other flat fee that is sufficient to make them want to
continue in the job. It is not my concern.
What the Service Charge should not be, is a means to charge more for
meals—beyond the individual prices on the menu. If a restaurant hasn’t
the guts to list realistic and appropriate prices for each item, they
need to re-examine their menu policy. The Service Charge is not a
profit center.
If I have received good to excellent service, my policy is to add some
cash to the table, raising the 15% Service Fee/Tip to the 18-20% range.
But I always use cash and never add it to a credit card, lest the
restaurant skim it off from the server.
In addition to the restaurants that falsely list the Service Charge
as tax, there are many who simply add in the Charge in the dollar
amounts without any explanatory line. Many restaurants also do not
note in their menu that Service Charge will be included. The variations
on these scams are almost endless.
The answer is to check your bill thoroughly. Add up the items.
If in doubt ask the server to explain all charges. Don't be shy.
Many veteran SXM-goers have some understanding of this, but
the new visitors get skinned with regularity.
*****************************
To: liesaeuton@los-gauchos.com
From:Greg Nevills
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Subject: Los Gauchos comments
Another great two week vacation at the Pelican with Los Gauchos
planned into our evening meals 25% of our stay.
Everyone at Los Gauchos is treated as a GUEST and your servers
take the time to ask if we needed anything everytime they passed
us. A direct reflection on your commitment to Excellent Service.
Once again, the Parrillada Pampas steaks where so tender and juicy,
cooked as requested. Which we where able to enjoy the next morning
with our breakfeast.
Your House Salad Dressing is excellent, which we requested and
received for the Pasta All-You-Can-Eat special, another great value.
I have attached a photo of Donna, Don and Theresa on our way to
Los Gauchos. See you in 09! Greg and Theresa Nevills
*************************************
From: "Deborah Henle"
Subject: Recent Stay at Pelican
Date sent: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:58:44 -0500
Hi Judy
My husband and I just returned from weeks 10-13 at the new
Pelican Marina Residences and we were very pleased with our
new unit and the staff at the Residences. The staff could
not have been friendlier or more attentive to our requests.
Overall, the Pelican Resort is looking great and we were
impressed with the amount of maintenance that has been done
since our stay last year. We love the new French bakery and
had several delicious lunches at the Beach bar. We have been
staying at the Pelican for 10 years and the resort has never
looked as good as it does now. The addition of new huts on
the beach was a welcome sight as there is no better place to
take a nice afternoon nap. We are already looking forward
to March 2009.
We love your newsletter!
Bob and Debbie George
Pelican Marina Residence, Villa 402
*****************************************
From: "KATHY SEGAL"
Subject: What is Happening to SXM! This is Terrible
Date sent: Sat, 29 Mar 2008
Please be very careful; enjoy life on SXM...stay safe. Kathy
http://www.smn-news.com/Letters/
*********************
From: John Nicolace
Date sent: Sat, 29 Mar 2008
Judy,
I have the following comment that I would like you to add to your
News letter:
My wife and I have been vacationing at the Pelican for the past
12 years. This year we spent weeks 6,7,8,& 9 at the Pelican. I noticed
that there is never any business at the Veranda Resturant. We stopped
patronizing the resturant years ago because of three major reasons,
bad service, bad food and bad attitude. We decided to try it one
more time to see if the Veranda with a spectacular view would
satisfy us. Well, there was only one other party of 4 in the
resturant and we waited 15 minutes before we just had to leave.
I guess things have not changed. I don't know how they survive.
John Nicolace, Owner of Weeks ,6,7,8,9
**********************************
From: patrick hoener
Subject: royal turtle inn
Date sent: Fri, 4 Apr 2008
Hi, We had to cancel a reservation for the royal turtle, we were
charged $ 140.00 because we had not cancelled 15 days prior, we
cancelled 12 days prior. (I missed or forgot their policy) Please post
this as I would not other people to get caught like this.
Pat Hoener
PelicanNews - Weeks 15
& 16 - Date to be sent April 24, 2008
Be sure to check the web site for rentals and sales
@ www.pelicannews.net or email judy@navnet.net
**** IMPORTANT*** Be sure to put pelicansxm@yahoogroups.com
on your list of email addresses to receive the newsletter.
Visited the Resort web site - Pelicanresort.com
Register on line for your next stay www.pelicanresort.com
Read the 1st 2nd, 3rd
and 4th Quarter minutes 2007 & the
monthly financial information on line in the owners section.
ELECTION INFORMATION For the Nomination Sheet and
Election
Procedures for the 2008 Election of three (3) Members to
the Board of Directors Tenants’ Association Pelican Resort
Club (T.A.P.R.C.). All nominations must be submitted
by August 25, 2008.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on
December 2nd and 3rd 2008 at the Pelican Resort Club.
Owners renting their unit please notify the Resort by
email: memberservices@royalresorts.com
*************************************************
All the members Pelican can make the payments of
the AMF on via internet on the web page of Pelican.
**************************************
Note the listings of units for sale are in the
Pelican owners section at pelicanresort.com
*************************************
New Internet Dining Service:
DineSXM - Restaurant Guide and Online Reservations
http://www.dinesxm.com
St. Maarten / St. Martin restaurant reservations and dining guide.
Current restaurant descriptions and information: opening hours,
menu suggestions, reviews, detailed maps, and the ability to
make a guaranteed reservation online.
**************************
From: Vicki and Bob Harlow
Date sent: Fri, 11 Apr 2008
We just returned from our annual week in St. Maarten and the Pelican
Resort is just great. From start to finish and the wonderful new
airport !! It was really a great vacation. The entire staff was
helpful, friendly and the new French bakery/eatery is a super
addition to the property. The marina residences look remarkable
and we enjoyed the new pool. All around, things are looking up
and as owners since 1993 we are glad! The only negative aspect
was the traffic on local roads that worsens each year; they need
to incorporate some mass transit ( lots of local buses) - we
timed our trips pretty well to avoid the heavy traffic times,
but it does need to be addressed. Vicki and Bob Harlow
*************************************
Subject: Royal Turtle
Date sent: Fri, 11 Apr 2008
From: "Mcdonald, Eric C"
Judy, Patrick Hoener posted a letter into the newsletter
that the Royal Turtle charged him $140 for not cancelling
within a 14 day window. Could you pass along to him that
I went through the same issue with them last year, sent
them an email saying I would call my credit card company
and dispute the charge (kiss of death to a business), they
reduced it to $40. They definitely aren't clear or forthright
about the policy until you need to make a change, and you'd
think they'd be a little more flexible since most of the time,
it's the airlines that cause all this hassle.
I would have sent this to him myself, but his email wasn't
listed in the letter. Eric C. McDonald
**********************************
From: "Roy Martin" <royeiramartin@sympatico.ca>
To: David.Childs
Subject: Re: Pelican Board
Date sent: Fri, 11 Apr 2008
Hi David,
Thank you for your interest and questions.
I am not sure I have good answers to your questions.
My Goals are to "have better communication between owners,
the Pelican Resort management and the Royal Resorts organization."
and to "keep the Pelican a successful resort and to improving
owners and guest's vacation experiences at the resort."
Managing stakeholders expectations has always been key to
success in my career.
I do not have much information on what it would take to get
the resort rated as "Gold Crown / 5 Star Resort" resort by
II and/or RCI, or what the costs of the required changes would be.
I do believe that our maintenance should cover all "reasonable"
cost of running the resort. In 18 years of ownership at the Royal
Mayan in Cancun I have never had a special assessment. The other
two resort I own at have had assessments in the years that I have
owned at them. It seems to me that assessments are a result of
poor finance management at the resorts/organizations.
As for keeping the maintenance fees down, I am all for that. But
I do not understand yet what expenses are in the future for the
resort and therefore to avoid "special assessments" this may not
be a realistic objective.
I hope that you will support my nomination.
Yours, Roy Martin
From: David.Childs@thomson.com
To: royeiramartin@sympatico.ca
Cc: david@childs.cc
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 12:36 PM
Subject: Pelican Board
Roy,
One thing you might want to add to your email, is your position
on the direction Pelican should go.
Are you in favor of bringing Pelican back up to a Gold Crown /
5 Star Resort, and if so, at what cost?
Are you in favor of keeping maintenance fees down, and if so,
at what costs?
When should maintenance fees go up instead of having a
special assessment?
This would help me decide if I supported your position on
the board. Experience is important, but beliefs and goals
are even more important. Look at the US Presidential Election.
My wife and I currently own 5 weeks at Pelican.
Thank you, David Childs
***************************
Subject: Pelican Visit week 13
Date sent: Sun, 13 Apr 2008
From: george prinzo
Hi Judy, I am an owner (2 units, weeks 13 and 14). I recently
spent week 13 at the Pelican, and as usual, it was ‘overall’
a delightful vacation.
We used Paradise Car Rental, and the rental went smoothly.
I like to mention that the following restaurants provided
very good to excellent service and very good to excellent
food:
La Petite Auberge, Marina Port la Royale - husband and
wife truly make you feel at home.
Zee Best, Simpson Bay Yacht Club (breakfast)
- wait staff very pleasant.
Saratoga Restaurant, Simpson Bay Yacht Club
- 'service charge' (tip) included, food excellent,
service not so.
Valentino’s Italian Bistro, Simpson Bay Yacht Club
- everything excellent.
Tutta Pasta, Simpson Bay Yacht Club
- service excellent, food very good, prices even better.
Antoine by the Sea, 119 Front Street, Philipsburg,
St. Maarten - food very good, service, owner, and
son excellent. They treat you like a long lost friend.
Contrary to the above, we (traveled with another owner couple)
were very disappointed with the service and to some extent
(where comparing with above) the food at Los Gouchos.
Since the 15% ‘service fee’ (tip) was already accounted
for, we felt the wait staff was just going through the
motions. In the past we’ve dined at Los Gouchos, and
although it was never our favorite spot, this was our
third (and perhaps) last visit.
In general, as pointed out by others, the ‘service fee’
(tip) is ‘never’ pointed out, and appears to be hidden on
the check.
As an owner, I was happy with the week, but when comparing
our facility to other time shares I have to admit visitors
to the Pelican can be ‘turned off’ by the sleeping
accommodations. We continue to find the bedding (mattress)
and pull-out sofa bed in poor condition. Fortunately, we
didn’t have to use our sofa bed, but if anyone had thoughts
of sleeping in the sofa bed it would have been an
unpleasant experience.
Last point is the amount of mosquitoes that are in the room(s).
I don’t know if they have nests, and/or they are coming in
while maid service is cleaning the room, but my wife had 29
bites by week end. I observed the maid cleaning my room, the
day of check-in. The door to my room was probably open for
over two hours (and again in the middle of the week)! Now I
know there is a policy in place, but couldn’t management
consider using temporary netting on the door during cleaning?
We are positive about the grounds, facilities, and staff of
Pelican, and we are hopeful that things will continue to improve.
Thank you, George
********************************
From: Ed
Date sent: Mon, 14 Apr 2008
Hello Judy & Dave,
This terrible crime story brought home to me my thoughts of our
visit to Freeport Island in the Bahamas many years ago. One evening
after a nice dinner in one of their restaurants, Dot and I decided
to visit the Casino. It was extremely dark and we had to cross a
lonely street and I was quite concerned over our safety, with thoughts
of the possibility of our getting mugged. After we had safely arrived
in the casino I mentioned my fears to a security agent there who
assured me that the Freeport Police had silently watched us and
all other tourists who visit them very closely since their economy
depends on our safety during our visits. He told me to carefully
look around when go back to our Hotel and I would see what he meant.
I did what he said and I was really pleased to notice how secure
Dot and I were. As I strained my eyes to see in the darkness, I finally
made out the outline of dark clothed undercover policeman lurking
in obscure areas all along our way to our Hotel. I never felt so
safe and secure during our four night stay in Freeport, Bahamas.
The French/Dutch authorities should take heed about the safety
of their visitors who provide so much of their income.
Cheers to you, Ed
*******************************
From: "Ellen Rothschild"
Subject: Crime in Sint Maarten - a web site posting
Date sent: Mon, 14 Apr 2008
Judy,
The is an amazing, frightening story. Did you verify the
facts before sending this out? I was surprised to hear that
these folks didn't know how to get back to their hotel. There
is only one main road on the island so I find it a bit surprising
that they would get lost and particularly for someone who works
in a major city. I was also surprised that they were carrying
their passports. Why would someone do that? Once we are on the
island, we lock them in our safe. We only remove them if we are
going to another island or we are leaving. My question is what
is it that we as regular guests on the island do to protect ourselves?
Thank you. Ellen Rothschild
*******************************
From: "Roy Martin" <royeiramartin@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Crime in Sint Maarten - a web site posting
Date sent: Tue, 15 Apr 2008
Hi Judy,
It is very disturbing to read your e-mail about the incidents
in Grand Case and the poor performance and attitude of the
police on the French side.
Unfortunately this is not the first such incident and report
on the police in St Martin that we have heard of. Our solution
to staying safe in St Martin is not to visit the French side
after dark.
If one must then use a prearranged taxi to and from the resort.
This is our formula for staying safe in cities like New York also.
Yours, Roy Martin
**************************
Date sent: Tue, 15 Apr 2008
From: clyde
Hi Judy - We just returned from 5.5 weeks in St. Maarten and 1
week was spent staying in Grand Case. Plan to stay longer at
Grand Case next year, however we don't go out late at night.
We love the people and feel that a Street Smart Class would
benefit new, and maybe some of the prior, visitors at Pelican.
Perhaps Pelican should offer a "streets smart class" FOR tourists
as we have heard of many more instances with various degrees of
crime and two instances in 1 week at the Atrium in February!
My profession has sent me to over 90 countries, many deemed to
be "unsafe" and have not had a serious problem. Hotel/Condo
safes are there to be used. You NEVER carry your entire
identification (passports belong in the safe!), never carry more
money than you will need and a credit card with a low limit is
what we carry, and never carry your rental car paper as it should
be left in the rental car. We feel sorry for Vera and her mother,
but there are bad people anywhere in the world of travel. My wife
never carries a purse in St. Maarten. She only carries $20 for cab
fee and a pack of matches from the Pelican. There was a couple
from Indiana that wrote a letter to the Herald and couldn't understand
why their rental car was broken in to, they had left $1,000 in cash,
2 blackberry hand units, 2 cell phones and 2 pairs of $150.00 running
shoes, on the French side and couldn't understand why the police
couldn't catch the thieves. You NEVER leave anything in your rental
car whether traveling in the United States or abroad. Rental cars
are licensed differently and all cars for rent in st. maarten have
the R before the license number. At least this is the licensing for
the new rental cars. As a rule of safety we never go out late in
St. Maarten due to the increased crime, and we don't bring valuable
jewelry to the island. AND we always use the safes offered at
Pelican. Its called being Street Smart. Always walk with a purpose
with a fast pace. One of the people being held-up near the Atrium
threw a few dollar bills at the robber and ran like heck while he
was scrabbling about trying to collect the money. Good idea I always
carry a few dollars loose, in a pocket, for just such a purpose.
**********************************
From: Lollie Margolin
Date sent: Tue, 15 Apr 2008
Although this was sent to our old e-address, I finally saw it.
Charles and I have thought seriously of NOT returning to St.
Maartin again. The trip is getting too tiring...the traffic
is terrible at all hours. Last time we were there a car
(local) backed out of a parking spot minutes AFTER we did,
hit us, police came ...(Dutch side) and took HER explanation.
We were charged $2000 for her slightly dented bumper and more
by our rental company for our bumper!
There's no reason to put yourself in jeopardy while contributing
to an island ecomomy.It's too bad, as I've been coming to the
island for about 30 years. Lollie Margolin
**********************************
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Judy Young, Lower Sackville, N.S.
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