Many positive changes occurred within the management of VRMA, our industry’s largest trade association, at the VRMA conference in Phoenix. We would like to thank all of our clients who helped support the efforts of “SaveVRMA.” The intention of SaveVRMA was to maintain VRMA as the most influential and effective association to further the cause and promote the vacation rental industry. Alex Risser summarizes the changes best on the SaveVRMA.com website.

The following are highlights of Alex Risser’s summary on the SaveVRMA website:

The overwhelming support of ALL who participated in the SAVE movement was crucial to the success we have achieved. We ended up with nearly 230 proxies entrusted to SAVE to see these changes take place. That's incredible within a 630 member association. Also, the endorsements provided by the many organizations and individuals was humbling, especially with several founding members including John Kjellman and Jim Morris, both of whom made the special effort to be in attendance at the Phoenix conference. A recap of the events during the past few days [VRMA Conference] follow:

• The VRMA Board held a last minute telephone conference, just days before the Phoenix gathering. On it, several resolutions were passed, most of which were a direct result of the SAVE movement. However, it was also revealed that they intended to use controversial by-law rules to keep the Executive Committee in place and extend the term limits of 3 current Directors.
• SAVE attorneys contacted VRMA attorney to contest the interpretation that 3 Board members could extend their term limits. Also, three of the proxies they wanted to reject were not permitted. Later, these proxies were admitted, but the debate on the by-law interpretation continued. This would only permit 5 open Board seats to be filled, versus the 7 that should have been based on expired terms.
• Proxies totaling 204 were turned in to VRMA Secretary, Maureen Regan.
• Alex Risser met with President Jim Kempski and Past President Pedro Mandoki, to request agreement to not use the conference podium or sessions to push our individual sides. This was agreed. It was in everyone's mutual best interests to have a successful, uninterrupted conference. Alex also suggested that the current Board resolve that the SAVE movement had the votes necessary to make desired changes and therefore not drag the opposition to the floor of the annual meeting. This request was not accepted. Alex also informed them that Save VRMA was sponsoring a member gathering to discuss the member issues at stake and to respond to questions. However, this would not interfere with any conference scheduled event.
• On Monday evening, about 250 members took the time to be shuttled from the hotel to a nearby restaurant which SAVE had reserved for the event. A very productive and positive meeting was held with all questions answered by the SAVE leaders. Speakers included Alex Risser, Steve Trover (President, All Star Vacation Homes), Kyle Buehner (President, Navis Technologies), Scott Leggat (President, NC VRMA), Betsy LaBarge (President, Mt Hood Vacation Rentals), Park Brady (CEO, Resort Quest), Bob Ackerman (FL VRMA), and John Kjellman (Founder, VRMA).
• On Tuesday morning, there were handouts given to conference attendees announcing a ‘meet the Board' meeting that afternoon at 4 pm. The meeting began badly when the microphone was refused to be held by the first questioner, Jim Morris, Founding VRMA President. After an uproar from the crowd, the mic was given up. The meeting did not go well.
• Wednesday morning, the day of the annual meeting, VRMA President Jim Kempski requested a meeting of the SAVE leaders. Pedro Mandoki was included as well as Scott Leggat, George Volsky, Ben Edwards, Bill Bernier, Alex Risser, Bob Ackerman, Steve Trover, and both sides' legal representatives. All were instrumental in reaching agreement to nominations for 6 SAVE Board nominees, 1 returning Board member (Bill Bernier), and Executive committee nominees to include 3 SAVE representatives. This list included the following:
• Alex Risser, President
• Jim Kempski, Immediate Past President
• Steve Trover, VP
• Ben Edwards, Treasurer
• Kyle Buehner, Secretary
• Alan Hammond (Holiday Vacation Rentals, Harbor Springs, MI)
• Betsy LaBarge
• Park Brady
• Bill Bernier (Returning Board Member)
• Remaining Board Members:
  • Maureen Regan
  • Cort Roussel
  • Tami Florer

• At that meeting, it was agreed that Roberts Rules would apply to the meeting and VRMA had arranged for a Parliamentarian. Also, SAVE had arranged for a court reporter and certified Videographer to record the meeting. Legal counsel for both sides was also present.

• After a 30 minute delay to the start of the meeting due to the negotiation taking place, members were officially checked in, proxies tallied (SAVE ended up with about 230). The meeting was opened by President Jim Kempski with an agenda which had been agreed upon. When the nominations were announced, a motion was made to accept, a second, and unanimous vote was given. A round of applause erupted. The meeting was professionally conducted and concluded within 30 minutes. Immediately following, as is customary, the new directors gathered to officially elect the officers, per prior agreement.

• There was one item which both Jim Kempski and Alex Risser were remiss in doing, due to the stress of the moment. That was offering a BIG THANK YOU to departing Board Members Pedro Mandoki and Greg Coffone for their personal time and energy spent over the past years in serving in a Board capacity to VRMA. Their efforts are recognized and appreciated by ALL VRMA members.

• Now we all must participate in a healing process as we move forward to raise VRMA to the next level and address the issues raised by the members throughout this process. The first Board meeting will be held by tele-conference next week to begin the hard work which lies ahead. Steve Trover is already off and running to address the VRMA website. All of us involved in the SAVE VRMA movement thank each of you who supported us during this process. The calls, emails, endorsements, encouragement and prayers were well received and much needed. We will now respond to the trust and confidence you have placed in us to put forth our best efforts to re-shape the vision for the future of VRMA and execute plans needed to carry out the individual missions required to fulfill that vision. We hope that many of you who offered to assist in committees, etc will heed the call when we take you up on those offers.

We at Instant Software, again, thank all of you who helped support this effort. If you want to learn more about this issue, please visit www.savevrma.com.