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Timeshare News and Scams
Westgate Resorts asks Supreme Court for a review
The giant timeshare company lost a consumer lawsuit challenging its sales practices09/21/2015 | ConsumerAffairs
By James R. Hood
ConsumerAffairs' founder and former editor, Jim Hood formerly headed Associated ... Read Full Bio→
Timeshare operator Westgate Resorts is asking the Supreme Court to review a recent court ruling that slapped it with a $500,000 judgment for what a Tennessee judge called "intentional and fraudulent conduct."
Westgate is headed by real estate magnate David Siegel, whose quest to build a massive 90,000-square-foot home modeled on the Palace of Versailles was the subject of a TV documentary.
In the Tennessee case, timeshare buyers Nathan and Patricia Overton accused Westgate...
Arizona sues timeshare reseller
Condosmart LLC accused of selling services that were never provided09/03/2015 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
If you are a timeshare owner and happen to get a call from a telemarketer promising cash in exchange for your "bonus weeks," Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich suggests hanging up.
Brnovich has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Condosmart LLC, an Arizona-based timeshare resale and rental advertising business. The suit accuses the company of making hundreds of unsolicited telemarketing calls to consumers who owned timeshare properties all over the U.S.
According ...
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Timeshare resale scam still claiming victims
Florida arrests six it says were scamming owners04/10/2014 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 many timeshare owners, who previously wanted to sell their timeshares, suddenly became desperate to do so.
Reversals of fortune meant many owners had to unload, fast. But selling a timeshare, even in good times, can be a challenge. When the economy has just gone over a cliff? Nearly impossible.
Enter the timeshare resale scam. Con artists suddenly began contacting timeshare owners, using a variety of company names, giving them h...
Sent your timeshare money to Mexico? Wave adios
Timeshare resale scammers separate consumers from their cash02/05/2015 | ConsumerAffairs
By James R. Hood
ConsumerAffairs' founder and former editor, Jim Hood formerly headed Associated ... Read Full Bio→
Buying a timeshare is no problem at all. You can get a free lunch and maybe a boat ride, a massage or some other perk just for listening to a hard-sell pitch for a resort getaway that you use for a few days each year but pay for all year.
But as consumers sometimes learn to their dismay, the timeshare payments add up and they're not often able to use the facility as frequently as they had hoped. Even worse, people lose their jobs, move away, get old or sick. Sometime...
Beware of scams while on vacation
You may be on vacation but scammers are hard at work07/07/2014 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
Consumers can be victims of scams any time but are often especially vulnerable when they go on vacation. The reason is simple: Vacationers are usually in a happy, relaxed mood and may be less wary to a con. They usually are carrying more cash than usual.
So it's no mystery why scammers show up in popular vacation spots, where there are thousands of relaxed, well-financed potential victims. As bank robber Willie Sutton is reputed to have said, "That's where ...
Timeshare Reseller Faces $4.2 Million Settlement
Vacation Property Services misrepresented its services, court finds10/12/2012 | ConsumerAffairs
By Truman Lewis
A former reporter and bureau chief for broadcast outlets and ... Read Full Bio→
If you think the bottom fell out of the real estate market, just think what happened to the timeshare market. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have found themselves stuck with timeshares they would like to sell, if only there were a market for them.
This has created fertile ground for companies promising quick and lucrative solutions that usually turn out to be little more than shams.
In one such case, Vacation Property Services, Inc., has been permanently banned from the timeshare resale and rental business, and from all telemarketing, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement followed a court ruling that the company violated the FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR).
Ivette of New City, NY, described her experience with the company in a ConsumerAffairs posting: "The gentlemen promised that my time share will be sold within 90 days. It has been several years and I am still waiting."
The FTC charged that Vacation Property Services made tens of thousands of unsolicited telemarketing calls to timeshare owners falsely claiming that they already had, or could quickly find, buyers for the owners' timeshares. The defendants demanded that consumers pay a large up-front fee to facilitate the sale.
The FTC's complaint charged that the company and its manager and owner, Albert M. Wilson, misrepresented the company's refund policy and the existence of potential buyers. The complaint also charged the defendants with calling hundreds of thousands of consumers whose phone numbers are on the FTC's Do Not Call Registry.
In May, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a summary judgment order against Vacation Property Services, Inc. and Wilson. The court held that the company deceived consumers into paying large up-front fees by claiming that it had buyers lined up or would find buyers to purchase consumers' timeshare properties, and that it had violated the TSR by calling telephone numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry.
The settlement order announced today resolves the FTC's remaining claims against Wilson. The order permanently bans him from all telemarketing and from participating in the timeshare resale and rental business. It also prohibits him from misrepresenting material facts about any goods or services, and from selling or otherwise benefitting from consumers' personal information.
The order imposes a judgment of more than $4.2 million, which will be suspended when Wilson has surrendered $120,000, a 2002 Porsche 911, a Spectre Sportfish boat, and his interest in Vacation Property Services.
1 comments
If you think the bottom fell out of the real estate market, just think what happened to the timeshare market. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have found themselves stuck with timeshares they would like to sell, if only there were a market for them.
This has created fertile ground for companies promising quick and lucrative solutions that usually turn out to be little more than shams.
In one such case, Vacation Property Services, Inc., has been permanently banned f...
FTC cracks down on timeshare resale, travel scams
Feds and states launch takedown of schemes; 184 face criminal prosecution06/06/2013 | ConsumerAffairs
By Truman Lewis
A former reporter and bureau chief for broadcast outlets and ... Read Full Bio→
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state agencies today announced a major takedown of timeshare property resale scams and phony or misleading travel prizes used to rope in unsuspecting consumers.
The agency announced 191 separate actions, including three FTC cases, 83 civil actions filed by 28 states and 25 actions taken by law enforcement in 10 other countries. Also, 184 individuals are facing criminal prosecution by federal and state prosecutors.
"Con artists take advantage of timeshare owners who have been in tough financial straits and are desperate to sell their timeshares," Charles A. Harwood, Acting Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said during a press conference in Miami. "They persuade owners to pay fat up-front fees by saying they have someone ready to buy the property, but that's a lie."
Harwood had this advice for timeshare owners: "Never pay for a promise, get everything in writing first, and pay only after your unit is sold."
Harwood was joined by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi; Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Jay Levenstein, Deputy Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and a victim of an unscrupulous timeshare resale operation.
"We cannot allow our elderly and vulnerable real property owners to continue to be the target of fraud schemes," Ferrer said. "These victims, many of them elderly or in financial distress, looked to sell their units to help make ends meet or pay other bills. Instead, they were defrauded out of more than $14 million in total. Such fraud will not be tolerated."
How it works
Fraudulent timeshare resellers lure consumers into paying hefty upfront fees, falsely claiming to have interested buyers ready to pay top dollar for the properties. They claim sales are about to happen, but there are no buyers, and consumers lose hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Deceptive travel prize promoters trick consumers into paying for discounted or "free" vacation packages supposedly worth thousands of dollars, but most people get nothing of value or have to attend high-pressure timeshare sales presentations. All of these scams reach consumers via unsolicited email, mailed travel vouchers, and radio, TV and online advertising.
To help people avoid these kinds of scams, the FTC has updated its consumer education materials on new and emerging travel and timeshare resale frauds at ftc.gov/travel.
2 comments
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state agencies today announced a major takedown of timeshare property resale scams and phony or misleading travel prizes used to rope in unsuspecting consumers.
The agency announced 191 separate actions, including three FTC cases, 83 civil actions filed by 28 states and 25 actions taken by law enforcement in 10 other countries. Also, 184 individuals are facing criminal prosecution by federal and state prosecutors.
"Con artists ...
Unhappy timeshare owners agree: never buy into a timeshare
Wyndham Vacation Resorts netted lots of complaints in September10/02/2013 | ConsumerAffairs
By Jennifer Abel
Jennifer Abel has worked as a reporter and editor for ... Read Full Bio→
Have you ever had an unctuous salesperson offer you some wonderful freebie — free luxury-restaurant dinners, free show or concert tickets, free stay in a vacation resort hotel — provided you agree to spend an hour or two attending a vaguely described "sales presentation?" If so, then watch out: chances are someone's about to try selling you a timeshare.
In just the past month we've had readers from all over the world complain about what they say are deceptive or high-pressure timeshare-sale tactics from Wyndham Vacation Resorts, but before sharing their stories, we want to remind you of three things you should remember while dealing with all salespeople, not just timeshare peddlers:
One: Don't trust anyone who offers you something valuable in exchange for listening to a sales pitch. If what they're selling were really such a good deal, they wouldn't need to bribe potential customers into hearing about it.
Two: Never trust a salesperson who tries making you feel hurried or uncomfortable. "We're offering a stunningly awesome deal, but only if you buy right now! This instant! No, you can't take time to think about it! You can't sleep on it tonight and make your decision tomorrow! You must sign a contract now now now right now!"
Three: Never buy anything from a salesman who tries guilt-tripping you into a purchase. "I desperately need you to buy this, 'cause if you don't I'll lose my job and my children will be homeless and we'll all starve!"
So as you read the reviews we collected about Wyndham Vacation Rentals this September, keep these three rules in mind — and notice how every single anecdote features a salesman breaking at least one of them.
Approached in a mall
Jana S. from Whangaparaoa, New Zealand, doesn't even own a Wyndham timeshare, but still wrote us on Sept. 30 to say, "I am getting very sick and tired of these people … We were approached in a mall, asked if we would like to take part in a little competition and win a holiday, cash or TV."
So they did, and they won! What amazing good luck, right? They took their valuable prize and went home?
Of course not. "When we won we were told we had to attend a 90-minute sales presentation. I pointed at the kids and said only one can go, but the lady was adamant that there was kids' entertainment and we had to attend both to redeem the prize. We agreed that it is 90 minutes of our holiday (and were set on not buying anything), but hey, we would get a free holiday in return."
Or so they thought. Next morning, they went to the sales presentation. "It was a pokey little office and the kid's entertainment was a TV and some colouring-in sheets. We had to wait for another couple and then the presentation started. It took about 45 min and the two of us just looked at each other and we knew there would be no sales agreement. Anyway, after the initial presentation, we were placed with a sales rep and he started to fill out a questionnaire. Then he talked us again through the program with all the fancy sales schnickschnack."
Jana and her husband work in financial services, and are presumably more contract-savvy than the average person, so they ignored the salesman's high-pressure pitch and "got straight to the point."
"We asked a lot of questions and he showed us what would be available and at what points amount, etc.," she said. "But our questions were never answered. We asked whether it's a timeshare (my other half still has one somewhere in Asia, worth not even the paper the contract is written on). The sales rep told us adamantly it isn't."
They asked the salesman for the contract, so they could "read it in peace and quiet, do a little bit of research and then decide. That's when his manager stepped in and tried to lure us in, decidedly not to give us the fine print. We weren't moving an inch, and my other half even asked them if they would buy anything without reading the contract first."
That was three years ago. Jana and her husband eventually escaped without signing anything, but Wyndham now had their contact phone number, and wasn't afraid to use it.
"A couple of months later it started. Every so often I get called -- I had won something. After 3 years of harassment I told them to effing take me off their callers list, as they are scammers and there would be no way that I would ever buy anything from them. Well, one of 'em rung me today ... But, my new phone has an ignore function and that was hopefully the last I ever heard of them!"
And hopefully Timothy P. of Melbourne, Australia, won't have his next three years play out like Jana's last three. Tim wrote us after attending a Wyndham sales presentation on Sept. 22, and concluding their salespeople were "unprofessional bullies."
Tim almost considered buying a timeshare, he said, "until we were bullied and intimidated into a sale at the end of the presentation by a man whose name I cannot remember."
"His behavior was incredibly unprofessional and argumentative," Timothy said. "We left the presentation feeling angry and incredibly frustrated. I put a warning out to everyone who is looking to attend one of these presentations, as you will be treated like idiots and probably feel intimidated like we did. … Prior to the presentation I was told over the phone that it was a no-pressure, no-obligation presentation."
Not so lucky
As annoying as Tim and Jana's experiences were, at least they didn't sign anything or part with any of their money. Most of our readers weren't so lucky. Pamela P. of Worcester, Mass., wrote us on Sept. 16:
"We were basically accosted during vacation. For free tickets to a museum, we had to sit through a 'no pressure' timeshare presentation for 90 minutes. The presentation was over 5 hours and the salespeople wouldn't take no for an answer. By the time we left, we had purchased a deeded unit at Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach."
Uh-oh. As Pamela mourned, "We were told many lies." The first: "We could use Bill Me Later for the down payment and if we couldn't pay it in 6 months, they would extend it another 6 months, interest free. After falling on hard times, we couldn't pay the down payment and were told by Bill Me Later that was not true, and Wyndham should not have told us that."
What else? "We were told we would get 10 days of vacation during 'primetime' with the 84,000 points we bought into. Come to find out, for the property we bought, that only gets us 3 days, and SC is too far to travel to for just 3 days." Also, "They didn't tell us our points expire. They have to be used or forfeited unless we pay a fee.
"We were told party weekends were for anyone who could attend just because Wyndham likes to treat their customers well. We later found out, you have to bring a guest and they have to sit through a sales pitch."
What else went wrong with their Virginia stay? "We were accosted again, and tricked into another presentation advertised as learning how your membership works and finding out about new resorts in New York and Boston, but it was actually another sales pitch. … We were told it would be 45 minutes but turned into over 4 hours.
Maintenance fees
Another time Pamela attempted to vacation at a Wyndham property, "We had to bring a guest over 28 with an income of over $70,000, or a person over 55, and they had to sit through a presentation. … They also never told us about all the fees that are associated with any services. … They never told us that the maintenance fees will increase when we signed up, but when they tried to get us to upgrade, they told us that we needed to get out of our current plan because it's just going to keep going up."
Wyndham timeshare owner Ed M. of Tafton, Pa., also complained about maintenance fees, when he wrote us on Sept. 17 to say that "upgrades are basically buying more points with more maintenance fees."
Ed never actually bought a timeshare, but explained that, "My wife inherited hers from her parents who bought it many years ago and they never went once. They since have both died and now we have it. We asked [Wyndham] how we could change a fixed week to points and they said, 'This is all we have.'"
"When the smoke cleared we did change a fixed week to 126,000 points but when we signed the contract we went back to the room and saw that we bought another 126,000 points for $17,000, which we paid off within a month, thanks to Mom and Dad's will," Ed said.
What are these points?
What are these "points" that Ed and other customers keep mentioning? Our attempts to find answers on Wyndham Resort's incredibly annoying website went nowhere, though when we checked today's eBay listings we found dozens of sellers trying to unload "Wyndham timeshare points," with some auctions offering over 200,000 points for as little as a dollar.
The best explanation of the Wyndham point system we found came from a Fodor's Travel Talk discussion forum, after a member asked, "Wyndham timeshares — should we or shouldn't?"
Dozens of community members warned the advice-seeker to avoid all timeshares, and a commenter calling himself "No Timeshare" gave a more detailed warning against Wyndham's in particular:
"If you buy, you will be purchasing a point system. It allows these resorts to sell then raise the amount of points it will take to stay there in the future. Then you have to buy more points. It's a new twist to buying a week of timeshare. With the selling of weeks, resorts would eventually run out of inventory. With points, it is unlimited sales."
So points (not money) are what you need to buy time at a Wyndham property, except points (unlike money) have a built-in expiration date, and points you can spend at one property aren't necessarily good at another property. Which is why "No Timeshare" urged everyone at the Fodor's forum: "My advice … rent for your vacation. It's cheaper and your kids won't be stuck with it someday."
Alicia S of Johns Island, S.C., wrote us on Sept. 6 about her Wyndham experience: "My husband and I purchased 154,000 points from Fairfield Ocean Ridge Edisto, SC on 06-16-00 for $15,150.00. We paid the (so-called) mortgage in full on 08-08-03. This purchase was a mistake for us because we weren't able to use it very often. We used it approximately six times over the 13-year ownership."
Not for lack of trying, though.
"It was also extremely difficult to attempt to make reservations as there never seemed to be any availabilities when we needed. This exacerbated the already frustrating feeling we had over such a huge financial mistake. The maintenance fee started at $54.03 and is now $98.44. They want to hold you hostage to this maintenance fee (which they can raise at any time) for life."
"We asked by phone (in June 2013) to discontinue our ownership, wanting nothing other than to be done. We were told 'it's just not that easy' to do. We had paid our account in full in 2003 and never missed a maintenance fee. The points are worth nothing and you cannot give them away because no one wants to be stuck with a lifetime of maintenance fees," she said.
Eventually, Alicia said, "We consulted with an attorney. Our attorney said trying to deal with them was frustrating and actually made her angry at times. They just try and wear you down so you will give up. They have held up recording the deed as long as they can, to obtain more maintenance fees. Our attorney told them she didn't need their permission to record a deed in SC. Their response was, 'Go ahead... we'll just record it back to your client.' … We have given them approximately 27,000-plus dollars over the last 13 years in exchange for maybe roughly 42 days of hotel/condo use. Again, I understand this was our mistake. But for them to make you feel you have no way out even when you owe them nothing is just wrong on so many levels. Their aggressive practices need to be stopped."
And in conclusion ...
As one remorseful timeshare owner put it: "Trust me, people, just save your money every year and purchase your vacation the old-fashioned way. I am trapped into paying for a headache, and these bozos have even begged me to put Wyndham in my will for my kids! Like I really want to leave my kids the headache I foolishly bought into."
11 comments
Have you ever had an unctuous salesperson offer you some wonderful freebie — free luxury-restaurant dinners, free show or concert tickets, free stay in a vacation resort hotel — provided you agree to spend an hour or two attending a vaguely described "sales presentation?" If so, then watch out: chances are someone's about to try selling you a timeshare.
In just the past month we've had readers from all over the world complain abou...
Court Stops Alleged Timeshare Resale Scam
Scammers took advantage of consumers by promising they had buyers lined up10/29/2010 | ConsumerAffairs
A federal court has put a stop to a telemarketing
operation that allegedly scammed millions of dollars from property owners hoping
to sell their timeshares.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claimed the ring,
operating out of South Florida, conned consumers by promising that they had
buyers lined up and waiting. Only after making a hefty up-front payment did the
consumers learn that there were no buyers. The victims found it nearly
impossible to get their money back from the defendants, many of whom have long
criminal histories.
"When cash-strapped consumers are trying to sell their
property, the last thing they need is to lose thousands of dollars to scam
artists who promise a quick sale, but then provide no services at all," said
David Vladeck, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Timeshare owners under pressure
The case is part of an FTC effort to crack down on con
artists who use fraud and deception to take advantage of consumers hit hard by
the recent economic downturn.
Many of the defrauded consumers needed to sell their
timeshares to help pay their living expenses. According to the FTC, the number
of complaints related to fraudulent timeshare resales has more than tripled
over the past three years, as more consumers have attempted to sell their
In this case, the defendants allegedly defrauded consumers
nationwide out of millions of dollars before being shuttered by the court. They
also are well known to the South Florida Better Business Bureau (BBB) which,
together with the FTC and the Florida Attorney General's Office, has received
hundreds of complaints from consumers about their conduct. The BBB has given
the firm, Timeshare Mega Media and Marketing Group, an F rating, the lowest
rating it can give a business.
Money upfront
According to the FTC's complaint, Timeshare Mega Media, two
related companies, and six individuals used a telemarketing boiler room in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida. They told timeshare owners who were attempting to sell
their units that a buyer was lined up and a deal had been negotiated on their
behalf, but that before the sale could be completed, consumers would have to pay
an up-front fee, usually $1,996, by credit card.
The FTC's complaint charges that Timeshare Mega Media's
representatives typically claimed the fee was for sale-related costs, such as
realtor fees, closing costs, title searches, or document processing. They also
told consumers that this fee would be refunded at closing.
In some cases, if a consumer owned an expensive timeshare,
the fee could be more than $1,996, ranging up to 10 percent of the asking
price. Consumers also were told that their timeshare sales would close quickly,
often in as few as 30 days.
Misleading claims
The FTC maintains that, after the consumers paid the fee,
they were told to expect a contract from Timeshare Mega Media. What they
received turned out to be a contract to market and advertise their timeshare,
and not a sales contract. Many consumers signed and returned the contract
thinking it was a sales contract.
Those who questioned its validity were given the run-around
by the company and falsely told that a sales contract would follow. In fact,
according to the agency, the company never had any timeshare buyers lined up.
When consumers discovered this and demanded their money back, they found it
nearly impossible to get a refund, or even get a call back.
The FTC's complaint was filed against Timeshare Mega Media
and Marketing Group, Inc., also doing business as (d/b/a) Timeshare Market Pro,
Inc.; Timeshare Market Pro, Inc.; Tapia Consulting, Inc.; Joseph Crapella, also
known as Joseph John Philbin; Pasquale Pappalardo; Lisa Tumminia Pappalardo;
Pasqualino Agovino; Louis Tobias Duany; and Patricia A. Walker.
In filing the complaint, the FTC is seeking a permanent halt to the defendants' allegedly illegal conduct and to provide money back to consumers who were harmed by their violations of the FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales Rule.
A federal court has put a stop to a telemarketing operation that allegedly scammed millions of dollars from property owners hoping to sell their timeshares.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claimed the ring, operating out of South Florida, conned consumers by promising that they had buyers lined up and waiting. Only after making a hefty up-front payment did the consumers learn that there were no buyers. The victims found it nearly impossible to get their money ba...
Be Careful With Timeshare Memberships and Resale Companies
While timeshares can be convenient for vacationing, there are some caveats11/09/2010 | ConsumerAffairs
Planning your next vacation? Perhaps timesharing -- the use
of a vacation home or campground for a limited, pre-planned time—is on your
list of options. Timesharing may be a popular way to take a vacation, but
problems can occur.
Timeshare sellers offer gifts to get you to listen to a
sales presentation. Many giveaways are of little or no value. Free airline
tickets may be tied to the purchase of expensive hotel accommodations. Other
vacation "awards" are often of questionable value.
Timeshares can cost as much as $15,000, based on location
and amenities, season, and length and type of ownership. Annual maintenance
fees of up to $500 may also apply. In addition, buyers may be responsible for
major repairs. What some consumers realize too late is that renting may:
- Be a lot cheaper,
- Allow more flexibility and variety in vacations,
- Prevent being locked into yearly maintenance fees until death or bankruptcy.
No quitting
Some resorts refuse to "take back" unwanted memberships.
This is because the income generated by annual maintenance fees may be more
valuable than the member's title to real estate. According to the Wisconsin
Bureau of Consumer Protection, some timeshare/campground members state they
have been unable to even give away their membership, much less being able to
find a buyer.
Timeshare owners who discontinue to use the resort facilities
must continue to pay their annual maintenance fees and any special assessments.
If the member refuses to pay annual dues, the condominium association may sue
and recover back dues, interest, and attorney fees. Some members say they feel
trapped for life.
An investment it isn't
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found only 3.3 percent of
owners reported reselling their timeshares during the last 20 years. You may
face competition from the original seller. Or local real estate agents may not
want to include the timeshare unit in their listings.
Some resorts have a resale office to try to assist the
owners of unwanted timeshares. In addition, some resorts will allow an unhappy
timeshare owner to give back his interest in the resort, but rarely will a
resort guarantee that it will buy it back.
Be wary of offers from timeshare resale companies. Some
desperate timeshare owners report paying resale companies $500 to list a
timeshare, but promised buyers never materialized. These consumers report the
loss not only of the original purchase price of the timeshare, but also the
money paid to timeshare resale companies.
Purchasing tips
- Practical Factors. Consider whether you'll be able to use a timeshare facility year after year. Are your vacation plans sometimes subject to last minute changes, or do they vary in length and season from year to year? Does the property have flexible use plans? Are you -- and will you be -- in good enough physical and financial health to travel to your timeshare?
- Total Costs. The total cost of your timeshare includes mortgage payments and expenses, such as travel costs, annual maintenance fees and taxes, closing costs, broker commissions, and finance charges. Annual maintenance fees can range from $300 to $500. Since these fees can rise at rates that equal or exceed inflation, it's important to ask if there's a fee cap for your plan. Keep in mind that these fees must be paid whether or not you use the unit. To help evaluate the purchase, compare your total timeshare costs with rental costs for similar accommodations and amenities for the same time and in the same location.
- Document Review. Don't act on impulse or under pressure. Take the documents home to review. Ask a professional or someone familiar with timesharing to review the paperwork before you buy. If the seller will not let you take the documents, perhaps this isn't the deal for you. A good offer today usually will be a good offer tomorrow. Legitimate businesses don't expect you to make snap decisions. Find out if the contract provides a "cooling-off" period during which you can cancel and get a refund. If not, ask to include this clause. Most states where timeshares are located require a cooling-off period. If there is no cooling-off period, be sure you understand all aspects of the purchase and carefully review all materials before you sign.
- Oral Promises. Make certain all promises made by the salesperson are written into the contract. Exchange Programs that allow you to arrange trades with other resort units in different locations for an additional fee usually cannot be guaranteed. There also may be some limits on exchange opportunities. For example, you may need to make your request far in advance. Or, even at an additional cost, you may not be able to "trade up" to a better unit at peak time in an exotic location. When you trade, expect a unit of approximately the same value as your own.
- Reputation Research. Your resort will be a good place to vacation only if it is run properly. Research the track record of the seller, developer, and management company before you buy. Ask for a copy of the current maintenance budget. Learn what will be done to manage and repair the property, replace furnishings as needed, and provide promised services. Will these arrangements be adequate? Will they extend over a long period of time, or just the near future? Visit the facilities and talk to current owners about their experiences. Local real estate agents, Better Business Bureaus, and consumer protection offices also are good sources of information.
- Unfinished Facilities. Purchasing an undeveloped property is extremely risky. But if you decide to do so, commit money to an escrow account. This protects your financial investment if the developer defaults. Also get a written commitment from the seller that the facilities will be finished as promised.
- Default Protection. Learn your rights if the builder or management company has financial problems or defaults. Check to see if your contract includes two clauses concerning "non-disturbance" and "nonperformance." A non-disturbance provision should ensure that you'll continue to have use of your unit in the event of default and subsequent third party claims against the developer or management firm. A non-performance protection clause should allow you to keep your ownership rights, even if a third party is required to buy out your contract. Contact an attorney who can provide you with more information about these provisions.
- Foreign Properties. Be especially wary of offers to purchase timeshares or vacation club memberships in foreign countries. If you sign a contract outside the United States for a timeshare located in another country, U.S. federal or state contract property laws generally will not protect you.
Planning your next vacation? Perhaps timesharing -- the use of a vacation home or campground for a limited, pre-planned time—is on your list of options. Timesharing may be a popular way to take a vacation, but problems can occur.
Timeshare sellers offer gifts to get you to listen to a sales presentation. Many giveaways are of little or no value. Free airline tickets may be tied to the purchase of expensive hotel accommodations. Other vacation "awards" are often o...
Timeshares Can Be Burdens Even After You Die
What to do if you inherit a timeshare you don't want05/21/2012 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
Most people buy timeshares while on vacation and after a high-pressure sales pitch. It's not uncommon for a strong case of buyers' remorse to set in afterward.
Kenneth, of Cross Junction, Va., says he and his wife became disillusioned with their purchase soon after signing on the dotted line.
"When we purchased many years ago, we were assured we would be able to sell our timeshare when we wished to do so," Kenneth wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "Of course we have now learned that this is impossible and we continue to pay the ever increasing annual fees. This has become a greater burden since I have retired and we are on a fixed income. Now we are told that it is with us for as long as we live and will pass to our children. There must be some way to get away from these vultures."
A solution for heirs
There is. While it would be much better for everyone if the timeshare can be disposed of before you die, your heir can avoid being saddled with it by simply refusing to accept it. However, in some states you might not be able to refuse an inherited timeshare without refusing the rest of the inheritance, so it is prudent to consult with an attorney first.
If you are left a timeshare you do not want, have your attorney file a Disclaimer of Interest. That's a written refusal to accept the timeshare and it must be filed within a set time period. The executor of the estate should send copies of the death certificate to both the resort company if there is still a mortgage on the timeshare and to the property management company.
It is also important that you make no personal use of the timeshare after your loved one dies.
Donate it
In Kenneth's case, if he believes there is no way for him to sell the timeshare he can donate it to charity – if there is no mortgage. There are also companies that will take the timeshare off Kenneth's hands, but he will have to pay closing costs, just as though he sold it.
And it goes without saying, these are all considerations to think about before buying a timeshare.
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Most people buy timeshares while on vacation and after a high-pressure sales pitch. It's not uncommon for a strong case of buyers' remorse to set in afterward.
Kenneth, of Cross Junction, Va., says he and his wife became disillusioned with their purchase soon after signing on the dotted line.
"When we purchased many years ago, we were assured we would be able to sell our timeshare when we wished to do so," Kenneth wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "Of cou...
Timeshare Resales Are Treacherous; Scams Abound
New breed of 'reseller' just takes the money and runs09/30/2010 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
While problems plaguing the housing market get all the headlines, owners of timeshares also have their problems. The market for timeshares has declined, along with the market for homes and condos.
In a number of states, officials have begun to crackdown on companies promising timeshare owners they can sell their property, but who charge a large fee upfront. In Illinois, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is now warning timeshare owners in her state that scammers have moved into the space, collecting money but making no attempt to sell anything.
Madigan says the scam typically works like this: a timeshare owner gets a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be a timeshare reseller. They have a client who wants to buy their timeshare, are they interested?
In this market, getting an unsolicited call from someone wanting to buy your timeshare is cause for jumping up and down. It sounds too good to be true, and of course, it is.
If the owners rise to the bait, the scammer tells them they must pay a refundable security deposit or fee to ensure that the sale goes through, and instructs them to wire money to an out-of-state bank account.
Taking the money and running
As soon as the owners wire the money as directed, theyve fallen victim to the scam. In most cases, by the time the owners realizes theyve been defrauded, the con artists have closed out their bank account, disconnected their phones and disappeared.
Victims filing complaints with the Attorney Generals Office have reported wiring as much as $5,000 to the scammers, Madigan said.
In some versions of the scam, the con artists tell the owners theyve found potential renters for their timeshare. In others, a person posing as a prospective buyer makes the initial call and urges the timeshare owners to contact the fake reseller immediately to complete the sale. Also, in some instances, the owners are asked to charge the security deposit to their credit card rather than transferring the money by wire.
Many scammers briefly rent a P.O. Box or office suite as a business address, and in some cases create Web sites to trick consumers into believing they are legitimate.
Especially vulnerable
Seniors living on fixed incomes and persons suffering the effects of the economic downturn may be especially vulnerable to the scam, because they may view their seldom-used timeshares as a source of much-needed money. Madigan cautioned that consumers should never assume they will recoup their purchase price for their timeshare, especially if they have owned it for less than five years and the location is less than well-known.
If you are actively trying to sell a timeshare, here are some
things to remember:
Dont agree to anything on the phone or online until youve had a chance to check out the reseller. Contact the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and the state Attorney General (www.naag.org) in the state where the reseller is located. Ask if any complaints are on file.
Ask the salesperson for all information in writing. Under Illinois law, a timeshare reseller must enter into a listing agreement with the owner signed by both the owner and the reseller that discloses certain specified information, including the resale agents contact information and the fees to be charged for the resale agents services.
Check with the state Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to confirm that the reseller is registered as a real estate agent, as required by state law.
Ask if the resellers agents are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located. If so, verify it with the state Real Estate Commission. Deal only with licensed real estate brokers and agents, and ask for references from satisfied clients.
Ask how the reseller will advertise and promote the timeshare unit. Will you get progress reports? How often?
Ask about fees and timing. Its preferable to do business with a reseller that takes its fee after the timeshare is sold. If you must pay a fee in advance, that's a very bad sign.
In a number of states, officials have begun to crackdown on companies promising timeshare owners they can sell their property, but who charge a large fee upfront. In Illinois, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is now warning timeshare owners in her state that scammers have moved into the space, collecting money but making no attempt to sell anything.
Madigan says the scam typically works like this: a timeshare owner gets a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be a t...
Florida Cracks Down on Timeshare Resale Industry
2009 was record-breaking year for consumer recoveries03/15/2010 | ConsumerAffairs
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum continues to go after those in the timeshare resale industry who engage in questionable and - in some cases - fraudulent practices.
Among the actions is what the AG's office calls "a significant settlement that could yield as much as $1.3 million in consumer refunds" and the filing of a lawsuit against a major player in the state's timeshare resale industry.
McCollum also unveiled ongoing investigations into at least 17 timeshare companies and their affiliates throughout the state for deceptive trade practices.
"Florida's consumers are trying to make prudent financial decisions," the attorney general noted, "but many timeshare resale companies are blatantly scamming people by promising sales or refunds and failing to provide services even after taking hefty up-front fees."
Timeshare resale complaints have recently surpassed mortgage-related complaints as the most commonly reported consumer complaint received by the office's Consumer Hotline.
ConsumerAffairs.com has received a sizable number of complaints about the practices of timeshare sellers from consumers across the nation.
"In September of 2007 I paid Timeshares Only almost $600 to list my timeshare which was to be a one time fee and they would run the ad until it sold," says Shannon of Harrisburg, NC. "Well, I have not had one call regarding an offer for my timeshare although I have reduced the price a few times. I also decided to check the ad myself on the web site and could not find it. When I contacted them to ask why they told me I had to periodically 'reactivate it'. If I paid you a fee and you agreed to run the ad until it sold, I should not have to call and reactivate it! This business is a complete SCAM!"
"I was told by timeshares only they guaranteed to sell my timeshare or rent it," John from Baltimore writes ConsumerAffairs.com. "Well it's been over three years since they took my money and still not one call to sell or even rent. I was also promised that they would refund my money if I sold it before they did. Well I did sell it and still no refund either."
The lawsuit filed in Florida against Resales Buy Owner.com, Inc. contends the company engaged in a systematic pattern of deception that improperly induced consumers to pay up-front fees for timeshare resale services that were never provided.
According to consumer complaints, the company would indicate it either had a buyer or renter interested in the timeshare and that there would be no problem renting or selling the timeshare within 90 to 120 days. The lawsuit maintains the company merely advertised the property listings, if taking any action at all, and allegedly charged consumers' credit cards even after consumers opted not to do business with the company. The lawsuit seeks an order prohibiting the company from engaging in further deceptive conduct and seeks full restitution on behalf of victimized consumers, civil penalties and reimbursement for fees and costs.
McCollum's Office also announced a significant settlement with Virtual Group, Inc., resolving allegations the company failed to provide promised refunds to consumers. Virtual Group, which does business under the name Realty Trade, offered timeshare resale and rental advertising services to consumers looking to sell or lease their timeshare properties.
As a result of the investigation, Realty Trade has already paid over $800,000 in refunds to 799 consumers. The company will also make another $500,000 available to consumers who make new refund requests.
In addition to the litigation and the settlement announced today, in recent months, the Attorney General's Office has subpoenaed 17 timeshare resale companies and their affiliates over allegations of potentially deceptive business practices.
Common complaints about these companies involve the use of false and deceptive claims to entice consumers to pay up-front fees, including assertions that buyers are allegedly ready and willing to buy or rent the consumers' timeshare.
Companies also often allegedly fail to honor cancellation policies, misrepresent the actual services that will be provided to consumers, and fail to comply with elements of state and federal telemarketing acts.
The initiative was launched in 2009 in response to the growing number of timeshare resale complaints received by the Attorney General's Office.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum continues to go after those in the timeshare resale industry who engage in questionable and - in some cases - fraudulent practices.
Among the actions is what the AG's office calls "a significant settlement that could yield as much as $1.3 million in consumer refunds" and the filing of a lawsuit against a major player in the state's timeshare resale industry.
McCollum also unveiled ongoing investigations into at least 17 timeshare comp...
Settlement Reached With Florida-Based Timeshare Company
BlueGreen Corp. will pay refunds, cancel improper contracts and change business practices06/04/2010 | ConsumerAffairs
By James Limbach
June 4, 2010
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection has reached a settlement with BlueGreen Corporation, a Florida-based timeshare company.
The settlement addresses complaints about the company's alleged use of deceptive "contests," misleading sales presentations and improper contracts in the marketing and sale of timeshare vacation packages in Pennsylvania.
Attorney General Tom Corbett says the agreement, known as a Consent Decree, resolves a consumer protection lawsuit filed in October 2008 against BlueGreen Corporation, BlueGreen Resorts, BlueGreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. and Great Vacations Destinations, Inc., all of Boca Raton, Florida. BlueGreen contacted consumers by phone and through kiosks at shopping malls, fairs, and festivals throughout Pennsylvania, along with the use of sales facilities in Hershey and King of Prussia.
"As a major part of this settlement, BlueGreen has agreed to cancel contracts and pay refunds to consumers who have filed valid complaints about their timeshare purchases," Corbett said. "Those complaints include consumers who were unable to use their timeshare, false promises about when or where consumers could travel and situations where timeshare purchasers did not receive extra services or discounts that were promised during the sales presentation."
Unhappy consumers
Jim of Valles Mines, MO, tells ConsumerAffairs.com, "As a BlueGreen owner, I have experienced high pressure sales tactics used by the sales staff. The sales staff attempts to push the packages on you every time you visit. The sales staff lie and misrepresent the products to customers, anything to sale a package." Jim says this has caused him "numerous financial problems."
"I am getting ripped off by BlueGreen," writes Elisabeth of Prior Lake MN. "I cannot book a vacation to save my life, am paying monthly and now am being charged ridiculous fees for a property I cannot use. I want my money back but the people are too rude to even say no." Elisabeth tells ConsumerAffairs.com that this is causing her both emotional and financial damage. "I feel trapped with no way out!"
Settlement terms
Corbett noted that the settlement he reached applies to complaints by Pennsylvania timeshare purchasers that have already been filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, along with any new complaints filed within the next 30 days. Also, BlueGreen has agreed to turn over all complaints involving Pennsylvania residents that were filed directly with the company.
Additionally, Corbett said his office is reviewing complaints filed with other state agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, along with other consumer protection agencies, including the Florida Attorney General's Office, where BlueGreen is headquartered, as well as the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau offices in Pennsylvania and Florida.
"Many of the complaints filed with the attorney general's office involve consumers who spent between $20,000 and $40,000 on vacation packages they were unable to use," Corbett said. "This part of the settlement could result in more than $1 million in refunds to consumers, depending on the total number of additional complaints we receive over the next 30 days."
Corbett said the settlement also includes payments for consumers who were promised various "free gifts," including airline tickets, hotel accommodations, gas cards and other valuable prizes.
"For most consumers, the promise of a 'free gift' or 'valuable prize' turned out to be nothing more than vouchers or coupons which required other expensive purchases before they could be used, or were limited by massive "fine print" restrictions," Corbett said. "As part of this agreement, BlueGreen is paying $125,000, which will be used to compensate people who were deceived about "free" prizes -- so consumers who filed valid complaints will get a check for the value of the item they were promised."
Finally, Corbett said the settlement includes a special reward for each consumer who filed a complaint about BlueGreen's use of telemarketing sales calls that violated Pennsylvania's "Do Not Call" law.
Under the provisions of the state's Do Not Call law, consumers can receive up to $100 when they file a complaint that results in a lawsuit or fines against a company charged with telemarketing violations. A total of 29 people filed Do Not Call complaints about improper BlueGreen calls and each of those consumers will be receiving a check for $100.
Timeshare tips
Consumers who are shopping for a timeshare vacation package should consider the following tips:
Take your time. Treat a timeshare purchase like the purchase of a home or any other significant commitment. Don't let high-pressure sales tactics and long presentations force you into a hasty decision.
Do your research. Check the market and the value of the vacation property before you buy and investigate the seller, the developer and the management company. Ask for references and contact current owners to verify their satisfaction with the property.
Know the cancellation period. Pennsylvania provides a five-day cooling off period for buyers to change their mind and cancel a timeshare contract. Consumers must notify the seller in writing via certified mail or return receipt mail.
Recognize that timeshares can be difficult to resell. Buy a timeshare only if you plan to use it. It is an option for future vacations, not an investment.
Consider extra costs. Most timeshares require consumers to pay annual assessment fees, maintenance fees and taxes, closing and broker commissions, and finance charges. Some fees can rise dramatically in the future so it's important to ask if there is a cap on future fees.
Beware of scams. If you are offered a prize as an incentive to attend a timeshare presentation, ask for details and watch out for hidden conditions and fine print. Keep in mind that the value of promotional gifts may be low in comparison to the fees and charges associated with a timeshare purchase. Any 'free' travel or vacations you are offered may have blackout dates and other restrictions.
Read everything before you sign. Carefully review contracts and all other paperwork before you sign anything, and get all special promises about discounts, waived fees or other promotions in writing.
By James Limbach ConsumerAffairs.com
June 4, 2010 The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection has reached a settlement with BlueGreen Corporation, a Florida-based timeshare company.
The settlement addresses complaints about the company's alleged use of deceptive "contests," misleading sales presentations and improper contracts in the marketing and sale of timeshare vacation packages in Pennsylvania.
Attorney General Tom Corbett says the agreemen...
Watch for Scams in Vacation Packages, Travel Deals
Secret fees, misleading ads, hard-sell tactics are common03/18/2008 | ConsumerAffairs
With spring break here and families planning for summer vacations, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is warning consumers to be wary of the various scams and fraud which could be associated with vacation packages and other travel-related services.
McCollum encouraged consumers to report travel-related fraud involving Florida companies to his office (at myfloridalegal.com, particularly issues related to improperly disclosed surcharges, misleading advertisements or problems associated with timeshares.
Florida is well-known for its allure to travelers, from both within the state and other locations, and we must protect not only our citizens and our guests but also our reputation as an attractive destination, said McCollum.
The Attorney Generals Office announced settlements earlier this week with two cruise lines over the imposition of a fuel supplement on cruise passengers. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises agreed to refund $21 million to consumers nationwide who were charged the fuel surcharge after they had booked their cruise.
Other common travel-related problems are associated with vacation timeshares, which give consumers the right to use a vacation home for a limited, preplanned period. Timeshare scams occur both at the time of the original purchase and at the point of resale.
Victims of unscrupulous timeshare sales companies are often contacted either over the phone or are mailed a postcard asking the victim to call a toll-free phone number. Before consumers decide to either purchase or resell a timeshare, McCollum advised them to consider the following tips:
Be wary of the hard sales pitch When it comes to purchasing a new timeshare, the salesperson may give the impression that the papers have to be signed that same day. Consumers should remember that they always have the right to leave the sales office and come back later.
Consumers should always read their contracts to determine what cancellation rights they have after the papers are signed. Before buying a timeshare, consumers should consider whether they will want to return to the same vacation spot each year.
Be wary of too-good-to-be-true claims when it comes to resales The company's salespeople are likely to claim that the market in the area where the resort is located is "hot" and that they are being overwhelmed with buyer requests for that resort. In some cases, the salespeople may even claim they have a buyer waiting in the wings who wants to buy the timeshare. Consumers should be skeptical of these types of claims.
Question up-front fees Most resale companies require consumers to pay a $300-500 advance listing fee before the sale of the timeshare can take place. In a typical real estate transaction, the fee is paid from the proceeds of the sale at the time of the sale. Consumers should also find out if the salespeople are licensed real estate brokers and should contact the licensing agency in the state where the company is located to determine if their license is valid, and whether there are any complaints lodged against the broker.
Consider other options when it comes to resale Consumers may want to try selling their timeshares "by owner" by placing advertisements in a newsletter or magazine read by potential timeshare buyers. A licensed real estate broker in the area where the resort is located may be another option. Some companies also offer contracts which allow consumers to exchange their timeshares for units in different areas.
McCollum encouraged consumers to report travel-related fraud involving Florida companies to his office (at myfloridalegal.com, particularly issues related to improperly disclosed surcharges, misleading advertisements or problems associated with timeshares.
Florida is well-known for its allure to travelers, from both within the state and other locations, and we must protect not only our citizens and our guests but also our reputation as an attractive destination, said McCo...
Florida Seeks Injunction To Stop Timeshare Sales
Marketing operations called 'complete sham'11/03/2009 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
The State of Florida has gone to court to block two related South Florida timeshare resale marketing companies from operating in the state. The suit claims the defendants preyeed on desperate timeshare owners trying to unload their properties.
Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit and has requested an emergency injunction against Universal Marketing Solutions, Creative Vacation Solutions, and owner/manager Jennifer Kirk.
The suit claims the companies allegedly collected over $4 million in marketing fees on a monthly basis, but rarely if ever marketed, advertised, or facilitated sales for the timeshare owners who had contracts with the companies. The injunction requests the companies' cease doing any timeshare business while the lawsuit is pending.
An investigation conducted by the Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division indicated that Kirk and her companies were charging marketing fees as high as $2,500 for timeshare resale advertising services. The companies were soliciting hundreds of consumers nationwide via the Internet and though aggressive telemarketing calls, allegedly making empty promises and false misrepresentations that they would actively match timeshare sellers with prospective buyers.
According to the lawsuit, when prospective buyers contact the companies to purchase a timeshare, no attempt would be made by the companies to match those prospective buyers with sellers who had contracted with the companies, thus making the advertising and marketing claims a complete sham.
Advance fees
To solicit more customers, the companies allegedly boasted of their "superior marketing tools," including marketing events, presentations and seminars. Kirk and her companies allegedly claimed they could "definitely" sell timeshares within a certain period of time and that they had buyers waiting with approved financing to buy the consumers' timeshare. Consumers were also verbally assured contract terms during telemarketing calls, but were furnished contracts with entirely different terms regarding the resale services.
Additionally, the companies would allegedly charge consumers' credit cards or cash consumers' checks without and/or before obtaining a signed written contract from the consumer delineating all the terms and conditions of the services to be provided.
Consumers who complained to the Attorney General's Office reported that the companies have not performed the promised services and that they were unable to contact the companies or get refunds. The Attorney General's Office believes that there could a total of more than 400 victims affected by the two companies' deceptive practices, and has been receiving approximately 10 complaints per day against these companies.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting the defendants from engaging in any timeshare resale business while the litigation is pending. The lawsuit also requests full restitution on behalf of all victimized consumers, civil penalties, and reimbursement for fees and costs related to the investigation.
The State of Florida has gone to court to block two related South Florida timeshare resale marketing companies from operating in the state. The suit claims the defendants preyeed on desperate timeshare owners trying to unload their properties.
Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit and has requested an emergency injunction against Universal Marketing Solutions, Creative Vacation Solutions, and owner/manager Jennifer Kirk.
The suit claims the companies allegedly col...
Timeshare salesman says he 'lied for a living'
Read this before you take a family vacation06/26/2015 | ConsumerAffairs
By Mark Huffman
Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs ... Read Full Bio→
If you are headed for a popular resort on vacation this summer, chances are you will encounter an attractive and aggressively friendly young man or woman who offers you a free gift or meal that has just one tiny string attached.
You have to submit to a timeshare pitch.
What could be the harm? After several hours of intense pressure, you might emerge as the new owner of a timeshare, and just like someone who wakes up after a bender with a new tattoo, have no idea why you a...


text:
30 April 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta led by Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen B. Isleta and the Filipino Community members welcomed Vice President Jejomar Binay on April 23 at the Chancery in Jakarta.
Vice President Binay attended the Asian-African Conference Summit held in Jakarta from April 22 to 23 and took the opportunity to touch base with the Filipino community members in Indonesia.
Vice President Binay provided updates on Philippine economic, investment, and political developments as well as the case of Filipino national Mary Jane Veloso. During the open forum, he responded to questions on a variety of topics such as the Pag-IBIG Fund, his future plans and projects, ASEAN Economic Community and its implications, among others. The community and Vice President Binay also exchanged views and ideas on different issues in the Philippines.
The following day, Vice President Binay attended the Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-African Conference held in Bandung. During his visit to Indonesia, Vice President Binay also held bilateral talks with Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Tunisian Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche. END

subset: commoncrawl


text: Should this be"for us" or "to us"? Should this be "throught" or "in?" Is the second sentence OK without quotation marks? See 2nd sentence. Should this be "for" or "from?" Is the word "discovered" OK? Is this correct? Should I use "Applying this Biblical truth to my life..." Grammarly highlighted "own." Is this sentence correct? Is "on" correct? See 2nd sentence. Does "retreat into the ordinary" make sense to the reader? Should I put "to me" at end of sentence? (after "stories") Is this sentence correct? (and feeling guilty) Is "that when" OK? Should I use "when" or "if?" Which sentence is best? Please give a suggestion if needed.


text:
An extremely rare and incredibly reclusive bird—the Junin Rail—was seen and photographed near a high Andean Lake this past Sunday, February 26, 2012.
"More people have climbed Everest and visited space than have seen this amazing creature. For me, this event was equivalent in ornithological terms to finding the Holy Grail. Frankly, I never expected to see this bird in my lifetime, let alone photograph it. This gives us real hope that this endangered species can continue to survive," said Mike Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC).
The Junin Rail is notable for its bright red eyes and cryptically-patterned plumage. It relies on hiding motionless in dense reeds to avoid predators and so can be very difficult to see, even at close quarters. It is similar to the North American Black Rail (with which it is sometimes considered conspecific), but has a different call and subtly different plumage characters. The Black Rail itself is often considered North America's most difficult bird to find.
The bird was found by Cesar Donato Zevallos Bashualdo a conservationist who works with the Peruvian conservation group ECOAN, then hand-captured by leading British ornithologist and bird bander Stephen Rumsey. It was photographed by ABC's Mike Parr. The ECOAN/ABC team is working in the Junin region to develop a conservation program with local community members.
The bird was first attracted using a tape playback of its call by the ECOAN team, then isolated in a small patch of reeds and very carefully captured by hand, before being photographed and released unharmed back to its marshland habitat just minutes later. Other participating members of ECOAN who witnessed the event were Alan Chamorro, and ECOAN President, Constantino Aucca Chutas.
The rail is classified as Endangered and occurs only in the dense marsh grasses surrounding Lake Junin at an altitude of 13,500 feet in the Peruvian Andes. The lake also provides habitat for another Critically Endangered bird endemic to the area—the Junin Grebe.
Populations of both the grebe and rail are threatened by the cutting and burning of reeds to create grazing areas for cattle; pollution from metal mining run-off; and the operation of a hydroelectric dam, which can cause water levels to fluctuate.
Invasive trout are also likely reducing populations of native fish upon which the grebes feed. Despite the threats, the lake is still a spectacular place that hosts globally important populations of wintering migratory shorebirds that nest in North America such as Pectoral and Baird's Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Lesser Yellowlegs, and American Golden-Plovers.
The lake also provides nesting habitat for Chilean Flamingoes and provides foraging opportunities for thousands of waterbirds. Another Endangered species, the Lake Junin Giant Frog, can also be found there. The lake has been has been classified as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, and conservation efforts there urgently need additional support.
This article was written and published by American Bird Conservancy.
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text:
Baby don't hurt me.
Don't hurt me.
No more.
Baby don't hurt me.
Don't hurt me.
No more.
The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament.
"I am very happy and it will allow me to have lot more rice."
Eoin Morgan on being given a rice cooker for being Man of the Match in a Dhaka Premier Division game.
Inspiring, as long as you keep away physically (and legally).
~ Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference ~
I'm hoping to make quite physical love this weekend (ie) tomorrow.
Last edited by OverratedSanity; 15-11-2014 at 07:30 AM.
Love is a burning thing.
Love is the ****
And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW
Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta
Understanding - Acceptance - Affection
I am often asked who was the best, fastest or toughest bowler I ever faced and I quite enjoy giving different answers every time. Well, it keeps me amused anyway but the underlying point is that one could revise this whole list on a daily basis and never really be right and never really be wrong - DAVID GOWER
Swap Love with s**t in song lyrics gogogo
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in **** with you
Hey baby, I ain't askin' much of you
No no no no no no no no baby, I ain't askin' much of you
Just a big-a big-a hunk o' **** will do
Ok this was much more amusing when I was 9
**** bomb, **** bomber
It's coming on strong
I can't take it any longer
Works well IMO.
Forever 63* at the SCG
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text:
Posted on March 13, 2012
I know I'm behind on my post updates but I just don't have enough time to update this blog or I don't have Wi-Fi available. Let me continue, as I said in previous post, I arrived in Jaisalmer from Jaipur and found that it's a nice city, especially the fort part of it. It is obviously on a hill so no cycle rickshaws here, only auto rickshaws and taxis. The rides are a bit more expensive here because gas is sold at higher price here. One of the annoyances is the frequency of blackouts, they occur approximately every 6-7 hours (at least the did while I was there). I also hated all the flies that are in the city, there was an unbelievable amount that I hadn't experienced elsewhere and I was happy to leave Jaisalmer mostly because of that.
The Fall location
Jaisalmer fort is one of the filming locations from The Fall and it was shot from outside the southern wall. The scene actually shows the exact hotel that I stayed in, which was kinda cool. Here's my shot of the same location.
Things to see
One of the sights that is worth seeing here is Fort Palace museum which is a bit pricey for my taste but it has the most amazing view of the city since its rooftop is the highest point there. Admission fee is 300 rupees but it includes...
Find out who the funny Italian guy is...
Categories: Activities, Foods, Photography, The Fall locations
Tags: camel, Rajasthan, safari
Comments: 2 Comments »
Posted on March 12, 2012
Another post with just one photo. It's a camel that I rode while on my desert safari from Khuri in Thar desert.
It was a sweet yet dumb-looking camel...
Categories: Activities, Photography
Tags: camel, Rajasthan, safari
Comments: 5 Comments »
Posted on March 12, 2012
I arrived in Jaisalmer by an overnight train from Jaipur. The train ride wasn't that bad but nevertheless I didn't sleep that well. It took us some eleven hours to get here and I had a nice chat with couple of the locals in the train. I traveled sleeper class and had an opportunity to sit by the cart doors and see the desert on my way here.
The hotel
I arranged accommodation in Paradise hotel inside the fort because the Argentinian guys suggested it and I wanted a nice peaceful place to stay at. The hotel staff told me that they'll pick me up at the train station but they forgot so I had to call them to send a ride for me. It was quite irritating waiting for the ride since there's like twenty touts at the station trying to get you to take their rickshaw to a bunch of different hotels where the get their commission.
So the car finally arrived after some 20 minutes and once they drove me to the hotel I checked in and just wanted to get to my room but noooo... The manager wanted me to take the hotel's camel safari trip and wouldn't let me get to my room without first having listened to his offer. I said that I don't care about it and that I have some prior arrangements for it (even though I didn't have any). I was finally released and went to my room to relax but it was...
Find out how to get from Jaisalmer to Khuri...
Categories: Activities, Info
Tags: bus, Jaisalmer, Khuri, Rajasthan
Comments: No Comments »
Posted on March 5, 2012
This monkey just begs to be on this blog.
No post, just a photo...
Categories: Photography
Comments: 8 Comments »
Posted on March 3, 2012
Here's a great one. Short and sweet...
After a quick nap on Thursday (my first day in India), I decided to have a short walk in streets near my hotel and catch something to eat. As I already mentioned, everyone here is friendly so I meet several people who ask me where I'm from, how long have I been in India, how long I'm staying and similar questions. I liked that so I answered to each of them thinking they can't be meaning any harm if they're behaving so kindly. Boy, was I wrong... Since I had a train booked for early morning today I wanted to see where the station is and how to get there from my place and I asked a guy to show me how to get to the New Delhi train station. We started walking and talking and he suggested I should go to "government's" tourist office to get some safety tips, maps and other complimentary stuff so I listened to him. He got me a rickshaw which dropped me right in front of the office (BTW, my first rickshaw ride). I get inside, get some chai and start talking to this guy who says that I shouldn't take trains during this period (holiday time in India) because there were some stabbings "recently" (he showed some newspaper article which was actually from March 2007) and told me that I should use their mini bus which will take me and two other girls from my hotel...


text:
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June 12, 2013
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text:
Saujani: 'I Might Not Vote'
David Freedlander has video of congressional candidate Reshma Saujani floating an unusual idea about the November elections.
Saujani is a first-time candidate running in a Democratic primary against Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhatttan. There's been some heated rhetoric on the campaign trail - during their one and only debate yesterday, Saujani repeatedly called Maloney a liar - but there are not substantive differences in their policy agendas.
If there is one defining issue in the race, it's each candidate's relationship to Wall Street - which employs a disproportionate number of residents in the district.


text:
http://www.lsoft.com/images/listserv-community.gif http://www.lsoft.com/images/listserv_small.gif LIS-MAPS List LIS-MAPS List Archives https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?RSS&L=lis-maps&v=ATOM1.0 This is an Atom formatted XML site feed. It is intended to be viewed in a Newsreader. Alternatively you can view the HTML archives at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=lis-maps. LISTSERV Web Interface 2.4.1 2015-10-07T09:29:18Z Francis Herbet 2015-10-07T10:29:12+01:00 2015-10-07T10:29:12+01:00 FW: Exhibition of Smith maps and related conference https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;a198d731.1510 Having deleted the attachment (see last sentence of original message, below), I've edited this posting – of which some 'Lis-maps' subscribers may already be too aware.

From: HOGG - History of Geology Group [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] On Behalf Of Cherry Lewis
Sent: 29 September 2015 13:07
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: Exhibition of Smith maps and related conference [...] Francis Herbet 2015-10-07T10:14:00+01:00 2015-10-07T10:14:00+01:00 FW: Smiths strata https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;4b508a6d.1510 This event may be known to some 'Lis-maps' subscribers; or not . . .
Another (continuing) link between cartography and literature.

Wendy Cawthorne (ex-Univ. London, Senate House Geogr. & Map Libr.), as some
map curators will recall, is a Librarian at The Geological Society of
London; and this re-assuring posting (only) is extracted from HOGG [=History
of Geology Group, Geog. Soc. London]'s email. [...] Ann M.Sutherland 2015-10-06T14:47:38+00:00 2015-10-06T14:47:38+00:00 Magic conference 2016 https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;d635c37f.1510 Dear All,
At the Business meeting of the Map Curators' Group in September, the subject of the former Liber now Magic was discussed.Delegates were concerned about Magic's way forward and when the next conference would take place and where it would be held.For those who are not on the mailing list here is the invitation from Magic's organising committee to the next conference in April 2016RegardsAnn Sutherland
Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to invite you to the joint Conferences, 20th conference of Map and Geoinformation Curatos Group, MAGIC (former Group de Cartothécaire de LIBER) and 11th ICA Conference of Digital [...] Francis Herbet 2015-10-06T12:26:20+01:00 2015-10-06T12:26:20+01:00 'Mapping the Second World War' book (Oct., 2015) https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;39121af9.1510 The BCSs MCGs Convenor, Ann Sutherland, may have been again walking in
Germany around Friday 18 September; but I wasnt. So, better late than
never, heres a snippet from a newspaper that Ann, also, occasionally
refers to: The Independent (London).

That Fridays hard copy page 9 has 4 of 5 columns fully taken up by a
colour-illustrated plug for Dr Peter Chasseauds sequel title as per
Subject above to his recommended 2013 book Mapping the First World War
(for which I didnt regret paying for my own personal copy!). The articles
writer is Dean Kirby, its title (given [...] Tony Campbell 2015-10-06T09:50:52+01:00 2015-10-06T09:50:52+01:00 Re: FW: First International Workshop On the Origin and Evolution of Portolan Charts https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;7c64def.1510 Full message available at: Re: FW: First International Workshop On the Origin and Evolution of Portolan Charts  Francis Herbet 2015-10-05T20:29:26+01:00 2015-10-05T20:29:26+01:00 FW: First International Workshop On the Origin and Evolution of Portolan Charts https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;84179560.1510 Probably not of universal (British Isles-wise) interest to most 'Lis-maps' subscribers; but it might be forwarded to others not on map/chart historical lists . . .

Francis Herbert

From: email@example.com [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com]
Sent: 05 October 2015 17:18
Subject: CfP: First International Workshop On the Origin and Evolution of Portolan Charts

Dear colleague,

We apologise for duplicate messages. Our links suffered a bug while sending the message and we have now corrected them. [...] Francis Herbet 2015-10-05T20:24:23+01:00 2015-10-05T20:24:23+01:00 FW: new University of Chicago Map Collection Web page https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;c437f20d.1510 From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. [mailto:email@example.com] On
Behalf Of Christopher Winters
Sent: 05 October 2015 15:16
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: new University of Chicago Map Collection Web page

Hi,

I can't resist sharing the news that University of Chicago Map Collection
staff members have put up a new page of scanned maps, this one focusing on
18th-century maps of Central Europe. The URL is [...] Tony Campbell 2015-10-01T15:01:52+01:00 2015-10-01T15:01:52+01:00 'Local Maps from Medieval Europe' (Paul Harvey at the IHR, 6 Oct.) https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;82c2548d.1510 Full message available at: 'Local Maps from Medieval Europe' (Paul Harvey at the IHR, 6 Oct.)  Nick Millea 2015-09-30T11:03:47+00:00 2015-09-30T11:03:47+00:00 "Mapping Lineages: Quantifying the Evolution of Maps of the British Isles" - post-doctoral research opportunity https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;b6666284.1509 Dear colleagues,

Thanks to generous funding from The Leverhulme Trust, for a three-year project called:

"Mapping Lineages: Quantifying the Evolution of Maps of the British Isles"

there is a post-doctoral research opportunity available, based at the University of Liverpool, under the direction of Dr Chris Lloyd.

The post will be of particular interest to historians of cartography with expertise in Geographical Information Systems. [...] UTP Journals 2015-09-28T11:28:57-04:00 2015-09-28T11:28:57-04:00 Now on Project MUSE - Cartographica Fall 2015 - Student Papers: Glaciers, Geomorphology, And Sedimentology https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;249c701c.1509 Now available at Project MUSE

Cartographica - Volume 50, Issue 3, Fall 2015

http://bit.ly/carto503pm

Eight Islands on Four Maps: The Cartographic Renegotiation of Hawaii,
18761959

John Wyatt Greenlee

Neglected Treasures: Linking Historical Cartography with Environmental
Changes in Java, Indonesia

Martin C. Lukas

STUDENT PAPERS: GLACIERS, GEOMORPHOLOGY, AND SEDIMENTOLOGY

Student Collaborative Writing Groups: Mapping Glacial Geomorphology and
Glacial Sedimentology

John C. Maclachlan, Rebecca E. Lee [...] Nick Millea 2015-09-28T11:35:00+00:00 2015-09-28T11:35:00+00:00 British Cartographic Society Autumn Lecture: Oxford - 17 November https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;10d13b12.1509 Dear Friends,

I trust you will find the attached of interest.

Hope to see you on November 17th, if not before.

With best wishes,
Nick Fleet, Christopher 2015-09-28T09:49:49+00:00 2015-09-28T09:49:49+00:00 Historic Maps Subscription API https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;d153259e.1509 The National Library of Scotland and Klokan Technologies GmbH have just launched our new Historic Maps Subscription API, allowing anyone to incorporate five detailed historic georeferenced map layers relating to Great Britain and London into their own website.

There are further details at: http://maps.nls.uk/projects/subscription-api/index.html

Initially we have five main layers available:

1. Subscription API - Great Britain, Ordnance Survey (1:1 million - 1:10,560), 1900s
2. Great Britain, Ordnance Survey six-inch to the mile (1:10,560), 1888-1913
3. Great Britain, Ordnance Survey 'Provisional' edition (1:25,000), 1937-1961
4. Great Britain, Ordnance Survey One-Inch Seventh Series (1:63,360), 1955-1961
5. London, Ordnance Survey Five-foot to [...] Wendy Cawthorne 2015-09-28T09:47:21+01:00 2015-09-28T09:47:21+01:00 FW: article on geologic plaster map move at Penn State (FYI) https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;de7c496.1509 Just thought this might be of interest to LIS-Maps Wendy __________________________________________________________________ Wendy Cawthorne Assistant Librarian Email: email@example.com<mailto:email@example.com> Tel: +44 (0)20 7432 0999; +44 (0)20 7432 0997 (Direct) Fax: +44 (0)20 7439 3470 Web: www.geolsoc.org.uk The Geological Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W1J 0BG From: Geonet listserv [mailto:email@example.com] On Behalf Of LINDA MUSSER Sent: 26 September 2015 19:58 To: firstname.lastname@example.com Subject: [GEONET] article on geologic plaster map move at Penn State (FYI) This piece briefly describes the move of the large geologic plaster map at Penn State<%20http:/www.psu.edu/feature/2015/09/03/science-art-and-history>, one of several examples of organizations moving these plaster maps in recent years (The [...] Francis Herbet 2015-09-28T07:11:38+01:00 2015-09-28T07:11:38+01:00 FW: Warning to libraries about Norbert Schild https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;7a0e409d.1509 Re-forwarded for Lis-maps (and for forwarding to any other institution not
on likely discussion lists).

FH

From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. [mailto:email@example.com] On
Behalf Of Angela R Cope
Sent: 25 September 2015 14:09
To: email@example.com
Subject: Warning to libraries about Norbert Schild
Importance: High

_____

From: Joost Depuydt <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2015 4:13 AM
To: Maps-L: Discussion Forum for Maps, Air Photo, Map Librarianship, GIS,
etc. <email@example.com> (email@example.com);
'firstname.lastname@example.com'
Subject: Warning! [...] Fleet, Christopher 2015-09-25T12:07:51+00:00 2015-09-25T12:07:51+00:00 James Robertson exhibition opening tomorrow in Lerwick https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;f0a0745e.1509 Just in case anyone finds themselves in Lerwick in the next couple of months (well, you never know...)

The exhibition 'James Robertson: The Shetlander who Mapped Jamaica (1753 - 1829)' opens tomorrow in Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick and will run until 22 November.

James Robertson was born on the island of Yell, and emigrated to Jamaica where he owned a sugar plantation and worked as a surveyor. From 1796-1804, Robertson surveyed the most detailed maps of Jamaica that had ever been made - remarkably accurate, even by today's standards - and an excellent insight into the island, then [...] Driver, F 2015-09-24T18:13:08+00:00 2015-09-24T18:13:08+00:00 Topographies - seminar series, Institute of Historical Research, Oct-Dec 2015 https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;e0945754.1509 Dear all

The London Group of Historical Geographers' is devoting this term's seminars to the theme of topographies. These take place in Senate House, Institute of Historical Research. See below and at the link: http://www.history.ac.uk/events/seminars/119

<http://www.history.ac.uk/events/seminars/119>

Please circulate to anyone interested. All welcome.

best wishes

Felix Driver

London Group of Historical Geographers

Convenors: Ruth Craggs (King's College London), Felix Driver (RHUL), Innes keighren (Royal Holloway University of London), Miles Ogborn (QMUL) [...] Wendy Cawthorne 2015-09-24T10:37:34+01:00 2015-09-24T10:37:34+01:00 GSL Book Sale https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;e15809d8.1509 Geological Society Library Book Sale

The Library's latest sale of duplicate and out-of-scope material is now available to browse online.

There are hundreds of items in the sale, including a large number of British Geological Survey regional Memoirs and publications from the Geological Society, AAPG and SEPM.

The sale is divided into different subject areas including Regional Geology, Petroleum Geology, Engineering Geology, Mining, Stratigraphy, Conservation and others. [...] Francis Herbet 2015-09-24T09:48:36+01:00 2015-09-24T09:48:36+01:00 FW: Biography of James Hector https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;c997df2c.1509 There is geological mapping originating with Hector, so this forwarded
posting could interest some 'Lis-maps' subscribers - not only in Brit.
Isles.

From: HOGG - History of Geology Group [mailto:email@example.com] On Behalf
Of Geol Maps account
Sent: 23 September 2015 13:47
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: FW: Biography of James Hector

Dear All,

Apologies if you have received this news already from other sources. The
biography of the founder of the New Zealand Geological Survey and associated
online resources are positive contributions to the history of geology. [...] Thomas Sander 2015-09-18T10:59:14-04:00 2015-09-18T10:59:14-04:00 In "The Portolan", Issue 93: Italian siege maps of Cyprus. US Army mapping during World War I. A unique Native American map. Rhetoric and allegory in 'The North Part of America.' And more. https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;923f7b1b.1509 Dear subscribers to Lis-maps,

This thrice-yearly journal with articles on maps, the history of cartography, and exploration is the only journal of its kind in the Americas. Below is information on the Fall 2015 issue recently published. See http://www.washmapsociety.org/TPJ2.htm for details on ordering the current or past issues of "The Portolan". That link also takes the reader to the contents list of all back issues and an index to those issues. The focus of the society and the journal is not solely Washington; topics are widespread in scope. [...] Anne Taylor 2015-09-18T09:36:41+01:00 2015-09-18T09:36:41+01:00 Cambridge Seminars in the History of Cartography https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;8e5225f0.1509 Dear all

Please see below for the programme for 2015-16. All are very welcome: do
come!
A poster can be printed from our web page (see below)

Sarah Bendall

CAMBRIDGE SEMINARS IN THE HISTORY OF CARTOGRAPHY

Emmanuel College, St Andrew's Street, Cambridge CB2 3AP

Gardner Room, 5.30pm

/Tuesday 24 November 2015/

Professor Michael Heffernan and Ben Thorpe (University of Nottingham) [...] Nick Millea 2015-09-17T11:34:36+00:00 2015-09-17T11:34:36+00:00 Gough Map Symposium (2 November) - registration now open https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;124910c0.1509 Dear All,

Registration is now open for our one-day symposium, 'Mr Gough's 'curious map' of Britain: old image, new techniques', to be held in the Weston Library, Oxford. Details are at:

http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events/2015/nov/gough-map-symposium-2015

The registration fee will be £25.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

With best wishes,
Nick Yolande Hodson 2015-09-16T10:49:59+01:00 2015-09-16T10:49:59+01:00 Re: CCS on BBC https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;ebb3f0ef.1509 Thank you for this defence, Francis. It was the narrator, of all people, who was the worst culprit at mispronouncing that word and it irritated me, and presumably others, considerably. I am constitutionally incapable of inserting and 'i' into Ordnance when referring to anything pertaining to the Board of Ordnance. I think that the programme may have been put together in a great hurry and obviously no expert was asked to run through it before the broadcast. YH. [...] Francis Herbet 2015-09-16T07:49:44+01:00 2015-09-16T07:49:44+01:00 FW: converting data from topo maps for 3D models https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;70f7d4a7.1509 'Lis-maps' subscribers/readers (if this posting is forwarded?): copied and pasted below are two 'MAPS-L' responses from North America atop originating query (if it survives 'the system' intact) from Rick Grapes, should anyone else have additional, supplementary (or experiential) info to forward either to 'MAPS-L' or to any/all of the correspondents (their emails are included within the messages). I don't intend to forward any more exchanges on this subject. [...] Francis Herbet 2015-09-11T12:40:06+01:00 2015-09-11T12:40:06+01:00 York vol. of 'British Historic Towns Atlas' (2015) https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;5ea6ea31.1509 At this week's joint BCS-SoC Conference in York, on Wednesday morning's
'Mapping Yorkshire' session, a well-experienced 'Cartographic Consultant' -
Giles Darkes - spoke and illustrated on his role as cartographic editor of
'The British Historic Towns Atlas of York'.

Quite fortuitously, on Monday afternoon, the undersigned had called by one
of the visit venues of the BCS Map Curators' Group Workshop of a couple of
years ago: the Archives/Local History section of what is now titled overall
'York Explore' (Explore York Learning Centre, Library Square YO1 7DS;
[firstname.lastname@example.com]). And was able to inform, after Giles' talk, that
York Explore's programme [...] Francis Herbet 2015-09-11T12:09:45+01:00 2015-09-11T12:09:45+01:00 Re: CCS on BBC https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;7d86d9b3.1509 This past Tuesday-Thursday was the core of a joint BCS and SoC conference in York; Wednesday evening was that programmed for the dinner/banquet. As I rarely attend such I was able to watch, from my hotel room, this 'CCS on BBC' hour-long production.

Pleased that several knowledgeable CCS (some of whom also BCS) members were interviewed who clearly explained (when not glossing over!) occasional complex history for the 'popular' viewing market, without 'talking down' to it; delighted to see John Paddy Browne, too. And, either by good advice or intuition, finding retired OS practitioners before they 'left' us: one chief [...] Huw Thomas 2015-09-11T10:15:10+01:00 2015-09-11T10:15:10+01:00 [CERL Information] Warning https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;724934fe.1509 Dear All,

I have just received this message about an alleged threat to library
security which was posted on the CERL mailing list.

I forward it for your information.

Huw UTP Journals 2015-09-10T13:16:02-04:00 2015-09-10T13:16:02-04:00 Cartographica Fall 2015 issue - Student Papers: Glaciers, Geomorphology, And Sedimentology https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;90611a89.1509 Now available at the new Cartographica Online site

Cartographica - Volume 50, Issue 3, Fall 2015

http://bit.ly/cart503

Eight Islands on Four Maps: The Cartographic Renegotiation of Hawaii,
18761959

John Wyatt Greenlee

http://bit.ly/cart503a

Neglected Treasures: Linking Historical Cartography with Environmental
Changes in Java, Indonesia

Martin C. Lukas

http://bit.ly/cart503b

STUDENT PAPERS: GLACIERS, GEOMORPHOLOGY, AND SEDIMENTOLOGY

Student Collaborative Writing Groups: Mapping Glacial Geomorphology and
Glacial Sedimentology [...] Nick Millea 2015-09-08T14:00:17+00:00 2015-09-08T14:00:17+00:00 Map talk at the Bodleian: Wednesday 23 September https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;975728cf.1509 Dear All,

New Light on Henricus Martellus's World Map at Yale (c. 1491): Multispectral Imaging and

Early Renaissance Cartography by Chet Van Duzer (Los Altos Hills, California)

Wednesday 23 September, Oxford

Weston Library Lecture Theatre, 1pm-2pm. Admission free.

In this talk Chet will give an account of a recent project to make multispectral

images of a world map made by Henricus Martellus in about 1491, which [...] Mitchell, Rose 2015-09-04T08:12:07+00:00 2015-09-04T08:12:07+00:00 Harley Map Fellowships call for proposals: deadline 1 November https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;26e66774.1509 The J.B. Harley Research Fellowships in the History of Cartography

The Harley Fellowships - the only one of their kind in Europe - provide support of up to four weeks (normally at GBP 400 per week) for those, from any discipline, doing the equivalent of post-graduate level work in the historical map collections of the United Kingdom. Web site: http://www.maphistory.info/harley.html [...] Tony Campbell 2015-09-01T14:14:18+01:00 2015-09-01T14:14:18+01:00 'A very British map - the Ordnance Survey story' https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/webadmin?A2=lis-maps;1dcd793d.1509 BBC4 Wednesday 9 September, 9 pm

Timeshift: A very British map - the Ordnance Survey story.

"Archive footage brings to life the history of a quintessentially
British institution... We hear from cartographers and surveyors, all of
whom talk with real fondness for OS maps and the huge amount of work
involved in their production..."

Tony Campbell