These are my personal images and photos that show the beauty of the view from Deer Ridge Mountain Resort and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cobbly Nob and the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area.
Just click the Play button to watch - or click Big Picture to see a much larger slide show on a dedicated page here at DeerRidgeOwners.com.
Deer Ridge Litigation Fund
Do you, as an owner at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, believe we are ALL entitled to have access and be able to copy the books and records of our Homeowner's Association?
So, do I.
But, apparently, Employee Joe Thomas and President Luther Parker and the Board disagree - and are doing all they can to block access, publication and candid discussion of the Asinine Assessment, special deals and favored treatment - at the expense of all Owners.
What ARE they so afraid of us finding out?
Maybe it has to do with the HUGE $10,000 overcharge for my HOA Fees, special assessments, water and cable TV bill - which, in my personal opinion, is due to fraudulent intent or at least gross negligence by the Deer Ridge Board of Directors and / or General Manager Joe Thomas. Please see the posts for details.
We have no choice but to file a lawsuit against GGRC and RML in order to finally, once and for all, make it clear that OWNERS do have a right to all the information about our property and our investment at Deer Ridge.
If you have thoughts and ideas and suggestions, please post them here on this blog.
If you have any clout with the Board, convince them to stop the charade - and let the owners have the information that all owners own!
If you want to help cover the legal costs to get us the right to see the bids for $50,000 for nuts and bolts - and the other background documents for the $353,500 Asinine Assessment, please click on the Donate Button below.
With enough in donations, we can hire BOTH an attorney AND a forensic accountant for the whole process through the Court in Sevier County to make absolutely certain we win EVERY point - and never have to fight Employee Joe and the Board on this stuff again.
Even a $100 contribution will help show that you are in favor of an open and FULLY transparent homeowners' association at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort!
Thanks so much to those of you who have already contributed!
GENERAL DISCLAIMER FOR ALL PAGES AND POSTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE I DO OR SAY REGARDING DEER RIDGE AND ANY AND ALL RELATED PARTIES:
Note: The following, and the information on any and all other posts and pages by me about General Manager Joe Thomas, GGRC, RML and /or the Board of Directors and its members, or any related topics, are my personal opinions based on my ongoing investigation into the actions and inactions of the GGRC and RML Board of Directors and / or Joe Thomas, General Manager.
While I believe these allegations to be true based on my objective analysis, these opinions remain as only allegations until I, or others, prove things in court.
My goal is to offer all owners all the information and evidence that I have available so that everyone can reach their own conclusions.
Please note the obvious:
Everything I ever say or write in person, via emails, or on my blog, about Deer Ridge or any and all related entities and organizations or any and all affiliated personnel or owners, is strictly my own personal opinion of course - based, in part, from my owning a unit at Deer Ridge for over five years - and on my own personal history.
That history includes earning a Presidential MBA degree, being awarded a Bachelor of Science, With Honors, in Engineering Physics from UT, working for NASA as a rocket scientist at Marshall Space Flight Center, 30 years of CEO experience directly employing and managing many hundreds of people at multiple companies I personally started and operated (including one that I took public), 15 years experience buying and selling over $100 million of property and managing more than 45,000 rental units - AND being able to read and do four-function arithmetic.
Legalese - And Powered Wig - Off
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Welcome to All Deer Ridge Owners
Welcome to all owners of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort condos in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
My goal is to help all Deer Ridge owners to have a voice in the management and operation of your property.
Click on the TITLES of any of the following subjects to read the whole posting - and see the comments made by your co-owners. You can also type any term into the below search box, or any word or term in the search cloud.
Click the big image at the top of the page to return to the front page at any time.
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Investment Analysis For A Rental Condo At Deer Ridge
Will you really lose $40,000 cash if you buy a rental condo at Deer Ridge and use Ridge Management Ltd?
As an owner-occupied home, Deer Ridge is an incredible value with THE best view in the Smokies and great amenities.
However, several owners and would-be owners of Deer Ridge condos have asked me if these units are a good rental property investment or not. To help answer that question
objectively, I had to analyze the real moving parts of buying and owning here.
Get my complete, detailed investment analysis based on buying a rental condo unit at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
It shows what you MUST do to make money when you buy a rental unit at Deer Ridge.
Every Dollar You Pay For Deer Ridge Is The WRONG Amount!
Please read the various posts here on this Deer Ridge Owners Blog - and see my evidence and analysis which I believe shows conclusively that EVERY dollar of HOA Fees, EVERY dollar EVERY special assessment, EVERY water bill and cable TV sent out for YEARS to ALL Deer Ridge Owners has been wrong!
In many cases at least ONE THIRD of ALL owners have been GROSSLY overcharged. My calculations show that I have been overcharged more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in the past 50 months I've owned at Deer Ridge.
The Board has been WRONGLY and arbitrarily ignoring the requirements of the Master Deed and the Bylaws for YEARS.
If my analysis is correct, the Board has zero choice. They MUST abide by the Master Deed Percentages.
But they haven’t.
However, if the Board knowingly ignored the clear directives of the Master Deed and the Bylaws when allocating costs to various unit types, and overcharging certain unit types on a regular basis, my opinion is that the Board and Joe Thomas may have acted fraudulently.
If they have not been fraudulent, then they have been, at the very least, grossly negligent.
Read the various blog postings - and judge for yourself.
Comments Welcome From All Visitors
You are welcome to leave your comments on the various posts on the blog. You no longer have to be registered to comment. (Even regular contributors had trouble remembering their log on passwords!)
Note that SPAM blockers are in place - and all comments require approval to be visible.
So, let's hear from you on these topics!
To view the comments, you need to click on the post topic to see the entire post and the comments.
"We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert." — J. Robert Oppenheimer. This includes the Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
The following is also a comment left by Neil, C-208, about another property he owns. This was an email he sent tonight to the entire “board” and Joey.”
Judge for yourself: Which property is operated better?
Please bear with me… And Yes, WAY, WAY Down the Thread, after my Rant,
Is the Example the Daily Report…. From Leonard…..
This is an example of a Gulf Highlands Board member giving an almost daily, clear, complete reporting of activities, ” Most Days Photos,” Kinda Like Robert and his blog, AND an example of a well run clearly defined use of Association Fees, RESERVE FUND usage and availability, “Yes it is a property with many more owners/members, BUT even more expenses, more complexity, more personalities, some are abrasive, some are very agreeable folks, some so financially uptight they squeak, and make others squeak….
It is a pleasure to visit the office, and REALLY have a conversation with the manager and all assoc. employees: no stress, no past foibles, no wondering if you…
By the way, We have an independent VERY profitable property management Company ON SITE. They pay market rent to the Owners Association, and a percentage back to the Owners Assoc. THEY have only a 28% management fee – and sill make a nice profit, and bid yearly to stay on site…
About 7 other companies manage units, some charge as little as 25% some as MUCH as 35% All inclusive. Yes, some owners even rent using V.R.B.O.com, Vacations4U.com. etc. thereby keeping all the Unit Rental Dollars. They pay an independent cleaning service a fee of about $35-40, not giving up a 30-40% a DAY… It is amazing, all really get along…mo one accuses an owner of “stealing” from other owners, if they use an outside rental company or means of rental of their choice.
This thing called competition makes every one better, and accountable to the folks that have a financial interest in them…
The board members in a situation like that, don’t have to worry if the independent management company. has cash handling issues, has any personnel problems, any late or unpaid workmen’s comp premiums, any occupancy worries, any advertising costs, any legal liabilities for an accident involving guests. The board doesn’t waste time and energy on anything to do with PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RISKS OR HEADACHES…
The board there has ONLY the well being of the OWNERS interests, it makes for a nice reserve account balances and there has been NOT ONE Assessment for road paving, Painting, Nuts Bolts, Fencing, Beach Erosion, Tearing out of Strong, Stable, Sturdy Walkway Railings –ALL– Large Predictable, Normal Maintenance & Financial concerns have a Fully Funded RESERVE Account and the board understands that they have an OBLIGATION To keep the OWNERS on an even, steady monthly fee of……… a Giant $143.00!
Not having to spend TIME figuring out how to JUGGLE /SWAP/ BORROW OWNERS money back and forth from a NOT SO PROFITABLE Rental Management Company and the HOME OWNERS Association lets the board concentrate on the property and the owners.
That Property also has 18 hour a day security guard force, 3 controlled entry gates. The Manager at a $48K/yr salary keeps all 7 of the employees, $7.00 to $18.00/hr. busy doing scheduled PREVENTIVE maintenance, and Yes, they do pick up the trash from All 703 townhouses ONCE a day also. Unlike Deer Ridge, it is not a 3 times a day pick up, which leaves almost no time for PREVENTATIVE Maintenance here in the mountains…
Another RANT from the OLD GRUMBLE BOX Neil…. Can’t help myself… it’s a Sad Sad Way To Have To Live….
See below for Leonard the Board Members Daily Report, Looks like Guests there really enjoy the Shuffle Board Courts there…
I remember an Owner / Resident here at Deer Ridge VOLUNTEERING ALL LABOR to Build a Shuffle Board Court asking the board ONLY For The Cement Costs. He was turned down but more importantly, the reasons were talked about after he left the room, and guess what….
What the board and Joe said, Was NOT in the OFFICIAL MINUTES….
Interesting … Why are the Board Members –SO– Opposed to Digitally Recording and sharing what they say in the Meetings???
Independent Legal Opinion: GGRC “Board” Guilty Of Numerous Violations / $353,500 Assessment Is Null And Void
The following is a copy of an email sent to Luther Parker, other “board” members and Joe Thomas on February 18, 2010 describing the legal findings of a real estate law firm concerning Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club – GGRC – and its subsidiaries RML and Ridge Resort Realty.
The findings of the law firm will probably change EVERYTHING about the way Deer Ridge is operated and managed.
Luther and the Board:
As I mentioned during the Special Meeting of February 6, 2010, I had personally hired a Knoxville-based real estate law firm to review many of the major conflicts and issues that have arisen between myself (and other owners) versus the Board, Joe Thomas and the decisions and policies you have been attempting to implement.
My instructions to the law firm, Howard and Howard ( www.howardhowardlaw.com/ ) and Senior Partner Lewis Howard, Jr. were to objectively and candidly evaluate these issues with the goal of determining the legal validity and the merits of our pursuing a lawsuit against GGRC and/or the individuals who make up the current board along with Joe Thomas, the general manager. This firm does not currently represent us for any pending litigation – but may be hired should we move forward.
The full legal opinion I received from them is attached to this email – with each and every part shown and discussed below – with my comments for each section. Note: I am not an attorney and do not practice law – so these are my interpretations of the sections of the attorney’s letter – trying to convey the realistic meaning from the necessary legalese.
Executive Summary Of Attorney’s Findings
For those who prefer to start with an executive summary, here are the bottom line findings by the attorney with regard to GGRC and the actions of the “Board” and Joe Thomas:
You are REQUIRED to charge all owners ONLY in accordance with the Master Deed Percentages for everything: monthly assessments, water, cable TV, etc. This means no more 82% overcharge to all 1-1 owners.
You are REQUIRED to provide all owners with COPIES of everything they request including invoices, check stubs, bids, etc.
You are REQUIRED to get BOTH the 75% positive vote by owners AND the 90% positive vote by mortgage holders of all condo loans at Deer Ridge. Therefore, ANY monies you spend on walkway ramps will be your personal responsibility to pay.
You are NOT allowed to ever have ANY special assessments – hence, the Asinine Assessment of $353,500 is NULL and VOID. No owners are required to fund a penny of this money – and any monies received MUST be returned to those owners who have already paid.
You and other board members are going to be liable to repay ALL overcharges to both current and past 1-1 owners, along with interest. (This means you will be required to pay us back over $10,000 in our case – and more or less the same to other 1-1 owners – past AND present.)
RML and Ridge Resort Realty are NOT legitimate – and must pay back every penny of GGRC’s money ever used for them – and these companies must be expeditiously sold.
All “annual meetings” held in April are not official Annual Meetings – hence, all decisions, and votes made, INCLUDING board member elections, are NULL and VOID. This means that Luther Parker and every other member of the “board” are, in fact, NOT members of the Board and have no power whatsoever including setting assessments, making special assessments, setting rules and regulations, agreeing to any contracts about anything, etc. We will sue to have a special master appointed by the court.
No board member or committee member may receive ANY compensation INCLUDING reimbursements for travel, meals, maid service, free storage or special remodeling of board member’s OR committee member’s units. When we do our review of the books and records, we are going to add up every penny that has ever been paid and individually sue each of you for the full and complete reimbursement of all of this money.
The entire current “board” has committed multiple ultra vires acts that were outside the scope of authority granted you by the Master Deed and Bylaws even if you were a legitimate board. As such, these acts show gross negligence on your part and on the part of your “unified board that speaks with one voice.” As noted in the attorney’s answer to Question 12, these illegitimate acts of yours are actionable with all monies recoverable from you and all other “board members” and Joe Thomas personally – probably on a “joint and several” basis. That means we are going to go after the FULL amount for each illegitimate act from you and each of the board members until we collect EVERY penny that was spent on decisions that were outside the scope of authority. Based on my prior blog postings, I have already identified over $120,000 that has been spent without the proper Article XII approvals.
Those are pretty much the highlights – and as you can see, most of the above will have a MASSIVE impact on GGRC, RML, Ridge Resort Realty and each member of the “board” personally. It will also rightfully put $10,000, more or less, back into the pockets of all PAST AND PRESENT 1-1 owners who join with us in the lawsuit against those responsible for our gross overcharge of fees.
The above issues are the way things SHOULD have been done all along – and we WILL hold those accountable who have capriciously and arbitrarily chosen to ignore the controlling documents of Deer Ridge and GGRC Regime.
You all will NOT be able to claim ignorance on these issues – all of these issues have been brought to your attention multiple times over multiple years.
What Say You Luther?
You are hereby put on notice to immediately resolve all of the above issues.
If you do not, one of our expected remedies will be to file a derivative action suit on behalf of GGRC naming each of you, individually, as defendants in that lawsuit. This particular lawsuit will allow us to recover funds from all of you, individually, and require that the entire board be fired, with cause, for gross negligence. And, since this will be GGRC suing you, none of you will be able to use any past or current attorney who has represented GGRC.
Another legal action we intend to take will be to immediately gain an injunction blocking the special assessments and inter-pleading any and all funds already received to a court controlled account. Another legal action we intend to take will be a declaratory judgment suit over the above interpretations of the Master Deed and Bylaws.
Another legal action we intend to take will be for multiple past and current 1-1 owners, such as myself, to sue the board members, individually, for the 82% overcharge of all costs going back for years. Other, additional litigation is planned as needed. Bear in mind that we intend to also sue each of you for full recovery of all of our legal and court costs – and since it is fairly apparent we will win the issues, we expect to win on the legal fee recovery too.
Discovery motions will be immediately made that will require GGRC to turn over COPIES of ALL books and records related to GGRC and RML, et al.
So, Luther, are you going to continue to try to self-servingly block full and complete implementation of all of the above issues – or do you want to save everyone time, hassle and money by settling all of these issues here and now before we take the next steps? If you attempt to delay the above by squandering GGRC money for legal fees to protect yourself and other board members and Joe Thomas, you will be held accountable for this waste of money also.
You have THREE DAYS to satisfactorily respond to this email before I move forward with the necessary steps to accomplish all of the above. This process will start with a postal mailing to all owners, providing them with a copy of the attorney’s letter, advising them that they should not make any assessment payments and asking for them to join with me as co-plaintiffs against you and the rest of the “board.”
So, what say you, Luther? How do you want to get to the inevitable Point B?
The Attorney Letter – And Analysis
The following dissects the letter from the attorney with snapshots of each part of the entire document.
As the previous post says, the Board is REQUIRED to gain the approval of at least 90% of the mortgage holders of all loans on all condos at Deer Ridge. Not only have they not done this, they categorically REFUSE to do it. As a result, this vote is invalidated and will probably be a point of issue with the upcoming litigation.
We will press hard to, in fact, hold each member of the board personally liable for any and all monies spent on the railing alteration since they knowingly chose to blatantly ignore this provision.
“We Are In The Driver’s Seat – And Will Do What We Want To Do.”
That is a direct quote by one of your Board members, Tom Reise. In other words, Tom, speaking for the whole board, is telling all the owners that they hold all the power…and they can choose to ignore anything they want to – and to hell with the controlling documents for Deer Ridge and the rights of the owners to control what happens to their property and to their investment.
Even Their Minutes Are False
The totally controlled GGRC blog that does not even allow any owners to comment reported the minutes of the meeting on the Walkway Railings vote. However, true to form, their manipulated minutes do not even mention the prolonged discussion I raised on the 90% requirement – even though there was a discussion about this for at least 1o minutes before the meeting was hurriedly ended.
This is yet an other example of how the owners are NOT hearing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth from the Board. We need to have the audio recordings of all board meetings made public so that this kind of manipulation of the proceedings can never happen again.
Board – You Better Learn A New Latin Term – Ultra Vires
Joey and the Board: If you plan on proceeding forward with the Railing replacements without the REQUIRED 90% vote by mortgage holders, you are in direct violation of the governing documents for GGRC and will be held, jointly and severally, personally liable for every dollar spent. You can be sure that we will pursue your ultra vires violations in any and all litigation regarding Deer Ridge.
You are hereby officially put on notice – and I strongly recommend you talk with your personal attorneys so they can explain this risk to you.
Ultra Vires
Directors have limited powers and may not take actions outside the authority granted to them by the governing documents or by board approval. An “ultra vires” act is one performed without legal authority; something done by a director which is beyond the scope of the director’s powers.
When that happens, each and every one of the board members will NOT be covered by the association’s insurance and will be held personally liable for his/her acts. Any contracts are voidable but the board, and especially the president, may be personally liable for any damages suffered by the home owners association.
Article XII of the Master Deed clearly provides that there shall be no alterations or additions to the common elements or any part thereof except as authorized by the Board of Directors and approved by not less than 75% of the total vote of co-owners and not less than 90% of the mortgagees.
Gross Negligence
Any expenditures not in compliance with this provision would be ultra vires acts outside the scope of authority of the Board of Directors and arguably would amount to gross negligence. (You better have your attorneys explain what gross negligence could mean with regard to GGRC and the rights of its 84 owners.)
We have just hired an established real estate-focused law firm in Knoxville to begin our legal pursuits against GGRC, Joe Thomas and the current Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
We have already paid the necessary retainer – so watch this blog closely for upcoming developments.
Do YOU believe that ALL owners of Deer Ridge deserve the following from their General Manager and Board of Directors:
Transparency?
Full accountability?
Open and responsive communications?
Right to audio recordings of all board meetings?
Genuine access to copies of all books and records (except credit card info)?
Copies of documents that prove that $353,500 is needed for the upcoming assessment (including $50,000 for “nuts and bolts”)?
Genuine and through auditing?
No special favors and illegal compensation for board members?
Fair assessments and HOA fees?
Adherence to all aspects of the controlling documents under which ALL owners purchased their units – The Master Deed and Bylaws?
Fair treatment for all owner types: RML owners, non-RML owners and residents?
If these are reflective of your belief system, then I invite you to help us achieve these goals.
The consistent and predictable actions of Joe Thomas and the current Board make it clear that they are opposed to every one of the concepts described in the above bullet points. As a consequence, we have no choice but to pursue the above goals with legal action.
If you would like to help us achieve these goals, your contribution to our legal fund would help accelerate our success.
With enough in donations, we can hire BOTH an attorney AND a forensic accountant for the whole process through the Court in Sevier County to make absolutely certain we win EVERY point – and never have to fight Employee Joe and the Board on this stuff again.
Even a $100 contribution will help show that you are in favor of an open and FULLY transparent homeowners’ association at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort!
Thanks so much to those of you who have already contributed! Just click the button below to donate to the cause.
I want to thank the growing number of owners at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort who are supporting this blog and its primary goals. Those goals include making GGRC and RML transparent, accountable and compliant with the controlling documents of our property: The Master Deed and Bylaws.
These documents are the “law of the land” for Deer Ridge – and these “laws” have been systematically, substantively and repeatedly violated by Joe Thomas and the current and past boards of Deer Ridge. As more of you have become acquainted with these laws and your rights as owners, as a result of this blog, your sense of outrage over these ongoing, intentional violations by Joe Thomas and the Board has joined with the voices of other owners who are now demanding long needed changes be made immediately at Deer Ridge.
This growing, vocal demand has finally gotten a response from Joe Thomas and the Board.
You will be receiving an unsigned letter purportedly from the GGRC / RML Board of Directors concerning some of my efforts to accomplish the above goals. Not surprisingly, their 8 page letter is solely focused on their ongoing villainization and disinformation about me that has been going on for years – attacking me and my ever constant demand for implementing the above goals.
Fortunately, so many of you have started to call, email and otherwise voice your own demands to Joe Thomas and the board that the Deer Ridge Owners Blog goals be met, that they have felt compelled to generate this most recent attack letter in an attempt to deflect the growing complaints against the old way, their way, of doing things.
Here’s a hint for Joey and the Board: Your attempted deflection won’t work. Your violations of Deer Ridge Law will no longer be tolerated.
Joey And The Board Have No Authority To Be Thought Police Overseeing All Owners At Deer Ridge
Joey and the Board continue to believe that they are the ONLY people who can have an opinion about Deer Ridge and its operations…and they consistently set out to attempt to discredit and alienate ANY owner who does not agree to abide by their warped sense of proprietary and priorities.
My guess is that many other owners would agree with me that the board is completely out of line trying to censure ANY owner from expressing their rights to freedom of thought and expression. For some reason, Joey and this board think it is alright to try and tell an owner how to think and behave – even when they have no authority whatsoever to do so.
Thought Police is NOT one of the authorized duties of either the general manager or the board.
The board members, as individual owners, have a right to their own ideas and opinions – but have ZERO right as the board of directors to use HOA fees to prepare and mail out any document on GGRC letterhead attempting to censure individual owners for expressing their opinion.
If individual board members wish to mail all owners their PERSONAL opinion about me or anything else, they are welcome to do so – WITHOUT using GGRC letterhead and without HOA fees being used for the postage.
Here’s another hint for Joey and the Board: A growing number of us will no longer tolerate your attempts to control and intimidate owners.
Your lies and secretive actions will see the light of day and be fully exposed for the coordinated deception they are. Each owner is fully entitled to their own ideas and opinions regarding Deer Ridge – and no one is required to follow your dictatorial wishes with regard to their opinions about Joe Thomas and the board and use and enjoyment of THEIR property as long as they abide by the Master Deed and Bylaws. And no where in those controlling documents are you empowered in any way to be Thought Police for every owner at Deer Ridge.
However…all owners have a right to demand COMPLETE transparency about the way their investment is being handled – and to demand that the elected board provide that transparency AND that the board abide FULLY with the controlling documents that are part of the purchase documents for each and every condo at Deer Ridge. Every owner has the right to demand full accountability of Joe Thomas as general manger and every board member to account for every penny – and follow every article and bylaw of our controlling documents.
As such, I demand that Joe and each board member reimburse GGRC for the time, postage and all other expenses incurred as a result of them sending this completely inappropriate attack letter to all owners and to go on record apologizing for completely overstepping their authority with their letter of attempted intimidation and censure.
If you want to send the same letter to every owner again, fine – but have the forthrightness to send it yourself, under your individual signature, using your own postage. Don’t hide behind some unsigned letter and charge all owners. Or, set up your own private blog at your own cost, unaffiliated with Deer Ridge management, and rant away to your heart’s content.
Welcome To New Visitors To This Blog
Most of you who are regular readers of this blog are already aware of the multitude of mistakes, errors and misrepresentations, intentional or otherwise, that are contained in this most recent attack letter. However, since their letter references our blog so many times, I am hopeful that many of you now reading this posting are here for the first time, trying to find out for yourselves if the claims in the attack letter are true. If you are here for the first time…or the first time in a long time, welcome!
I invite you to read all the postings and all the many dozens of comments made by your fellow owners at Deer Ridge. I also invite you to join in the dialogue by registering and adding your own comments to each individual posting that interests you.
Unlike the new Joe Thomas and Board Blog, where they do not allow ANY comments and discussions by owners, but only post their own propaganda, this Deer Ridge Owners blog is specifically set up to give ALL owners a voice in their property and investment in Deer Ridge.
In the last three months since it started, this blog has had over 2,800 unique visitors, many visiting multiple times, with over 20,000 page views, 7,200 search engine robot visits and over 3,400 feeds. We continue to average about 1,500 visits a month to the blog. Not bad for zero advertising and a small 84 unit property!
Some Points of Issue With Their Current Attack Letter
There are SO many errors, false statements, half-truths in the board’s attack letter, I won’t bore you with refuting them all except to ask you to explore this massive blog to find your own answers. However, some of the points are so flagrant, I will respond to the following, along with providing specific links where you can get more information to make your own decisions.
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. I use these all the time to work with my clients as a way to convey complex planning ideas.
I decided to use one for the current pivotal problems at Deer Ridge to better convey the issues to the attorneys we will be working with on our lawsuit(s) – and even as a way to make things clearer to the FBI once they start to investigate the activities of Joe Thomas and the GGRC HOA Board.
This image version is hard to see – so click on the image to get a much more readable Acrobat version.
Once you see it in Acrobat, use the magnification controls to zoom in – and then use the Hand control to move around the image. Sorry it is so big – but then again, so are the problems we have at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
Please let me know of other issues I should include on Version 2.
We JUST Need At Least THREE New Directors To Take Control – Are You One Of Them?
It is time to take control of the Deer Ridge Board by those who appreciate the full meaning of the following quote:
“We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert.” — J. Robert Oppenheimer
All five members of the current Deer Ridge Board for Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club apparently fully disagree with the above quote.
Based on their collective comments at the last “Board” meeting:
NONE of them thought all of the owners were entitled to have copies of the books and records of OUR organization.
NONE of them believe their actions should be questioned or scrutinized.
NONE of them believe owners should be so “negative” as to question anything they do.
NONE of them want their secrecy detected.
Amazingly deplorable.
If you read my prior post, you saw why I believe that the current “Board” is illegitimate. I plan on pressing hard on this issue in court – hoping to have the court rule on their illegitimacy and place a court-appointed receiver in charge of GGRC under which a proper Board can be elected in accordance with the Master Deed and Bylaws.
The Ten Point Plan
Whenever we do have a PROPER election of the next Board, we are looking for at least three owners who:
Twenty Percent Of US Population Live Under HOA Rules
Here is an interesting stat:
“Today, according to the Community Associations Institute, nearly 60 million Americans live in a planned development, condominium complex or some other form of housing governed by an association.
The number continues to grow. Firm statistics are hard to come by, but anecdotal evidence suggests that 80 percent of new housing being built in urban and suburban areas is in common-interest developments governed by covenants, conditions and restrictions, said Frank Rathbun, a spokesman for the institute.”
With this kind of growth, it is easy to see that HOA communities will quickly go from the current 20% – to a majority of households in the next decade or so. With that many more folks subject to the kind of HOA Board abuse that we see at Deer Ridge, there are an increasing number of new laws being passed by states to protect the people who live under HOA regimes. Tennessee just updated their condominium laws in 2008.
Part of our current legal investigations includes whether GGRC, Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club, is in compliance with these new condo laws.
As more folks tap the power of the blog and the Internet, these petty tyrants who attempt to usurp the power of HOAs will be publicly exposed for their violations of controlling property documents – and violations of state and federal laws.
Recording Board Meetings
As readers already know, several of us want to have the all board meetings for Deer Ridge Mountain Resort recorded so that all owners have a right to hear everything that ACTUALLY happens at those meetings – instead of the sanitized and biased “minutes” that are sent to owners.
As other owners who have reported here on this blog, when they read the minutes that are sent to all owners – they have commented that those minutes in no way reflect what actually happens at board meetings they attended – completely leaving out topics that are discussed for hours – and touting what might have been a minor discussion as a major part of the minutes as long as it might advance the bias of the board and Joe Thomas’ agenda.
I am receiving email from folks all over the country supporting our efforts to finally return the power of decision making to ALL owners at Deer Ridge. One reader just sent me a link to a Chicago newspaper article about a HOA there that wanted to stifle First Amendment Rights by trying to fine owners $10,000 for recording their board meetings.
While the following reflects Illinois law, I think it is probably indicative of our own legal rights in the upcoming lawsuits against GGRC and the individual board members and Joe Thomas.
I started this Deer Ridge Owners Blog about six weeks ago.
During that time, we have had:
38 posts with 82 comments, six pages and 20 different categories. (I am getting a LOT of other, mostly encouraging, email from owners and others who support our cause – but who prefer, currently, to remain anonymous.)
We have had 1,089 unique visitors, looking at 7,216 page views – that is a huge number of visitors for a small 84 unit condo – and a huge average number of pages viewed per visitor (6.63 pages per visitor) – so the visitors who come, read what has been written.
3,031 Internet spider visits – this is a separate count for all the times Google , Yahoo, etc, come visit and re-index the updates here. As a consequence, we are showing up very high on a lot of Google searches for Deer Ridge, Gatlinburg this or that, including rentals, condos for sale, etc.
We have had 824 RSS feeds – so a lot of folks want to automatically see every word that shows up on DeerRidgeOwners.com.
The metrics target for the blog this month, November 2009, is for us to have 1,200 unique visitors just this month – so apparently we are ramping up fast in traffic.
We apparently have a LOT of local real estate brokers watching – as well as other HOA members – both locally and from all over the country – wanting to see the outcome of our legal actions we are taking against the GGRC and Ridge Management boards – and all of the board members and Joe Thomas individually.
Apparently, a lot of other web sites and blogs that are focused on bad HOA management and board members are adding links to DeerRidgeOwners.com. (Note: you are welcome to include links to this blog if you have your own blog or website fighting your own HOA.)
We have heard that several local real estate brokers in the Gatlinburg area are recommending that their clients NOT buy at Deer Ridge UNTIL these major issues raised on this Deer Ridge Owners Blog are finally resolved. Several brokers have mentioned that if our lawsuits are successful, that the impact will probably be a HUGE increase in market value for many of the units here.
Here’s a screen grab of the stats:
Legal Update
Quick update…still interviewing attorneys…and biz is booming so been swamped with work that pays the bills…and all this lawsuit stuff is very time consuming…but still a life priority for me to get this suit in place ASAP. Class action will still be eventual best approach due to nature of all of our claims….but class action seems too complicated for a lot of small law firms…and apparently takes a while to set up….so, will be filing a smaller, individualized suit to start with….on the most basic points.
Right now, I am most interested in getting a quick court ruling on the following basic points to get the Board and Joey under control. I may even still end up doing these as one or more small claims actions just to get the ball rolling.
This is an email I received from Luther Parker and the Board of Directors in response to all of my emails and posting on this blog:
You have presented a number of issues and concerns (via emails) that you would like the Board to consider. We think these could be best addressed in a face to face meeting. Our November meeting (November 13) is open for you to present whatever concerns you might wish the Board to take under advisement. If there is a specific time on Friday morning that you would like to appear, please let us know and we will place that on our agenda
Regards,
The Board – Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club – Ridge Management Limited
My Response To Luther and the Board, emailed to them October 9, 2009:
Luther,
I would have to 100% disagree with you that “these (issues) could be best addressed in a face to face meeting.”
In my opinion, Deer Ridge has suffered way too long and way too much as a result of back room, undocumented, unrecorded meetings when threats are made and deals are cut – to the exclusion of the light of day and the scrutiny of all owners of Deer Ridge.
These issues that I have raised, in fact, could be best addressed by detailed, written documents and emails that can be pointed to and recorded and posted on the Deer Ridge Owners blog. This is Management 101 stuff – avoid ambiguity, bad memories and misunderstandings by putting EVERYTHING in writing.
The meeting you speak of is 5 weeks off…so I see you suggestion for a face to face meeting then as nothing more than a stall tactic. If you want a face to face meeting, then here at Deer Ridge on Monday, October 12 would be fine.
NOTE: New Page Added At Top Of Blog – Click I Want To Hear What REALLY Happens! to hear the quality of a sample recording with the proposed recorder.
Why is the Board sooooo dead set against having audio recordings of all Board meetings made available to all owners to hear?
I personally have the Olympus DS-30 shown in the photo. It does a GREAT job and is under $90 at Amazon. With the way that the Board squanders money on RML, wouldn’t it be worth $90 total for all owners to be able to REALLY hear what happens at Board meetings – especially when they are spending YOUR money?
On top of that, Neil has offered to even buy the digital recorder…and I have offered to take the digital recordings and post them for zero cost on this site so ALL owners can play them online or download them and play them on their own computer, iPod or other MP3 players. That way, EVERYONE could know Continue reading Why No Audio Recordings Of Board Meetings?
I am in the process of changing this site for Deer Ridge Owners so that it is a blog instead of a static web page. That way, all owners who register will be able to make comments and discuss issues – and have a voice that I hope will finally be noticed by the Board.
Check out our new Deer Ridge Owners webcam for the current view from our balcony!
Just click the photo for the most recent update. Updated every 5 minutes.
Top 10 Cam Award!
Our new Cobbly Nob TN site was just chosen as an Earthcam Top 10 Webcam!
All of this in just our first two weeks of operation - and before we install our new wide angle, high definition lens! Stay tuned for even better images!
EarthCam, Inc. is the global leader in providing webcam content, technology and services and ranks among the top 1% of all websites. EarthCam.com is the world’s favorite webcam network and the EarthCam Network cameras have been seen on top news shows, including CNN’s Headline News.
New YouTube Channel For Deer Ridge Owners!
Check out ALL of our videos on our new YouTube Channel for Deer Ridge Owners:
We already have videos that will walk you around the whole property and give you reviews from past guests and tourists. Find out what they REALLY have to say about Deer Ridge!
We are adding even more videos in the next few weeks - so check out our Deer Ridge Owners Channel often!
Update: Just added two new videos for a total of 20 videos so far! Check them out!
Owner Files $3 Million Lawsuit Against HOA, General Manager And Board Members
A homeowner in Gatlinburg, Tennessee has filed a $3 Million Lawsuit against his HOA, General Manager And All Individual Board Members at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
In response to their meritless, retaliatory $1 Million defamation lawsuit against me, I have now filed a $3 Million lawsuit against Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, AKA Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club HOA and Joe Thomas, Luther Parker, Larry Ohm, Margie Duncan, David Barone and Tom Reise, all as individuals.
If you believe in free speech as much as we do, we need your help - no matter where in America you may live.
The Deer Ridge HOA board and individual board members have filed a $1 Million Lawsuit against me in their ongoing attempts to stop this blog and have its contents removed. Click Press Release for details.
This power clique wants to continue to block free speech on this property and to keep their illegitimate secrets hidden from other owners.
They are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars of other owners' money on legal fees to keep themselves in power while they continue to break both Tennessee state law and Deer Ridge property law.
We need your help with the legal fees that will be required to force them to abide by the law - and insure that Deer Ridge Mountain Resort is entitled to free speech like the rest of America.
If you would like to join with others who believe in free speech and believe that all of the 305,000 Home Owner Associations across the nation should be protected from tyrannical boards that ignore the laws, please click the
Donate Button below.
Even a donation of just a few dollars would be very greatly appreciated as a way of showing that we have financial support from thousands of Americans for these important issues!
Thanks so much to all of those of you who have already contributed!
Please help us broadcast this Press Release to others you know who can spread the word. You are welcome to link to this site from Twitter, Facebook or other sites.
With your help we can fight and win this $1 Million lawsuit - and keep this blog active - and an inspiration and model for other HOA Abuse Blogs across the nation.
nd discuss issues – and have a voice that I hope will finally be noticed by the Board.
Owner Comments