Public Relations
 

I have been following this forum for couple of months. I am considering retiring to The Villages because my only child has a job in Orlando. I would like to be close but not too close. This is just an observation I am making as an outsider. All my info comes from this forum. It seems like the developer (the Morse family) needs to hire a PR person. Example: when they decided to not support parades, people on the forum were up in arms. Why not get the people involved in running the parades together to discuss the problems and work out a solution to the problem before the change thus diffusing the situation ahead of time. It seems that is what they ended up doing but there was such an uproar that could have been prevented. The same type of thing occurred with the Veterans use of the polo grounds. I believe Mark Morse meets with the community once a year. That seems woefully little time. I know that the developer cannot give away all there future plans, but by being proactive and increasing communication their detractors would have less to complain about. Maybe they do this already and I just don’t see it on the forum. As I said I do not get all the information you folks who already live in TV do so this may not be relevant.

Who knows? Keep in mind that our population now exceeds Ocala. If you see the poll on this forum about the parades, below (Keep in mind this forum is NOT affiliated with The Villages, it is a private enterprise) you will see that about as many love parades as are not interested. Usually new residents go to them for awhile and then don't. Been there, done that. Most of these things are greatly exaggerated by a lot of people who no longer are working and have a lot of time on their hands. Parades are paid for by the Merchants on the square as part of the funding of the entertainment department and are not funded by our amenities. The resident run ST. Patrick day parade parade seemed to be the cause celebre' of the recent POA bulletin. It just isn't really as big an issue as some people have made it in the overall pleasant way things are here.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ss-them-64256/

They can't afford to.



:1rotfl: :1rotfl:


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IMO the Developer has handled PR about right. They don't respond to mindless rants . They remain focused on the job at hand, that is building a beautiful and generally smooth functioning community and are selling more homes on an annual basis than any other community in the US(possibly the world). Im not sure , but I would bet that most homes that are sold here are a a result of the good words of current residents, and in my experience that represents the best kind of Public Relations.

With TV selling more homes than anywhere in the US, who needs a PR person to settle mostly insignificant disputes among the residents. Please note that I said "mostly" insignificant. The best way to make your decision is by a visit here (more than 3 days) and not by this forum.

As you've seen, if you want to make friends on TOTV, best not to offer any criticism, constructive or not, of the Developer. The mindset on the forum is that he is perfect and so is The Villages.

But I have to say, I agree with you. Good communication paves the way for good public relations. He'd have some happier residents if he approached things a little differently.

the developer does have PR person(s)...in fact they spend millions at it!!!!

We could spend a lot of time trying to figure out what is going to happen....and then even more time on why something that used to be is no longer.....with no real gain in anything as a result.

TV is still the place most of us bought the lifestyle being offered. And regardless the changes starting _ _ ? _ _ (pick a past date).....we still have the lifestyle we bought into.

The developer is running a very large bussiness....multi billions per year. And just like other multi billion dollar businesses they have no obligation to announce every day to day decision..........even though there are many who believe they should.......however it is totally unrealistic.

There is no way to please everybody.

Enjoy the best retirement lifestyle we ever had and look forward to tomorrow....yesterday is history...it cannot be changed.

btk

Nailed it! :thumbup:

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Perhaps many on TOTV like it here just the way it is and don't mind change and then there are those who do not like it so much. Having a different opinion does not mean we can't be friends.

Also, keep in mind tat the Schwartz/Morse family lives by the Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. They don't have to answer to anyone.

There is no substitute for seeing and experiencing a unique place to which you might move in person, not on a chat board like this where a tiny proportion of the 90,000+ residents read here, much less post comments.

By looking at the Member List under Community, it shows 28,000+ people have a log-in on this board. Of that number, only a small percentage post here.

While a supposed concensus here might look representative of TV as a whole, it is not. It's an accurate sampling of people who care enough and take the time to comment, but many people do not even know TOTV exists. I see this all the time when mentioning some hot topic I read on here.

Looking at the Member List alphabetically by username starting letter, under the N's, it shows 30+ out of 40 have not posted here, 4 have posted 1 time, and 5 have posted more than 15 times in the couple of years they've been a member.

You need to come and stay and see for yourself by talking to residents everywhere you go here. Most Villagers love to tell you why this is the best place they have ever lived, for weather, affordability of housing, affordability of the lifestyle that only wealthy people could afford elsewhere, endless things to do socially and recreationally (1900 clubs/teams/groups) etc. etc. The residents you meet in the neighborhoods and streets and town squares every night watching or dancing to the great live bands are why the developers don't need more paid P.R. people.

You need to see the genuine, friendly, diverse faces smiling brightly as they tell you what many commenters tell you here on this board. Then see how many are malcontents that have made an art-form of hating the developer.

It's quite obvious the developers have vision and work ethic and tenacity.

I don''t agree - I think it's more about presentation.

This morning I will go to my local gym in Southern California for cardio. While there I usually watch Fox or possibly the golf channel. During my week day mid-morning hour on the elliptical (when retirees can watch TV) I will probably view a pleasant commercial for The Villages.

Every month I receive a VMail which contains The Villages's monthly magazine which I always read and a video I always watch.

This month The Villages will sell more homes in a single community than any other builder in the country.

Why are these things happening? Because the developer wisely puts his advertising and PR bucks where they will do the most good.

As mulligan stated!! You live by their RULES and be "HAPPY" with whatever it is "THEY"
Decide...

Have a most wonderful Day in the Villages:)

Welcome to the forum.

I like "THEY".

Some would say The Daily Sun is Morse's PR. :-)

A friend and I were discussing the possibility of a mutual acquaintance buying a house in a restricted community -- she said, "Who would want to live in a place that won't let you paint your damned fence?" My reply was, "People who don't care what color their fence is."

Same thing applies here. The vast majority of residents seem to very much appreciate everything the developer has accomplished and provided; others chafe a bit under what they see as repressiveness.

I agree that Morse has plenty of marketing and PR employees, but most of their efforts are likely directed at potential residents and new home sales.

visit and then you will have a better view of TV

THE most important thing to realize!
 

TOTV is a private website; as pointed out earlier, it is NOT affiliated with TV! Are the postings on TOTV representative of Villagers? Maybe. But then again, maybe not in the least! As several posters have suggested--and I agree--come and visit. Spend a few days. Talk to residents. Listen to the sales pitches and the cheerleading on the trolley tours. Generally you'll find people friendly and willing to share their views of their community. (Some may not....) But the only way you're going to know for sure is to experience it yourself! P.S. I believe the population here now exceeds 100,000!

Their is a VAST difference between "PR" and "Marketing"

IMO ..... "The Developer" does an excellent job of marketing to new / perspective home buyers and it reflects in monthly sales volume. PR on current problems, not so much.

Hi Andercat,
You make good observations from the outside looking in-- and you've come to the perfect place to discuss and seek feedback on your concerns.

From my perspective, The Morse family has many venues of public relations: The Daily Sun, Villages Radio Station, Vmail, Recreation News, the Villages website, DVD, annual membership meeting, annual survey, Lifestyle Tours, trolley tours and personal contacts/relationships with interested prospective Villagers with sales agents to name a few.

Still, the developers cannot please all of the people all of the time. And of course, they are not infallible. Nor is The Villages perfect.

That said, there is no place on earth like The Villages and I mean that in the best way. For me, it's Lower Paradise for its beauty, fabulous and affordable amenities, the ease of making loving and caring friends here and the ease of being a loving, caring friend here.

Where else are you a golf cart away from live entertainment, hundreds of recreational activities, scores of restaurants, a lifelong learning college and all manner of service and health care providers.

And the people! Oh my. Sure there are unhappy people here. But I daresay you'd be hard pressed to find a larger concentration of happy, giving, inspiring and welcoming people anywhere.

Please come down for a visit. I have a feeling you'd be glad you did.

p.s., bring your checkbook. ;)