Editorial from Dick Burke February 26, 2024


After meeting with and interviewing 16 owners, I created an objective Evaluation docx PDF to provide an overview of Daytona Beach Resort.  For the past two weeks, I have been investigating what the potential root causes of our problems are and researching potential solutions for the problems that we face. Here is my position statement, which is based on my investigation and research:

Each outspoken owner, candidate and board member have their own motives for how they express themselves in word and deeds. I have been slowly trying to solve these riddles, so I can better understand what I can do to help all owners overcome their DBR problems. Some of these problems and potential solutions may conflict with individual board members, candidates and their supporters/loyalists’ personal motives and agendas.

I now know that those that feel a great need to protect their own personal self-interests, pride, ego, etc. will oppose what I am doing. That in and of itself doesn't make anyone a bad person. This is a natural position of protection to take. And for some, their position and agendas may end up creating a greater good for many/most owners. But we won't know if we can support their position and/or agenda, if we don't know what it is.

When people in power (or seek to be in power) try to force their opinions or tightly control their agendas, on/over other people, then true justice for all people cannot prevail. Injustice to some can occur without their consent. And that certainly doesn't honor the "Golden Rule" that good societies should try and follow.

Now when we add the current conflicts between some owners to the past conflicts between some owners, we have a real conundrum!!

Are we able to move past our conflicts with each other, to reach common ground? Some owners have told me this is a (near) impossible thing to do and that other's that came before me, were unable to do.

Yet I believe that all things are possible, with God's help! My favorite Bible verse is found in the book of Hebrews, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  

So by faith, I will continue to try and bring owners together to support a common cause, so we can defend ourselves against those that have the power or used their power, to seek their own beneficence, at the expense of ANY other owners.

I have come to an educated opinion, that the Developer (Harrison Merrill, Jr.) and two board members (President Patrick O’Donnell and Treasurer Bonnie Laslo) have "used their power, to seek their own beneficence, at the expense of other owners". Others on the board may not be in lock step with them, but by virtue of their showing their support for them remaining on the board, they have disqualified themselves from receiving my vote for remaining on the board (unless they stop supporting Patrick's and Bonnie's candidacy to be reelected).

I think that it would be very unfair for me to state my position on this publicly, without providing a basis that supports my opinion. As I know that other candidates agree with my position on this matter, I will be meeting with any potential candidates that are willing to meet with me, to create a joint position statement to support a mutually agreed position for this and other matters. that we can agree on.

Therefore, I am now concluding this exploratory phase of my DBR Project to start a new phase, which will actually be a campaign to bring a majority of owners together, to support a mission, platform and 5 candidates that are committed to Redeeming, Reforming and Restoring DBR.

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