As events last week reminded us, even when our military men and women are serving here at home, their lives are never totally without risk.

So instead of my usual blog on timeshare news and timeshare resale updates, I want to share with you information about a way to give back to our men and women in service. Sell My Timeshare NOW has no affiliation with this organization; I am simply sharing information with you about a nonprofit agency that I personally believe is doing something special and offers you an easy but meaningful way to get involved.

Books for Soldiers

During the first Gulf War, Storm Williams decided to begin sending paperback books to people he knew who were stationed abroad. The idea, like good ideas usually do, spread quickly, and soon friends and family were also mailing books overseas. The books were so appreciated that BooksForSoldiers.com was soon established as a Not-For-Profit corporation registered in North Carolina. Books for Soldiers is owned and operated by a non-denominational, interfaith outreach ministry and is a 501(c)(3) charity recognized by the IRS. All donations are tax deductible. (Please follow the links and check them out for yourself.)

The concept is simple:

Books For Soldiers is a self-service site. Once you are approved as an Official BFS Volunteer, go to their message board (you can get there by going to http://booksforsoldiers.com and clicking on the VOLUNTEER FORUM link at the top of the page). Look at the posted requests. You will see all five military branches listed; click on the name of a branch, such as ‘ARMY,’ and you will then see a long list of requests. Click on a request and the address will come up along with information about what the troop has requested.

Decide which books you are going to donate, (they don’t have to be new, just in good usable shape) and then pack them in a small box, roughly shoebox size. Many volunteers choose to fill in the extra space in the box with candy, moist towelettes, sunscreen, or other small items a service man or woman will appreciate.

And shipping is the easiest part of all. Books for Soldiers recommends the use of FLAT RATE BOXES available free from the US Postal Service. On the BFS website, they say, “It is a very good deal — you can cram as much as you can in the box and shipping is a flat $8.10”.

When your box of books (CDs or DVDs are also accepted) is packed, mail it directly to the military person or unit that has requested it.

As Books for Soldiers reminds us, “Regardless of why the military is deployed, the men and women of our armed services are there for us. They deserve our support…“

Select Westin and Hyatt Resorts are improving the experience for anyone who would like to incorporate a good run as part of their resort stay.

At Westin Resorts in 30 cities, a “running” concierge is available three mornings each week to lead guests on a three-mile jog. And more than 100 Hyatt Hotels and Resorts are now providing their guests with running route maps and GPS armbands. At both Westin and Hyatt, the services are free.

While many timeshare vacationers look forward to putting their feet up by the pool, others are enthusiastic about getting involved in the sports and recreation activities that are available at most timeshare resorts. Jogging trails, biking trails, and even on-property or nearby by hiking and horseback riding are frequently available at many timeshare resorts.

Runners, not already familiar with MapMyRun.com, will find the website to be a valuable tool whether jogging at home or during travels. MapMyRun offers some 775,000 US jogging routes, which you can save to your GPS. Besides introducing you to a vast online community of runners, this website helps you track your training and even count the calories you have burned. And while all of these benefits for runners are free, City Running Tours is an excellent paid service you may want to learn more about.

The Timeshare Authority told you about City Running Tours last year in a post we did on New York City timeshares. City Running Tours offers you longer runs and run tailored to your specific requests, as well as runs along preset routes designed to maximize the experience for you both as a runner and as a sightseer.

Whether you are vacationing at a Hyatt timeshare, a Westin timeshare, or any of the many beautiful timeshare resort worldwide, don’t forget to pack your running shoes.

One recent study of Twitter use by businesses involved in the timeshare, hotel, and travel industries revealed that among those using Twitter, 52 percent tweeted between 4 and 10 times each day, with more than 25 percent tweeting up to 10 times daily.

And who is tweeting the most? Typically, the study found, it was hotel owners and timeshare and travel industry managers and directors. They are using social media to inform consumers about services, products, new features, and special deals. Just as importantly, timeshare resorts, timeshare resales companies and others in the hotel industry are using Twitter to extend their customer service efforts and to build or enhance relationships. One of the most interesting facts to come out of the study is the indication that consumers on Twitter are making buying decision based on their Twitter conversations.

It all makes great sense to me. Twitter gives timeshare owners, timeshare buyers, and timeshare sellers, “instant access” to compliment or complain, question or condemn any resort, airline, timeshare, hotel, vacation attraction or transportation service that is enhancing or detracting from their vacation and travel ease and enjoyment.

Clearly, both businesses and consumers have to use Twitter’s mouthpiece to the world responsibly. This mainstream of conversation flowing 24 hours a day worldwide is a powerful place from which to speak, so use it accordingly, enhancing the world in ways that are positive and beneficial.

Here’s how to find Sell My Timeshare NOW on Twitter:

• @VacationHotDeal

Don’t let fear of swine flu (H1N1) get in the way of enjoying Mouse fever.

Let’s face it, there are a lot of people who really enjoy a Disney vacation. The Orlando Disney theme parks alone attract between 25 and 45 million visitors annually, depending upon whose unofficial stats you follow. Any way you look at it, Disney theme parks mean huge numbers of people, many of whom are not vacationing with their kids!

Psychologist Donna Dawson calls it, (appropriately) the “Peter Pan” syndrome. “Unencumbered by kids,” Dawson explains, “couples can selfishly go on the rides that THEY want to, as many times as they want, without anyone dragging them away; they can keep acting like excited children without anyone telling them off!”

According to a media release from Attraction Tickets Direct, specifically studying the holiday patterns of British vacationers, one out of every three adults going on a Disney theme park holiday was not bringing any children along on the trip.

The year-in, year-out and apparently ageless popularity of the Disney parks is one of the reasons Disney Vacation Club (Disney timeshares) are such a success. People who suffer from ‘Mouse fever’ can happily go back to the Disney parks again and again, finding new things to enjoy and re-experiencing old favorites.

What Does Mouse Fever Mean for Disney Timeshare Owners?

The ongoing popularity of Disney theme parks impacts Disney timeshare owners in multiple ways, all of them good.

1. The popularity of Disney theme parks with adults has not gone unnoticed by Disney’s visionaries. They are continually developing new attractions and features to target adults and the young-at-heart of all ages.
2. Sufferers of mouse fever appreciate staying in Disney resorts. They value the convenience of Disney timeshares and the fact that both the Disney themes and Disney customer service keeps the Disney magic going long after they have stepped off the monorail.
3. Disney timeshare sells and Disney timeshare occupancy is strong. It has dips and declines, just like everyone else, but even with a bad economy and public concerns over H1N1 flu, Disney timeshares are still a popular vacation destination.

No one can guarantee you if you buy Disney timeshare you will be able to resell it in the future. No one can ever tell you if, when, or for how much you will be able to resell timeshare, even Disney timeshare. But the popularity of Disney timeshare is proven and surprisingly, that’s not just in a family market… there are a huge number of adults who perennially experience strong bouts of Mouse fever.

Opportunities in Disney timeshare resales:

• Disney’s Old Key West Resort Timeshare Resales
• Disney’s Boardwalk Villas Timeshare Resales
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort Timeshare Resales
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa Timeshare Resales
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas Timeshare Resales