Name change for VoV
By VoV | Vestar | Tuesday 25th May 2010I have grown increasingly uncomfortable with the “Victims of Vestar” name and would like to ask for your feedback.
The name hasn’t been sitting well with me for some time. This feeling was cystallised recently in an exchange of comments with Graham who talked about “a blog which is set up for and named for negativity”.
He was wrong about the first point but right about the second.
VoV was set up to give a voice to ex-clients of Vestar, to disseminate relevant news and information to investors, to expose examples of wrongdoing, and to liaise with others who might help our cause. That’s positive action.
However, Graham was right in saying that “Victims of Vestar” is a negative name. It may well be that hundreds of investors were once the victims of Vestar’s selfish and/or incompetent actions, but we are now acting positively to address that situation.
It is not helpful to think of ourselves as “victims”. Adopting a victim mentality will not move us forward. Positive, proactive action will.
So the name must change. The only stipulation is that the intials VOV must remain. But what VOV stands for can be anything of our choosing.
What suggestions do you have for the name? Please leave a comment below with your suggestions.
As a thought starter, somebody emailed me today suggesting “Victory Over Vestar”.
But it doesn’t even need to include the word Vestar.
So get creative and start submitting your suggestions now!
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 3:42 pm
Lets keep the initials: “Victorious over Vestar”
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 3:48 pm
“VICTORY OVER VORACITY”
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 4:45 pm
Keep VOV Victory over Vestar
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5:18 pm
VOCIFEROUS (making a great outcry) ON VESTAR seems to fit with EUFA
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5:35 pm
I think it is important to keep the name Vestar in the heading. Can we have extra words in the heading but still go will VoV?
Voice of Victory over Vestar
Vocal Viewpoint on Vestar
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5:36 pm
No reason at all why we can’t have other words in the header.
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5:37 pm
Agree with Jennifer.
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5:43 pm
My thoughts exactly – we are no longer referrring to investors as victims.
I like Les Reads opinion on this. Vern, when you decide send through a press release and Lyn can send it out
Tuesday 25th May 2010 at 5:44 pm
It is time the VOV group started a campaign to get the com Com to invbestigate – We will mention this with the Minister on Thursday
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 9:46 am
Vestar Outcry Voiced
This means that anyone (not only Vestars’ Victims) can voice an opinion – good or bad.
I like Les Reads thoughts on ‘making a great outcry’ but feel that the word ‘vociferous’ is a little too complex. Important to keep it simple.
Wouldn’t it have more weight too if Vestar is the first word in the header?
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 9:51 am
I like Sarah’s”Victorious over Vestar”
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 3:26 pm
Total Victory over Vestar is not a bad idea.
I will give it some thought whether I can come with another VoV name.
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 5:13 pm
Very One-sided Viewpoints? OK, I’m joking.
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 5:23 pm
I think it a little premature to change the name. Until someone succeeds in a case against the Vestar mob we all remain as victims. Only then can we claim Victory over Vestar.
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 8:16 pm
The name is not the issue, it is seeking an acknowledgement and justice for the unethical and immoral way Vestar handled our money. It isn’t just the finance companies our money was channelled into but the despicable way our trust was abused. Apart from the sham finance companies it used Vestar also diverted our money into other pathetic investments as a result of Messrs Syms and Purvis’s greed, arrogance and blatant disregard for Vestar Clients interests. Looking at Gould Wealth and Spicers updates and at friends of ours portfolios I count 21 investments that are now toxic, many are incestuous and all have a common denominator, they paid higher than average commissions and/or marketing expenses , and before you jump in Graham I suggest you listen to informed and impartial people. As self proclaimed “ Investment Specialists”
Syms and Co’s behaviour may well result in capital losses in excess of an estimated $300 million dollars. To have a couple of investments fail is unfortunate but understandable, but for 21 different investments to collapse is indefensible and inexcusable. Kelvin Syms liked to think of himself as an entrepreneur but history will show him as nothing more than an arrogant and greedy salesman who by putting his own interests first destroyed the wealth and aspirations of a generation who could ill afford it. The courts will decide if Mr Syms is guilty and as much as Syms feels he hasn’t broken the law, he has breached every fiduciary rule. The facts do not lie!
Wednesday 26th May 2010 at 9:52 pm
Not easy if we are limited to VOV. It doesn’t quite fit, but I like to think of the Vampires of Vestar bleeding us dry! Or the Vultures of Vestar taking advantage of the weak. Or even the Vikings of Vestar pillaging the mums and dads! It’s a hard one, but how about ‘Vociferous over/on Victimisation’? Very general, but it would cover pretty much any type of consumer fraud.
Thursday 27th May 2010 at 9:11 am
How about Vengeance on Vestar?
Thursday 27th May 2010 at 11:06 am
I have just read Sue’s letter and feel angry that Kelvin Syms and Simon Purvis are responsible for losing over a quarter of a billion dollars to mostly elderly low risk investors. This capital is gone – no more interest, no more security, no more money to be left to family. How can these two men sleep at night knowing that 99% of their ex-clients who trusted them now resent them. How can Graham defend men who have ruthlessly acquired their own wealth by destroying everyone elses. In fact Graham, let us know if you are still one of Syms clients.
VoV site is thinking of a name change because Victims of Vestar sounds negative. Well, we are Victims of Vestar… but we are prepared to do something about it.
I suggest we stick with the name and add to it… it then turns it into a positive:
VICTIMS OF VESTAR TAKING ACTION
We won’t know if ‘victory’ comes into it until the Court decides.
Thursday 27th May 2010 at 4:41 pm
there is not much choice if the change has to remain V.o.V. and Vestar has to stay. A dictionary is helpful with puzzling:
Vanishing act , Vanquish , Venting , Voice , Verdict , Venting ,View ,Veto , Vice , Vengeance , Viewpoint , Violation , Vociferous . . . . . .
the word ‘Victims’ gets the strongest emotional attention, Victory and Vengeance we cant be sure yet. My pick is . . . . Voice on Vestar
Saturday 29th May 2010 at 12:31 pm
This sounds like a lot of P.C. to me. We are victims! Victims of lies, and victims of fraud. I vote to tell it as it is and leave the name unchanged.
Tuesday 15th June 2010 at 4:20 pm
I agree that us investors are victims of lies and fraud and there is no getting away from that fact, so I don’t see why we should pretend we are not. It has entirely changed our life and “retirement.” However, we are doing something about it and so I favour the name VICTIMS OF VESTAR TAKING ACTION.