We saw about a week ago how rapidly the Senate moved to pass their so-called comprehensive immigration reform bill, with the political prize being the votes of Hispanics, some 11 million of whom now live in the U.S. without proper documents. Next, watch as the Congress races to pass legislation to help the estimated 6 million students whose Stafford loan rates just doubled. So will we manufactured housing professionals be pro-active and show our Congressman and U.S. Senators that there are some 23 million living in manufactured homes, who stand to be harmed if HR 1779 isn't passed? Does our 23 million count like those 11 or 6 million do?
The Fraternity, the Ties that Bind and House on the Hill
In DJ Pendelton's column this month, The Ties that Bind, he described how Texas retailers jumped into help member communities, Texas communities their association's retailers and others in manufacturing, finance and insurance all worked together on their state's issues. DJ's timing was extraordinary, because in our exclusive A Cup of Coffee with… Tim Williams, CEO of 21st Mortgage. Tim describes the fraternity, which your scribe pulled those common threads together on July 1 here.
Nancy Gear and members of the New York Housing Association pulled together for their House on the Hill project.
These are some of the living examples of efforts from coast to coast of how pros like you – working through their state, community or national association – are 'teaming up' to have an impact on the political process.
Our Matthew Silver reported in our MHProNews Daily Business News how senior and Harvard's affordable housing report in general are in a shortage.
All of these news items reveal disguised opportunities for Manufactured Housing!
Tim Williams joined Cavco's Joe Stegmayer, ELS' Marguerite Nader, UMH's Sam Landy and star retailer Mike Evans, WHA's Ross Kinzler – among other! – who agree that Manufactured Housing could grow significantly with the right touches.
Certainly protecting lending via HR 1779 is a key.
But so are the bullets Green Courte Chairman Randy Rowe made regarding their 5 Point Plan for Industry recovery. One of Randy's 5 points included an image campaign, which is working very well in the RV business to drive more sales, even as the economy in general is still limping along.
So we must do those political efforts, but also more! We must grow our personal businesses, through information and methods proven to improve your career and business interests and performance. We must do so in a fashion that serves our customers and the estimated 23 million who already live in manufactured homes.
Stop Day-Dreaming About an Industry Image Campaign?
There are a number in our Industry who say we should not even think about a national building image campaign. It is 'too expensive' is the main argument. Respectfully, I have news for them, there are already two image campaigns among many others afoot.
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The de facto negative image campaign, that creates the need for projects like the House on the Hill. Nature abhors a vacuum, so if we don't define ourselves then others like the local weather or news person will step in and define us.
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Our pro-industry ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com campaign, which takes elements from past successful efforts in our Industry to create a modern way to improve our industry's image that can be tapped into locally in YOUR market(s) for free or at a modest cost. If you haven't read the latest on this NO BRAINER method, please click here.
The Road to Hell
We've heard the maxim that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I'm thinking about some militant MH owners groups in certain communities that have a good intent, but who in fact are harming themselves and their neighbors home values. How?
The law of supply and demand alone are reasons for those 'home owners' groups to completely rethink their approach, because when they publicly dis-respect their community and the MHC's management, they are de facto dis-respecting the value of their homes and those of the voices who support them. These souls need to recall why living in a land lease can be a great deal. They need to work positively with management, not against them. Their failure to do so, arguably harms all involved.
But the flip side is also true.
Community owners, operators and managers need to routinely remind their residents about the value they enjoy as residents. When management fails to build on the MHC value proposition, then those militant residents who are blinded by their misinformed thoughts or their goals will fill the vacuum. If there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed, then let it be so.
During the Congressional field hearings, members of these groups made statements that were arguably inaccurate, short sighted and ill informed. But until their errors are responded to cogently and respectfully, their voices may be a key one heard.
Let's state the obvious again, nature abhors a vacuum. If we don't define ourselves, others will define us, often to our detriment.
No Choice but to beat our Industry's own drums
Ladies and gents, it is obvious that customers are our life blood. We have to do what we say, and the majority in the industry today get that fact. But we also have to beat a drum that reminds ALL in the pubic square, starting with our residents and customers, why manufactured homes – and land lease communities – are a sound value proposition.
By using MHLivingNews.com with current homes owners and community residents, we can begin to mobilize their good will.
Human nature tells us that a number of these manufactured home owners and residents in turn will want to share this website with their non-MH friends and associates. Doing so will improve their own homes value, while protecting their self-esteem and image.
One drop at a time
We can fill the bucket of better image and acceptance one drop at a time, without spending millions! HR 1779 and its companion Senate bill will speed toward acceptance as more home owners and others see the appeal and common sense that modern manufactured home ownership and living provides.
We can make this as fast or slow as our actions merit. The ball is in motion, will you and your associates
help speed it ahead?
Let's tap the potential power of more of those 23 million residents of manufactured homes. Share the link with them and others of MHLivingNews.com often. You and tens of thousands of manufactured home pros will be glad you did.
Each one, reach one, day by day. Together, yes, we can do this. ##
PS: Check our many Exclusive and Red Hot Featured Articles for July and see the
other new stories at MHLivingNews.com too.
L. A. "Tony" Kovach
MHLivingNews.com=Re-Discovering and Spotlighting the MHLifeStyle
MHProNews.com = MHMSM.com = Industry News, Tips and Views Pros can Use
Services:B2BandB2CAds, Proven MH Marketing & Sales Systems, Websites other Industry Solutions.
Office –815-270-0500
latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach= connect with me on Linkedin.
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Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. – Henry Ford
