Three short topics today – the water's fine! – let's dive in and get started.

Home of The Brave…

"…Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave? O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave…"

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the summer in the U.S.A.. It is also the first of a trilogy of patriotic days to remember, followed by Flag Day on June 14 and the Fourth of July, which commemorates the Declaration of Independence.

In reflecting on the lyrics from the Star Spangled Banner, the clear ties to the American Dream of owning your own home struck me.

Which should brings us to the clear benefits we in the factory-built manufactured and modular home industry should be shouting from the rooftops.

Homes for the Brave, Safe Bet?

Let's agree that the safest bet is the one you have the most ability to influence.

Games of chance like cards or roulette favor "the house." That's how those gleaming palaces like Caesars, the Venetian, Bellagio or others in Vegas or other gambling towns get paid and turn billions in profits.

The safest bet isn't the long, long odds for the Lotto either.

Rather, it's the bet on your own business or profession, where excellence can be delivered in a fashion that is then rewarded! You are the one who decides daily to provide that excellence for your clients, comrades, corporation and colleagues.

In a previous Masthead, we suggested that the miracle of teaming up was needed.

Let's look at a practical application of that concept.

As an example.

What if every pro in our industry plunked down $10 each, with an estimated 200,000 professionals, we'd have $2,000,000 to launch a campaign to educate ourselves to better engage and to attract more of the public to a true appreciation of all that we offer.

That $2 million dollars would lead to billions of dollars in additional manufactured and modular home orders. Which would mean:

• more job security for all true industry pros, starting on the factory floor and working though to ever aspect of our business.
• Manufactured Home land lease communities would be fuller, so their values would rise.
• Rising demand would boost values on existing manufactured homes.
• Floor dues would move more robustly into association coffers, so they could do more.
• Less subsidized housing would be needed, so any strain on local, state and federal budgets would be eased.
• The multiplier economic effect would cascade through our economy, with more furniture, appliances, floor coverings, lawn mowers, etc, etc. being sold.

The point is we don't have to wait for the billionaires to do this. All that is needed is the miracle of teaming up.

More on this another time. Let's move on to topic two.

Park Models/RVs to Compete with HUD Code Manufactured Homes?

Your Masthead scribe was schooled recently by a number of state execs, and a legal mind or two on the importance of this topic.

Please see Jim Ayotte's thought provoking article, and decide NOW if you want to wait to see if this is “okay” as some think or harms us, as others do. Is this an issue we want to get in front of by calling your state, community and or national organizations to stop this in its tracks?

http://www.MHProNews.com/blogs/industryvoices/the-rv-industry-is-attempting-to-amend-the-hud-manufactured-housing-code/

We've had a number of PASSIONATE off the record comments on this, by phone and via email.

Please read Jim's thoughtful column. We will also have an article for you to read on this soon from MHI.

You know the drill. We Provide, You Decide ©.

A Red Hot – or is that Read Hot? ;-) – new June issue approaches!

Yes, you can still read all of the Featured Articles for May, but this weekend, watch for the Volume 5, #9 issue of MHProNews!

• New, exclusive Video Interviews! _{(Sample prior ones linked here.)}
• New, legal experts sound off!
• New, Manufactured Home Finance column and what many will find is a simpler and smarter way to navigate Dodd-Frank/CFPB and the steering issue!
• New! Tyler on Marketing!
• New, Eastern Ohio Home Show wrap up report!
• Much, much, more including part two of our exclusive A Cup of Coffee with...Jim Clayton and A Cup of Coffee with…Ron Thomas, Sr., RV/MH Hall of Fame, Louisville Show and MMHF Chairman!

We expect no less than 5 articles from attorneys in June!

This legal topics will cover some HOT topics such as The Failure to Maintain (FTM) issue.

Let's be clear, we are not sensationalizing FTM. Rather, the hope is that an ounce of prevention is easier than the pound of cure.

We also think the articles on this topic should calm any nervous capital/investors who might otherwise come into manufactured housing.

Our regular bevy of quality marketing, sales and management subjects will also be showcased in June.

Please check in here this weekend for the full line up, and remember – while we switch new issues, part of the home page temporarily vanishes in that Featured Article module – but then returns soon thereafter with all the new ones!

Bonus!

We are rolling out our new and once more improved email news updates!  Yes, this matters to you, because timely information and knowledge are potential power in business.

No where else do you get anything like our industry-leading, twice weekly emailed updates, which mimic what you see on the e-Newsletter archive.

The new format will go out with our regular mid-week message. Your feedback is very much appreciated. We keep striving to improve to serve you better.

The time saving and information packed newsletter is the easiest way to keep up with the best of all that is happening in manufactured and modular housing. Sign up free in seconds at MHProNews.com/Subscribe and make sure your team and colleagues are on the email list too.

Join us this weekend for the start of our read, err…red hot June issue!  Thousands of pros like you logon DAILY here at MHProNews. Don't be the last to learn more, because being ahead of the curve allows you to earn more.

For all you who make, serve and sell the owners past, present and to come of Homes for the Brave, thanks for checking in and enough said for today. ##

L. A. 'Tony' Kovach ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com | MHProNews.com | Business and Public Marketing & Ads: B2B | B2C Websites, Contract Marketing & Sales Training, Consulting, Speaking: MHC-MD.com | LATonyKovach.com | Office 863-213-4090 Connect on LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach