Manufactured housing is awash in documented opportunities. Yet we are advancing at only a snail’s pace. Why?

This Nettlesome November 2015, we’ll explore what some people think is part of the problem, while ironically others see the same thing as a key part of the solution.

Associations – perhaps most notably MHI – draws considerable flack, from within and without. As disclosure, we’re association members ourselves, and believe in associations. As independent trade journalists, we must explore each side of the issues involved. Fair and balanced, “We Provide, You Decide.”  ©

On the Record (OnTR)

Another Cup of Coffee with...Don Glisson Jr., sheds light on this topic from a powerful voice inside MH. Don admits in the interview that some will be upset by his comments. We applaud his candor. That exclusive interview is linked below.

We published a read-hot interview with Frank Rolfe, who has been on the MHI/NCC stage more than once. Yet Frank took dead aim at them, see link here, and isn’t a member. We were widely praised for sharing that interview unedited.

We’ll look at this nettlesome topic broadly, noting that we’re publishing some 10 articles on associations this month, including 3 from MHI, 2 of which we invited from them.  That needs to be emphasized, so there is no misunderstanding about the objective and fair approach we are striving for in this column on this highly controversial issue!

Off the Record (OffTR)

While some will speak up, others are smiling while gripping at lunch, dinner, the coffee shop, meeting halls or the bar.

Quoting OffTRs:

• “It’s a big boys club, independents are invited, but have no effective voice.”

 

• “The reason MHARR exists is because MHI tilts towards larger firms and their interests.”

 

• “I was in the (MHI) office, and heard how they handled a telephone inquiry by a researcher. It was shocking when they said, ‘We don’t keep those kinds of statistics, so you may want to try a Google search.'”

 

• “Dealing with (person at MHI) made me think, you arrogant ——-. You’d never know they faced bankruptcy not that many years ago, and would have tanked had a rich member not bailed them out.”

 

• “I’ve served on committees for years, and one day, they just tossed me aside like all that work meant nothing to them.“

 

• “Anyone that follows some of the attacks on the industry in the mainstream media last spring noticed that news reported MHI as an arm of the larger players. Until that perception changes, no amount of PR they do will be worth a d—.”

 

• “There are terrific people at MHI, and then there are some that kiss the — of the big guys, while acting like they are God Almighty with other members. Two-faced.”

 

• “It’s a revolving-door culture there.”

 

• “I warned leadership about the SAFE Act in HERA 2008. They were so focused on DTS, they privately and later publicly admitted they did not see the SAFE Act’s impact on MH coming.”

Don’t shoot the messenger.

Please note that none of these OffTR quotes above are from the open or avowed enemies of MHI.

Those openly or slyly hostile voices in MHVille have their own (smaller) vehicles and tools, which they use for tagging MHI, and Don Glisson’s point in his interview on those enemies using attacks on MHI to recruit for themselves and their own business interests is worthy of a close look.

Strong Examples of The Defense and Advocacy

I think one of the strongest defenses of MHI comes from their honest, fair minded critics. They are members, and they are hanging in there, or are even more active than before. Why? Because they see the importance and value.  MHI is very close on key issues, as articles below by Lesli Gooch clearly state.

FYI, my take on the topic is linked among the featured articles, found below. I’m in the association, and plan to say. As I’m writing this, a message came in about my article linked below on the topic, that OffTR comment read as follows:

“Well done, most will understand, the ones who don’t are the problem already.”

You’ll see why as an independent we’re in MHI, go to 8-12 national, state or regional association meetings a year, and plan to stay engaged.

If you read all the association-focused articles this month, found linked below, you may come to a similar conclusion that I have. “We Provide, You Decide.” ©

Side note…there is not much negative commentary coming of late about MHARR. Let me rephrase that, the negatives tend to come from those in the other camp. Within MHARR, it has been pretty quiet this year. Note too that MHI’s new chairman has signled and/or started initiatives that could well correct the complaints that are shared above.

We’ll keep an eye on all of this for our readers, of course. If my opinion changes, you’ll know, but my thoughts and reasoning reflected in my own article on this big topics stands, please do read it.

Pivoting to State Associations

State associations have their critics too. Let me share some OffTR comments from execs, below, as to what they hear, and what they say. These too are honest, and accurately reflect what we also hear, and are thus a key part of the conversation on this topic.

We asked state association execs to comment, some did via articles you’ll see linked below, others elected to comment OffTR. To one exec, we sent the following questions, and you’ll see the reply.

What are the common objections you’ve heard to association membership? “Selected few don’t see the benefits.”

What are the reasons those in give when they quit, leave? “Cutting back or not in the – (name of the state) – market anymore.”

Another exec sounded off in more detail, here are those comments, with only the ‘tells’ that would give away who the writers is, edited.

“Thanks. It is hard to show value to people who won’t give us an opportunity to see the obvious value. I don’t understand how those outside the associations navigate the laws, rules and regulations; and would you want someone else (the association) determining the future of your livelihood without your input? Not me, I can assure you. That last point to me is so obvious I cannot believe everyone is not involved and clamoring to be a board member.”

Let me ask anyone who is not in an association or who isn’t active, to carefully consider those words!

They are powerful. So too are the examples of how MHI, MHARR and state associations are leading the way on a variety of issues and are providing opportunities for people to protect and grow their businesses. The examples from every association that shared columns this month is worthy of a good, close read.

Here’s another set of OffTR comments from a state exec. Keep in mind the questions put to executives, shown above.

“The one guy who did quit as a retailer was still getting paper and told me I was not sending him enough paper. When he finally did join the electronic era, he never signed up and never gave me a reason.

One other guy said he was so marginal he only sold one or two homes and year and did not find it worth his while.

Maybe a fourth of those licensed as retailers in (name of state edited out), all independents of marginal size (or so I estimate), are impervious to all suggestions and attempts to get them to join and never respond. Let me give you examples.

Our membership is $— for a retailer and $— a floor. I offered each instate independent a free registration to come to the convention ($—), so I offer them a membership for $— and they can come to the convention for nothing. Not one response.

But here is the bigger kicker. Our dues are $— a year for communities (no matter how large) and $— for contractors.

So to try to induce them, I tell them if they will submit a $— membership check to me (no pain, no gain, I think), then I will give them a free registration ($—) to the convention (where everything but their room is covered for two days). So I write and tell them I am going to PAY them $25 to join the association.

Know how many joined or even responded? I can’t get them to join when I’m PAYING them. You have it.

The one fairly good size independent retailer who will not join had problems with the previous management and people who ran the association, so for that reason, he won’t join. No sense in talking with a turnip.

I say the contractors will never join the association, until the manufacturers or retailers pressure them someway, or just say the contractor should bill them whatever the membership fee is on the first invoice and that payment goes to us and we enroll them.

It is really crazy. The lack of feedback from anyone is mind-boggling. I ran a story in my latest newsletter about MHI efforts to get retailers to join directly by cutting the fees as an inducement. I’m going to be curious if anyone responds.”

We could share more such commentary, but they are akin to what you see in the above.  My thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to reply.

• Do you see why this is an important topic?
• Do you see why shredding light on this critical issue, while briefly painful to some, is utterly necessary if positive change is to occur?
• Do you see why we say, some of this revolves around egos?

But other factors are truly a matter of false perception or the wrong attitude about association membership. You’ll see why, in my commentary on associations, linked below.

The Full, Robust November Line Up!

All told, we have a whopping 22 Featured Articles on our home page this month. You’ll see those by category and author, all linked below.

But let me take a few moments to draw your attention to all of the various features on MHProNews, that’s available 24/7/365. It’s amazing to note that our site statistics clearly show we have a 24 hour a day audience. There are plenty of readers in the middle of the night, as well as all hours of the day. Our sheer breadth and depth is why, according to those who read and know.  Thousands flock here to the Masthead many times weekly.  

But far more dive deeply in to MHProNews, which will have more readers in the next one to two days than attends 9 days of the top three MH industry events.  That speaks volumes.  The average visitor reads over 10 pages per visit. Amazing!

With no further adieu, let’s dive into Nettlesome November’s strong line up of featured articles, reports, commentary and more.