Having just attended MHI’s Winter Meeting in Austin, Texas at the end of January, I’d like to report that I and many others came away with a renewed sense of optimism that 2007 will be the year that the manufactured housing industry takes control of its future and takes on the many critical challenges we are all currently facing. This must be the year that all industry segments work together to develop an aggressive plan of action to return the industry to its rightful place as the major source of affordable housing in this country.

I can say there is a renewed sense of optimism since I’ve had the privilege of working with the other members of the MHI Executive Committee, led by MHI Chairman Barry McCabe of Hometown America Enterprises, to develop the initial recommendations for changing MHI’s structure and priorities so that we can effectively marshal all our resources for overcoming the major industry challenges we currently face. As approved by the MHI Board of Directors in Austin, MHI will be focusing on four priority issues: Home Finance, Home Placement, Industry Image and Regulatory Reform.

As Chairman McCabe puts it, MHI will be keeping a “laser beam focus” on solving the challenges surrounding these key issues: expanding chattel and mortgage financing opportunities; removing barriers to the placement of manufactured homes and the development of communities; improving the industry’s image; and reforming the HUD Code so that it keeps pace with industry innovation.

Going forward, MHI’s efforts will be focused on these priority issues, each of which will have its own task force of MHI members from across the industry spectrum. Each and every MHI member will be encouraged to participate in one of the task forces, which will have both virtual and in-person meetings. I encourage each NCC member to take an active role in one of them.

Also part of the recommendations approved by the MHI Board was a motion to streamline the organization to better address these critical issues and reduce bureaucracy which hinders innovation and quick response. As a result, meetings will be less repetitive and more productive, while all member segments will have equal representation on the MHI Board if approved through bylaw changes later this year. This will give the NCC full division status on par with all other member segments and assure the concerns of community owners are addressed. I’d like give special thanks to NCC Board Member George Allen for pushing this effort for a number of years.

In conjunction with this effort, the NCC will also be embarking on the development of a five-year plan to map out a course of action on community-specific issues and to assure that the NCC effectively addresses these issues on behalf of community owners. We will be regularly communicating with the membership as the plan is being developed, and I encourage you to share your thoughts and concerns with me as we go about development of this plan. Your input is encouraged, and I can be contacted at umh2@aol.com.

Christine Lindsey
Chair, National Communities Council
Vice President Sales, UMH Properties