We began this year with a firm commitment to an intensified government relations effort, and we’ve made important strides. But we’re not finished – not just yet. On the legislative front, our effort is paying off.

In short, the investment we’ve made in our Washington-based and grassroots lobbying effort is paying off. As you know, however, the legislative process is full of pitfalls. We still have work to do on FHA title I reform (home only) legislation but the progress we’ve made is very encouraging. Now it’s time to redouble our efforts and finish the job. Needless to say, with FHA Title I legislation moving on Capitol Hill, supporting MHI-PAC is the right thing to do. I know you share my hope that this may be the year we finally win on FHA Title I.

In addition to Title I, MHI is also focusing on other federal legislative issues impacting communities. Congress is working toward the adoption of a strengthened regulatory regime for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. With the help of the NCC, MHI was successful in having inserted into the legislation a new “duty to serve” the manufactured housing industry. The duty would require Fannie and Freddie to develop new loan products with flexible underwriting standards, and specifically mentions personal property loans as being included within this requirement. MHI is also heavily involved with predatory lending legislation. To ensure that personal property loans receive fair treatment, MHI was able to have language added to the House-passed bill that would help ensure that these loans are not labeled “sub-prime” and thus subject to onerous disclosure and other requirements.

This is a team effort: our grassroots advocacy, PAC program, and Washington-based representation must work together. That’s why it’s so important to have the broadest possible participation of MHI-NCC member companies in every aspect of our legislative relations program.

Recently, Rae Ann Bevington joined the MHI staff as our new PAC director and was recruited to design and implement a new political and grassroots program. The first step of our new political campaign is to have each of our member company CEOs sign a “Prior Approval Card” designating MHI-PAC as the sole political action committee (PAC) authorized to solicit their employees. The second step is to recruit PAC campaign coordinators from each of our certified representatives. These PAC coordinators will serve as the initial point of contact from our member companies and will help organize the PAC fundraising campaigns within their corporations.

It’s very important to broaden MHI’s base by enlisting as many eligible employees of member companies as possible. If you have not already done so, we need your help in sponsoring an employee campaign. I would like to especially commend MHI-PAC Vice Chairman (and past NCC Chairman) Rick Rand of Great Value Homes on his leadership in promoting our PAC to all NCC members and thank all of you who have stepped up to the plate.

MHI-PAC’s success enables us to mount an aggressive advocacy effort on Capitol Hill. With the White House and Congress both on the line in 2008, and with MHI-PAC participating in a record number of fundraising events, we need you. Your support for the PAC translates directly into increase visibility and credibility for MHI.

As MHI-PAC grows in visibility and clout, the importance of participation will continue to increase. Our goal is nothing less than 100% participation by MHI members, and your leadership is important. MHI-PAC can only work well if we stand together. If you would like more information on MHI-PAC, I encourage you to contact Rae Ann Bevington directly at rbevington@mfghome.org. We would appreciate your support, and I am looking forward to working with you to move our agenda ahead.

On a separate note, I would also like to mention that the NCC held its third annual NCC Forum in April in conjunction with the National Congress and Expo in Las Vegas. This year’s forum theme was “Community Management and Operations” and was attended by over 250 community owners, managers and related industry professionals. By all accounts, it was a rousing success. I would like to thank Greg Harmon of Greg Harmon Properties, who was the 2008 NCC Forum Planning Committee Chairman, the entire Planning Committee, and MHI’s Michael O’Brien and Ann Parman for all their hard work. It was a top-notch event and I encourage everyone to attend next year’s Forum in Las Vegas.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with me at umh2@aol.com.

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