When I talk to people about joining the National Communities Council, I’m sometimes struck by how difficult it can be to convince someone of the value of membership. I’m tempted to quote the great Theodore Roosevelt, who very succinctly stated; “Every man owes part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” But I realize, just like everything else in business, people need to see tangible value in membership. In other words—how does it affect the bottom line?

The NCC is the only national organization for community owners, operators, developers, lenders, brokers and service providers. As your voice in Washington, the NCC is at the forefront of the most pressing issues facing communities today. We need every community owner, management company, lender, broker and supplier to be a member in order to strengthen our influence in Washington to achieve positive change and stave off harmful initiatives. Whether it’s increasing financing options through revitalization of the FHA Title I program or easing EPA restrictions on communities that resell water or blocking the U.S. Postal Service from requiring you to retrofit wall-mounted mailboxes, the NCC is taking the lead on your behalf.

Further, there is no other organization that provides the type of networking opportunities. With three meetings a year, the National Congress for Manufactured and Modular Housing held in Las Vegas, and other opportunities in between, community owners, lenders, and suppliers not only have the opportunity to network with each other but also with manufacturers and retailers. No other organization can provide you with this type of access and give you an inside track on the cutting issues impacting your bottom line.

If you are already a member of the NCC, thank you for your support, and I encourage you to ask others to join. If you are not a member of the NCC, I hope you will give serious consideration to joining. I would be happy to discuss the NCC with you in more detail. You can download a membership application by clicking here or feel free to contact MHI’s Mike O’Brien at (703) 558-0652 or Lauren Lewis at (703) 558-0670.

Richard J. Rand is chairman of the MHI National Communities Council and president of Asset Development Group, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisc. He can be contacted at rrand@assetdevelopment.com