{"id":1470,"date":"2012-04-18T20:02:14","date_gmt":"2012-04-19T00:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manufacturedhomepronews.com\/cuttingedgemarketingsales\/?p=1470"},"modified":"2012-04-20T16:51:56","modified_gmt":"2012-04-20T20:51:56","slug":"the-mh-ap-and-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manufacturedhomepronews.com\/cuttingedgemarketingsales\/the-mh-ap-and-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The MH-AP and You"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Help us help you help our Industry with the MH Advancement Project (MH-AP). Your company could drive more business and profits while protecting and promoting the manufactured industry. Before we dive in, let's briefly set the stage.<\/p>\n

Paraphrasing what more than one well known manufactured housing personality has said to me:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

'In Washington DC, the manufactured housing industry
\n\t\tis a like a pimple on an elephant's behind.'<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So on issues such as changing the SAFE Act, Dodd-Frank and the CFPB with legislation such as HR 3849<\/a>, the experts agree we don't have an easy road ahead. With HUD, the EPA or other regulators, MH Industry associations and their members generally don't carry the influence we need by ourselves. Which is why MHI and others often seek to leverage relationships to enhance advocacy and influence.<\/p>\n

But haven't we missed one of the biggest influencers of all? A group we should be able to tap readily? I think the answer is 'yes.'<\/p>\n

We can dramatically grow our influence by aligning the interests of manufactured home owners <\/b>– and pre-HUD Code mobile home owners – with MH professionals. If there is one thing that politicians need as much or more as campaign funds it is votes come election time!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Getting<\/p>\n

Image of the political power of a crowd of our customers and residents getting ready to vote…<\/i><\/p>\n

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With and estimated 8.8 million pre-HUD Code and post HUD Code manufactured homes in the U.S. and with some 19 million residents in those homes, that represents about 6% of the national population. By organizing enough of those MH voters, we can tip the scales in elections for or against a candidate. Think about the polls and voting. 6% can often make the difference. When an interest group shows up at the polls during elections, that 6% can be even more powerful because so many do not show up to vote.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

– Lao Tzu<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While ambitious, there are relatively easy steps we can take to accomplish this goal, and we have already begun the process. Please join us in this effort. Those who do can benefit short, medium and long term.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

MHLivingNews.com<\/b><\/a>is a new website that we have just launched focused on the MH Home Owner and MH Residents. We will carry periodic stories, but a key focus for us will be the ALERT system we are building.<\/p>\n

Over time, we expect the MHLivingNews.com<\/a> site to have far more traffic than our site here at MHProNews.com<\/a> because there are about a quarter of a million estimated MH connected professionals, employees and business owners. But there are some 19-20 million MH owners and residents!<\/p>\n