eople think of business conferences as summer camps for grownups", says Pepper Schwartz, sociology professor at the University of Washington, and quoted in the October 22nd issue of USA Today. If this is indeed true, two seasonal meetings, the MHCongress, and annual meeting of the MHBusiness' largest na- tional lobbying group are year round luxurious summer camps for our industry's elite.

At first I thought it was simply personal anxiety over spending lots of money to participate in national MH- Business affairs. But as I poll peers from every segment of the industry, I find I am not at all alone in the frustration of hav- ing to patronize some of the most expensive hotels in the U.S., just to have one's voice heard on matters of import and concern. Not surprisingly, the most strident, though rarely expressed in public, criticism of these quasi - forced junkets comes from MHAssociation execs unable to attend some meetings due to local budgetary constraints.

Thus encouraged, I decided to document how much it cost my business interests for me to participate in industry politics, business planning and peer networking on the national level for one full year.

To begin with, one usually needs credentials to attend a trade association's national meetings. in the MHIndustry, that can be indirectly, via one's state MHAssociation, as an elected or appointed voting delegate to said national meetings - with registration and travel expenses reimbursed in full or in part. Or, one can pay dues directly to the national lobbying group. Frankly, as a matter of expensive principle, my firms do both: maintain active dues - paying memberships in states where I have business interests (in one case, due to industry factionalism I belong to two such MHGroups .... ) and pay annual dues directly to the national body. Total for me'? Close to $1,000.00 per year for four memberships (i.e. three state level and one na- tional). But I sincerely believe it is the right thing to do.

During 1999, the MHIndustry's largest lobbying group scheduled four meetings with a national scope; in chronological order: a Winter meeting in Arlington, VA (right across the river from expensive downtown Washing- ton, DC), an annual MHCongress in Las Vegas (as one wag put it, 'It's impossible to tell mobilehome dealers from blackjack dealers'...a sad sad commentary on what we think of ourselves every time we go there), a Summer meeting back in Arlington, and a gala annual meeting at the opulent Wigwam Resort outside Phoenix, AZ. If, as a small business owner/operator, you're beginning to see mega - dollar signs in all this, you're right.

To attend the Winter meeting, one paid a reasonable $195.00 registration fee; spent close to $200.00 per night for three nights (including local taxes, gratuities, etc.)' $300.00 on transportation in from out of town; and at least another $300.00 for meals, cab fare or rental car and the like. My out - of - pocket total was in excess of $1,500.00! The MHCongress in Las Vegas was some- what cheaper, as I stayed but two days instead of the 'planned activity three.' Paid $295.00 registration fee; $300.00 for the hotel; $400.00 for transportation; and $300.00 for meals and related expenses; all for a total of $1,300.00 for two days in tinsel town. Another way to look at it: $54.00 per hour to be a 'player' in my industry segment of the free enterprise system.

Summer meeting in Washington, DC was the only one that approached being a bargain. I drove my own car to it. Registration, again, was $195.00; hotel @ $400.00; gas, parking, tolls and meals approached $400.00. Total.'? $1,000.00.

Then there's the annual meeting in Phoenix. The Wigwam is certainly a fun and attractive place to meet! But you'd best have an appropriately fat wallet. Registration fee peaked here at $395.00. The hotel weighed - in at more than $200.00 per night with its' required service charge add - on fee, totaling $600.00+. Then, $267.00 for air fare (the only economy this trip) and $500.00 for a rental car, meals, etc.. Total for Arizona'? $1,800.00. Ouch!

So, what does all this add up to? $6,600.00 for annual membership fees and four national meetings. And this total does not include all the state - based functions and bimonthly board of governors' meet- ings many of us attend. The grand total, for one year of national summer camp participation, is closer to $7,000; and $10,000.00 when one includes local trade association participation.

Is belonging to one's industry trade association(s), especially on the national participation level, worth $10,000 per year'? I certainly can't answer for you. But I'm comfortable in the belief that the majority of the small business entrepreneurs active in the MHIndustry find it terribly prohibitive, or attendance at said national venues would be a whole lot greater in number. For me, it is worth the outlay. While my income property interests are 1ocaIly - based, my firm's consulting services; publishing and scale model homes product lines enjoy solid and popular support nationwide and throughout Canada. I sincerely believe our industry's leaders are doing all of us, especially the smaller business owner/operators, a demo tivating disservice by planning national meetings at $200+ per night hotels when they could just as easily be using more reasonable conference centers and affordable meetings hotels focused on the business traveler. If you agree, make your opinion clearly known to your state MHAssociation exec and elected president, as well as your governing board's representative to the national lobbing group.

Let there be no misunderstanding. I am solidly in favor of supporting MHTrade association's with one's active participation and dues. My support of same is clearly described in the article reprinted below which I wrote for the Journal during 1999.

WHY I BELONG....

As far back as 1830, the French states- man and author Alexis de Tocqueville observed in Democracy in America that ...

Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all dispositions are forever forming associations. There are not only commercial and industrial associations in which all take part, but others of a thousand different types - religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute. And you know, he was right then and remains so today. How many folks don't belong to one or more social, religious or business groups? Very very few. But the issue here is, how many of you are not maximizing the profitability of your business because you don't belong to a state, provincial or national manufactured housing trade association or institute?

The American Society of Association Executives has identified 22 features that attract businessmen and women to join various assemblies of like - minded individuals and firms. And the nearly two dozen features have been grouped into fi)ur areas of emphasis: activities, information, publications, and benefits. The following para- graphs take a closer look at ten of these feature areas (i.e. reasons) that are particularly germane to manufactured housing industry aficionados.

1. To support and advance a personal. business and other common and important interest to the individual or busi- ness involved. For example, manufactured housing, finance, real estate in- vestment or management, OEM suppliers (i.e. original equipment manufacturers), and on and on. The purpose to all this'? To capitalize on the very real concept that there is greater strength in numbers of like - minded folk than always going it alone.

2. To meet, network and share ideas, frustrations and lessons learned, with peers who have similar personal and professional interests. A good example of this is the periodic meetings we attend on local (i.e. chapter), state (i.e. convention or annual meeting), and national levels to do just that.

3. To acquire information and access resources key to one's business survival, even prosperity. Venues for these opportunities'? Regularly scheduled meet- ings, trade and professional publications subscription, trade show attendance, even recreational activities like golf outings. Furthermore, unique and helpful resources are oft available from association staff contacts and their experience, familiarity with research results, etc..

4. To develop new business through and with people met at association events and activities. When I started my manufactured housing - related business two decades ago, visiting local manufactured housing association chapter meetings was essential in developing contacts and future business relationships throughout the locale in which I was working. And now, twenty years later, the pattern repeats itself on a national and international level relative to the very same reasons.

5. To increase and update one's skills and knowledge base. How? By attending association-sponsored seminars, training programs and other related activities. Frankly, there are no other opportunities to obtain the specialized knowledge we often need in manufactured housing than to be intimately involved with our state, provincial and national trade associations and institutes.

6. To keep abreast with changes and industry rules, regulations, statutes and standards. For that matter, association involvement is oft the only way one has to input the process to begin with, to express one's support of or displeasure with pending legislation, rules changes, etc.. For that matter sharing a practical Code of Business Ethics with one's peers is an important feature of this particular reason for joining.

7. To learn of and access latest worth- while business products and services. Vendors often contact trade associations first to 'test the waters' relative to market (i.e. association member) acceptance. This is an especially common phenomenon at our regional MH trade shows.

8. To interface with professional association staff for answers to strategic business questions - and learn where to go for further information. This could well include access to the association's at- torney for legal opinion and initial guidance in sensitive business matters.

9. To increase clout in local, regional and national political and regulatory arenas. Politics is obviously a fact of business as well as personal life. Why not enhance your opinions in this arena by uniting with trade associations that share your concerns'?

10. To take advantage of group purchasing and/or member discounts for certain products and services. There's a very wide range of possibilities here: printing, advertising, travel discounts, group health and liability insurance, banking services, long distance telephone services, association - sponsored retirement plans, etc..

I urge you to get active in your state MHAssociation and encourage our national leaders to make all national meetings more accessible and affordable for the majority of our businessmen and women.