6th Annual = Manufactured Home Owner's Day

6th=20 Annual Manufactured Home Owner's Day - March = 28

On = Tuesday,=20 March 28th, homeowners through out the state of Illinois will once again = join=20 together at our state capitol in Springfield. It will be on this day = homeowners=20 can meet with their legislators and help influence the decision making = process=20 that affects our back doors and communities. Many communities have = already=20 started getting homeowners to sign up for bus seating. By attending this = day we=20 will have a voice in the decision making on future laws that will = protect us and=20 by joining together we will show legislators we are organized, numerous = and=20 involved. Legislators will be able to see our faces and hear our issues=20 regarding the need for laws that will bring a fair balance between the = homeowner=20 and landlord. Illinois needs new laws to keep up with the changes in our = housing=20 market over the years that older laws no longer=20 address.

Joining us on=20 this day will be NBC News, Channel 5. Reporter and political columnist = Carol=20 Marin and producer Don Mosley will be riding down on one of the busses. = They=20 will report on our turnout and efforts towards getting elected officials = to=20 listen to us. Our unity = on this day=20 will speak volumes allowing for our combined voices to be heard loud and = clear.=20 Your presence will make a difference not only on this day but for a more = secure=20 future.

With = the help=20 of Carol Marin and Don Mosley, our efforts and issues will be reported. = It will=20 be up to us as homeowners to get to Springfield and be counted for. Our = numbers=20 will show we hold elected officials accountable for improved laws = regarding=20 rent, leases and healthy manufactured communities in Illinois. No one = else is=20 going to do this for us; it is up to homeowners to take advantage of = this day by=20 attending.

MHOAI = representatives will be at the capitol near the information station in = the=20 rotunda, on the first floor. We will have nametags along with material = that you=20 can present and leave with our legislators and/or staff. We will answer = any=20 questions you have, and help those who are attending for the first time. = Everyone will need to bring a driver's license or other form of ID. = Remember to=20 wear comfortable shoes. You will have to go through security, like that = at an=20 airport, so if possible, do not wear metal on clothing. If you have = questions,=20 please contact a MHOAI board director.

59 = state=20 senators and 118 state representatives in Illinois represent us. Once at = the=20 capitol you need to break into small groups and visit as many offices of = our=20 legislators as possible. Each small group should appoint someone to = speak for=20 the group when you meet with legislators. As your group's = representative, you=20 need to know ahead of time what you want to say. Keep your conversation = with=20 legislators as brief as possible. While MHOAI has volunteers in = Springfield=20 during other days of session, this is your day to remind your elected = officials=20 that MHOAI is there on your behalf. This is the day to explain to = elected=20 officials of the unique situations that arise when you own the home but = not the=20 land the home sits on. Many still believe you can just up and move your = home if=20 you don't like the landlord's conditions. We must constantly work to = remind=20 elected officials that this is a myth. Our presence on this day will = show=20 elected officials we are educated voters and are watching how they vote = at the=20 state capitol once we vote them into their = position.

When=20 legislators go to the floor, you can watch from the galleries on the = fourth=20 floor as they vote on bills. There are two cafeterias for those who want = to just=20 rest for a while or eat. The capitol is handicapped=20 accessible.

We = hear from=20 many that have attended past MHOAI Days that they were extremely pleased = with=20 the opportunity to be able to meet with homeowners from other = communities=20 throughout the state. This day also educates homeowners by showing that = many=20 communities have the same issues and we are not alone with the work that = comes=20 with correcting common issues in manufactured home=20 communities.

If = you are=20 driving, you will find that many meters are for only 2 hours. If you get = to the=20 tourist center parking lot and do not find a space, go to the side = street next=20 to this parking lot, (located within residential housing), on Capitol = Street=20 there are 8 hour meters.

MHOAI = would=20 like to thank the many volunteers throughout the state who have donated = their=20 time in arranging buses, getting the word out, and everyone who is = taking the=20 time to travel to our state capitol.