More Convention Photos From MHISC

Here are more photos from the MHISC Convention on Hilton Head. It's great that so many people in the industry support the association and our events they way they do.

Staffers Kristen Brown, Andrea Westmoreland and Allen Hutto did a great job. Many thanks to our sponsors Clayton, Champion, McCall's, Fleetwood, Horton, First Federal, Tri-State, Stylecrest, 21st Mortgage, Manis Custom Builders, Crestline, T. S. Holt Co., Blevins, US Bank and Commodore Homes.


For More Information. Congratulations to Trey Ledbetter, newly-elected MHISC Chair. For a list of MHISC's new leaders and a convention report, go to http://www.mhisc.com/.


For More Photos. For lots more photos go to the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina Facebook page. The easiest way to get there is to go to http://www.mhisc.com/ and click on the Facebook logo at the top right of the page.

See first photo. Times are a little tight so I'm moonlighting as Hiller Spann's bodyguard.

Saturday Morning

Saturday morning at the convention is worth getting up for. Heck, just the breakfast is worth setting the alarm clock. Here's the menu: Omelet station, scrambled eggs, thick-sliced smoked bacon, home fries, streusel muffins, danish pastries, butter croissants, coffee cake, fresh fruit and seasonal berries.

Breakfast gets underway at 8:30. MHISC's annual meeting is at 9:00.

We'll have an informative panel of new lending programs including Rural Development no-money-down loans; SBA floor-planning; the new, improved Title I, and how to use the $8000 first-time homebuilder's tax credit.

Next a program on Energy Star Homes. Customers save $1000 when they buy one of these homes.

The SC Residential Modular Break-out Session will explain what different about placing homes now that two new building codes have kicked in. Plus building code officials from around the state tell you have setting a home and getting it approved can be much easier.

Spotted at the Convention

If you're at the convention this week, scroll down for details about the cool events scheduled for Friday.

Photos We'll be adding to the pix below later on in the day. Also see our Facebook page, Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina for lots more photographs.

Here's some of the people I've seen around the lobby, or the pool, or at the reception last night. (Plus a few that have registered that must have been avoiding me!) Larry and Mickey Emanuelson, the Laurents, Scott King, the Gilliams, Trey Ledbetter and Company, Randy and Cindy Altman, John and Cathy Soukup, John and Flo Polk, Mike Smith, the Blankenships, Brian and Heather Poston, Russell Perryman, Chairman Art Newton and Karen,Joe Earnhardt, Brian and Cindy Rowland, Mark Celedonia, Kenny and Susan Welch, Brian and Heather Poston, the Rizzettas, Ronnie Cudd, Kim Manis, Mac and Becky McKeithan, Mike Chavis, Greg Roland and Mandy Roland and family, Linda Toomer, Gary Blue, Annette Drachman and some guy, Tony Massarelli, Van Wells, Sherman Currin, Melissa Petersen, Sherran Wingler, Sheila Jurgensmeyer, Todd and Kim Starnes, Nathan and Angie Starnes and a happy collection of little Starnes, Mitch, Ellen and Leigha Howard, the Cavanaugh's, Flores', and Wildes', Happy, Alli and Jon Jon, Fred and Francy Thompson, Alex Montagnet, Brian and Judy Donnelly, Tony , Jan, Chandler and Madison Massarelli (have you noticed that Tony's name is a lot more Italian than Tony himself?), Rand and Clan, first-timers Don and Debbie Atkinson, Jeff and Ruth Anne Sanford (Mark hasn't been spotted yet), Chris and Laurie Jenkins, Bill Vogel now with Stylecrest, WA and Pearline, Doug and Susan. Who'd I miss and where you been hiding?

Convention Report - Thursday

Wow, we're going to have over 200 people at the MHISC convention this year. In a time when the full-fledged convention is becoming a rarity in the our industry, MHISC is putting on a traditional all-out, high-end three day event on Hilton Head.

If you're at the convention this week, check out the details for Friday's events in the next blog below.

And good news: the MHISC Board voted today to return to Hilton Head for another great three-day convention.

Are you on Facebook? Go to Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina to see lots of photos taken today at the MHISC Convention.

What's Happening Friday at the Convention

Golfers gather for a continental breakfast at the registration desk at 6:45 Friday morning. Golf registration is 6:45 - 7:15 AM at Robbers Row in Port Royal.

Here are the teams as of 7:00 tonight:

Van Wells, David Rand, Dale Lackey, Hiller Spann
Trey Ledbetter, Ken Drachman, Ben Flores, Mark Eberflus
John Polk, Ronnie Cudd, Bill Vogel, Larry Culp
Todd Hiott, Alex Montagnet, John Soukup, Kathy Soukup
Matt Yow, Mark Celedonia, Brian Rowland, Rob Nunn, Taylor Nunn
Henry Drury, Tony Massarelli, Mark Stone, Doug Marchbanks
Michael McLean, Whitney McLean, Vance McMillan, Joe Earnhardt
Alison Blankenship, Danny Blankenship, Stephen Blankenship, Tim Cavanaugh
Happy Jackson, Mike Smith, Joey Wildes, Brian Poston

Family Bingo runs from 3:00 to 4:00 in the Jasmine meeting room. Lemonade and jumbo home-style cookies. Lots of prizes; everybody wins.

Kayakers will meet in the lobby of the hotel. I've done this and it's a lot of fun! You'll enjoy some beautiful scenario, cool wildlife and see HHI from a whole new perspective.

Another great reception with a Hollywood theme Friday night from 6:00 to 7:00 in the Archer Ballroom. John Polk and todd Hiott will present awards from the morning's golf tournament. Want my guess as to which team will place first....well, Ronnie Cudd is playing tomorrow.

The menu includes: Seared tenderloin of beef, Carolina shrimp and grits, hot Colada shrimp toasted with cocoanut with a spicy apricot glaze, nine different cheeses, plus pineapple, cantaloupe, kiwi, berries, strawberries and grapes served with a honey poppyseed dressing, stone ground tortilla chips with six different salsa and cheese dips.

Thursday at the MHISC Convention

Thursday night's welcome reception starts at 6:00 PM. in the Archer Ballroom.

The Logistics. Be sure and go by registration first. You'll get your drink tickets when you check in. Registration will be open at 3:30

The Menu! Low country shrimp. Oysters on the half shell. Warm Carolina blue crab dip, sesame-poppyseed lavosh and sliced baguettes. Carolina corn fritters with orange blossom honey butter.

Imported brie en croute (baked in a puff pastry with brown sugar, cognac and pecans.)
Fresh vegetable crudite (six types of fresh vegetables.)

Crispy shrimp and vegetable spring rolls with apricot ginger sauce.

Whipped potatoes served in martini glasses with toppings.

The Staff. At the registration desk you'll likely meet: Andrea Westmoreland, our office manager. Valene Sims, who works with us PT on things like our award-winning magazines. Emalee Dillard who will have a ready supply of "PAC tickets" for volunteers who are raising money for our Political Action Committee by selling the tickets. Grand Prize $3000 to be given away Saturday night.

Running the golf tournament Friday morning will be our General Counsel Allen Hutto. Kristen Brown, MHISC's Business Development Director, will be keeping the whole show running.

See you there.

Three New Developments at MHISC

Lots going on at MHISC HQ today.

New Building Codes in Effect. Two new building code editions for modular homes kicked in today. A new version of the International Residential Code plus: SC switched to the International Energy Efficiency Code instead of the old state code.

MHISC Allowed to Enter Lawsuit over Licensing Board Powers. The SC Court of Appeals notified MHISC today that it will allow the association to enter a pending case dealing with the ability of the SC Manufactured Housing Board to license sales of used homes and new detitled homes. MHISC has filed a brief as a "Friend of the Court" in favor of the ability of the SCMHB to require licenses for people who sell manufactured homes. At stake is the ability of the state agency to keep repeat violators, and people who lose their license, out of the MH industry.

Look for the Cool 3DMail-out. The association today sent the final mail-out for the July 16 - 19 MHISC Convention on Hilton Head.

Excellent speakers have been booked for panels on New Lending Programs; Energy Efficiency Tax Breaks plus this year's Modular Break-out focuses on How to Satisfy County Wind and Seismic Set-up Requirements.

The mail-out includes everything you need to register for the convention and make hotel reservations (at the discount rate!)

Look for two new wrinkles in this year's golf tournament.