July/August 2014 FMOThe Official Publication of the Federationnews of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida, Inc. FMO News 1 Volume 50, Number 4 FMO NEWS Official publication of the Fed er a tion of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida EDITORIAL Publisher The Federation of Manufactured Home Owners, Inc. Editor Priscilla Kowasic ADVERTISING SALES Joyce Stanton Account Executive (727) 530-7539 The FMO News (ISSN 0274-9882; USPS 356-320) is pub- lished bi-monthly by the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Flor i da, Inc., 4020 Portsmouth Road, Largo, FL 33771-3318; phone: (727) 530-7539. FMO Website: www.fmo.org. Periodicals Postage Paid at Largo, FL, and at ad di tion al mail ing of fic es. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address notices BROWARD/DADE COUNTY POLK/HILLSBOROUGH/PASCO to FMO News, P.O. Box 5350, Largo, FL 33779-5350. Dillon Insurance Agency, Inc. Jack’s Insurance Agency, Inc. Opin ions ex pressed in articles are not nec es sar- 6884 Taft Street, Hollywood, FL 33024 i ly those of the FMO or its publisher. Mem ber- 4710 New Tampa Highway ship in the Federation of Manufactured Home Own ers (954) 961-0503 Lakeland, FL 33815-3256 of Flor i da, Inc., is $22 (U.S.) an nu al ly or $55 (U.S.) for N. Broward (954) 973-7443 (863) 688-9271or 800-732-0328 a three-year membership and includes the FMO News Dade (305) 261-7963 Fax: 863-683-8698 sub scrip tion (one copy per home). Forty cents of every Toll-free (866)-961-0503 membership is al lo cat ed to the pub lish ing of the FMO email: [email protected] News. Back is sues of the FMO News can be obtained for $1.88 per issue, if available, by writing to the above address. ©2012 Federation of Manufactured Home POLK/PINELLAS/HILLSBOROUGH/ Own ers of Florida, Inc. PASCO/MANATEE/SARASOTA/LEE/ PINELLAS/PASCO/HILLSBOROUGH CHARLOTTE/HIGHLAND/ORANGE/ The Federation of Manufactured Home Owners (FMO) OKEECHOBEE/PALM BEACH/LAKE/ News is the official publication of the Federation of MANATEE/SARASOTA/POLK/ Manufactured Home Owners of Flor i da, Inc.—a state- CHARLOTTE/LEE/COLLER COUNTY MARTIN/MARION/BREVARD COUNTY wide or ga ni za tion—and is in no way affiliated with or Smith & Thomas Insurance Agency, Inc. subsidized by any mobile home manufac turer, deal er, Coverage Available Statewide (except in Dade & Monroe) park or in dus try association. AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES AVAILABLE 100 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801 Security Life and Casualty (863) 688-1141 Ac cep tance of ad ver tis ing by the FMO News does not consti- 3750-5th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL 33713 www.smithandthomasinsurance.guideone.com tute an en dorse ment by the FMO. A Preferred Pro vid er logo Pinellas/Pasco/Hillsborough signifies a special FMO benefit the orga ni za tion has con tract ed with the com pa ny. (727) 327-7616 Manatee (941) 746-2836 COVERAGE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE FEDERATION OF MANUFACTURED HOME Sarasota (941) 365-1684 Bankers Alliance Insurance Group OWNERS OF FLORIDA All Other Counties (800) 247-7133 240 NW Peacock Blvd-Suite 102 4020 Portsmouth Rd., Largo, FL 33771 www.slcinsurefl.com Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986 (800) 568-5163 or (772) 337-9787 Phone: (727) 530-7539 or apply online at: www.baigonline.com/mh Fax: (727) 535-9427 Website: www.fmo.org FMO Administrative Staff Call one of these Office Manager Account Executive Jane Clapp Joyce Stanton experienced [email protected] [email protected] agencies! Member Services Supplies Manager [email protected] Beth Pankow [email protected] 2 July/August 2014 FMO 2 News 19 BOARD ROOM We are now into the summer months, and many of you are spending this time up north. But while you are away, "fun and games" continue in your park, if only on a smaller scale. Issues will arise at your parks that will need your attention. As for the park owners, well they are in the process of developing their budgets for 2015, and in late August or early September, we will see the start of rent increase notices. "Are you ready"? Has your HOA taken the necessary actions? Do they know what needs to be done if they are going to challenge the rent incease? What is a fair increase? Do you have the data on those parks to make a fair comparison? If not, contact Jane Clapp at the FMO Office and inquire about the FMO Rent Survey for your area. We have had a couple of changes recently at the FMO Office. Wendy Copeland, our Treasurer, FMO News Editor, and Section 1 Director was offered a full-time position with the Largo Police Department and it was just too good to pass up. Priscilla Kowasic willl be taking on the job as FMO News Editor. Pete Lozier has been elected Section 1 Director, (pending board approval), and will also be filling the position of Treasurer. Wendy has been a great help to me and to the FMO in getting our finances in order. Thank you Wendy for a job well done! We will miss you. The new website is up and running. We have had, as expected, a few minor glitches. If you note any error or are having difficulty, please let us know so we can make adjustments. Under the "Districts" area we are making links to each parks web site page, if they have one. If you have a webpage and would like to have it posted on our site please let us know. You may also want to review this area for ideas on what your park can do to enhance its image. Enjoy the rest of your Summer and let's get ready to start the Fall with membership drives. We look forward to our members coming back withsome fresh ideas for recruiting new members. We want you to bring these ideas to the district meetings. by John Salvucci State Board President TABLE OF CONTENTS Board Room ...............................................................................3 District Contacts..................................................................... ..5 FMO Mission Statement Capital Beat ..........................................................7, 16-18, 21-22 The purpose of the Federation is to pro- Legal Ease............................................................................... 12 mote the general welfare of its mem- District News............................................................................14 bers and protect the rights and interests of manufactured/mobile home owners Herb's Corner...........................................................................15 and to be a consumer advocate for ROC Spotlight..........................................................................29 manufactured/mobile home owners. Team DBPR..............................................................................29 FMO News 3 PROTECT YOUR HOME TIPS THANK YOU WENDY John Salvucci, FMO President By Herb Bush Recently we received some complaints about work being performed by Robert Kennedy once said, "Some men see things as they are, and certain contactors. Remember to always use a licensed and bonded com- wonder why. I dream things that never were and say, why not?" In my pany. If in doubt, check with the DBPR. They are the agency that licenses fifty-seven years of adulthood, Wendy Copeland is one of the few people I many of these companies. It is also a very good idea to get a second opinion. have ever met who could also be described with this saying. The vapor barrier under your home should be good for the life of your Wendy was appointed the FMO Treasurer by the Board of Directors. She home. However, we have received comments that the telephone and TV spent hours in the office and developed a report for the FMO Board every cable installers want to go under the home and drill up through the floor for month. She also spent tremendous amounts of time learning the pro- wire and cable entry. Please remember that this will break the vapor bar- gram that is used to create the FMO News. Her refreshed magazine has rier and permit moisture to enter your home. It may also lead to the weak- received many compliments. ening of the floor, or leave an opening for bugs and other wildlife including snakes to enter. There are procedures for resealing these openings where I always drove Wendy to various districts meetings and we would have the vapor barrier has been breached and should always be followed. But great conversations on things we thought needed to be developed for always remember; talk with the installer to see if there is an alternate way the FMO's continued growth. Within hours of returning from a trip, I of doing the installation. Rarely should it be necessary to remove the entire have received a slide presentation about the FMO with two versions, a vapor barrier and have to install a new one. new membership application design; and a brochure for the Premium Something else to look for is the ductwork from your A/C unit. These ducts Membership Program, just to name a few. should not be the aluminum type that is usually used in ceiling or attic crawl spaces. They should be the larger insulated black flex duct. They Wendy has left her position with the FMO because the Largo Police also should not be laying on the ground. All duct work joints should be Department realized what a jewel she is and hired her full time. We wish sealed and taped to prevent leakage or the possibility of water or critters her all the best. The FMO will miss her dedication, but most of all, her entering the duct. dreams. It is always a good idea to check under your home for standing water and I am sure the new editor will try to continue her wonderful work. Because to see if there is a means to drain the area to keep it dry.