We will be returning to the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas!

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

Back for a second time! The hotel is located in the heart of the premiere southwest Las Vegas valley, just minutes away from the famous Las Vegas Strip. You will find everything you need to run a successful business, as well as professional development under one roof!

The South Point Hotel has a total of 2,163 rooms. Guests can enjoy views of the glittering Las Vegas valley or the serenity of the surrounding mountainscape. Each oversized guest room functions more like a mini-suite with state-of-the-art plasma screens and high speed internet connections. Rooms feature pacific color patterns reminiscent of
the Southern California lifestyle. Suites range in size from 900 to 2,500 square feet. All accommodations feature the finest amenities and materials. Soak up some sun, and let your stress melt away into a lagoon style shimmering turquoise paradise pool. The hotel offers the Executive Business Package at a price of $20 per day. This package includes daily internet and daily access into the fitness center, but not including the spa.

Room Reservations

Please make your hotel reservations directly with the South
Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. The cut-off date for reservations is September 14. Reservations received after September 14 will be accepted on a space-and-rate-availability basis.

Dates: October 15-18, 2012
Group Name: WMA – 2012 Convention & Expo

Convention Registration

You can register online, or print the registration form linked on this page and send your completed registration form with payment to the WMA office.

Registration Fees

                       Before Sept. 14th        On or After Sept. 15th
Member           $425 pp                      $495 pp
Non-Member    $850 pp                      $990 pp

Cancellations
For a full refund, cancellations must be received on or before September 10, 2012; an 85% refund for cancellations received September 11 through September 21, 2012. No refunds for no-shows, cancellations or event tickets on or after September 22, 2012. Contact Regina Sànchez
immediately for cancellations.

A Silent Auction Benefit

Monday, October 15th at 6:00 p.m.

You are cordially invited to come help us build the strength of the WMA Foundation by attending this no-cost admission event. We’ll have some fun bidding on auction items like art pieces, jewelry, home décor, hand bags and vacation getaways! We’ll have a cash bar and a little something to eat as you browse these items! Come mingle with friends… you could win something very special in the auction!

Education, Networking and Entertainment

As you well know, business as usual in today’s continuing challenging economy just won’t cut it. Owners rely on their management teams or companies to find opportunities to ensure the successful operation of their communities. For you, on a professional level, we’ll blend educational programs with entertainment and networking forums so that you’ll have everything you need to succeed in this business.

This year’s Convention will feature seminars with industry experts focused on shaping our future and our communities. Sessions will cover practical business issues and provide opportunities to network with other industry leaders.

Expo

By popular demand, we will once again open the Expo with a wine tasting event. Connect with exhibitors, who will feature delicious California wines while you network.  We will offer you a full day of Expo events the second day, as dynamic Expo will make your attendance worthwhile!

Seminars

55 to All Ages — Point, Counter Point
Is it finally time to convert your 55+ park to all ages? Have you considered
converting your 55+ park to all ages? Have you carefully weighed the benefits of keeping your 55+ park as-is? Some claim operating all age parks is more expensive, yet also more profitable. Others say operating their 55+ parks is easier and minimizes the wear and tear on the physical facilities, but also limits their ability to raise rents. Bring your curiosity and questions to this seminar, which will provide thought provoking insights for each side of the debate. Speaker: Dean Moser.

Estate Planning
Founders of self-made business successes struggle with how to keep
the entrepreneurial spirit alive as we age. Will our children be interested
in carrying on? Will they have the brains and energy? This seminar will address these issues and more, with practical suggestions on how to successfully transfer management and control of income property assets to the next generation and beyond. The allotted time will consist of general information and practical tips for avoiding asset depleting squabbles among family members who may lack experience or desire in property management. Speaker: Mike Mihelich.

How Much is Your Park Worth?
There is a big discrepancy in today’s market on manufactured housing
communities’ valuations because of the difficulty in obtaining bank financing for some communities, vacancies, rental homes, age of utility
systems, and other issues. This seminar will show you the latest sales
comps, financing programs, and approximate value for your manufactured
housing community today. Moderator: John Grant.

Legal Management Advice
As laws change and court decisions are handed down, it becomes necessary to adjust our business practices to keep pace with the changes. Two seminars will focus on recent developments in the industry and the adjustments owners need to make. These open forums will bring together leading industry attorneys and property managers to answer your questions and address your concerns. Moderators: Erin Guzman and Jim Joffe.

MCM: Fair Housing and Rental Homes
Both courses are appropriate for the beginning and seasoned professionals alike. Fair housing will have expanded discussion of disability
provisions advertising, and current trends and cases. Successful rental
programs will touch on acquiring home inventory, home maintenance and rehabilitation, expenses, leasing policies, move-in and move-out procedures and more. Speakers: Candace Holcombe and Tamara Cross.

MCM: Gas Pipeline Safety Regulations — Small Gas Systems
A seminar for master-metered gas system operators. Sunil Shori, Program and Project Supervisor with the Gas Safety and Reliability Branch,  California Public Utilities Commission will discuss compliance issues for small pipeline operators. DIMP will be covered along with other regulatory issues. Speaker: Sunil Shori.

MCM: HCD Updates
This seminar will cover a little bit of everything. Topics will include the upcoming amendments to Title 25 (yes, again), park rules vs. HCD regulations, when permits are required, carbon monoxide alarms in manufactured homes, and since we haven’t discussed it for a while, moving lot lines. As always, there will be plenty of Q and A time. Speaker: Brad Harward.

MCM: The Growing Problem of Hoarding
This seminar will deal with a growing problem in mobilehome parks: hoarding. We will look at why some people hoard, who hoards, characteristics of hoarders, health and safety issues related to hoarding,
what to do when you have a hoarder and when termination of tenancy is the only option left. Speaker: Larry Weaver

MCM: Top Ten Rule Violations
We have all heard of the David Letterman “Top 10” list! Now, attorney Joe Carroll will guide you through the ten most common rule violation and substantial annoyance scenarios. The list includes next door neighbor disputes, homesite maintenance issues, verbal and physical threats made by a resident and/or resident guest, additional unapproved occupants, and HCD violations. This high energy seminar is a must for mobilehome park managers and owners. Speaker: Joseph W. Carroll.

MCM: Working Sm@rt 365
Improve your planning process, focus on your priorities, control your time and increase your productivity. Learn to make effective choices when faced with increasing demands and responsibilities. Select the right tasks, at the right time, every time. Identify and focus on the goals and objectives that make the difference and learn to manage your activities for maximum results, acquiring the tools you need to make things happen. This course will help you: consistently focus on priorities — turn intentions into actions; overcome barriers to achievement; commit to values and goals; manage time, tasks, and activities; boost productivity; and reduce stress and improve work-life balance. Presented by Priority Management.

Park Owned Rentals: The Legal Ins and Outs
During this time of tighter consumer financing, many land-lease communities have been renting out homes in their communities. Attorney
Greg Beam will review how to successfully rent homes in your community
and avoid legal problems. A whole set of different laws apply to community owned rentals and owners who are engaged in renting homes need to know how to operate a successful and legally compliant rental program. Speaker: Gregory Beam.

Property Rights Update
Attorney R.S. Radford from the Pacific Legal Foundation will give a property rights update, focusing on property rights issues in the Courts, including PLF suits’ against the California Coastal Commission, the EPA, and various rent control issues. Speaker: R.S. Radford.

Systems Transfer Rulemaking
Utilities attorney and expert Ed Poole will update the current standing of utilities issues before the California Public Utilities Commission including the Systems Transfer Rulemaking, the Petition for Modification of the PG&E discount, the status of the Edison Rate Case and the status of the SDG&E Rate Case. Speaker: Ed Poole.

SAFE Act, Dodd Frank and Other Lending Compliance Requirements
Dick Ernst, President of Financial Marketing Associates, Inc. and a consultant to San Antonio Credit Union will discuss the SAFE Act, Dodd
Frank and other lending compliance requirements. Parkowners considering
making loans on homes they have taken back in a warehouse lien transaction or in other ways should attend this seminar. Speaker: Dick Ernst.

Update on New Laws (no MCM units)
Laws impacting the industry change from year to year. This seminar will bring you current on recent legislative measures and how they impact you at all levels of operation in your communities. WMA’s legislative advocates, along with advisors to the WMA Legislative Committee, will present the latest laws affecting the industry. Speakers: Catherine Borg, Terry Dowdall and Paul Jensen.

Seminars and/or speakers subject to change. You can find a seminar schedule linked on this page.

Schedule

Monday, October 15, 2012

Golf Tournament (optional) at the Tuscany Course
11:00 a.m. Golf Registration
12:00 p.m. Shotgun Start

Badges/Tickets Pick Up for Pre-registered Convention Attendees
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Silent Auction Cocktail Event
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Registration Opens at 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast
9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Educational Seminars
10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lunch on Own

Educational Seminars
2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Expo Opens with the Welcome Reception
5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Registration Opens at 8:00 a.m.

Expo Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Continental Breakfast in Expo
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Educational Seminars
9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

Pre-Lunch Cocktails in Expo
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Annual Meeting & Luncheon
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Educational Seminars
2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Grand Prize Drawings in Expo
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Expo Closes at 5:00 p.m.

President’s Dinner Dance
6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Final Breakfast
8:00 a.m.

2012 WMA Convention & Expo Closes