A Word From the State Execs

MHInsider magazine collaborated with Randy Grumbine, executive director from the Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association, and Jennifer Lassen, executive director of the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association, for a Q&A on what’s happening in Old Dominion and The Peach State.

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What has had you going to the capital recently?

The Safety and Health Codes Board of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) has adopted temporary regulations under which Virginia businesses shall operate in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are part of a coalition of business interests that lobbied to have the voice of business heard. Virginia is the only state, so far, to adopt its own regulations in the absence of federal guidance by OSHA. Post-adoption, we partnered with our coalition to keep the membership informed on what the regulations mean for their day-to-day operations.

–Randy Grumbine

We just passed a bill to allow for on-frame mods. Prior to this bill, all mods in the state had to be off-frame. Due to the coronavirus and a major budget shortfall, we were uncertain if our bill would make it to the finish line. We are happy to it did.

–Jennifer Lassen » 2 What is Georgia doing for industry continuing education?

Installation classes in Georgia had been going through the state fire marshal’s office. However, they have asked us to partner with them and facilitate the classes. Initial licensing classes will go through MHI on-line and recertification classes will be run by our office.

–Jennifer Lassen

We helped with a class for appraisers pre-pandemic in association with the Virginia Appraisal Institute on Appraisal of Manufacture Homes Featuring Next-Generation Manufactured Homes. We also held a “zoominar” for our community owners and managers regarding the legislative changes adopted in the 2020 General Assembly session that impacted the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act.

–Randy Grumbine » 3 What are you doing to get membership together with coronavirus restrictions?

Unfortunately, very little. We canceled our 2020 Convention scheduled in August. We replaced it with a PAC fundraising Memorial Golf Tournament usually held in the spring only to subsequently cancel that event as well. We will be hosting an annual meeting on August 20th to conduct the annual business required by the by-laws. It will be virtual. Without inundating member mailboxes, we communicate need-to-know information to the membership as it develops, and less important information is combined into “Updates from Richmond”.

–Randy Grumbine

We are having our convention. We moved it from August to October 25-27 at the Westin Jekyll Island. Additionally, we moved our office to provide more room and accommodate another staff person.

–Jennifer Lassen

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