Mapleton Mobile-izers

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The Mapleton Mobile-izer is issued quarterly, following the MHA membership meetings. Special editions are issued as needed, for example before a quarterly meeting where MHA members will be voting for executives or making an important decision...


MHA BLOG Volume 4.1 Newsletter of the Mapleton Home Association [MHA] February 1999

MHA holds elections for president and secretary in April
Mark Reeder stepping down as president after two terms...Pete Caterina states he will run again for secretary


Inside This Issue



Elections
 by the editors
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 At the Mapleton Home Association's April Quarterly Meeting, association members will elect a new MHA President for the second time. Mark Reeder, who has been the MHA's president since the organization was founded in 1996, will not be running for re-election. According to the MHA by-laws, "The Executive Board members shall be elected for two year terms by the general membership. Only one (1) member of a household shall serve on the Executive Board at any one time. No Board Members shall serve more than two (2) successive terms."
Although Mark will be stepping down, he hopes the new MHA leader will invite him to keep his position as chairperson of the MHA Business Plan Committee. Presently, we are working with leaders in the Boulder business community to put together a rock solid business plan that will enable us to purchase Mapleton Park from the City of Boulder, President Reeder said. "In addition, I would like continue working with the Escrow Account."
Pete Caterina has said he will run again for Secretary to provide some continuity as a new executive takes over. "It's been a great two years working with Mark, but the one thing I've learned is that the MHA is bigger than one person. Residents have pulled together to make Mapleton Park a wonderful place to live and are now working together to make it a resident owned, permanently affordable, low and moderate income housing development."
Sylvia Gentile will remain as Treasurer of the MHA and Gene Langlois will continue as Vice President. Both of their posts come up for election in April 2000.
In January, three residents indicated their willingness to run for President. As chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Gene Langlois continues to accept nominations for Secretary and President. Elections will be held at the end of April. The exact day had not been chosen by press time.



Why not try?
Editorial by Pete Caterina
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In the six months from the 3rd Annual Goose Creek Festival until now, 40 of the 131 resident homeowners in Mapleton Park have joined the MHA ESCROW ACCOUNT. If you do the math, that's 30.5%. That's 30.5% of your neighbors, now MHA EA Members, who have "invested in their future" and are looking forward to 2003 when they will become landowners......after we buy the Park back from the City of Boulder.
That's right. Almost a third of the homeowners in Mapleton Park believe in what the MHA is trying to accomplish. They know, first of all, that there is nothing to lose. (If it all falls through everyone will get all their money back with interest.) In fact, in the worse-case scenario, the MHA EA is just a five year savings account bearing much more than a passbook savings account at a bank. However, if it does work and the MHA ends up owning Mapleton Park, then those who had the vision to join will become shareholders in 15 acres of prime, downtown Boulder real estate, which will continue as low and moderate income housing.
Some residents have expressed dismay at the prospect of becoming owners. In response to the MHA's campaign for resident ownership these residents have made the argument that they prefer to remain lifelong renters who enjoy the freedom of being "not tied down to the land." All of us at Mapleton Park are already tied down because we own our homes. It makes sense to add to our equity by purchasing the land beneath these homes.
So, there are now two clear choices. Either you can share in the future ownership of the Park and have a say in how it is managed OR you can believe resident ownership isn't worth your while and remain a lifelong renter with someone else making your decisions for you.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, commenting on ways to get out of the Great Depression in 1932 said: ".....It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." Or, in other words, to paraphrase Alfred, Lord Tennyson's words, "'Tis better to have tried and lost then never to have tried at all." What have you got to lose?
Remember, all of our lot rents are being used to pay off the City's mortgage. Those who join the Escrow Account will see their rent money going to pay off THEIR MORTGAGE while those who are satisfied to continue renting from the MHA will see their rent money also going to pay off their neighbors' mortgage. In other words, non-members will be helping the Escrow Account members become owners--just as we were doing for Lu Nuttall when he owned Mapleton Park. When the MHA's Escrow Account was established (8/15/98) a $1,000.00 share was $200/year or $16.67/month (60 months into 1000.) Now, six months later (only 54 months to go) it requires $18.52/month. In another 6 months it will be $20.84/month. As you can see, the monthly burden per household keeps going up the longer you wait. If you wait until the last year it will cost you $84/month to buy in. You gain nothing by waiting! And, you keep the MHA from building more interest and/or attracting loans and grants from institutions who want to see a personal monetary commitment first.
In conclusion, the MHA is working to own the land underneath your home. If you want to be a part of this glorious quest contact MHA Escrow Account Manager, Nan Lederer, (#77) at 303/447-1899. If not, be prepared (in 5 years) to pay your lot rent to your shareholding neighbors......while their mortgage payments (formerly lot rents) get smaller and smaller until they are just a memory.
Eds. note. At the time of publication the Escrow Account currently has 40 members and over $14,000 in the account. According to Nan Lederer, the account manager, after six months we are right on track to raising the $150,000 needed for a down payment by the year 2003. Congratulations to everyone who has joined the Escrow Account and become a shareholder in the MHA.



Why Not Pay Your Rent by A.F.T.: (Automatic Fund Transfer)
By Alex Wilson
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On a number of occasions, I've spaced out paying my rent. (Does this ring a bell with any of you out there?) Lu Nuttall was always very easy going about it. I'd get a note in July asking if I wouldn't check my records and see if I hadn't paid for last April. I think it bothered me more than him. I mean, I had the money, the rent was reasonable, and like most people, I wanted to be a responsible renter.
Well, I did it again last December. Along about the 7th, it struck me that I hadn't paid, so I rushed over to the Hast office in hopes of avoiding the late charge. While talking with Loretta, I said that I only wished the rent could be taken out of my bank account automatically each month. Much to my delight, Loretta said, It can! She gave me an Automatic Fund Transfer form and I filled it out on the spot. Now I can rest easy. I don't have to pummel myself anymore about forgetting the rent.
My next thought was, Hey! There must be a whole bunch of people in the Park who would feel better paying that way. Loretta offered to run off some forms--and here they are. (See insert.) Im sure a lot of you already pay your phone and Public Service bills by A.F.T.--Automatic Fund Transfer. Now you can do it with your rent too. Give it a thought. (Eds. note. Included with this issue of the Mapleton Mobile-izer is an Agreement for Direct Payment, authorizing Automatic Fund Transfer--AFT--for your rent.
Filling out the form is very easy. At the top of the form beside Originator's Name print your name. Then fill in your Tax I.D. number or Social Security number, whichever applies. In the next para-graph, after I (we) hereby authorize, print the name of your bank. On the next line enter the amount of your rent after the dollar sign, followed by which day (1st, 2nd or 3rd of the month) you wish to have the money transferred from your account to the bank which holds the rents collected by Hast & Company. Pay no attention to the material in the paragraph on Receiver's Authorization. That is for office use by Hast & Company. At the bottom of the page, please sign the Authorization Agreement with the names which are on your lease. Make certain you have attached an unsigned, original, voided check and take it down to Hast & Company or give it to the Resident Manager. Questions?--Please call Loretta Milcarek at 444-7575.)

Exec Speaks Out
By Mark Reeder
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As one of the co-founders of the MHA, I like to joke that I was originally elected President when I stepped out to the men's room during one of the organization's first meetings. When I came back, they handed me the gavel and the rest, as has been said, is history.
Seriously, being President has been a wonderful experience. The Mapleton Residents have pulled together to make the MHA a great organization capable of doing wonderful things. Just look at the MHA's track record: working with the City to minimize the impact of the Goose Creek Flood Project on homes in Mapleton Park; a precedent-setting lease agreement for residents of mobile home parks; and a management agreement with the City and their management team, Hast & Company which involves residents in management decisions for the Park through the MHA's Resident Advisory Committee.
Some of you give me the credit for the MHA's achievements. But it was the residents who did all the work. People like Pete Caterina, Mike Figgs, Alex Wilson, former resident Holly Hutchinson, Jorge Arias, Sylvia Gentile, Randy Williams, Ann Crone. As I sit here musing at my computer, the list keeps growing and I don't have enough space to list them all. I apologize for having to leave so many of you out.
My point is is simple. The MHA is not just one or two individuals. It is all of us working together to make our lives and living space, a brighter, nicer place. Whoever is elected President will have all of us to help him or her.

Membership Renewal
By the editors
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It is that time of year again to begin thinking about renewing your membership in the Mapleton Home Association. Everyone's membership expires on April 30, 1999 and membership for 1999-2000 needs to be renewed by that date. Membership is only $5.00 per year. For your dues you receive the bimonthly newsletter, The Mapleton Mobilizer, and a membership card with the Mapleton Home Association logo on it. Yearly dues also pay for the bookkeeping for your association and for office supplies. Moreover, your membership allows you to vote in elections for the Executive Board. Only residents with current memberships can vote in Presidential and Secretarial elections to be held at the end of April.
While the amount of money is not great, the significance of your $5.00 dues is tremendous. Nearly two-thirds of the Park home owners are members and support the MHA's goal of resident ownership of Mapleton Park. Please support your home owner's association by joining the MHA.
Dues this year will be collected by Gene Langlois #30, Alex Wilson #58, Mark Reeder #14, and Pete Caterina #176. You can visit any one of these members and pay them your dues. Please make checks payable to the Mapleton Home Association.

Treasurer's Report February 1999
By Silvia Gentile
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In 1998, the MHA consolidated the Voluntary fund and the Dues fund into one account. Later that year the Voluntary Fund was discontinued and the Escrow Account was set up. Deposits from dues and voluntary contributions in 1998 were $490. Total outgo was $98.64, leaving a balance of 391.36. Currently, the MHA Bank Account shows a net total of $1645.66. For details, see the account register at the bulletin board.

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The Mapleton Mobile-izer is published quarterly by the Mapleton Home Association and is distributed free to all residents of Mapleton Mobile Home Park.