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HBAGTA ANNUAL AWARDS
Take this time to recognize a member of the HBAGTA for their contributions to the Association, the Bulding Industry or the Community.
Click on the "NOMINATIONS" link to nominate members for one of the Annual Awards to be given out at the December 8 General Membership Meeting.
If you would like to nominate a member by "hard copy" you can download the form and return it by fax, mail or bring it in to the HBAGTA office by December 1, 2008. |
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To K-Wall!
The Concrete Foundation Association (CFA) - an organization dedicated to improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in-place concrete foundations - recently presented its 2008 Contractor of the Year Award to Rich and Patty Kubica of K-Wall Poured Walls of Traverse City, Michigan & Asheville, North Carolina.
A member of the CFA for nearly a decade, the Kubicas were selected for this award for their aggressive pursuit of excellence and business expansion. |
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WANTED...
DONATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIP AUCTION ON DECEMBER 8, 2008 AT GMM
We would be glad to make arrangements to pick up your donation. We are looking for items that folks would appreciate receiving as holiday gifts such as tools, car services, spa packages, personal care items, sports equipment, books and artwork. Perhaps you have an item in a cupboard at home that could be "re-gifted"!
Please contact the HBAGTA Office to donate a gift.
(231) 946-2305
(800) 422-5166 |
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NEWSBUILDER |
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ATTENTION:
Beginning in 2009, the NewsBuilder will be published quarterly.
The next issue of the NewsBuilder will be published on December 15th.
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CALENDAR AND
EVENT LINKS |
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Board of Directors 7:30 am
November 25, 2008
Membership Committee Meeting 9:30 am
November 27 & 28, 2008
Thanksgiving Holiday - Office Closed
December 2, 2008
EXPO Rates increase to $8.75 per sq ft December 10, 2008
General Membership Meeting: Holiday Auction Annual Awards Installation of Officers and Board of Directors
December 17, 2008
Board of Directors 7:30 am
December 19, 2008
Deadline for Advertising in Membership Directory
December 24-25, 2008
Holiday - Office Closed
December 30-31, 2008
Holiday - Office Closed
January 20 - 23, 2009
February 14 & 15, 2009
March 11 & 12, 2009
May 8 - 10, 2008
June 20 - 28, 2009
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Sign up today and benefit from the first ever .10 per gallon for the first 90 days discount, for NEW applicants only promotion, using SuperFleet!!!
Apply for the SuperFleet card now thru December 2008 for the 10¢ offer.
Fax in the accompanying application today to:
( 616) 836-7398
or call Brian Porter
(517) 490-2018.
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Online registration for the 2009 International Builders' Show (IBS) in Las Vegas on Jan. 20-23 - the single, most important and largest industry event of the year - is now available.
This year, IBS will feature:
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More than 1,700 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services
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More than 250 education sessions or programs designed to help members stay current on industry trends and issues
Read More> |
NAHB members can combine the GM $500 Private Offer with GM's Red Tag Event for even bigger savings through Jan. 2.
During the Red Tag Event, participating GM dealers are offering
special sales prices on select, red-tagged vehicles and displaying the
prices customers will pay - including all cash back incentives.
As participants in the GM Private Offer, NAHB members can take an additional $500 off the GM Red Tag price. The Red Tag Event provides special pricing and "Customer Cash" from
$0 to $7,250 to customers purchasing an eligible new 2008 or 2009MY
vehicle, while supplies last. (The Red Tag offer excludes the Cadillac
CTS-V series, Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 and medium-duty trucks.)
The Red Tag Event is available through Jan. 5. The GM Private Offer
is available through Jan. 2. Visit the NAHB Member Advantage Web page
for complete details.
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Greetings! ,
I hope that those of you who have been out amid the fields and streams this week have been successful in bagging that big buck! The crisp crunch of new fallen snow beneath your boots and the sight of fresh tracks make the hunt exhilarating. At first light, you may not have known exactly where you'd end up, but you made a plan, mapped out your strategy and continued on believing that at the end of the trail, if you were vigilant, you would claim your prize!
Life in our industry and especially in our state right now is kind of like that hunt. Things are falling (and not all of it is snow!) and we're seeing some tracks (and not all of them out lead out of town!). So what advice can we offer those who feel they might have wandered off the trail? Do what you do right before Opening Day....Prepare....Make a Plan....Map out Your Strategy. . . and then enjoy the sights along the way. If nothing more, you will have had a memorable walk in the woods!
What I'm suggesting is that we not waste any more time and energy dwelling on what's wrong with the world but rather let's talk about what's right and good and hopeful. We have so very much to be grateful for: our family, our freedom and our faith in our country that we will come out of these challenging times stronger, wiser, kinder and more prosperous.
At this special season of Thanksgiving, my wish for you is that you will set aside your misgivings, your fears and worry and focus rather on what's right with your life and truly celebrate your many blessings with those you love and hold dear!
Together, we are building a stronger association!
 Kathy Maisonville
Executive Officer
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NAHB CONTESTS ICC VOTE MANDATING FIRE SPRINKLERS |
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 Citing a failure of the International Code Council to provide a fair and open voting process at its Final Action Hearings in Minneapolis in September, NAHB has filed an appeal to the ICC to set aside code changes mandating fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes constructed under the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) and to consider changes that would restore balance to its voting process.
In a letter submitted on Oct. 30, NAHB asked the ICC to "take immediate action to eliminate the influence of third-party funding in the voting process" and "undertake corrective action(s) ... by restoring the principle of balance of interest in the selection of Governmental Member Voting Representatives." ...
Read More> |
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STAND OUT FROM YOUR COMPETITORS |
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 Do you want to stand out from your competitors?
Advertise in the 2009 Membership Directory!
This publication is an easy to use resource for consumers and HBA members. It is distributed at the 2009 Home Builders EXPO to thousands of consumers as well as through out the year. It is the place to be seen and noticed!
Who will they call?
The one who stands out! Contact Kris Guyot for more information and the benefits of advertising in the HBAGTA Membership Directory. Deadline is December 19, 2008.
Or download the contract & return by fax to
(231) 946-1051
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2009 EXPO NEWS
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The 2009 EXPO will be held on February 14 & 15 at Traverse City East Middle School.
Booth rentals are now available to members in good standing.
Price of booth space is now $7 per square foot with a price increase to $8.75 on December 2.
Don't miss this opportunity to participate in our region's premier showcase of the home building industry!
If you would like more information on participating, contact Kris Guyot at (231) 946-2305 or (800) 422-5166. |
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ANNUAL AWARDS AND HOLIDAY AUCTION SLATED DECEMBER 8th |
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Our December General Membership Meeting will be held at the Waterfront Conference Center on Monday evening, Dec. 8th. That night our newly elected officers will be installed. They are Victor Lisabeth, President; Rob Whims, 1st Vice President; Marc Burkholder, 2nd Vice President; BJ Stark, Secretary and Mike Farrer, Treasurer. In addition, newly elected Board Member Bill Packer will take his oath.
A highlight of our December meeting is also the presentation of our Annual Awards. Members were sent an electronic form by email to submit nominees for the Distinguished Builder of the Year, Support Member of the Year, the Jim Alpers Award, the Humanitarian Award and the Emerging Leader Award. We appreciate your help in identifying any special members who deserve to be recognized.
The popular holiday auction will be held again to help support our annual scholarship fund. Any member, who has a product or service to donate, please let the HBA staff know. We would be glad to make arrangements to pick up your donation.
Please RSVP before Friday, December 5 at noon. |
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2009 PARADE OF HOMES & DEVELOPMENTS |
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 EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE!
Join us for the 2009 Parade of Homes and Developments
June 20 - 28, 2009
Contracts are now available to participate, if you would like to receive one, contact Kris at the HBAGTA office at: (231) 946-2305 or (800) 422-5166.
COME JOIN THE PARADE! |
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GIFT WRAPPING
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Habitat for Humanity will be gift wrapping at Grand Traverse Mall to raise money during the holidays. If you would like to volunteer
or become a sponsor for this event, please contact:
- Carrie Ullery-Smith at (231) 941-4663 or
- Diana Zinsli at (231) 409-1144 or (231)929-4869
Thank you to Grand Traverse Mall, Grand Bay Builders, and Signs Now for their generous support!
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HOUSING AFFORDABILITY RISES TO HIGHEST LEVEL IN FOUR YEARS |
With home prices decreasing and interest rates holding at historically low levels, the number of potential home buyers nationwide who can afford to buy new and existing homes has reached the highest level in more than four years according to the Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).
According to the latest HOI readings, 56.1% of all new and existing homes that were sold during the third quarter were affordable to families earning the national median income of $61,500, far higher than the 40.4% of families who could afford homes at the peak of the housing boom.
"If there is a silver lining to this crisis, it woud be that some housing markets have become more affordable with a larger inventory to choose from," said NAHB Chairman Sandy Dunn. "But this is undeniably a crisis and Congress needs to act on a housing stimulus to get the market moving again."
The two most affordable major housing markets in the country during this yea'rs third quarter were Indianapolis and Youngstown, Ohio, according to the HOI. In both places, 91% of the homes sold in the third quarter were affordale to families earning the areas' median household incomes of $65,100 and $52,000 respectively. |
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