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CALENDAR AND
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January 31, 2009
MAHB Remodelers Conference - Clare, Michigan
February 6, 2009
Midwest Builders ShowMarch 19 & 20, 2009
NAHB Course - Green Building for Building Professionals
March 21, 2009
NAHB Course - Business Management for Building Professionals
May 8 - 10, 2008
June 20 - 28, 2009
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2009 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY |
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The 2009 HBAGTA Membership Directory will be distributed at the 2009 Home Builders EXPO on February 14 & 15, 2009. Thank you to all of our members who supported the directory with their advertising dollars. |
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CODE CORNER
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Legislation to require Carbon Monoxide Devices, Anti-Entrapment Covers for Public Pools.
Governor Granholm appoints new Director and reorganizes the Department of Labor and Economic Growth into the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
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BECOME A CERTIFIED GREEN PROFESSIONAL (CGP)
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The HBAGTA will be hosting the Green Building for Building Professionals on January 29, 30 at the Roger Papineau Professional Development Center in the lower level of the Association Office.
Contact the HBAGTA Office for more information on becoming Green!
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FEBRUARY MEANS NETWORKING
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Ferguson's Host Next Hors D'Oeuvre Night Feb. 9th
Mark your calendar for another outstanding networking opportunity, Monday, February 9th at Ferguson Enterprises, located at 1668 Northern Star Drive (just north of Excel Office Supply) on Cass. Michelle and Kip are anxious to show off their beautiful showroom. As before, heavy hors d'oeuvres will be available as well as beverages at no charge. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and no formal Builder Forum will take place. However, some of our local legislators will be on hand and there to discuss some hot topics for Michigan contractors.
We do need you to RSVP to help us plan for the right amount of food. So please call us or click here to make reservations. Those who are not currently master members will be charged $15 per person. This would include staff of your company, friends and family members, or HBA support members. However, if you do plan on bringing a potential new member, please register them as such with Judy in advance. We will not charge any guest of a current member who is serious about getting further acquainted with our HBAGTA and are interested in joining the association.
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| Greetings! ,
Hope you have all found your way to warm surroundings on this incredibly cold winter day! While typically a fan of northern Michigan in all seasons, peering into my car's rearview mirror today and seeing the word "Ice!" appear rather than as a recognizable temperature makes me wonder what possessed me to brave the elements this morning. However, warmer days are ahead! And one of the hottest Home EXPOs is fast approaching. At last count, we have just a handful of 10 x 10 booths available. The Record Eagle will be putting the vendor names and booth numbers in the EXPO insert. If you are contemplating signing up, please call me this week. Our copy is due to the editors this Friday, January 30th. A banner ad showcasing our EXPO will appear on the front page of the Sports Section on Saturday, Feb. 7th and the full Home EXPO insert will be placed in the Sunday, Feb. 8th edition of the paper. Vendors will be receiving their door assignments and EXPO packets by the end of next week. As always, we ask that you not try to jump the gun and get in ahead of your colleagues in order to be first in line. An orderly set-up system really benefits everyone. Please recall that our EXPO committee has a lot of duties to complete after the kids leave the school and before we can let our exhibitors bring in their gear. Don't forget to tell your friends and family about this special show. In addition to helping your customers find some "Sweetheart" deals, we promise to help "Rev Up the Revenue" for company by drawing in some additional attendees this February. Among the top door prizes are a 46" flat screen Sony TV, a week's vacation at a beach cottage in Siesta Key, Florida during the peak season, a romantic get-away weekend at Drummond Island, a "Maid for a Day" and some wonderful dinners for two and spa pampering packages. Please spread the word! Members who have the ability to display an EXPO poster in their place of business or place an EXPO sign on their business or personal property, please let us know - or just stop by the office and pick them up! Together, we are building a stronger association!
Kathy
Kathy Maisonville
Executive Officer
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
toll free: 800.422.5166
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
FIX HOUSING FIRST: FINAL PUSH | |
The House Ways & Means Committee marked up the  stimulus bill last week. They did not include the Fix Housing First proposal in the final bill, but they eliminated the recapture of the existing $7500, which means it doesn't have to be paid back. It applies to all houses purchased before 6/30/09. That's a small step in the right direction but we have far to go. We are disappointed that they did not include the larger tax credit and the buy-down in interest rates in the bill because we feel that their plan is far too modest to spur significant demand for housing. The Senate Finance Committee will have their markup on Tuesday of next week. In this past week alone, you have sent almost 20,000 e-mails to the Senate. Please keep the pressure on, please weigh in again with your Senators by clicking here and urge your friends and colleagues to do the same. Special emphasis should be placed on the members of the Senate Finance Committee. Listed below is our Michigan Senator serving on the committee. Urge her to support any amendment to expand the tax credit:
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MICHIGAN UNIFORM ENERGY CODE SEMINAR |
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Are you unsure about how to interpret the new Energy Code mandates?
Would you like to know what compliance path is best for your construction project?
THIS SEMINAR IS FOR YOU!
Brown Lumber Company and the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. are partnering to offer a comprehensive MUEC Seminar!
Date: Friday, February 6, 2009
Location: Waterfront Conference Center
Time: 7:30 am to 11:30 am
Presented by: Roger Papineau (our local Code Guru), Bill Edginton of Dow Building Products and Dan Hickey from Guardian Building Products.
Early Bird Registration: $25/per person if you register by January 31st
Cost: $35/per person after January 31st
The cost includes seminar materials and a full buffet breakfast. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 am.
Register at Brown Lumber Company or the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. Registration forms are online at www.hbagta.com . Pre-registration is required - no registrations will be taken at the door. |
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SWEETHEART DEALS AND WHEELS! |
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 The 2009 Home Builders EXPO Committee is rolling out fresh asphalt for over 85 Exhibitors on February 14 & 15, 2009. The HBAGTA is offering the public a "Sweetheart of a Deal" and our Exhibitors an opportunity to "Rev up their Engines" - this is an event you won't want to miss!
2009 HOME BUILDERS EXPO
Saturday, February 14 - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 15 - 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Guests will receive their "Pit Passes" at the door to have signed by EXPO vendors throughout the show. The "Pit Passes" will be used in a drawing to win these great prizes:
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46" Sony Bravia TV
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7-night stay at a beach house in Siesta Key
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Get-Away Weekend at Drummond Island
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Spa Packages from Crystal Mountain
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Dinners for two
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"Maid for a Day"
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Plus lots of other door prizes, discounts and gifts
Visit the Micro-Reality race track which will be on site for race fans of all ages to test their driving prowess.
Visit the Sound Room home theater where people can relax and perhaps catch a bit of the Daytona action.
Visit the Green Hall for Energy Efficient and Green Building Options.
Limited space is still available for vendors, but you must act quickly!
Contact Kathy at
or call 231.946.2305
(Kissing booth not included) |
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FINAL VISION |
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 You are invited to a February 4th open house from 3-7 at Hagerty Center on Northern Michigan College's Great Lakes Campus, in Traverse City to view and comment on first draft of 'Final Vision'. The draft is based on Grand Vision workshops and surveys that attracted close to 15,000 participants from the region. The presentation will take about an hour.
The first draft will also be unveiled in Antrim, Wexford, Benzie, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties prior to their February planning commission meetings. Those presentations, and opportunities for comments and questions from the public, are scheduled as follows:
- Tuesday, February 3, 6 PM - Antrim County Building
- Wednesday, February 11, 6 PM - Wexford County Lake Street Building
- Thursday, February 12, 6 PM - Benzie County Government Building (lower level)
- Wednesday, February 18, 6 PM - Kalkaska County Building (the Grand Vision presentation will be on the Planning Commission's agenda
- Tuesday, February 24, 7 PM - Leelanau County Government Center - presentation will be on the Planning Commission agenda.
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BURKHOLDER CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP TRANSITION COMPLETE |
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MARC BURKHOLDER ASSUMES PRESIDENCY
A third generation of the Burkholder family has assumed leadership of Burkholder Construction. The company announced today that Marc Burkholder assumed the position of President on January 1, 2009. Jim Burkholder had held that position since 1973 when he took over from his father, Everett. Jim will now act as Vice President and Consultant to the company. Marc joined the company in 1995, and has held virtually every position in the company, including positions in the field, marketing, and sales. Marc currently serves as Second Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Grand Traverse Area, Vice President of the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Grand Traverse, a board member of 4th And Goal, a member of the Traverse City Chamber CEO Roundtable, and a two-time winner of the 40Under40 designation from the Traverse City Business News. The company is currently building and remodeling several homes and commercial buildings in Traverse City, Leland, and on Old Mission Peninsula. In business since 1955, Burkholder has remodeled or renovated a wide array of residential and commercial structures throughout the area. Green Built, Energy Star rated custom homes are a specialty. Commercial projects have included numerous professional office buildings, retail store projects, major grocery stores, restaurants, churches and notable renovations in downtown Traverse City. The Company's focus is captured by its "Building Customer Satisfaction" credo. For more information, visit burkholderconstruction.com or call 231-941-7180 | |
