CROWN GOLF COURSE
FOR A REGISTRATION FORM |
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"EACH ONE-REACH ONE"
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SPONSOR A NEW MEMBER
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WIN FREE GOLF!
MARK THE DATES!
MAY 11 - MAY 19 |
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DEVELOP NEW ROOTS
Builders and developers can help save some native plants this spring with the Grand Traverse Conservation District's Native Plant Rescue Program. This volunteer-based free service will rescue native plants from your property slated for development. This can also help those who wish to earn points for their green building project. Digs only take place only in the spring and fall. One is slated to start soon. If you are interested, please contact the Conservation District office at 231.941.0960. For more information, materials are available in the HBA office or you can check out this link:
http://www.gtcd.org/news/native-plant-rescue-program/ |
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NAHB GREEN CD'S AVAILABLE |
Any member interested in obtaining a copy of the NAHB Green CD that provides an excellent overview of the scope of green building should contact the office. There is a limited supply available. There is no charge for the CD but we do request that members pick them up. |
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!
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Sponsor Link
CONTACT THE HBAGTA TO BECOME A TUESDAY TOOLBOX SPONSOR!
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MEMBER ADVANTAGE PROGRAMS SAVES YOU MONEY! |
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When you need additional office space, whether temporary or permanent, trust Williams Scotsman. As an industry leader for more than 50 years, we've been providing quick, innovative and economical solutions for office space to customers of all sizes, from small start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations. Whether you need a single office trailer or a large complex, Williams Scotsman offers the broadest range of office space in the industry. Whatever business you're in, we have a mobile office to keep you in business.
For more information on NAHB Member Advantage programs, visit:
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DO BUSINESS WITH A MEMBER
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ADD VALUE TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
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Greetings! ,
You can feel the pace and energy picking up in the office as we begin to pin down the final details for this year's exciting Parade of Homes. We are thrilled to have 17 fantastic homes this year and thankful for our members' enthusiasm. Many larger communities are struggling to put a show on the size of ours. This further underscores the professionalism, perseverance and dedication of our HBAGTA members who continue to market themselves aggressively in this economy. Congratulations!
Besides the Parade, we are looking forward to a fun and festive May General Membership meeting which will be held at Gio's Trattoria Grille in Kalkaska. Our pre-dinner social hour will be at the American Waste Solid Waste Disposal Plant near there. We thank our sponsors in advance for hosting this pre-dinner tour and networking opportunity from 4-5 p.m. on May 11th. Please check your mail next week for some special information on this upcoming event we are facetiously calling "Dinner at the Dump"!
We also will be honoring two very special scholarship recipients that evening. Joe Courtade, who will be a freshman at Grand Valley State, and Scott Ponstein, a junior at Ferris State University, has been selected by our Scholarship Committee to receive the HBAGTA scholarships this year. These are two outstanding young men and we are pleased that we can support their continuing education.
Also that night we will be kicking off a special Spring Membership Drive, "Each One-Reach One." Any current HBA member, who sponsors a new member by May 18th, will earn a $100 gift voucher that can be used at our HBA Annual Golf Outing for golf or hole sponsorship. The Crown will be hosting this year's event which will include new activities, prize give-aways and a pig roast. Even if you're not a golfer, this is certainly going to be a great networking event. Check out the details in this issue of the Tuesday Toolbox.
Together, we are building a stronger Association!
Kathy
Kathleen Maisonville
Executive Officer
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
toll free: 800.422.5166
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NATIONAL REMODELERS MONTH |
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 MAY is National Remodelers Month!
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2009 PARADE OF HOMES AND DEVELOPMENTS |
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 2009 PARADE OF HOMES AND DEVELOPMENTS
COME JOIN THE PARADE! |
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SPECIAL THANKS |
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The Parade Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank Dean Adams of Bay Area Contracting for promoting the 2009 Parade of Homes and the HBA on the billboard advertising he purchased. We are grateful to you for your generosity and for helping all of us! |
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MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT & RETENTION TRAINING
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A free NAHB led training day for HBA Membership Committee members and others interested in getting more involved will be held Tuesday, May 12th in Lansing. In order for our HBA to be eligible for special MAHB dues rebate incentives, we must send representation from our association. The first session on Recruitment is from 9-12 noon; the afternoon session slated for 1-4:30 p.m. will focus on Retention. There is no cost to attend and lunch is included. If you would like to help and can attend this training session, please call Jenny or Kathy at 946-2305! |
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MSHDA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR INCOME QUALIFIED BUYERS
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 The reasons to a buy a home, any home just got better. Last week the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) improved their down payment assistance program. They are delaying the announcement for a month or so until they can get a slightly better interest rate. But, the program is in place and lenders have information about it. The really good news is that for a household income of roughly $65 -$93K per year purchasing a house of $224,500 or less, can get $7500 in down payment money! Click here to see the income limits which vary by city/township.
$15,500 in Value Available!
If you add the $7500 to the $8,000 Federal Tax credit you immediately have $15,500 in value for a first time home buyer that fits into the requirements noted above. Click here to get more information and an overview of the MSHDA program.
Best Time to Buy!
At the same time, you have low home prices, low interest rates and high inventory (a 12 month supply) and unbelievable federal energy tax credits for people doing upgrades.
The National Association of REALTORS® is reporting that the cost/income ratio is at an all time low. It means that the median household income now only needs 27% to buy a home. This is down from a peak of 63% in 1981.
NOW is the Best time Ever to Buy!
If you are a builder, remodeler, supplier or realtor, make sure that you are aware of all the incentives, credits, and reasons to buy, and educate your customers about them.
Doug Carr
Executive Officer GLHBA
Used with permission
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GRAND VISION UNVEILED
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 The Grand Vision will return to the State Theater on the evening of May 19th for a public unveiling of the results of last fall's big Vision Decision. The final Grand Vision document will be released, along with news about how you can get more actively involved in helping to make positive change in the region. Stay tuned for more details. We also know that our local township, city and village officials are essential to making the Grand Vision a reality. A special meeting has been arranged specifically for those officials from across the region on April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City. There will guest speakers from the Michigan Townships Association and the Michigan Municipal League to offer their perspectives on why local governments should participate with the Grand Vision.
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| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE |
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LET'S BOWL! 
Bowl For Kids' Sake is a pledge driven event. We ask each participant to raise $100 and in exchange, we have food, free t-shirts, and two games of bowling (including shoes). Each team has a minimum of four bowlers with a maximum of six. Teams can choose from one of four nights:
- May 11 Family Night
- May 13 Battle of the Sexes
- May 14 Alumni Night
- May 15 Rock n Bowl featuring WCCW live at the bowling alley!
The event runs from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. each night at Timberlane's Bowling Alley. If anyone has any questions, call Robin Ahart at TBA Credit Union - 231-932-5035 or Denny Lauterbach at 231-941-4700.
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