News from the HBAGTA - Tuesday Toolbox

Home Builders Association - Commitment To Excellence

The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc.

TUESDAY TOOLBOX

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

The Home Builders Association Office will be CLOSED for these Holidays as noted:

THANKSGIVING

November 25 - Closed at noon

November 30 -

Office Reopens

WINTER HOLIDAYS

December 21 -

Office Closed

January 4 -

Office Reopens

PLEASE NOTE!

THE HBAGTA OFFICE IS NOW CLOSED ON FRIDAYS!

NEW OFFICE HOURS:

Monday

through

Thursday

8:30 am to 4:30 pm

For more information on Association Events please visit the HBAGTA website at

www.hbagta.com

CALENDAR AND
EVENT LINKS

November 25, 2009

Office Closed at Noon

November 26 & 27, 2009

Office Closed for Holiday

December 1, 2009

EXPO Price Increases

December 14, 2009

General Membership Meeting

Waterfront Conference Center

Installation of Officers and Annual Awards

RSVP

December 21, 2009

Office Closed

January 4, 2010

Office Re-opens

January 12 & 13, 2010

Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting Training 2 (1 day) training days

February 27 & 28

EXPO

NOVEMBER 2009 CALENDAR

HBAGTA COMMITTEES

Participation in any HBAGTA Committee is open to all members of the Association!

Want to get more from your membership?

JOIN A COMMITTEE!

Call the HBAGTA Office for more information:

(231) 946-2305

The Tuesday Toolbox

is now published

bi-monthly.

Please read your newsletter for important dates and events!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!

Sponsor Link

CONTACT THE HBAGTA TO BECOME A TUESDAY TOOLBOX SPONSOR!

BUILDER HELPER

BUILDER HELPER

ARE LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY?

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FREE MEMBERSHIP ON

BUILDER HELPER!

(exclusive to HBAGTA Members)

NO MORE EXTRA DRIVING
& DISTRIBUTING YOUR PLANS TO ALL OF YOUR SUBS! POST YOUR PLANS ONLINE AND REQUEST BIDS.

The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area is looking for sponsors for our Builder Helper Sponsorship.

Please call Kathy at the Association Office for more information.

NAHB UNIVERSITY OF HOUSING OFFERS CUSTOMER SERVICE WEBCAST

Webcast Course on Dec. 10 to Teach Customer Service Skills

For the first time, The NAHB University of Housing is offering a webcast of its Customer Service course on Thursday, Dec. 10. The course will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C. Participants can attend the course in person or watch it during the live webcast by registering on the NAHB Web site at www.nahb.org/Customer

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE HBAGTA FACEBOOK PAGE

The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area invites all members to post information regarding your business on the HBAGTA Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/hbagta

Do you have a newsletter you can share?
Do you have important information regarding your industry?
Does your business have a special event that you would like to promote?

Tell us about it on the HBAGTA Facebook Fan Page!

Greetings! ,

As we approach the holiday season the staff and I want to wish you the very best this holiday season. For many in our state, perhaps the thought of celebrating is beyond comprehension. Many people in our industry are hurting from the challenges brought on by the economic downturn: lost jobs, reduced income and financial instability.

Yet I encourage each of you to reflect on what is right and good in your life at this time. My hunch is that you will discover what is really important is intangible. Perhaps you'll find that your prayers have been answered and a relative or friend challenged by a critical illness is still at your Thanksgiving table this year or maybe at this special time, your children are home from school, your grandchildren clamor for a seat on your lap, or the scents of the season fill your home.

This holiday is not so much about what we don't have but finding reasons to be truly thankful for what we do! May the true joy of the Season surround you and yours and may you find peace at this special time of year.

Together, we are building a stronger Association!

Kathy

Kathleen Maisonville

Executive Officer

kmaisonville@hbagta.com

p: 231.946.2305

f: 231.946.1051

toll free: 800.422.5166

www.hbagta.com

SEASON'S CELEBRATION SLATED FOR DECEMBER 14

The HBA will host the final General Membership meeting of 2009 on December 14th at the at the Waterfront Conference Center. As many of you know, the Waterfront is changing hands soon and our event will be the very last for the conference center staff that has been so accommodating and gracious to us over the years. They will be rolling out the red carpet for us that night and offering us some very special fare for our sit-down dinner.

Invitations will be mailed to all members shortly after Thanksgiving.

RSVPs are required!

Joe Williams' (Williams Pumping Service) combo called "Three Hour Tour" will be providing the entertainment during the pre-dinner hour.

The Builder Forum preceding the General Membership Meeting will feature Steve Smith, Industrial Hygienist who is responsible for Michigan's RRP Administration. Contractors, electricians, HVAC specialists and remodelers who work on pre-1978 housing will be required to be certified by April 22, 1010. Mr. Smith is the most knowledgeable spokesperson in the state on this issue and will be on hand to inform and educate our members about the new legislation.

Our new HBA officers will be also installed by MAHB president, Tom Barber that evening. The 2010 officers include Rob Whims, President; Marc Burkholder, First VP; Denny Lauterbach, 2nd VP; BJ Stark, Secretary and Mike Farrer, Treasurer. In addition, the oath will be given to our newly elected Board Members: Scott Duensing, Mike Bartkowiak, BJ Stark, Denny Lauterbach, Dale Bush and Matt Vajda.

WARM HANDS FROM WARM HEARTS

MITTEN The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. is asking our members and friends of the Association to donate new or gently used (waterproof) mittens or gloves, hats, scarves MICHIGAN HEART and coats for children, teens and adults to those in need this season. We will be collecting those items for Goodwill's "Holiday Needs Program" at our office from now until December 14th. There is a critical need in our community for such items. For those who are attending the General Membership Meeting on December 14th, you may bring your donations to the Waterfront that evening.

HURRY, HURRY...EXPO BOOTHS ARE FILLING UP FAST!

The 2010 Expo is quickly ramping into high gear. Over half of the booths are already filled and it is not even the end of November.

This is great news for all of our members. If you are thinking of getting a booth for the 2010 Expo, this is the time to act.

Please call me and I can go over your options with you.
Have a great Thanksgiving.

Kerry A Gartland
Events and Marketing Coordinator
Home Builders Association of
Grand Traverse Area, Inc.

2010 HOME BUILDERS EXPO

FEBRUARY 27 & 28, 2010

Do you want to market your product or business more effectively?

Do you want to get more "Bang for Your Buck" with your marketing dollars?

Participate in the 2010 Home EXPO!

Booth Rentals are now open to ALL interested Vendors!

SECURE THE LOWEST RATE! - Price Increases will be take place on the first of December, January and February
COST EFFECTIVE! - This year, the cost of your booth rental includes the cost of your "Pipe & Drape"!
TRAINING! - Training will be provided on how to effectively market your business at an EXPO!
UPDDATED VENUE! - An updated venue and new dates have been planned to effectively showcase your business!
VISIBILITY! - The HBAGTA promotes the event and helps to bring the customers to you!

IN 2010 WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE GRAND TRAVERSE AREA. WE ARE PROUD TO PROMOTE OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR MEMBERS IN THE FIVE COUNTY AREA!

WE REPRESENT THE BEST!

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING WHAT OUR REGION'S HOUSING INDUSTRY HAS TO OFFER!

If you would like to participate in this Premier Event hosted by the HBAGTA, contact Kerry Gartland at 231.946.2305 or kag@hbagta.com

HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT, NEW NOL RULES SIGNED INTO LAW

Great Lakes Green In a major victory for NAHB that will boost the fledgling housing recovery and help struggling business owners nationwide, Congress last week approved legislation that will extend the first-time home buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 deadline and expand it to a wider group of home buyers. The bill also provides relief to cash-strapped home builders by providing broader tax benefits for businesses with net operating losses (NOLs).

GREEN BUILDING AWARDS ENTRIES NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Entries are now being accepted for the 2010 NAHB National Green Building Awards.

Submit projects for green remodeling, advocacy campaigns and other categories. Each year, NAHB recognizes individuals, companies and organizations for excellence in residential green design and construction practices, and for green building program and advocacy efforts.

The prestigious awards will be presented at a gala dinner as part of the 12th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference in Raleigh, N.C. May 16-18.

PAINTERS, ELECTRICIANS, REMODELERS: ARE YOU AWARE OF THE EPA REGS?

Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP)

hammer image The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently enacted new regulations affecting contractors performing renovation work in residential dwellings or child-occupied facilities built before 1978. This regulation is called "Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair, and Painting: (RRP).