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OFFICE HOURS |
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Monday
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Thursday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
For more information on Association Events please visit the HBAGTA website at
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CALENDAR AND
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July 16, 2010
Office Closed
July 28, 2010
Board of Directors Meeting
7:30 am
July 30, 2010
Office Closed
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HBAGTA COMMITTEES
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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 |
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REMEMBER TO ADD THE HBAGTA! |
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When developing your marketing plan, whether it be EXPO participation, a web site design, coupons to consumers, stationary...just about anything your company participates in or distributes, be sure to add the HBAGTA logo and display your pride in being a member of the Home Builders Association!
Did you know? If you provide a link to the HBAGTA on your business web site - your company's web site link is activated for free? We will waive the $50 annual service fee! - Just ask how.
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SUMMER CONVENTION
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The Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) Summer Convention this year will be held at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, Michigan. A full schedule of events and the registration form has been posted at buildingmichigan.org. All MAHB members are encouraged to attend this two-day event. The Board meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 23, 2010 from 1:30 - 4:30 PM. Contact Pam Frankenberger at 517-646-2572 for more details. |
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MEIJER CARD RENEWED!
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Are you one of more than 2,000 MAHB members that used your Meijer discount card on a regular basis this year? Di you know that every time you purchase more than $25 in general merchandise you get $5 back...if you show your MAHB Meijer discount card.
The cards were recently mailed to all MAHB Members. If you didn't receive yours, contact Diana Dixon at (517) 646-2553 or e-mail at dixon.diana@mahb.com.
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS 2010-2011
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Now's the time to mark your calendars! Our HBAGTA General Membership meetings are slated for:
September 13th
October 11th
November 8th
December 13th
January 10th
February 14th
March 14th
April 11th
May 9th
We will again be looking for member sponsors who are interested in hosting a meeting at their place of business. If you would like the chance to host one, please contact Kathy at kathy@hbagta.com or call the office at 946-2305. The September meeting is currently being sponsored by First Place Bank and the October steak fry will be held at ProBuild again this year.
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HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES LIEN REFORM
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By votes of 94-9, 95-8, 97-6, 97-6, 97-6 and 97-6, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a series of bills which would abolish the Construction Lien fund while continuing to protect homeowners from paying twice for the same work. The package also eliminated the annual $10 fee paid by builders, plumbers, electricians and mechanical contractors into the fund. The package will be heard by the Senate Economic Development subcommittee Tuesday, June 29 and coule be on the governor's desk before the Legislature breaks for recess.
The main opposition to eliminating the fund came from a very small but vocal subset of lawyers who profit from suing the fund. Ending the fund will negatively impact these attorney's earnings. To protect their pecuniary interest, they claimed the bills, introduced at the request of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, would eliminate protection for home owners and leave more money in the pockets of builders that rip them off, a wildly inventive and totally inaccurate claim.
for more information
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| Greetings! ,
 With our 21st annual Parade of Homes & Developments now history, it is time to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of all who participated.
Kudos to our dedicated Parade Chair, Chad Craker (C2 Enterprises) and Non-Profit Coordinator, Angie Glynn (TC Millworks) along with committee members Gail Chambers (Traverse City State Bank), Julie Courtade (First Place Bank), Sheila Lowe (Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors), George Prewitt (Fast Signs), Sharon Starks (Wolverine Bank), Dave Triplett (EPS) and Junior VanDyke (Standard Kitchens). We are grateful to then for their dedication and commitment that ensured a successful showcase for our builders, developers and tradesmen.
By the time you get this "Wednesday Workbench" the awards ceremony will have taken place. However, for those who prefer to get their news in print, rather than tweeted or linked to something, here's the big news.
Four outstanding builders were honored Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn West with the prestigious Peoples' Choice Award. These winners are:
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Gary Jurkovich - Pathway Homes - Homes FMV of $165-$280,000
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Chuck Beale - Durango Homes - Homes FMV of $315-$476,000
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Dean Adams - Bay Area Contracting - Homes FMV of $650,000+
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Sean McCardel - Verndale at East Bay - Development
For the first time this year, both Judges Choice and Pinnacle Awards (representing the sum of all points earned in all categories) were presented. In addition, first place and runner up recognition was given in Craftsmanship, Interior Design, Exterior Design, Master Suite and Kitchen. For a complete list of Parade of Homes Award winners, CLICK HERE.
Fifteen non-profit groups contributed 795 man hours to host the Parade, greeting over 12,700 guests who visited the homes over the 8-day venue. The HBA will now return $7500 from the Parade proceeds to these organizations to support their charitable work in our communities.
It has been a privilege to be part of this premier event again this year. Our association represents an elite group of truly dedicated professionals who are committed to "Building Homes, Growing Communities and Ensuring Futures!"
Together We Are Building a Stronger Association!
Kathy Maisonville
Executive Officer
Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc.
3040 Sunset Lane
Traverse City, MI 49684
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
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WE REALLY DO "LOVE A PARADE" | |
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What a thrill it was for the HBA to celebrate its 40th anniversary in front of nearly 10,000 people who lined the streets or watched on TV to see the 2010 Cherry Royale Parade Saturday, July 10th. Two distinguished HBAGTA charter members, Bud Hierlihy and Charles Svec, and former MAHB past president, Ivan Foerster, who was instrumental in developing the HBAGTA charter, sat in tiny home's front yard atop the float.
About a dozen first-year construction students, led by NMC instructor Devin Hill, created the fabulous home from merely the picture of it in last year's Parade Planbook. The project took more than 6 months to complete. Funding for the construction was provided by NMC and fundraising efforts. The HBA provided promotional consideration and ProBuild was the generous sponsor of the hardhat children's giveaway during the event.
In an effort to demonstrate the partnership between NMC and the HBA and our joint responsibility for developing future building leaders, the idea of entering a float was born. It was fortuitous that this year's festival coincided with the association's anniversary. In a very real sense the "cherry" on top of this sweet celebration was winning the Executive Award for Best Non-Profit entry.
l to r: Devin Hill, Ivan Foerster, Charles Svec & Bud Hierlihy |
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MAHB WARNS: "GIVE OUT THE LEAD PAMPHLET"
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The delay in the enforcement of the lead, repair and painting rule does not relieve contractors from the requirement to distribute the lead pamphlet, "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home" to the housing owner and occupants of pre-1978 homes and apartments before renovation starts.
The Lead Pre-Renovation Education rule (LPRE) has been in effect since 2005 and is now being vigorously enforced. Contractors must obtain confirmation of receipt of the lead pamphlet from the owner and occupants or a certificate of mailing from the post office and retain that documentationf or three years. For work in common areas of multi-family housing, constructors must distribute renovation notices to all tenants.
"If you can't prove you've given out the pamphlet as required you will be in deep trouble and there is nothing the MAHB can do to help you", reports an MAHB Spokesperson. "Hansen Windows is now facing nearly $800,000 in fines for allegedly not giving out the pamphlet at 271 residential properties where they did window work. Make sure you're not next - give out the lead pamphlet," they noted.
To learn more about your responsibilities under LPRE:
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SAVE THE DATES FOR SHOWCASE | |
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Mark Your Calendars Now - Save the Dates
Annual Showcase of Remodeled Homes
Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd and 3rd
Contractors, remodelers and trades professionals are reminded to save Oct. 2nd and 3rd for the 2nd annual Showcase of Remodeled Homes. Whether you have a whole house remodel or a small specialty project to showcase, this is your venue to share the possibilities available to today's home owners. Showcase contracts will be available at the HBA office and online in early July. Now is the time to talk to your clients and customers about featuring their home and your business this fall.
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CONTINUING COMPETENCY FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS | |
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The six 3-hour Continuing Competency seminars filled quickly last month. The association is now taking a break from hosting more of these until fall. However, sessions are slated for September 15th and 29th and October 13th and 27th. Undoubtedly, many whose licenses expire in May 2011 will want to save one of these dates. The cost is $59 for members and $99 for non-members. Registration forms are available in the office or on our website.
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SPRINKLER FIGHT RENEWS | |
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 In July of last year, by a vote of 10 to 2, the state's building code review committee recommended a code change submitted by Habitat of Humanity of Michigan to remove the proposed requirement for mandatory fire sprinklers in all new homes and townhouses from the next edition of the state building code. Over a hundred MAHB members showed up to offer testimony and even more wrote letters in support of Habitat's code change. But the vote of the committee was only a recommendation, not a decision. Now, almost a year later, there will be a public hearing on that recommendation and the codes. The hearing will take place Tuesday, July 20th in Lansing. The final decision on whether or not home owners will be forced to buy sprinklers will be made by the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG) after the hearing. DELEG needs to hear from you ASAP. Click here to send an e-mail or to learn where to send a letter.
Letters and emails need to arrive no later than Monday, July 19 in order to be considered as part of the public hearing. Even though you may not be able to drive to Lansing to testify at the public hearing you its still easy for you to help Habitat and the MAHB preserve affordable housing. Send a letter or e-mail opposing mandatory sprinklers and supporting Habitat's code change to R313 to remove them from the code.
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CODE HEARINGS SCHEDULED
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The Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth will hold the public hearing on the next edition of the Michigan Residential Code, Building Code, Energy Code and Rehabilitation Code on Tuesday, July 20th at 9:00 a.m.
The hearing will also take place in a new location, the Michigan State Police Auditorium at the Michigan State Police Training Academy. The academy is located at 7426 N. Canal Rd., Dimondale, MI. Some of the fire services also train in this general area. All previous code hearings, including the building code review committee meeting on sprinklers have been held in the State Library Auditorium in downtown Lansing.
The MAHB had asked the Bureau of Construction Codes not to schedule the hearings during the week of summer conference. We were told by the Bureau the soonest the hearings would be held would be August with September or October the more likely dates. The director of the department overruled the bureau and ordered the hearings be held on July 20th. We were informed of these hearings just last Thursday, July 1st when the public notice was issued.
This leaves us with little time before the hearing. It will be important to have as many people as possible at this hearing.
I know the timing on this meeting is not best and that there are a number of MAHB meetings going on before and after the hearing. Nevertheless we need to do our best to get members to the hearing. I will also be contacting our allies on this issue to inform them of the hearing and solicit their help.
Look for more on this. . . (see preceeding article: Spinkler Fight Renews). The important thing to do today is to begin to get commitments from our members to attend the hearing.
Call me if you have any questions.
Lee Swartz
MAHB
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