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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
EVENT LINKS | |
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Office Closed
September 3, 2010
Deadline for Showcase of Remodeled Homes
September 6, 2010
Labor Day - Office Closed
September 9, 2010
Public Relations Committee
8:00 am
September 13, 2010
Builder Forum 4:30-5:30
Networking 5:30-7:30
September 14, 2010
Green Build Grand Traverse
11:30 am
September 15, 2010
September 16, 2010
Making Money in the Retrofit Market
5-7pm Beer & Brats Seminar
September 21, 2010
Membership Committee
8:30 am
September 22, 2010
Board of Directors 7:30 am
September 29, 2010
October 2 & 3, 2010
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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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MI SAVES AND THE SAVE GREEN LOAN PROGRAMS
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You are invited to a Northwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum workshop on September 16th at 8:30 a.m. at the MI Works Office Conference Room, 1209 S. Garfield in Traverse City. Marc McKellar will be speaking about the Michigan Saves and the Save Green Loan programs. There will also be additional speakers from professional energy efficiency services and products businesses, such as HVAC high-energy products, energy efficiency audits, and electrical contractors that install commercial and residential energy efficient systems.
Please register for this FREE workshop by Tuesday, September 14th by contacting Patty O'Donnell at pattyodonnell@nwm.cog.mi.us or 231-929-5039. |
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NEW PLUMBING & MECHANICAL CODES | |
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The 2009 Michigan Plumbing Code became effective August 20th, 2010. This code applies to multi-family (apartments & condos) and commercial structures. It does not apply to 1 & 2 family or townhouses.
The 2009 Michigan Mechanical Code will become effective October 21st, 2010. Applicability is the same as for the Michigan Plumbing Code.
The 2009 Michigan Residential Code which will contain the plumbing and mechanical requirements for 1 & 2 family/townhouses is expected to take effect early in 2011.
The 2009 MPC and MMC are available HERE. |
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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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Greetings! ,
What comes to mind when someone mentions Fall? For me it is the sweet smell of wood smoke in an open campfire, the crunch of withering leaves beneath my feet and the crisp, fresh air that awakens my senses. At this time of year, many of us go through rituals that can only be described as "nesting" behaviors: stocking the pantry and freezer with comfort foods, bringing out the woolen blankets for the beds, or rummaging through the warm, fuzzy winter clothing that has been stashed away for several months.
And when the weather or climate drives us indoors, it is always comforting to retreat to a place where we feel nurtured and restored - our home. But like all creatures faced with the cycle of the seasons, there are things that must be done to provide the safety, security and serenity we desire. Many of our HBA builders, remodelers and tradesmen have been working diligently on some fabulous remodeling projects that provide all of those things and much more.
We anticipate hundreds of area residents and out of town guests to visit our second annual Showcase of Remodeled Homes which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd and 3rd from noon until 6 p.m. At least a dozen projects will be featured ranging from simple exterior upgrades to fabulous and expansive additions. Each of these illustrates the endless possibilities available to homeowners interested in renovating, refurbishing or restoring their old nest.
For more information about this year's Showcase of Remodeled Homes, www.hbagta.com or contact Kerry at 946-2305.
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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 Please plan to attend the first General Membership meeting of the year slated for Monday, September 13th. The networking night will be held at the Harbour View Center, 4th floor located at 333 W. Grandview Parkway. The event is co-sponsored by First Place Bank and Grand Traverse Refrigeration. Because of their generous sponsorship, there will be no charge for guests this evening. Feel free to bring a colleague or co-worker who would like to learn more about or become more involved with our association.
The Builder Forum which starts at 4:30 p.m. will provide information on the new Selected Contractors Program now available from Hastings Mutual Insurance Company. As an HBA member benefit, building contractors can now take advantage of some new discounts on property and liability insurance as well as business auto and Workers Comp month payroll reporting.
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Please let us know if you plan to attend by no later than September 9th.
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Click on Calendar and click on the link for the General Membership event on September 13.
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Log in to your member account and register for the meeting. (If you have not logged into your account, this is a great time! User Name is your first initial last name - jsmith and your default password is fusion)
PLEASE BE KIND AND RSVP so that our gracious hosts can plan accordingly.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS
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The vast majority of builders and remodelers will notice that their licenses are due to expire in May, 2011. In an effort to help our members meet the new Continuing Competency requirements, our association is hosting eight 3-hour seminars between mid September and the end of October. These sessions cover the mandatory 1 hour each of Safety, Codes and Legal Issues required under the statute. They are conveniently scheduled both during the morning and afternoon. The HBA will keep attendance records and provide attendees with a Certificate of Completion. The cost is $59 for HBA members and $99 for non-members. To register, go to www.hbagta.com. Register soon since seating is limited to 24 students per session.
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AUGUST TRIVIA | |
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Did you know? This month has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, and 5 Tuesdays. This is something that only occurs once in 823 years!
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MAINTAIN A STRONG WEBSITE PRESENCE
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Builders can expect to spend more of their advertising and marketing budget on Internet tools and marketing, rather than on print and other traditional media, as more home buyers rely on the Web for their home buying information, at least initially.
Builders who do not have current information about their projects and models available on their website - such as specs available, house and community amenities, schools, nearby shopping and transportation - will quickly be eliminated from the competition as buyers plan trips to projects based on information gathered through the Internet and builders' websites, rather than spend their precious time driving to communities for initial details.
Builders will need to evaluate social networking tools, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, to meet the rapidly changing needs of their potential buyers. A builder's ability to quickly and effectively communicate with their prospects will be highly important.
From Nation's Building News
August 23, 2010
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ADVANCED GREEN COURSE
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Interested in taking your green industry knowledge to a higher level? The HBA is hosting an Advanced Green Builders Course from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on October 28th and 29th. The course will be taught by Arn McIntyre, a Michigan native, professor at Ferris State University and long-time green advocate. He is one of only a handful of instructors in the Midwest certified to teach this new NAHB designation course.
The cost of this two-day course is $325 for members and $350 for non-members. Early bird registration will discount the price considerably if one registers and pays by October 1st. For more information or to register, go to www.hbagta.com. |
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MAHB MEMBER REBATE PROGRAM | |
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 The Member Rebate Program is aimed at increasing your bottom line. For the minimal effort of informing us about the products you use, and telling us when you close on a home, you'll be putting money back in your pocket.
This FREE member benefit currently has 35 Manufacturer Brands offering MAHB Builder & Remodeler Members a rebate regardless of your volume. Read more about the program by visiting the Member Rebate Newsletter, emailing info@hbarebates.com or calling (866) 849-8400. |
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PAY ONLINE AND SAVE YOUR TIME!
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YES YOU CAN!
We are proud to announce that you can now pay your invoices and register for events on the HBAGTA web site!
It's this easy:
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Click on the "Members Only" Link on the top right hand corner of the Home Page.
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Log In with your User Name and Password.
If you haven't logged in to your account yet, your user name and password are:
User Name: First name initial with last name (jsmith)
Password: Fusion (this is a default password that should be changed.)
You won't believe what you see! Take a tour and see how much information is at your fingertips! |
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SPONSORSHIPS AND CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING AVAILABLE FOR E-NEWS
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Sponsorships are available for our bi-weekly e-newsletter for $25 an issue. Get your name out in front of the HBAGTA Members and event participants. Sponsorship includes your logo prominently placed in the publication along with a link to your web site. Don't miss this unique opportunity! Sponsorships must be pre-paid. Go to your member profile to sign up for this service then send an email with your requested dates and graphic to jenny@hbagta.com.
Classified Advertising will be available beginning with the next issue of our e-newsletter. Each ad will be $10 and will be limited 30 Words and will not include graphics. Classified ads will be located at the bottom of the e-newsletter with a link in the table of contents. Go to your member profile to sign up for this service then send an email with your classified ad to jenny@hbagta.com.
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STAY TUNED | |
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CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS POSSIBLY EXPANDING
House Bill 6374 which mandates "continuing education" for all licensed professionals was introduced by Rep. Pam Byrnes (D) on August 19, 2010. The intent is to revise the state law that prohibits an individual from making a living at any of hundreds of specified professions without first getting permission from the government in the form of a license, and meeting standards that are generally written by current practitioners of each particular profession. The bill would prohibit license renewals unless an individual has taken a "continuing education course." Under current law, unless specifically required in statute for a particular profession, individuals upon whom licensure has been imposed must "demonstrate professional competence".
http://www.michiganvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=119877 |
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WHAT'S YOUR MAHB MEMBERSHIP WORTH?
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In August, the MAHB Government Relations team successfully:
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Eliminated the fee licensees pay to the Lien Fund. -
Kept the EPA Lead program at the federal level - avoiding duplicative state fees. -
Stopped mandatory fire sprinklers in all new homes. -
Stopped expansion of arc-fault circuit interrupters to all circuits.
Let's see how all of this adds up for you.
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Your MAHB Dues Are: |
$80.00 | |
Lien Reform Saved You: |
-$30.00 | |
Lead Saved You: |
-$75.00 | |
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In August You Made: |
$25.00 |
If you have a corporate license and an individual license you made $55. Your cost to construct a new home was also lowered: -
No mandatory fire sprinklers reduced your costs by $8,000. -
No mandatory AFCI expansion reduced your costs by $500. -
Average reduction per home in your construction costs: $8,500
And that's only part of what your membership's worth.
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WHAT IS YOUR EXIT STRATEGY?
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Business owners, sales management and sales people are bombarded with these dismal economic headlines on a daily basis. As such, it's easy to look at our existing situation and blame our current performance on these rapidly changing external factors we have no control over. However, the very act of externalization wipes out any control you have over your economic or professional future and depletes your level of expectation for current or future success.
Sadly, the economy has always been a faithless partner. The optimists among us focus on the good times in hopes that they magically reappear if you just stay the course. The pessimists buy into the gloom and doom and stay the course because there's no incentive to change. However the successful among us understand the nature of the beast and adapt their methods of doing business to take advantage of current conditions.
Adaptability is the Key to your Success
If your business is suffering from the symptoms of a recession identified above, your first step is acknowledging that you are partially responsible for this result. Taking responsibility for the condition of your business or your job performance empowers you to transform your existing situation now, instead of falling victim to the economy's timeline. Your second step is to identify the constraints within your business that are impeding you from attaining the results you deserve.
Common constraints include:
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A lack of warm leads causing sales people to waste time coddling current clients for a mere trickle of residual income.
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Anemic new business development efforts because of unrealistically large pipelines of poorly qualified potential clients.
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Ineffective prospecting strategies that result in a decrease in sales person self-esteem and expectation for success.
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An inability to establish yourself as a credible solution for prospective clients because of ineffective or inconsistently applied sales techniques.
Once you identify the constraints that impede you from achieving your goals, identify solutions to overcome the constraints and implement them. Finally, set realistic, incremental short-term goals to ensure the solution is applied and adhered to effectively. Set parameters to ensure that old ineffective habits don't re-emerge to cripple your transformation. For more information:
From CEO Solutions E-News - August 2010
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REGISTER FOR IBS IN AUGUST & GET A FREE EXHIBIT PASS
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Online registration for the 2011 NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS) in Orlando on Jan. 12-15 - the single, most important and largest industry event of the year - opened on Monday, Aug. 2.
Industry professionals who register for the show by Aug. 31 can take advantage of heavily discounted registration pricing (four days of exhibits and education), saving $100 on early-bird registration and $130 on regular registration.
Another option for NAHB members who register during August is a free four-day pass to the exhibit floor.
In addition, spouses of members and non-members can register for free in August.
Specific online registration deals include:
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Free Exhibit Pass for NAHB Members - Register by Aug. 31
NAHB members will be able to walk the show floor for free all four days of the show, if they register by Aug. 31. More than 1,000 exhibitors on 500,000 square feet of exhibit space will feature the industry's leading suppliers displaying their latest innovations. Show exhibitors will also be available to discuss attendees' specific challenges.
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First-Time Member Attendee Registration - Reduced
Members who plan to attend IBS for the first time are eligible for the first-time attendee registration rate of $100, which enables them to attend any of more than 175 education sessions and tour the exhibit floor all four days.
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One- and Two-Day Education Passes
Attendees can purchase one- or two-day passes for IBS education sessions. Passes will be available for education sessions held from Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 12-14. All seminars on Saturday, Jan. 15 are free. To take advantage of these passes, attendees must choose the day(s) they will purchase when registering for the show.
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SUPERFLEET COMMERCIAL FUELING PROGRAM
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HBA Members Stop Missing Out on Savings!
Current SuperFleet Customer's:
Starting in 2010 the HBA Members Discount was increased to
5¢ Per Gallon All of the Time! That's a Nickel Per Gallon!!!
Potential NEW SuperFleet Customer's:
For the Months of August, September, and October sign up your Fleet with the SuperFleet Program and you will Save 10¢ Per Gallon at all Speedway Locations, plus save a Nickel at all Marathon Locations for the first 90 Days of your New Account!
The Program Benefits:
Card Assignment:
Cards can be assigned to either the vehicle, the department, or to a specific driver
If assigned to Vehicle, SuperFleet can prompt for a Driver ID Number
If assigned to a Driver, SuperFleet can prompt for a Vehicle ID Number
If assigned to a Department, SuperFleet can prompt for both a Driver and Vehicle
If desired SuperFleet Cards can also prompt for odometer readings
Restrictions
SuperFleet cards can be restricted to Fuel, Oil, Automotive, and Car Wash
Other NEW Restrictions include Day, Time, Dollar Amount, Gallon Amount, Transactions Per Day, all with nearly real time updates
Reporting
Free monthly fleet report detailing each transaction by Time, Date, Location, and Price
Acceptance
SuperFleet is accepted at all Speedway's, Marathon's, Rich Oil's & Pilot Travel Center's
SuperFleet is accepted at 6,500 locations Nationwide and over 1,200 in Michigan
For More Information Contact:
Account Manager: Brian L. Porter
Cell Phone: 517-490-2081
Fax: 616-954-7637
Email:Blporter@SSALLC.com
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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
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 YOUR AD HERE! Thirty words or less for $10/issue. Simply sign up & pay for the service on your member profile then send an email to jenny@hbagta.com with your ad. FYI: The above ad is approximately 30 words. |
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Thank you for your membership and support of the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc.
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