The BUZZ March 2008

	DeckExpo 2008
DeckExpo 2008 Orlando, FL. We would like to take a minute to thank our partners at Hanley Wood Exhibitions for a great show. Working with their team is a pleasure and we look forward to many wonderful Expo's in the years ahead. Special thanks to Rick, Amy, Claire, Paul and Kathy, for your help and support.

NADRA Education

This year NADRA put on two successful courses, Deck Framing Connection Seminar and Design Software to Increase Sales & Efficiency, sponsored by two industry leaders Simpson Strong-Tie and DeckTools Software. These two courses provided the attendees with educational information on making their code compliant decks safer as well as making computerized deck design an effective tool to increase their sales efforts. Thank you Jim Mailey from Simpson Strong-Tie and Ed Repak, John Scofield from DeckTools Software as well as their companies for believing enough in NADRA for raising the bar.

NADRA will continue to work with our industry members on creating compelling curriculum that will benefit our contractor members as well as the industry as a whole. If other manufacturer members interested in participating in our future educational offering please contact Mark DeMarco at MDeMarco@NADRA.org

Sincerely,

Mark A. DeMarco

Board Treasurer & Education Committee Chairman

NADRAs Booth:

Thank you to everyone who helped from the design, to installation & tear down of this years NADRA Booth. We are very lucky to have such dedicated support. Heres to the Crew for your sweat and hard work: Mr. Forman, Ricky Trottier for your hard work and dedication to this years project. To our laborers, Christy Packet, Mike Ebner, Mark DeMarco, Diana Hanson, Shawn Miller, John Mortimer, Norm Boell, Dave Lombardo, Gus De LaCruz, Ray Steward, we couldn't have done it without you! There were so many people who were just walking by and stopped in to help for a few minutes, it would be impossible to name all of you, just know that we noticed and thank you very, very much.

Thank you to the following NADRA members for your decking, fasteners, railing and lighting material donations: Correct Deck, Simpson Strong-Tie, Phoenix Manufacturing, Aurora Deck Lighting, Evergrain Decking, WeatherBest.

THANK YOU!!!

One section of the booth was about 20 x 20 for networking. This space of the booth was perfect for prospective members to sit around and talk with current NADRA members about the benefits of joining. Fellow NADRA Canadian members also took advantage of this relaxing space to discuss ideas for the future.

The remaining 20 x 20 section was NADRAs Deck, where many NADRA members took time to join us on our deck to discuss NADRAs future.

The NADRA booth was complete with Palms,
Colorful Pots and Hanging baskets.

NADRA 3rd Annual Silent Auction

NADRA raised over $10,000 at this years Silent Auction. These funds will go to support NADRAs general fund and will help us grow our membership and benefits.

Thank you so much for yout continued spport of your Industries Trade Association!

DeckTools
UFO

OHC Everlasting Hardwoods
Aurora Deck Lighting
Dek Drain
PAM Fastener Technology

Tiger Claw
Screw Products
Tamko Building Products
Atlantis Rail Systems

WeatherBest

DeKor

Berger Building Products

Fastenmaster

Deck 2 Wall

NADRA Annual Meeting & Reception

Annual Meeting Stage

This years Annual Meeting and Reception was bigger than ever with over 300 folks piling in at 5:00. We had lines 6 people across and 10 people deep. What a great thing to see!

Builders, Manufacturers, Distributors, Suppliers, Industry Service Providers, Code Officials and others associated with the Decking Industry gathered around for about an hour enjoying beverages and food which were provided by this years sponsor:

Please Click Above to Visit The WeatherBest Website

Thank You WeatherBest!!!

The evening would not have been possible without

their stepping up to support the Association.

___________________________________________________

NADRA Annual Meeting

At this years Annual Meeting new board members were introduced, farewells

were made to board members that were stepping down and new directors
were were voted in. We also gave our year in review, financial report,

committee reports, benefit updates, deck safety month overview, and awards.

Introducing Your Board of Directors:

Shawn Miller, Classic Designs (Incoming President)

Bob Lett, Wolf Distributing Company (Incoming V.P.)

Mark DeMarco, The Mad Decker (Outgoing V.P. Incoming Treasurer)

Diana Hanson, Woodpile Products (Incoming Secretary)

Dave Lombardo, American Deck

Kim Katwijk, Deck Builders

Tim Gillis, Fastenmaster

Kirk Hammond, Arch Chemicals

John Atkinson, Archadeck of Tampa

John Feduniec, Deckscapes

Brent Fournier, Tiger Claw

Ray Steward, RWS Decks

Awards received at NADRAs 4th Annual Meeting:

Terry Award: Richard Oesterreicher, DeckTools

For outstanding contributions to the Deck and Railing Industry,

specifically your devotion to the growth of the North American

Deck and Railing Association

Builder of The Year Award: Rick Vaughan, Sawdust, Ltd.

For your willingness to support those that serve to protect our freedom.

Thanks for being the first to provide a "Deck For a Soldier"

Founders Award: Bob Fogarty

For your leap of faith at NADRAs beginning and your

continuous support

Recognition Award: Christy Packett

In recognition of your dedication and service as Treasurer

for the North American Deck and Railing Association

Recognition Award: Jim Daniels, Parksite Plunkett-Webster

For providing leadership and resources for regional

chapter development

Recognition: Jim Mailey, Simpson Strong-Tie

For providing leadership and vision in

Deck Safety Awareness

Recognition Award: John Mortimer

For your faithful service to NADRA from its

formation through your term as President

Recognition Award: Kim Katwijk

In recognition of your development and leadership role

with the Mastermind Marketing Group

Here is NADRAs Past Treasurer, Christy Packett receiving her award

Christy, you will surely be missed!

CPackett

Here is John Mortimer, NADRAs Immediate Past President

receiving his award. John, what a journey so far!

JMortimer Award

NADRA Codes & Standards Committee Meeting

NADRA is pleased to announce a very successful first industry code meeting held at DeckExpo in Orlando, Florida. Present were several NADRA member manufacturers, suppliers and builders, a code official, as well as code representatives from industry trade associations representing the interests of a variety of deck related materials. The addition of some NADRA board members rounded out the group. This meeting was a tiny first step in what could be a very useful cooperative tool for all of us in the deck, dock and railing industry.

The meeting provided a clarification of just how many industries are involved in the deck industry, a free exchange of ideas, and a cooperative atmosphere for the improvement our our great industry. This kind of cooperation is one of NADRA's main purposes. Many of you know that the catalyst for NADRA's birth in 2003 came out of compatibility issues between fasteners and the then new pressure treated lumber type (ACQ). Builders and suppliers needed answers and NADRA was born. We have consistently worked for communication between manufacturers and suppliers of product, the builders, inspectors and the code officials to make the end product, the deck, as safe as possible for consumers. NADRA's goal of safety has never wavered. Now in its third year, NADRA's Deck Safety Month program, held in May each year, promotes deck safety and proper deck maintenance to consumers.

Since the deck, dock and railing industry draws from so many separate industries, there is the challenge to connect in ways that could lead to a better understanding and more supportive roles. Through this forum NADRA hopes to facilitate communication between the different participants of our industry. The simply stated goal here is safe decks with well-thought-out engineering and a common sense practical approach to code requirements.

Providing the opportunity for all to introduce topics of common concern for discussion/cooperative study could secure long term participation by making the direct benefits available to all the industries involved and investing in the process.

A little piece of this vision of cooperation is included in the following examples: improved communication of requirements to the builder and also to the consumer; product development could benefit from accelerated concurrent design methodologies that span industries; product introduction might see a lessening of inter-industry conflicts that may allow for faster regulatory approvals; less repetition of solution efforts - these that take place in the laboratory and on the code floor may see more frequent resolution through a cooperative effort of the various interest groups; fewer code change proposals submitted by consolidating them where possible; and lessen the amount of opposition on the hearing floor due to having worked out the kinks beforehand.

These are exciting times for our industry and NADRA. My thanks to Tom Zuzik and Dave Cooper for their generous assistance in preparation for the DeckExpo meeting. Thanks to all of you for your support in moving forward on this cooperative effort through NADRA.

Sincerely,

Diana Hanson
Board Secretary & Codes and Standards Committee Chairman

diana.hanson@gmail.com

NADRA Open II

Expo 08 Golf Outing

The second annual NADRA Golf Outing went off as scheduled on Friday March 7 despite the two inches of rain that fell Thursday night. For this year's event, we played at Kissimmee Bay Country Club. We had a dedicated contingency of 19 golfers who battled for some great prizes all made possible by a great group of sponsors.

BASF

WeatherBest

Deckit Deck Spacers

Wolf Distributing Co.

Correct Building Products

Tamko Building Products

Azek Building Products

Fastenmaster

Three cheers for our sponsors!

The winning team came in with a score of five under par. We had two teams come in with a score of five under par and we had to go to a match of cards. The closest to the pin won by Dave Lombardo of American Deck was a fabulous shot that required a 142 yard shot into a three club wind. Dave placed his shot perfectly and came within 3 feet of the pin. Great shot Dave!

At the end of the round, everyone gathered in the clubhouse for a BBQ Lunch, beverages, awards and some great laughs. The laughs got even louder once the ICB's started to flow! ICB is an acronym for Irish Car Bomb. There were many "firsts" that day and all had a good time.

Again, thanks to our sponsors who made this event possible, the players who braved the warm winds and wet course and a special shout out to Diana Hanson for co-coordinating the event.

Sincerely,

Bob Lett

Board Vice President

We hope you enjoyed this issue of The BUZZ. NADRA is now accepting article submissions and photos. If you have any articles you would like to submit for consideration in "The BUZZ" or other NADRA publications, please email them to Info@NADRA.org.

Next months issue will be filled with exciting news on Deck Safety Month and NADRAs Check Your Deck programs. Stay tuned...

Happy Deck Building!

NADRA HQ