• If you have raffle tickets checked out, it is time to start getting them turned in so we know how close we are.  If you have unsold tickets, please try to get them sold soon!  I have several events at the end of the month that we are attending. We are hoping to sell out at the Blessing of the Bikes the weekend of the 16^th.

• Did you know that UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping?  The NAHB shipping discounts include domestic air and ground, international export and international import.  The enrollment process is fast and easy and is available to NAHB members through the Web site: www.savewithups.com/nahb.  For more information on UPS savings and the complete Member Advantage program, visit www.nahb.org/MA.

• Business Review is hosting a seminar on Developing a Strategy for Sustainability.  This Green Building  Event will be held on May 15, 2008 from 8-noon at Aquinas College.  Admission is $20.00.  To register visit www.regonline.com/sustainability or call 800-644-2846.

• For those members lucky enough to pay quarterly estimates for the 2008 Michigan Business Tax, Dawn Crandall needs to hear from you!  The MAHB has heard from a few members that their tax liability has increased substantially over what they paid under the Single Business Tax.  If this has happened to you, please contact Dawn at the MAHB, 800-748-0432.  Getting these numbers is vitally important to our effort at getting the MBT amended.

 
Valerie Krause
Executive Officer
SMWHBA
269-473-5035 office
269-473-3643 fax
swmhba@att.net

Make the most of your membership, become involved!

• We are finally getting some Parade of Homes contracts in.  Remember, the cut-off date is April 30^th.

• We are still looking for items for our surplus sale.  If you have anything you would like to donate, please let me know and I will arrange to have it picked up!  Surplus sale is coming up fast on May 31^st at the Habitat Restore on Plaza Dr.

• Many of you know the Meijer card discount program was a 6 month pilot program.  Meijer has decided to continue the program and a new 12 month offer will begin either on June 1^st or July 1^st.  Cards will be mailed to all members and the details of the actual discounts will be forthcoming, but will be similar to our 6-month program.

• We are looking for give away items from our members.  Give away items are given away in goodie bags during general membership meetings, as prizes, at our Home & Garden show booth, new members, etc…  If your company has items they would like passed out, please let us know.

• The MCIM Safety Rewards program is paying policy holders back a portion of their annual premiums for working safely.  If you qualify, you get up to 20% of your annual premium.  To find out more about your eligibility for this program contact your agent today!

 
Valerie Krause
Executive Officer
SMWHBA
269-473-5035 office
269-473-3643 fax
swmhba@att.net

Make the most of your membership, become involved!

• We are now offering advertising space in our newsletters.  The prices are $50 for a ¼ page, $100 for a ½ page and $150 for a full page.

• Advertising in the slideshow for the general membership meetings will be at no charge.  You must submit a .jpg image to me at swmhba@att.net to have it included.

• In September we expect another knock-down drag-out fight on mandating sprinklers in new homes.  The MAHB needs help from our members on a couple of fronts: getting new installation cost estimates for our homes and identifying volunteers who can attend the Minneapolis meeting in September.

• June 8 – 11, 2008 the NAHB/BALA Design Institute for Builders is holding an event at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas.  Attendees will learn new techniques and see practical examples of design solutions from a variety of markets and regions through interactive design charettes, case studies and breakout sessions.  The design institute is bringing together architects, builders, designers and other industry professionals for four days of high-energy collaboration. Fee is $695 for members, $795 for non members. I have a registration form in my office for anyone who is interested.

 
Valerie Krause
Executive Officer
SMWHBA
269-473-5035 office
269-473-3643 fax
swmhba@att.net

Make the most of your membership, become involved!

• Our general membership meeting is next Thursday.  Gordon DeLong with MCIM will be our speaker for the evening. Invitations have been sent out, be sure to RSVP to attend the event!

• I still have several Parade of Homes signs missing.  Please check your garages and storage buildings and turn in any signs you may have.

• Parade of Homes contracts are due by the 30^th of this month.

• Our “Playhouse Build Off” is scheduled for Saturday, June ^7th and will be between Glenlord Home Center, Big C Lumber & Judd Lumber.  I’m sure some of you will be recruited to one of those teams! All playhouses built, either by the builders, or in the “build off” will be raffled during the Parade of Homes and featured in the Parade of Homes Guidebook.

• I now have building criteria for our playhouses that will be raffled off during the Parade Of Homes.  For those of you who wish to participate we have a plan available that you can use or alter, or you can design your own.  Criteria:
• Playhouse must be finished by June 7^th
• Maximum size is 8x8x8
• Playhouse must have minimum of 1 door
• Playhouse must have minimum of 1 window
• Playhouse must have a floor
• Playhouse must have finished exterior
  
  Valerie Krause
  Executive Officer
  SMWHBA
  269-473-5035 office
  269-473-3643 fax
  swmhba@att.net
  
  Make the most of your membership, become involved!

• Our membership drive is coming up next week already!!  We need volunteers to help with recruitment of new members.  There is no cold calling in our membership drive, you will be calling your contacts and asking them to join if they are not already members!  Remember, it is good business to do business with a member!

• The SWMHBA has a new affinity program. Verizon Wireless is offering a 17% discount for services to members who derive all, or substantially all, of its revenue from the construction industry (Builders, plumbers, electricians, flooring, landscaping, etc…). This discount is only available to members of an HBA that fit the description above.  They are also offering a one-time bill credit of $100 that expires 4/29/08.  If you wish to learn more, contact Tracee Gravat at 269-615-1299 or email her at tracee.gravatt@verizonwireless.com.  She can let you know if you qualify, and answer any questions you may have. To take advantage of these savings you must to speak to Tracee or a business account executive because a wireless store will not know about it, or be able to offer it.
  
  Valerie Krause
  Executive Officer
  SMWHBA
  269-473-5035 office
  269-473-3643 fax
  swmhba@att.net
  
  Make the most of your membership, become involved!

• Our Home, Garden & Leisure Show was this past weekend.  Attendance was up 18%, and was the highest it has been since we moved to the Mendel Center several years ago.

• We still have possession of the Harley-Davidson we are raffling.  You will be seeing it around as some members have volunteered to put the bike on display at their locations to sell tickets!

• I would like to thank the builders who have already volunteered to build playhouses for our “mini” Parade of Homes!  They have some really great ideas, but I have been sworn to secrecy!

• Our 2008 membership directories are in.  You can get yours at the general membership meeting tonight, or stop by the SWMHBA office.

• Parade of Homes fees and contracts are due into the SWMHBA office by April 30^th!  We are also looking for a site to host the VIP party & Business after hours.  Let us know if you would like your site to be considered.

• The SWMHBA office will be closed on Friday, March 21^st in observance of Good Friday.

Valerie Krause
Executive Officer
SWMHBA
107 W. Ferry St.
Berrien Springs, MI  49103
Office: 269-473-5035
Fax: 269-473-3643
swmhba@att.net
www.swmhba.com

Make the most of your membership, become involved!

• I want to send out a BIG THANK YOU to Ace Hardware, Big C Lumber & The Rental Branch for their generous donations to the surplus sale!  Because of them, we have windows, doors, plumbing supplies, door handles, paint, tools and much more.

• I have an exciting announcement for all of you competitive members!  We will be raffling playhouses during the Parade of Homes.  The playhouses will be on display at various Parade of Home houses and will be treated like a mini Parade of Homes.  I am also working on getting permission to display the playhouses on the sidewalk outside our building here in Berrien Springs.  To get the Mini Parade of Homes started, Glenlord Lumber and Big C Lumber will be having a “playhouse build off”. I already have one builder committed to building a playhouse or 2, and he plans on winning!  You do not need to have a home in the Parade of Homes to participate, so if you are interested in joining the fun, let me know and we can talk about the requirements!

• Last day to submit your Parade of Homes entry is April 30th.

• The Parade of Homes has a number of sponsorships available to the members.  We can have up to 3 non-competing sponsors in each category, sponsorships available are:
• $10,000.00 investment
• Title sponsor gets Company logo on all print media, name mentioned on all radio ads, Full page in the 2008 Parade of Homes Guidebook, Thank you article in the 2008 Guidebook giving sponsor additional opportunity for company history, services, and location., logo on all 2008 POH Builder signs, 8 complementary tickets to VIP Party on July 23, 2008, 2 free booth spaces at the 2009 Home & Garden Show, Complimentary foursome at 2008 golf outing, 6 complimentary  tickets to Christmas Party, Free table at 2009 Parade of Homes kick off night, 20 complimentary 2008 POH entry tickets.
• $5,000.00 investment General Sponsorship
• This sponsor gets ½ page ad in 2008 POH guidebook, 6 complementary tickets to VIP party July 23, 2008, complimentary twosome at 2008 golf outing, One free booth space at 2009 Home & Garden show, 4 complimentary tickets to Christmas party, Free table at Parade of Homes kick off night, 8 complementary 2008 POH entry tickets, Signage in all parade of homes.
• $2,500.00 investment
• VIP/Business After Hours Sponsorship includes:  Logo on VIP Party invitations, tickets, Signage/Banners at event & in Business After Hours Brochure with Company information.  ¼ page ad in 2008 Parade of Homes Guidebook, 6 complementary POH entry tickets, complementary golfer in the 2008 golf outing, 4 complementary tickets to the VIP party on July 23, 2008, 2 complementary tickets to the Christmas party, and a free table at the 2009 Parade of Homes kick off night.
• $1,000.00 investment
• We can have up to 10 sponsors in this category.  Sponsors get a business card ad in the 2008 parade of Homes Guidebook, 2 complementary tickets to the VIP party on July 23, 2008, 4 complementary 2008 POH entry tickets, and a free table at the 2009 Parade of Homes kick off night.

Valerie Krause