BUILD-PAC Featured Event: NAHB President Dave Wilson Honored in St. Louis
Whether its a golf tournament, reception, luncheon, pheasant hunt or a wine tasting, NAHB members across the country hold many different events to raise money for BUILD-PAC. Often, the only people who hear about these events are those who attend. We want to make sure everyone is aware of the great fundraisers and unique ways our members raise money for BUILD-PAC.

Therefore, we would like to introduce our newest addition to BUILD-PAConnection — our “Featured Event” series. 

We will highlight one event in each issue. This will not only allow us to recognize and thank those states that go above and beyond for BUILD-PAC, it also will give all of our contributors additional fundraising event ideas.

If you would like your fundraiser to be considered for the “Featured Event” series please contact Bhavna Pandit, Director of Finance, at 800-368-5242 x8259 or bpandit@nahb.com.    

This Week's Featured Event:  Kansas City, MO

Kansas City has held a Gold Key reception for the past three years which has always proven to be a tremendous success. This year was no different. Kansas City hosted a  wine tasting and dinner event held at The Villa. NAHB President Dave Wilson was the featured guest and emphasized the important relationship between BUILD-PAC and our efforts on Capitol Hill. 

"Having Dave come to Kansas City to talk to us about BUILD-PAC is a great honor. We have had incredible support from our members for BUILD-PAC because they see the tremendous impact their involvement has in the legislative process, our industry and on the ability of local families to buy new homes. Supporting candidates who support housing is critical to the future of our industry," said Tim Underwood, Kansas City HBA Executive Vice-President/CEO.

The event garnered tremendous support.  While contributions are still coming in, when all is said and done, BUILD-PAC will have raised close to $50,000. The event recruited new club members and many members renewed their BUILD-PAC memberships.

Ten Tips for Holding a Great BUILD-PAC Fundraiser:

1. Utilize the BUILD-PAC staff for everything from legal advice to logistics.
2. Recruit volunteers to help with the event — you can't do it all!
3. Set a fundraising goal — whether $10,000 or $100,000 — set it and aim for it!
4. Allow enough time to plan a successful event.
5. Invite an honored guest — such as an NAHB officer or your U.S. member of Congress.
6. Develop a timeline and stick to deadlines.
7. Collect contributions prior to the event.
8. Keep good track of contributions, making sure to have all information needed.
9. Follow-up — make sure all "pledges" are collected immediately after the event.
10. Thank-yous — make sure you thank all volunteers who made the event possible.

Meet the BUILD-PAC Officers: 2005 Chairman, Earl Sharp

Earl Sharp, 2005 BUILD-PAC Chair, has worked in the building industry for 47 years. He has worked construction while attending college as well as later while teaching at a 56-student elementary school in Appalachia. 

Sharp was drafted into the military where he served with the military police. He was stationed in Montgomery, AL, when Dr. Martin Luther King was there during the early moments in the Civil Rights movement.

Sharp started his first construction company 41 years ago and has loved the building industry ever since. He attended his first NAHB International Builders' Show in 1969.

Sharp's involvement in the building industry led to his involvement with NAHB. He has served as president of his local home builders' association, as a national vice president twice (1988-1989 and 2000-2001) and he has served on several committees.

One of Sharp's passions is politics. He marries his love of politics and his commitment to his business and industry through involvement with NAHB on advocacy matters. One of Sharp's favorite sayings is, "You need three things to make your business successful — your lawyer, your accountant and your lobbyist. Without the third, the first two are going to cost you more." 

Sharp believes that if you don't get involved in politics and legislative action, you don't really have your business' best interest at heart.

Sharp undoubtedly has the whole industry's best interest at heart. He has taken on the monumental task of leading BUILD-PAC to the next level. He has committed to building the PAC to $4 million this election cycle. Sharp believes BUILD-PAC will achieve this goal if the membership is properly educated on the importance and necessity of a strong PAC. He feels that the PAC has the full support of NAHB leadership and is poised to achieve the goal.

Earl Sharp resides in Knoxville, TN, with Libby, his wife of 47 years. They have three daughters, four granddaughters and three grandsons.[return to top]

BUILD-PAC Recognizes New Club Members

New BUILD-PAC Club Members*

Capitol Club Anne McKnight (TN) Gold Key Club Bill Kinnebrew (AL) Jay Mills (NM) Skip Mead (NM)
*As of May 25th

BUILD-PAC Political Trivia

1. What politician, when told that his trouser fly was open said, "Dead birds don't fall out of their nests..."?
   
   
2. Name the two people served as vice president for more than one president AND name the Presidents under whom they served.
   
   
3. Name at least three fascinating similarities between the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.

The person who responds the quickest with correct answers to all three questions will have his or her choice of the following prizes: a PING NAHB golf wind shirt; a box of golf balls; or a BUILD-PAC martini shaker and martini glasses. 

The winner will be recognized in the June 9 edition of BUILD-PAConnection.

E-mail your answers to: BUILD-PAC@nahb.com or simply hit "reply."

And last month's winner is...

Eric Bluestone, of Fresh Meadows, NY.

He answered the following three questions in the May 13 edition of BUILD-PAConnection ccorrectly:

Question:   Who was the only United States Senator elected by write-in votes?
Answer:   Strom Thurmond, of South Carolina, in 1954

Question:   Who was the only person ever to win the presidency with both fewer popular votes and fewer electoral votes than his opponent?
Answer:   John Quincy Adams

Question:   Who was the first person to be elected to Congress while in jail?
Answer:   Matthew Lyon, of Vermont, in 1798

Congratulations, Eric.

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