Introducing the Member Advantage Update
Welcome to the premier issue of a new monthly publication created specifically for Executive Officers and Membership Directors of NAHB-affiliated associations.

With programs as popular and in-demand as GM Preferred Supplier Pricing and Dell’s added discount in January for NAHB Members, it’s becoming increasingly important for all of us to know how to help members get the most value from these and other Member Advantage programs.

The Member Advantage Update is an important part of our commitment to provide more value to members and encourage as many associations as possible to profit from the HBA Revenue Sharing Program and the BuilderBooks.com Retail Affiliate Program.

That’s why this will be known as the e-newsletter with the mission of “Saving and making money for members and builder associations.”

The Member Advantage Update: every month bringing you new ways to guarantee that your members can join in the savings.

NOTE:  To take full advantage of the links in this newsletter, you must be logged in to www.nahb.org.

Over $57,000 Distributed to Participating HBAs
The Member Advantage program means more than big savings for our members. 

On March 25, checks were sent to 133 HBAs who have signed-up for  NAHB Revenue Sharing.  More than $57,000 was distributed from the AT&T Wireless, NEBS, NOVA, Paychex, Liberty Mutual, Pitney Bowes, and Williams Scotsman affinity programs.  And with the addition of General Motors in this year, revenue sharing has a bright future for 2005 and beyond.  Click here and make sure your builder association is signed up!

Make sure your association home page is linked to the Member Advantage program —  www.nahb.org/ma .

For Member Advantage graphics for your home page, click here or visit www.nahb.org/matoolkit. [return to top]

The Latest on GM Preferred Supplier Pricing for NAHB Members
The GM Preferred Supplier Pricing Program runs through December 2005 and hundreds of members have already saved thousands on purchases of new GM vehicles.  Leading up to Membership Day, this can be a great tool to help recruit new members — after 30 days they’re eligible to participate too!  So spread the word and get new members!

The NAHB/GM Program was launched on February 3 with a mailing to all NAHB members and HBA Executive Officers, and the first month was lively with tremendous enthusiasm from the NAHB community and lots of last minute fine tuning at NAHB and GM headquarters. 

During this time we’ve also developed materials that can be used by state and local associations to help promote the GM Supplier Pricing Program to members and each week more will be added from web banners to newsletter copy. To access these materials go to www.nahb.org/matoolkit and click on the SHOWCASE icon. Be sure to check out the new, full page ad/flyer ready to download. (Rand will post/add link on Tuesday)

This is a great program — members can save up to $5,000 on all GM nameplates like Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn, GMC, and Saab.  From luxury sedans to work vehicles to SUVs , there’s a car or truck in the GM line-up for all NAHB members.

Use this article and full-page ad/flyer in your newsletters or member mailings or as meeting handouts. [return to top]

And Your Staff Can Drive Away, Too
Did you know who else is eligible?  Of course NAHB Members qualify.  But local and state association staff across the country are also eligible for these great deals from GM.  To ensure that your staff members are included, EOs should submit an HBA employee roster to gmaffinity@nahb.com in an Excel format.  Include the following seven fields:

Name, Street Address 2nd Address (if applicable or leave blank), City,  State,  Zip, Phone Number

Then your staff should visit www.gmfleet.com/nahb  to receive complete information about the program. The GM database will be refreshed every month with new members and staff. To be eligible for the GM Supplier Pricing Program your name must be in the GM database.  Send the HBA employee roster along with any questions, to gmaffinity@nahb.com. [return to top]

Let Us Keep Your Web site and Your Members Up-to-Date
As long as you have a link to www.nahb.org/ma on your Association home page, your members will have access to the most up-to-date information on each of the participating Member Advantage companies.  Link to the page where members first learned about Dell’s January promotion with added discounts for NAHB members, and where members were first able to sign-up online for the free Hertz #1 Club Gold membership.  Plus this was the page where members could first see the debuts of the Paychex Online Tour for NAHB members and the application for the first NAHB Rewards American Express® Card, issued by MBNA America®.

Make sure your members are always in the know — and your home page is always up-to-date. When you link to www.nahb.org/ma, everybody’s automatically in the loop.

For Member Advantage graphics for your home page, click here or visit www.nahb.org/matoolkit.
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From Casual Friday Clear Through to the 19th Hole

Perfect for the office or golf course, the NAHB 100% cotton polo shirt is a must for your wardrobe. Two styles available. To order, click here or visit www.builderbooks.com and click on “merchandise.”
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'A Great Tool to Market Our Members' Professionalism'
The HBA of Louisville puts a BuilderBooks.com publication to work for their builder members every day.
 
Over the course of the year, they order from 1,500-2,000 copies of Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, 2nd Edition, 2000 published by BuildersBooks.com and the NAHB Business Management Department.  “About two years ago we adopted Guidelines as the warranty that our builders provide to their new home buyers,” says Gail Schell, Assistant Executive Vice President, Home Builders Association of Louisville.
 
Guidelines is the result of the contributions and reviews of almost 200 NAHB members and local Association professionals across the country.
 
“The booklet goes through many more details than our warranty ever did.  It’s a great tool to prevent and resolve customer complaints and, most of all it’s a great marketing tool to show prospects the professionalism of our members.”
 
Schell is most pleased with the reaction of her members’ customers. “This book is part of the way we try to educate the consumer.  It’s always great when the consumer knows what’s going on.”  

 Visit BuilderBooks.com for more details.
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Make Money By the Book
Making money doesn't get any easier than this!  Sign up to be a BuilderBooks.com Retail Affiliate Member and start making money right away. Every time a visitor makes a purchase through your Association’s Web site, you earn up to 5% of each sale.  Plus, if a customer identifies your Association as the source on the BuilderBooks.com’s check-out page you will also earn up to 5% of that sale.

Simply complete your application online.  Once you’re accepted into the Program, you’ll be provided with graphics and easy-to-use guidelines. To permit accurate tracking, reporting, and referral fee accrual, we will provide you with special "tagged" links, to help us keep track of orders we receive as result of this special link.

Soon, your Association is on the way to earning up to 5% on every item sold. [return to top]

Other News

While supplies last, make sure you have plenty of the 2005 Member Advantage Brochures (Volume V).  Click here or visit http://www.nahb.org/matoolkit  for the convenient order form.  

Cingular Wireless — As a result of the recent merger, Cingular Wireless has terminated its AT&T Wireless Program with NAHB effective Monday, April 18.  The NAHB Affinity Programs team is exploring a potential new relationship with Cingular or with another national wireless service.

DELL Computers — The DELL Computer program continues to be a one of our most popular benefits and guarantees that NAHB members get the best deals in addition to the NAHB 3-8% discount.  DELL is advising that all members select the system or products they want to buy using the catalog or visiting the Dell website but to call the toll-free number to make the actual purchase.  
To select visit: www.dell.com/smb/NAHB (access code: NAHB; access key: NAHBDELL);  To order:  Call 877-327-5486.

Nation's Building News — Every week, check out Member Advantage offers in the "Association News" section.  Make sure all your members and their employees subscribe.  Visit www.nahb.org/nbn . [return to top]