Christy joined NAHB from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association where she held a similar position. She is looking forward to working with the HBAs and membership to grow the Member Advantage programs. In this tough economy, members can save money and HBAs can generate non-dues revenue- so it is a win/win situation. The new 2010 Member Advantage program brochures and postcards are now available to order online at www.nahb.org/matoolkit.

We are working on several new programs which should be put into place within the next few months. Make sure your staff is signed up for the Member Advantage Update so they can help get the word out to your membership. The Member Advantage Update is delivered bimonthly via email and includes the latest on new and current programs, along with updates from BuilderBooks. Don’t miss out on non-dues revenue; make sure your HBA is signed up for all of our current programs. Don’t forget that HBA staff is eligible for all of the Member Advantage discounts.

Christy would love to hear from you. If anyone has suggestions for new programs, creative promotional ideas, or just wants to say hello, contact her at (202) 266-8273 or cronaldson@nahb.org. [return to top]

That means:

• Speed and Expedited Service - No stopping at any counters at over 40 of the world’s busiest airports.
• At over 1,000 locations worldwide, go to the designated Gold counter, show your license and pick up your keys.
• At over 1,000 locations worldwide, go to the designated Gold counter, show your license and pick up your keys.

Applying is easy. Click here to fill out the online application, and be sure to include your NAHB CDP# 51046 in your profile.

Always be sure to use your NAHB discount CDP# 51046 when making reservations. For more information and special offers visit the Hertz page on the NAHB website www.nahb.org/ma. Hertz #1 Club Gold is just another way Hertz puts you in the driver’s seat! [return to top]

Maximize your mobility with the 10.1-inch diagonal mini that packs amazing functionality into a stylish, yet durable companion PC. Features include:

> Intel® Atom™ Processor N450 (1.66 GHz)²
> Genuine Windows® 7 Starter
> 1 GB memory, 160 GB hard drive³
> Access the web in seconds with HP QuickWeb⁴

Expand your capabilities and add an HP External USB CD/DVD R/RW Drive for $99.

For details on this offer and free U.S. ground shipping⁵, visit www.hp.com/go/nahb or call 1.800.202.4488 and mention NAHB.

This system may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware and/or a DVD drive to install the Windows 7 software and take full advantage of Windows 7 functionality. See http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ for details.
1. Prices available at member website or by calling 1.800.202.4488 (mention NAHB). Pricing is subject to change without notice. U.S. only.
2. Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.
3. GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 16GB (for Windows 7) of system disk is reserved for system recovery software.
4. HP QuickWeb is accessible when the notebook is off in Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7-based systems; not supported from hibernation. Internet access required. Timing may vary depending on the system configuration. To enable the feature following the removal of the battery, reboot the notebook prior to subsequent use.
5. All orders must be billed and shipped to a U.S. address. Some restrictions apply. [return to top]

As an NAHB member, you can protect your business by taking advantage of a special "Lock Your Rate" offer. NAHB has negotiated this exclusive offer with Solveras, guaranteeing that your rates will be locked in at 2009 prices through 2010. In other words, when the increased rates take effect in April, you will see continued savings through the end of this year.

Don't wait until your rates increase. Lock in 2009 rates now by calling 1-800-613-0148. [return to top]

Some of the benefits you’ll find at Hertz Local Edition Locations:

• Unlimited mileage
• Clean, good quality, low-mileage vehicles with many features
• Guaranteed availability
• One way rentals
• Convenient Customer Pick-Up and Return Service available within 15 minutes of the HLE location
• Affordable leisure and replacement rates
• Pick up in your neighborhood and drop off at the airport

Be sure to use your NAHB discount CDP# 51046 when making reservations. For more information and special offers visit the Hertz page on the NAHB website www.nahb.org/ma. Hertz Local Edition is just another way Hertz puts you in the driver's seat! [return to top]

It is no secret that identity theft is becoming a growing concern among businesses and consumers alike. Every day, there are new reports of the devastating effects a breach of personal information can have on its victims. Recognizing this burgeoning threat, the United States government passed federal laws called the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA). This detailed act tackles many issues that revolve around identity theft from prevention and credit history restoration to credit report access.

Since that time, identity theft has continued to pose a major threat to consumers. In response to this growing problem, the major credit card brands, Visa®, MasterCard®. American Express® and Discover® came together to put into place a set of standards that all businesses are required to follow in order to maintain a secure environment for their customers' credit card information. These standards, now known as PCI Compliance (Payment Card Industry Compliance), require all businesses to be in compliant by July 2010.

If your business that takes credit cards, this may leave you with the obvious question, "How do I know if I am PCI Compliant?"

Though PCI Compliance may seem complicated, there are five basic steps your business should follow in order to ensure compliance.

Step 1: Determine Your Merchant Level

First, you must know your merchant level. The merchant level is determined by the number of credit card transactions the business processes per year. (Note: This is the number of transactions, not the dollars of sales revenue.) Based on this number, there are four levels:

Level 1 – Businesses that have 6 million or more in Visa® and Mastercard® transactions per year.
Level 2 – Businesses that have between 1-6 million transactions per year.
Level 3 – Business that have 20,000 to 1 million Visa® and MasterCard® e-commerce, or Web transactions per year.
Level 4 – Businesses with Web transactions that total up to 20,000 per year, and all other businesses regardless of how they accept cards, processing up to 1 million transactions per year.

The large majority of business owners will fall under level 4, which is the level being addressed in this article.

Step 2: Identify your Validation Type and which Self-Assessment Questionnaire your business needs to complete.

Your validation type is determined by the method you use to accept credit card payments. To find your validation type and get a copy of the corresponding questionnaire for your business, visit www.pcisecuritystandards.com.

Step 3: Complete the Self-Assessment Questionnaire.

Now that you know your validation type and have the correct questionnaire, step three is simply to follow the instructions provided on the questionnaire and complete it. Many processors may have an online tool to help you complete the process, so it may be to your advantage to check with your processor before completing this step.

Step 4: Determine if your business is required to pass a vulnerability scan.

This step is required for businesses that electronically store cardholder information or have processing systems that have Internet connectivity. Generally speaking, this would refer to businesses that have a website capable of accepting credit cards through a payment gateway.

If you do, you need to have a quarterly security scan performed by a PCI SSC Approved Scanning Vendor, or ASV. Your processor most likely has made arrangements with an ASV so you don’t have to search one out yourself.

Step 5: Complete an Attestation of Compliance

Once you've completed the appropriate questionnaire, if your processor requires it, you may need to complete and submit an Attestation of Compliance, which is located within the questionnaire. (Found at www.PCIsecuritystandards.org)

In review, your business will need to submit the SAQ questionnaire, evidence of a passing scan (if applicable), and the Attestation of Compliance, along with any other requested documentation to your acquirer or processor. This is something you may have to do every year, but your processor might have put into place some tools to help you complete the documentation more easily.

Still have questions? We understand. We recommend you call your processor or the NAHB’s Member Benefit and approved payment-processing provider Solveras Payment Solutions at 800-613-0148. [return to top]

Whether they build two homes a year or over 1,000, the National Association of Home Builders’ Cost of Doing Business Study, 2010 Edition is the most important book your builder members will read this year.

This one-of-a-kind resource provides the unique opportunity for your members to compare themselves with other builders across the country. They’ll be able to see how they measure up with industry-wide averages in these important areas:

• Gross margin and net profit
• Cost of goods sold
• Financial ratios (Current Ratio, Debt-to-Equity Ratio, and more

The Cost of Doing Business Study has the data, analyses, and guidance needed to boost profitability, increase efficiency, set realistic budget targets, and improve business practices.

To order the Cost of Doing Business Study, 2010 Edition refer your members to www.BuilderBooks.com or 1-800-223-2665. [return to top]

The Commentary allows readers to better navigate the Standard. Each chapter breaks down the different components found in the Standard, allowing builders and remodelers to learn the best way to build green in their communities.

Order your copies of the Commentary in bulk today to distribute to your members or offer them at your meetings, conferences and green building seminars. The more you order the more you save:

Retail: $45.95
Member $41.95

• 25-49 copies: 20% off retail
• 50-99 copies: 30% off retail
• 100-249 copies: 40% off retail
• 250-499 copies: 50% off retail
• 500+ copies: 60% off retail

Click here to order the National Green Building Standard Commentary in bulk. [return to top]

Social Media for Home Builders: It’s Easier Than You Think will teach you how to use social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to increase your visibility and improve your sales results.

Author Carol M. Flammer, CAPS, CSP, MIRM, demonstrates how builders and developers are effectively using two-way communication via the Internet and social media outlets to attract consumers, follow up on leads and improve customer service. This is the only book that speaks specifically to the needs of the real estate industry, and teaches home builders how to build a social media presence.

Carol Flammer outlines in a clear, concise style how to engage consumers through social media. She demonstrates the power of social media through case studies and online outlets created specifically for the home building industry. The book is designed to help readers understand social media and construct a strategic plan for using it to attract new home buyers. Readers learn how to use social media sites to:

• build a brand
• engage new and existing consumers
• manage online reputation
• increase Web site traffic
• perform social media optimization
• sell more homes

Social Media for Home Builders is available at www.BuilderBooks. [return to top]