Celebrate National Remodeling Month
One in every eight people in the United States is considered an “older” American, according to government statistics.

During the month of May, National Home Remodeling Month, NAHB's Remodelors™ Council will join the U.S. Administration on Aging in celebrating its Older Americans Month by saluting the more than 35 million people who as they get older want to age in place.

Throughout May, be sure to take advantage of the opportunities surrounding National Remodeling Month to help publicize the industry and emphasize to homeowners the importance of hiring qualified, professional remodelers. Contact your local council to find out about plans for the month and join this important campaign.

The National Remodelors™ Council has downloadable material to help promote National Remodeling Month including proclamations, public service announcements, press releases and articles. Visit www.nahb.org/remodelingmonth for more information.

Join Us at the Spring Board Meeting

Mark your calendar and make your reservations today to join the Remodelors™ Council and the rest of the NAHB family during the NAHB Spring Board Meeting, April 28 – May 2 at the Wardman Park Marriott hotel in Washington, D.C. Click here to register for the meeting.

Wednesday, April 28 
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.        Legislative Briefings and Capitol Hill Visits
                                                     
Thursday, April 29
7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.         Public Affairs Committee 
7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.         Education & Business Dev. Comm.                               
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.      CAPS Board of Governors
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.      Business Associates Committee       
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.      Remodelor 20 Club Working Group
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.    CGR Board of Governors
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.    Membership & Council Development Comm.
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.         Past Chairs Committee        
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.         Remodelors™ Night Out                                         

Friday, April 30 
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.         Remodelors™ Council Board of Trustees
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.       Remodelors™ Council General Session

Saturday, May 1      
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.        Area Caucuses
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.          NAHB Board of Directors Meeting

Sunday, May 2
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.        NAHB Board of Directors Meeting

*Remodelors™ Council events in bold. [return to top]

Remodelors™ Council Unveils New Business Associates Committee at Spring Board Meeting
The Remodelors™ Council leadership is pleased to announce the formation of the Business Associates Committee, a committee within the Remodelors™ Council. Bill Lazor, CGRA, of Simonton Windows, chair of the Business Associates Committee and Doug Sutton CGR, CAPS, chair of the Remodelors™ Council, invite associate members and other interested members to join the committee at its first meeting during the 2004 NAHB’s Spring Board meeting. It will be held on Thursday, April 29, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. in the Washington 6 Room at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C.

The goal of this committee is to assist council leadership in developing and implementing strategic initiatives that foster continued growth and education opportunities for NAHB Remodelors™ Council members nationwide.

For more information on the committee, contact Therese Ford Crahan, executive director of NAHB Remodelors™ Council. [return to top]

Join your fellow Remodelors Council Members at the Best Networking Event in DC
Join us for the famous Remodelors Night Out during the Spring Board meeting in Washington, D.C. at The District ChopHouse & Brewery.

An intimate classic American gathering place, The District ChopHouse & Brewery prides itself in serving some of the city's finest handcrafted beers and dining fare. The décor is a rich casual setting; a turn-of-the-century bank transformed into one of Washington’s premiere establishments.

Price of admission includes beer and wine, unlimited billiards, assorted appetizers and great conversation. Don’t miss out on this chance to experience the fun side of the Remodelors™ Council!  A reservation is required for this event. Reservations are $40 per person. 

Fax or mail reservation form to: NAHB Remodelors™ Council, ATTN: Debbie Leitner, 1201 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Fax: 202-266-8390. Or e-mail your reservation and credit card information to dleitner@nahb.com. 

Special thanks to our Remodelors Night Sponsors: Pella Corporation, Dupont Tyvek Weatherization Systems, Georgia Pacific and Marvin Windows and Doors. [return to top]

We Have a Winner! Council Names First Bryan Patchan Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations to Steve Scheipeter, CGR, of S.W. Scheipeter Construction, the Remodelors™ Council inaugural Bryan Patchan Scholarship recipient! By winning the scholarship, Scheipeter — the vice chairman of the HBA of Greater St. Louis’s Remodelors™ Council (MO) — receives $1,000 toward his costs to attend the NAHB Spring Board Meeting in Washington, D.C.

“I am very excited to be the recipient of the scholarship,” says Scheipeter. “I applied for the scholarship because I take over as chairperson of our Remodelors™ Council this fall. We have a great council here in St. Louis that has a history of devoted, knowledgeable companies with great involvement. I feel that being the chair comes with a great deal of responsibility and my hope is that participating in the Spring Board Meetings will help me to do a better job with my term.”

Who will be the 2005 Bryan Patchan Scholarship recipient? Stay tuned for more information on how to apply. [return to top]

ASID Approves CAPS Courses for Association Certification
The buzz is growing. Since its inception in 2002, NAHB’s Certified Aging-in-Place (CAPS) designation has caught the attention of the consumer media, healthcare professionals, designers and builders across the country. In only two years, the number of professionals receiving their CAPS designation has doubled each year.

The latest recognition for the value of the CAPS program comes as The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) recently facilitated approval of two of NAHB’s CAPS courses — Working with and Marketing to Older Adults and Home Modifications — for inclusion in its own ASID education certification requirements.

The CAPS courses Working with and Marketing to Older Adults and Home Modifications are each worth 0.7 continuing education units (CEUs). ASID is a member of Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC), a consortium of design organizations that share CEU approval criteria and processes. Because these courses were approved through the IDCEC, they are also approved for continuing education by all member organizations (Interior Designers of Canada, Interior Design Education Council, International Interior Design Association, and the National Kitchen & Bath Association) and will be registered with the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).

• The Working with Older Adults and Marketing to Older Adults course provides a background on the older adult population; communication techniques; common remodeling expenditures and projects. The class also provides information and techniques to assist you in accessing the aging-in-place remodeling market. This course is registered with the NCIDQ Registry Service as ASID course #1955 which carries 0.7 CEUs.
  
  
• The Home Modifications course provides information on the codes and standards, common barriers and solutions as well as product ideas and resources. This course is registered with the NCIDQ Registry Service as ASID course #1959 which carries 0.7 CEUs.

NAHB earlier included ASID certification to the list of designations exempt from the mandatory Introduction to Business Management course requirement held on the third day during CAPS education sessions. Industry professionals who have earned the ASID certification and are interested in earning the CAPS designation are required to successfully complete the Working with and Marketing to Older Adults and Home Modifications courses and complete the CAPS graduation application.

Also, by ASID adding these courses to their curriculum it allows local Remodelors Councils to expand their educational sessions to participants outside the remodeling industry. For more information on how to promote your CAPS courses to local ASID members, e-mail the Remodelors™ Council or call 800-368-5242 x8217. [return to top]

CAPS Designation Highlighted on AARP Web Site
Great news for CAPS professionals and those looking to age in place! AARP’s Web site, www.aarp.org, now features a Web page devoted to the CAPS designation. Older Americans looking to age in place, remodel or use universal design techniques in their homes now have access to CAPS professionals who have been trained to help them make their house a home for life.

“By placing CAPS information on AARP’s Web site, CAPS professionals will be able to help a larger number of active adults who want to age in place,” said CAPS Chairman Dan Bawden, CGR, CAPS, of Legal Eagle Contracting Co, in Houston. "Connecting trustworthy, trained contractors with seniors who really need these services has been the vision for this program all along."

To view the CAPS Web page, click here. [return to top]

Remodelors™ Council Holds Special Membership Day Contest
Join your fellow Remodelors™ Councils and take part in this annual event. This year, we are looking to bring in even more new Remodelors Council Members than 2003.

Our 2004 National Membership Day theme is… Relationships that Work.

Plan to call 800-899-6242 on Monday, April 26, between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST to report your new Remodelors™ Council members for April 2004! Preliminary competition and award information is detailed below.

• Only local Remodelors™ Councils affiliated with the NAHB Remodelors™ Council are eligible to participate. Only new members for the month of April 2004 will be counted!

The awards will be broken down into three categories based on their total number of members as reported as of April 2004 membership reports. The categories will be:

• Category 1:       0-50 council members
• Category 2:       51-100 council members
• Category 3:       100+ council members

Prizes will be awarded to one council in each group/size category. Winners in each membership size category will receive an official Remodelors™ Council Shirt!
 
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! For more information, contact Debbie Leitner,
800-368-5242 x8323. [return to top]

Recruit Three Members in April, Get a Membership Day Jean Jacket
Mark Your Calendars for Membership Day: April 26

Members who recruit three or more new members during April as part of the NAHB National Membership Day campaign will receive a 2004 NAHB jean jacket.

This year, Membership Day prizes also include:

• Double Spike Credits: All recruiters will receive double spike recruitment credits for their April recruits. Double Spike retention credits will also be issued for the retention of new 2003 members.
• Rookie Recruiter Award: This award is presented to first-year members who recruit the most new members during April within his or her group size.

New this year, NAHB will webcast Membership Day activities including tips from top Spikes, new member mentoring ideas, creative Membership Day activities from HBAs around the country and more.

For information, e-mail the Membership Hotline , call 800-368-5242 x8440, or visit www.nahb.org/membershipday.                                           [return to top]

Thank You to Our Generous Strategic Partners
Show your support for the Remodelors™ Council 2004 Platinum and Gold Strategic Partners by visiting their web sites.

Platinum
Pella Corporation
Pella Corporation continues its tradition of support of the Remodelors Council as the first Platinum Level Strategic Partner under the new sponsorship program. Pella Corporation is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium-quality windows and doors. Pella offers a full range of residential and commercial products under three distinct product lines — Architect Series, Designer Series and ProLine. Pella’s Precision Fit windows are high-quality wood replacement windows. Extensive information about the company and its products is available at www.Pella.com.

Gold
Dupont Tyvek Weatherization Systems
DuPont Tyvek Weatherization Systems make homes and commercial buildings more comfortable, more energy efficient and protect them from water damage. You wouldn’t think about building without insulation in your walls. You shouldn’t think about building without the world’s leading housewrap—Tyvek HomeWrap. Tyvek helps protect against air infiltration, manages moisture vapor, and protects the wall when rain and water get behind vinyl siding, wood siding, brick or stucco. Find out more at www.tyvek.com.

Georgia Pacific
Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's leading manufacturers of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products and related chemicals. GP's building products include plywood, oriented strand board, gypsum wallboard and related installation materials, lumber, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, hardboard and related chemicals. For more information visit the web site at www.gp.com.

Marvin Windows and Doors
Marvin Windows and Doors is the original and only made-to-order company. The company's wood and clad wood windows and doors go through a meticulous process that starts with the best wood, greater care and thorough handcrafting, until your project is complete. Information on Marvin products, installation instructions, case studies, a virtual tour of the factory and much more are available at www.marvin.com.

If you would like information on how to become a Strategic Partner, contact Julie Mines or call
800-368-5242 x8053. [return to top]

Remodelors™ Council Member Wins Green Building Award
Congratulations to Carl Seville and the Sawhorse Construction Team!

NAHB recently announced the winners of the 2004 National Green Building Awards, which were presented during the sixth annual National Green Building Conference in Austin, TX. Hosted by NAHB, the conference showcases resource-efficient residential design, development and construction.

Remodelors™ Council member Carl Seville, with Sawhorse Construction, Inc., in Atlanta, won the Green Building Award for remodeling.

The Green Project of the Year in Remodeling award goes to the company that best showcases green design and construction techniques in modifications or improvements to existing residential structures in terms of water use, ventilation, energy efficiency and green products. Sawhorse Construction proved its commitment to producing energy-efficient, healthy and resource-efficient residential renovation projects through its EarthCraft Home Renovation Program. [return to top]

Mold Fears Not Yet Dead: Legislation Alive in 21 States
While mold hysteria in the public and the media has subsided, the issue is far from forgotten at state legislatures. Twenty-one states have introduced some form of mold legislation in 2004, including bills that mislabel mold as “toxic” and attempt to link mold exposure to adverse health conditions.

NAHB's common-sense mold policy says that residential mold legislation and regulations must be based on sound science and research. The association offers a wealth of resources for builders and staffers to use in advocating this policy.

At the top of the list is the Scientific Literature Review of Mold, which offers an expert panel's review of existing scientific mold literature.  In short, the panel reported that mold can cause allergic reactions in sensitized individuals but there is scant evidence that it is linked to many other health problems.

The panel was convened by NAHB to help association members sort through the complex and often conflicting information on the health effects of mold. Hard copy results of their study are available for purchase or NAHB members can download the report online.

Other mold resources are available on NAHB's web site, including a list of pending mold legislation, legal information, consumer resources and talking points. Association members and staff can access this information online from the NAHB web site.

To learn more about mold issues and resources available to members, contact NAHB's David Jaffe at 800-368-5242 x8317.  [return to top]

NAHB Members Receive 5% Discount from AT&T Wireless
NAHB members can take advantage of a 5% discount on monthly cellular services available in all AT&T Wireless markets. Qualified charges for discounts include one-time charges for Wireless Service activation, conversion and rate plan changes, monthly wireless access, home wireless airtime charges, roaming airtime charges incurred in AT&T Wireless markets, charges for billing detail, and charges for additional features such as voice mail.

For information on activating new AT&T Wireless Services call 888-444-4410; be sure to mention code 50001515 and your NAHB membership. If you have existing AT&T Wireless Services and would like to start receiving the 5% discount, call 800-459-6524, mention code 50001515, and mention your NAHB membership. Or visit the AT&T Wireless web site, http://www.attws.com/specials/wap/.
 
For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to http://memberadvantage.nahb.org.

Or visit www.nahb.org to explore the full range of benefits associated with membership in your local, state and national home builders associations.
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