ReNews -- Remodelors Council News - 09/21/2005 (Plain Text Version)

Don Novak CGR, CAPS, CKB, GMB
Remodelors^TM Council Chair
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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In this issue:
New Standard Nears for Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps
Remodeling Market Remains Strong in Second Quarter
NAHB Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Fall Board Highlights
Members Urged to Help Defeat Costly Insulation Code Changes
Think Outside the Booth at the 2005 Remodeling Show
Free PREP with Perfected Puzzle Performance
Best of Seniors Housing Awards Open to Remodeler Members
RC in the News
Systems-Built SHOWCASE Relocates to Louisville
Custom Builder Symposium Now in Atlanta
GM Discount
Platinum Partners
Taking Requests for a Better ReNews

Fall Board Highlights

Below are highlights from various meetings the 2005 Fall Board meeting in Reno. Additional notes will be posted at the Remodelors Council Web site.

Remodelors Council Board of Trustees Meeting

The motion passed supporting the Remodelors Council and Multifamily request to the NAHB Budget Committee and NAHB Board of Director to fund research that will measure the effects of lead exposure during remodeling activities using lad-safe work practices. (The NAHB Budget Committee and Board of Directors approved the emergency request to fund the lead safe work practices research. It is scheduled to begin in early 2006).
The current market value of the Remodelors Council Fund in the National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of NAHB, is $31,090
The NAHB Budget Committee and Board of Directors approved funding for the Remodelors Council Road Show. The first one is scheduled for Jacksonville, FL in late February, 2006.
Carroll Bogard, CGRA, and Alan Hanbury, CGR, CAPS, each won two tickets to the Remodelors Council Gala for bringing in the most new members in the Trustee membership drive.
Remodelors Council member Stephen Guidus reported that he will remodel the first ever Renewed American Home, which will be part of the IBS in Orlando in 2007. It will be part of the New American Home project sponsored by the NCHI.

Membership Committee Highlights

Membership as of July 30 is 7,313 — 12% growth from same time last year
The following new councils have formed since the spring board meeting:
- HBA of Central New York
- Charleston, SC
- Indiana BA
Status of Year Long Membership Contest as of July 31, which ends in December
- Small: Long Island Builders Institute — 46 new members
- Medium: Greater Fox Valley — 112 new members
- Large: Greater Houston — 116 new members
Congratulations to the National Membership Day (May 23) Contest Winners. Each winning council won a $250 American Express Gift Certificate!
- Category 1: Up to 50 members — Texas Panhandle BA (5)
- Category 2: Up to 100 members — HBA of Greater Fox Valley (106)
- Category 3: 100 plus members — Metro Omaha BA (10)
At-Large Membership Promotion
- There have been three mailings inviting NAHB members who do remodeling to join the Remodelors Council.
Small Contractors and Remodelers
- Eight HBAs around the country have been participating in a remodelers pilot program, allowing new remodeler members to join their HBA at one-half the normal dues for the first year. 149 remodelers have joined through the program.
Members on the Web Directory
- We are excited that FINALLY consumers will be able to find professional remodelor members of the Remodelors Council on the NAHB web site. The site should be up and running in a few weeks.
Local Council Workshop at the Remodeling Show
- The Remodelors Council will hold its annual Local Council Workshop at the Remodeling Show in Baltimore on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 1:00 p.m. It will have two parts. The first part will be led by Beverly Koehn and Carroll Bogard who will show you how to get your Associate Companies involved in the Council. Part two of the workshop will be a panel discussion about local Remodelors Council programs that work. RC leaders from around the country will lead this panel including our own RC Chair, Don Novak! Please plan on attending.
New business
- A working group has been formed to develop recruitment techniques for local Remodelors Councils to use. Including a step by step process for “closing the sale”. The members are Karen Zieba, Al Wahby, Sharon Roberts Meyer, Michael Richards, Joe Quintana and will be led by Frank Malpere.

Leadership Development Committee

The committee will research how to use a Charitable Remainder Trust to for the Remodelors Council National Housing Endowment Fund.
The committee will begin in 2006 reviewing the leadership profiles using a grid and scoring system to make it more objective. Interviews for candidates will be held during the RC General Session at the spring and fall board meetings.
Karen Nakamura reported on the council mentoring program to identify and mentor potential Remodelors Council leaders at the national level.
New Business. The motion passed to recommend that the board of trustees reinstate the Executive Committee composed of the chair, vice chair, observer and immediate past chair. The past chair would participate in the board of trustee meetings as an ex-officio member.

Business Associates Committee Meeting

Carroll Bogard and Beverly Koehn presented the PowerPoint, “Associate Member Success Blueprint” to the committee that will be presented at the Local Council Workshop in Baltimore October 12 and got feedback from the committee.
The PowerPoint is part of a program that would be given by local council leaders to Associate members to teach them how to work successfully with remodelers.
The group developed and approved a vision statement and mission for the Business Associates committee
Vision statement
- The NAHB Remodelors Council Business Associate Committee focuses on enabling business associate members at the local, state and national level to effectively manage and maximize their relationships with peer associates as well as remodeling members while promoting awareness of the council to the trade industry and consumers.
Mission
- The NAHB Remodelors Council Business Associate Committee mission is to ensure the highest level of value and participation of all associate and remodeler members both locally and nationally.

CGR Meeting Highlights

CGR Statistics
- 770 active CGR grads nationwide
- To date, 95 graduates in 2005
- To date 167 candidates have taken PREP
- The average number of required classes to earn the designation is 6.
- It’s taking an average of 2.25 years to complete the CGR designation.
- Designee of the Year application has been extended until 9/30.
The CGReception
- Sheraton Inner Harbor, Chesapeake Ballroom, 300 South Charles Street, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
- Free event for CGRs and includes one guest with advance registration. Without advance registration a $20 fee is charged at the door. All non-CGRs who have completed PREP may register for $40.
At the Winter Board meeting the Board will have three positions opening. If you know of someone interested in serving on the CGR Board, they must submit a letter of interest and complete a CGR Board profile form.
In July, Dan Durden (NAHB Counsel) agreed to draft a standard policy & procedures for designation disciplinary actions to be used by all NAHB designation programs. Staff hopes to present the standard policy & procedures written by Dan to each designation oversight group at the 2006 Spring Board of Directors meeting.

CAPS Meeting Highlights

CAPS Statistics
- 691active CAPS grads nationwide
- To date, 69 classes in 2005
- To date, 276 graduates in 2005
The breakdown of CAPS designees:
- 78% — Contractors
- 0.5% — Architects
- 9% — Designers
- 0.5% — Consultants
- 12% — Other (medical professionals)
Both courses are on the 2006 Course Revision Schedule
Julie Uritius from AARP attended the CAPS meeting, she provided the Board with an update on AARP activities.

Education and Business Development Meeting Highlights

The Aug. 24 issue of Business of Building e-newsletter featured a story that came from the education committee, You’re Fired! Dismissing employees. The committee suggested future story ideas:
- Empowering your employees
- Alternate compensation methods
- Consumer financing
The Remodelors Council will sponsor 10 education session at IBS
The Cost of Doing Business Study is completed and at the printer. The publication will be ready by the Remodeling Show

Public Affairs Meeting Highlights

Awards
- CADRE — 18 submissions,
- Remodelor of the Year — 18 applications
- Remodeling Hall of Fame — There will be an induction this year
Remodelor of the Month
- Members of the Public Affairs Committee will work with Pat O’Toole to broaden the appeal and increase the numbers of applications.
RC in the news
- More than 75 million media impressions (estimated 75 million people exposed to RC so far this year).
- In major influential media: Time, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Business Week, Washington Post, among others.
Presented initial draft of communication plan to committee and volunteers will work to refine plan for discussion at winter meeting