Letter from the Chair
Welcome to the second issue of Building Futures online, the newsletter for NAHB student chapters and friends. As the 2004 chairman of the NAHB Student Chapters Advisory Board, I am looking forward to working closely with board members and NAHB’s dedicated staff to bring even more excitement to our programs. Jim Gronski, our 2003 chairman, has left some large shoes to fill, but we are up to the task!

In this issue, you will find two new programs that can help finance your education — the new NAHB Women’s Council scholarship program and the Capital for Knowledge initiative. Beginning with this issue, we will also feature news regarding NAHB-wide programs of interest to all chapter members and faculty. Today’s feature is Access Mexico — a partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote opportunities in the Mexican housing market to U.S. home builders and suppliers.

Now that the 2004 International Builder’s Show is in the rear-view mirror, we can truly say that it was a great success. More than 104,000 members from around the world attended, at least 1,500 were students and faculty — both record numbers for the Show! In fact, the 1,500 students and educators represent an increase of more than 60 percent over the 950 students and faculty who attended in 2000, just four years ago.

What a great opportunity it is for students to be involved first-hand with our industry and its challenges. We encourage you to continue your fundraising efforts in order to support even greater student attendance at next year’s Builders’ Show. Be sure to dial into the  web site where you will find highlights from the week’s activities.

We are already looking forward to next year’s show, which will be held January 13-16, 2005, in Orlando. We will announce the student schedule of activities in May, after the Spring Board meetings in Washington, DC. At that time, you will receive information on the exciting student competitions, the Job Fair and many other activities as we continue to plan for that yearly event.

Don’t forget to forward this newsletter to your colleagues so we can spread the word about the vibrant student programs sponsored by the NAHB, and remember that the next issue of Building Futures will be in your e-mail box in late April. Best wishes for the spring semester.

Sincerely,

Mark Hutchings, 2004 Chair
NAHB Student Chapters Advisory Board [ return to top ]