THE INSIDER
Dec. 1, 2011

WHAT’S UP AT THE BIAWC
Monday, Dec. 5 – 11:30 a.m. Built Green® work session on the Consolidated Checklist
Thursday Dec. 8 – 11:30 a.m. Government Affairs Committee and
                             12:30 p.m. Lake Whatcom Watershed stormwater speaker(County staff)
Thursday Dec. 15 – 5:30 p.m. Annual Leadership Installation Banquet and Awards Ceremony
Monday Dec. 19 – 11:30 a.m. Built Green® Board
Wednesday, Dec 21 – 4:00 p.m. Home Show Committee Meeting
Wednesday Jan. 4 – Noon   Master Remodelers Council
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FROM THE EO’S CORNER
     The Building Industry Association of Whatcom County exists for one reason – to serve its members.
     We are a trade organization.  We formed to encourage each other, support each other and stick up for each other. We are nothing if we don’t assemble regularly and act as a team to further our mutual goals and interests.
     Your officers and directors volunteer their time to make this happen by providing leadership and direction. The staff is here to make sure the nitty gritty gets taken care of.
     Brian, Linda, Sharon and Mark are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and we are having a blast doing so. The success of our members is foremost in our minds. The building of a community among our members and our calling on you to help us in this endeavor is our only way forward.
     Your membership is valued by your peers, the leadership and your staff.  We encourage you to hang out at your "clubhouse” and offer us some advice, some insight or even "a piece of your mind.” Share with us how we might help you be more prosperous. While you’re here we can thank you in person for being a member!
     Please consider joining us for the Annual Leadership Installation Banquet and Awards Ceremony Dec 15. Enjoy some casual time with your peers, delight in a sumptuous meal and swirl some excellent wines while honoring the leaders of your Building Industry Association. It won’t be a party without you!
     It’s a new day at BIA.
     BAE
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LEADERSHIP INSTALLATION BANQUET and AWARDS CEREMONY
THURSDAY (yes, not Wednesday) December 15 at 5:30 pm, here at the BIAWC Banquet Room. 
Join us for a silver and gold celebration as we install the 2012 BIAWC Officers and Board of Directors and celebrate with the 2011 BIAWC Award Recipients.  Haggen Market Street Catering will be serving up a holiday meal and we’ll be offering some wines chosen exclusively for the event by Sound Beverage.  $35 per person or $60 per couple.  Wear something silver or gold and get a free drink. Wear your festive attire and RSVP early.  (The first to RSVP will be given first choice of wines for your table). sharonk@biawc.com or 671-4247.
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WINE GALA 
The 4th Annual Wine Gala (the first celebrated the opening of 1650 Baker Creek Place) was a great success.  Wines were tasted – and purchased, fabulous appetizers were consumed (compliments to Haggen Market Street Catering) and old and new friends got a chance to catch up.  If you happened to enjoy a wine you tasted that night and want some more, please visit the BIAWC website and put in an order.  We can have the wines delivered to the December 15th Installation Banquet—but only that night.
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ELECTION NIGHT REPORT – Welcome new board members!
In the official business department, the November general membership meeting is also election night for the next year’s officer and director positions. The elected slate of 2012 officers and directors are as follows:
OFFICERS
One-Year Term:
President:  Don Robinson, Whatcom Construction Company
First Vice President: Monty Smith, MC Smith Construction
Second Vice President: Steve Moore, Moore and Company
Secretary: David Verret, Verret Designs+Building Solutions
Treasurer: Stephanie Artino, Metcalf Hodges
BUILDER BOARD
Two -Year Term:
*Doug Van Beek, Van Beek Drywall
*Mark Schramer, Schramer Construction
*Rob Staveland, Aiki Homes
2nd year of two year term (no vote required)
Jim Hassi, Cascade Joinery
*Tony Moceri, Moceri Construction (presidential appointment filling Brian Evans’ seat)
**David Edelstein, Greenbriar  Construction (presidential appointment filling Tom Iverson’s seat)
ASSOCIATE BOARD
Two-Year Term:
Doug Campbell, Associated Project Consultants
Darcy Jones, Jones Engineering
*Phil Dyer, Sterling Real Estate Group
2nd year of two-year term (no vote required)
Dannon Traxler, Langabeer & Tull
Jamie Vos, Security Solutions
David Verret, Verret Designs+Building Solutions (to be filled by presidential appointment in January as David was elected to office as secretary)
   * First-time board members. Thank-you for stepping up!  **Past President. Welcome back.
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LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED / BIRCH BAY STORMWATER PLANS
Cathy Craver of Whatcom County Planning and Development Services will speak to GAC at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 8 – after the regular meeting – about proposed stormwater rules for the rural portion of the watershed. Guests are welcome.  The WC Planning Commission is keeping public comment on this open until Jan. 12 – yes, January. The hearing had been continued until Dec. 8, but has been shifted to Jan. 12.

The Planning Commission will hold a hearing on Peter Gill’s Birch Bay LID proposal at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. The Birch Bay proposal is expected to move from the Planning Commission to the County Council, with majority and minority reports.

The Birch Bay LID is proposed as a pilot program and is an optional method for meeting stormwater and critical area requirements (File #PLN2011-00020). To see the Birch Bay LID proposal, click here.

To see the proposed Lake Whatcom Watershed stormwater and land-use rules, click here.  This plan is based on a "zero” increase in phosphorous load. The Department of Ecology’s criteria to meet phosphorus loading allocations refers to "new development,” and specifically excludes redevelopment. Staff has decided to go beyond that, offering a plan that affects any change of more than 200 square feet (new construction or remodeling, etc). The response options involve full dispersion of stormwater on the ground through native vegetation where development is limited to 10% impervious surface area on the site, full infiltration of all stormwater generated by the new development as calculated by a DOE computer model, or an engineered stormwater facility to not exceed the phosphorous loading profile of the property "from its native vegetated condition.” Means of dealing with this, as in the city portion of the watershed, include such things as returning part of the lot to "forested” condition. Submit comments on the Watershed plan to PDS_Planning_Commission@co.whatcom.wa.us before Jan. 12.

In related action, The Policy Group (members of the city and county councils and water district) will consider a Lake Whatcom Watershed phosphorous removal cost-benefit study at 9:30 a.m. Monday Dec. 5, at the Civic Building (the old Hizzoner’s spot).  Click here to see a report from Nov. 15. 
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B&O TAX QUESTION
Has your company been contacted by a city or town saying they're requiring you to get a business license and start making B&O tax payments even though you aren't "doing business" in that city? BIAW wants to hear from you.  BIAW is aware of several cities and towns around the state who are attempting to collect revenue from businesses that are merely making deliveries of building supplies -- which does not amount to "doing business" for purposes of needing a business license or B&O tax collection.
 
This problem arises from cities collecting information taken from the new Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement Reporting System.  But the Streamlined Sales Tax statute, passed in 2008, specifically prohibits cities from requiring a business license based on information gathered from the reporting system.
 
BIAW's legal and legislative team is compiling a list of cities and towns that may be trying to pursue this opportunity to gain revenue.  Please call Jan Himebaugh at 1-800-228-4229 or email janh@biaw.com if you know of a city or town doing this.
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ARE YOU or someone you know ORGANIZING AN UPCOMING EVENT?
 Your BIAWC membership gets you 50% off our non-member rental rates at this beautiful venue.  Create your memorable event here, at your building.  Contact Sharon Kingston (sharonk@biawc.com) or 671-4247 for available dates.
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2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
We have begun the process of verifying membership data for our 2012 Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide.  BIAWC members will receive a combined publication which includes both the Membership Directory and the Buyer’s Guide.  A free-standing Buyer’s Guide displaying company name, phone number and website is provided to consumers seeking a guide to builder & associate services and is distributed at the Whatcom County Home & Garden Show in addition to being mailed to the public seeking referrals.  Both the Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide are featured on the BIAWC website, www.biawc.com. 

Watch your email for a verification letter which will ask you to confirm or update your business information.  A standard listing is free to all members and it is important that you verify or update your information to ensure accuracy in the publication of this resource.

BIAWC members also have the opportunity to purchase display advertisements in the Buyer’s Guide through Lynden Print Company.  Mitze Kester will be contacting members for their interest in paid advertising over the next few weeks, or you can reach her at Mitze Kester, Lynden Print Co, Cell: 360-510-6464, mitzekester@msn.com
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DECK-ORATE THE HALLS
We need your photos - anything built since 1978 is fair game.  We’re starting on a campaign to personalize our building with the works of our members. Completed projects, progress photos, pictures of members, employees, sub’s, customers  - all  are welcome. Framed, unframed, matted, mounted or just curled up dusty old prints – get ‘em down here.  We’ll caption them and display them.  We can scan and photoshop old pictures and print anthing you’ve got stored digitally. Just get them to us!
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HELP US HELP YOU—CLAIMS MANAGEMENT
BIAW is offering a very successful and FREE basic claims management workshop entitled "Help Us Help You”  from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 7 at the BIAW Office, 111 21st Avenue SW, Olympia.
COST : $15.00 per person
REGISTRATION: 1-800-228-4229 and ask for Amanda Fields or amandaf@biaw.com
The workshop was designed for business owners and their staff that handle L&I claims and includes:
• A presentation by Dr. Clyde Wilson, the Regional Medical Director for US HealthWorks on the importance of partnering with the physician treating the injured worker in returning the employee back to full duty quickly.
• Allen Larson, the Vice President of Marketing for Court Trax, presented information on how BIAW’s Quick Check program works and the value of doing background checks before hiring a new employee.
• R.O.I.I. Staff provided simple steps in the ‘20minute/$20 investment segment that can be used to prevent a future claim.  
• And of course, the ABC’s of claims management. 
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BIAW HEALTH INSURANCE – are you missing out on competitive health insurance rates?
Nearly a third of our members are participating in the BIAW Health Insurance program.  Maybe it’s time to get your free health insurance comparison quote. BIAW’s health insurance program is a non-profit, multiple employer benefit program created for members of local building associations throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Purchasing  power, excellent benefits and rate stability are the cornerstones of the success of the BIAW Health Insurance program.

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-545-7011 ext 6 or receive your free health insurance comparison quote here.
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BLOWER DOOR TESTS
For new construction, the new (2009) Washington State Energy Code requires building air leakage testing (WSEC Section 502.4.5) and duct system testing (WSEC Section 503.10). For information on how blower door tests work, see an Oct. 10th posting on GreenBuildingAdvisor.com:  Are Blower-Door Regulations Too Big a Burden?  The post notes:  Building tight houses is a fundamental step toward energy efficiency, and figuring out how well you’ve done is actually pretty simple. Air leakage is calculated with a blower-door test used to determine a home’s air-tightness: a powerful fan is mounted in an exterior door opening and used to pressurize or depressurize the house. By measuring the force needed to maintain a certain pressure difference, a measure of the home’s air-tightness can be determined. Operating the blower door also exaggerates air leakage and permits a weatherization contractor to find and seal those leakage areas. A technician depressurizes the house with a blower sealed into a doorway and measures how much air can pass through the building envelope. Exterior components of a house that provide protection from colder (and warmer) outdoor temperatures and precipitation include the house foundation, framed exterior walls, roof or ceiling, and insulation, and air sealing materials.
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