THE INSIDER
Feb. 7, 2012

Inside this issue:
• CALENDAR 
• FROM THE EO’S CORNER 
• BUILT GREEN "after hours” FUNDRAISER – Feb. 8 
• MAKE THAT TRADESHOW A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE – free seminar Feb. 15
• HOME SHOW LINEUP: MARCH 2-4!
• DeWaard and Bode advertisement
• 3 BIAWC CLASSES IN FEBRUARY
• BIAWC NEW MEMBER
• BIAWC January RENEWING MEMBERS
• 2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & BUYER’S GUIDE

CALENDAR
Wednesday, Feb. 8 – 11:30-1:30 "Employer or Independent Contractor?” class
Wednesday, Feb. 8 – 5:30-7 p.m. Built Green "after hours” fundraiser
       at 20/20 Engineering, 814 Dupont St. Everyone is invited!
Wednesday, Feb. 8—4:00 p.m. Home Show Committee Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 9 – 11:30 a.m. GAC
Thursday, Feb. 9 – Noon - Master Remodelers Council (Spike room)
Feb. 13 – 11:30-1:30, Built Green® board
Feb. 15 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m. "EPA Certified Lead-Safety/Renovation/Repair/Paint” class
Feb. 15 – 2-4:30 p.m. at BIAWC: "Learn How to Have a Positive Tradeshow Experience” free seminar
Feb. 20 – OFFICES CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY
Feb. 22 – 11:30-1:30 "How to Effectively Grow Your Business” class
Feb. 22 – 4:00 p.m. Home Show Committee Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 23 – 11:30 a.m. GAC
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FROM THE EO’S CORNER
Hello February! It’s a leap year. We get an extra day this month. Think about that. How nice would it be to have an "extra” day every month.
The 2012 Board of Directors assembled for the first meeting of the year and the annual orientation of new board members. Don Robinson presided over his first meeting as president. Thanks to Don for taking on this premier role. Thanks to all of the officers and board members for committing your time and energy to our association.
Staff has been crazy lately getting the 2012 Membership Directory assembled. Thanks to the membership for responding to our requests for updated info. This is a tedious process almost put to bed.
Your Government Affairs Committee recently met to review 2011 successes and determine priorities for 2012. Look for a report in the near future.
Home Show is the big event on the horizon. There are a few booths available for any of you last minute decision makers.
Have you been down to your "clubhouse” lately? Or ever? Stop in and say hello. It’s a beautiful facility. We have rooms for rent for meetings, special events, weddings, etc. Tell your friends. 
Thanks for being a member and supporting our industry. We’re here working for you.
It’s a new day at BIA!
BAE
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BUILT GREEN® "AFTER HOURS” FUNDRAISER!
Wednesday Feb. 8, 5:30-7 p.m. at 20/20 Engineering
Postponed by January’s week of icy weather to Wednesday, Feb. 8.  Show up after work for some good company and free beer and wine. Built Green® members will be present and are happy to share their experience with sustainable/LID techniques, so come with any questions.  This is a free event, but we will be accepting donations to support BIAWC Home Show presentations.
Who:  Everybody – BIAWC members, Built Green® members, colleagues, and other interested parties
Where: 2020 ENGINEERING, Inc., The Wellspring Building, 814 Dupont St., Bellingham, WA 98225
Why:  To help raise funds for the Built Green program, and upcoming events.
Event Sponsors:  2020 ENGINEERING, ASTAL Construction, Ecotech Energy Systems, Heating Green
This event has a Facebook page where you can find more information, click here to see it.
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MAKE THAT TRADESHOW A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE!
Free seminar 2-4:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at BIAWC
Warming up for the Home Show?  Here’s free training on how to create an effective, energized booth and turn more prospects into sales. Kathy Cross of LaserPoint will discuss tips to drive traffic to your booth, how to use promotional products, ways to stand out, make a statement and have fun. Becky Raney of Print & Copy will talk about the "Wow factor.” Bob Hagedorn of SSK is set to discuss booth setup and attendee interaction, appearance, mannerisms and more. And Dave Donnelly of SpecialT Signs & Graphics will talk about the well thought-out booth, maximizing space with information, your budget, and first impressions. Make the most of your booth space with their advice!
Co-sponsored by the BIAWC and Bellingham-Whatcom Chamber of Commerce.
To register, click here.
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HOME SHOW LINEUP: MARCH 2-4!
Only a few booths remain unreserved for the 2012 Home & Garden Show.  If you’ve been on the fence, get off now and give Sharon Kingston a call at 671-4247.  We’ve seen great energy and excitement over this year’s show and are working hard to create a successful and fun event for both the exhibitor and attendee.  And, if you haven’t attended the Home Show in a while, make a point of heading to the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds on March 2-4th.  DeWaard & Bode and KAFE 104.1FM have teamed up to offer 3 fabulous prize giveaways this year. The garden area promises to entice you all to green it up and with over 175 vendors, getting expert advice and previewing product offerings has never been so easy.  A full lineup of free seminars is scheduled—and Cisco Morris will headline the stage on Saturday, March 3rd at 3 pm.  If you can’t wait until March for all this excitement, join KAFE104.1 FM and the home show committee for a live remote on Saturday, February 25,  from 11 am to 2 pm at Walkers Carpet One.  The prize wheel will be spinning and the hotdogs grilling in anticipation of what has become a Whatcom County institution.  Check out all the home show offerings at www.whatcomhomeshow.com.
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3 BIAWC CLASSES IN FEBRUARY:

Feb. 8 – Employee or Independent Contractor?
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
One of the hottest employment tax topics!  Do you know the criteria used by the IRS and State of Washington to determine independent contractor status?  This session will help you understand the rules and correct reporting to help avoid costly penalties and back taxes.  We'll also cover the new IRS amnesty program to correct for improper classification of contractors. 
Taught by Stephanie Artino of Metcalf Hodges.
Cost: BIAWC members, $20. Non-members, $35. Price includes lunch FOR THOSE WHO PRE-REGISTER.
To register, click here.

Feb. 15 – EPA Certified Lead-Safety/Renovation/Repair/Paint
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  (pre-registration required by Feb. 8)
8 Real Estate Continuing Education, 4 Plumber Clock Hours
Does your business involve the renovation, repair or painting of structures built before 1978? Construction firms must apply for and receive EPA Certification to disturb paint as part of their work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities. All of these jobs must be supervised by Certified Renovators – individuals who have completed an EPA-accredited, full-day training course. The course is required for any contractor that is involved in any activity that will –or has the potential to – disturb six square feet of lead-based paint in a room or 20 square feet on the exterior. The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities; however window replacement is not considered minor maintenance or repair.
Instructor: Kris Alberti, CGP, of the Northwest Independent Contractors Assoc.
Cost: $225 for BIAWC members, $275 for nonmembers.
To register, click here or call Kris Alberti at 509-750-7553.
 
Feb. 22 – How to Effectively Grow Your Business
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
There are a number of strategies to grow your business, but which ones are most effective?  This session will show you there are only 4 ways to truly grow in the direction you want and how you can incorporate networking effectively into your strategy to achieve the results you desire.  
Taught by Stephanie Artino of Metcalf Hodges.
Cost: BIAWC members, $20. Non-members, $35. Price includes lunch FOR THOSE WHO PRE-REGISTER.
To register, click here.
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BIAWC NEW MEMBER
Please welcome new member Kirk Juneau of Clarus Building Inspections and 4Evergreen Energy Auditing.  Kirk’s business is located in Ferndale and 4Evergreen has been an exhibitor at the Whatcom County Home & Garden Show—where he heard about BIAWC!
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BIAWC January RENEWING MEMBERS
The following members have shown their support of the BIAWC through their continued membership.  Thank you.
Belcher Swanson Law Firm, Canyon Industries, Coast View Construction, Costco, Creative Construction & Remodel, Dirt Works Bellingham, Gale Contractor Services, Haskell Corporation, Northwest Liquid Transport 1, PM Northwest, Puget Sound Energy, Geyer & Associates, The Unity Group Insurance, The Woods Coffee, WECU, Welcome Construction, and Whidbey Island Bank.
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2012 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & BUYER’S GUIDE
Despite email issues and a few database hiccups, the 2012 Directory and Buyer’s Guide is in production with the Lynden Tribune.  Many thanks for responding to our many requests.  We anticipate mailing the directories to members in early March and having the Buyer’s Guide available at the Whatcom County Home & Garden Show.
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