INSIDER:  Oct. 11, 2011
(Look for the Insider the first week of each month – this issue was held up a week to get in our political recommendations, see below.)

Inside this issue:
• UPCOMING MEETINGS
• WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
• FROM THE EO’S CORNER
• RECOMMENDED  CANDIDATES
• OCT. 19 MEMBERSHIP DINNER with JACK & CLAYTON PETREE
• 2012 WHATCOM COUNTY HOME & GARDEN SHOW
• MRC SPEAKERS WANTED!
• BIAWC ‘BUILDER’ BOARD POSITIONS
• EDUCATION focus group
• OCTOBER  CLASSES – REGISTER NOW!
• IT’S R.O.I.I.® SELECT ENROLLMENT TIME!
• NAHB "SUMMIT ON ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE”

UPCOMING MEETINGS
• Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:30 a.m., GAC
•  Monday, Oct. 17, 11:30 a.m. Built Green®
• Wednesday, Oct. 19, 5:30 p.m. General Membership Dinner
• Thursday, Oct. 20, 11:30 Board of Directors
• Wednesday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m., Home Show
• Thursday, Oct. 27, 11:30 a.m., GAC
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WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS !
      Master Remodelers Council welcomes Jeff Boyd of Coast View Construction
      BIAWC Built Green® welcomes Josh Baldwin of Quantum Construction, Inc.
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FROM THE EO’S CORNER
     We’ve got action down here at your "clubhouse” and we hope to draw more of you down here from time to time.  Remember, it’s your building and your staff. Put both to work for your business!
     Membership and guests "filled the house” on September 21st for the BBQ and Candidate Debate night. This was a great success for the organization, for the candidates and for our guests. Candidates in three races addressed 15 questions directly related to our industry – very revealing.
     A handful of dedicated members along with Linda Twitchell and I have interviewed certain political candidates. The Government Affairs Committee put forward recommendations and the Board of Directors has established which candidates most strongly support the mission of our organization. See the list below for recommendations.
     Our new membership/marketing/events director Sharon Kingston has been signing up booths for the 2012 Home Show at a steady clip. Thanks to all of our vendors who have reserved their favorite spot for this year’s event. Sign up your company now!
     We have two networking groups meeting weekly in the Pat Jones Room and a high school class of future engineers and construction professionals meeting every morning in the Spike room. The high school kids are attending the Academy of Engineering, a satellite program of the Northwest Career and Technical Academy. David Bren teaches them CAD and design Monday-Thursday, and on Fridays they talk to professional engineers from a variety of engineering disciplines. Let us know if you might care to address the class.
     We are looking to "warm up and personalize” our clubhouse with photos of member projects. It is time to feature what we’ve built. Please start to dig through your collections. We are looking for photos old and new, under construction or completed, preferably showing the people who made it all happen.  More details to follow. We’ve got lots of walls to feature your work!
     Thanks for being a member. It’s a new day at BIA!
     --- Brian A. Evans
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RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES in the NOV. 8th ELECTION
(Those candidates your Board believes best support the BIAWC mission)

Whatcom County Executive: Doug Ericksen
http://www.dougericksen.com/
County Council District 1: Tony Larson
http://getwhatcomworking.com/
County Council District 2: Sam Crawford
http://www.votesamcrawford.com/
County Council District 3: Barbara Brenner
http://www.barbarabrenner.info/
Bellingham Mayor:  Kelli Linville
http://www.linvilleformayor.com/
Bellingham Council Position 3: Barry Buchanan
http://www.barryforbellingham.net/
Whatcom County Sheriff:  Bill Elfo
http://www.sheriffelfo2011.com/

If you want to have an impact, the Board suggests four means of support:
• Provide a contribution to the candidate.
• Put up yard signs
• Write letters to the editor to the Herald (historically the best-read section of the paper)
• And most important of all – VOTE! This is our right and our privilege – don’t waste it.
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OCTOBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at BIAWC
Here at your "clubhouse,” featuring "The Future of Housing” presentation by Jack and Clayton Petree.
Come visit with your peers and friends in the industry. We will be serving up two big pots of beef stew and potato cheddar soup, salad and bread from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm, followed by the "Call for Board Nominations” and a short informative presentation by Jack and Clayton Petree on the future of housing in Whatcom County.
Jack and Clayton are the principles in Public Policy Perspectives, a consulting and advocacy firm specializing in environmental entrepreneurialism. The two will discuss the impact Gen Y, the largest generation in American history, will have on future housing markets, and Bellingham’s upcoming Comprehensive Plan update, with suggestions for how business professionals can provide input.
Cost is $10 per person (cheap!) with your RSVP, or $15 at the door. There will be $2 well drinks, $1.50 beer and free soft drinks. Drink tickets available to purchase at front counter. Please RSVP to sharonk@biawc.com or phone Sharon at 671-4247.
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2012 WHATCOM COUNTY HOME & GARDEN SHOW
The Home & Garden Show Committee has begun registering vendors for their 2012 booth spaces.  If you are a returning vendor from 2011, contact sharonk@biawc.com as soon as possible to ensure your same space as last year.  New vendor applications are now being taken as well. 
This is a great opportunity for companies to showcase their products and services in a home show dedicated to exhibits which focus on the consumer’s home.  Show dates are March 2-4, 2012.  Anyone interested in participating in the Home & Garden Show Committee should contact Sharon Kingston, BIAWC’s new Marketing/Membership/Events Director.  Your participation would be welcome.
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MRC SPEAKERS WANTED!
The Master Remodelers Council has an opportunity once a month for you to teach about a topic you specialize in or a service you provide. Up to 20 minutes is available for an informal presentation during the noon hour on the first Wednesday of the month. Contact Pat Rose, MRC chairperson, if you’re interested: pat@roseconstructioninc.com.
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BIAWC ‘BUILDER’ BOARD POSITIONS
The BIAWC Board of Directors is working to fill 4 Builder board member positions for 2012.  If you are interested or know someone who would be good for these spots, please send a nomination to Brian Evans at briane@biawc.com.
GAC also is looking for a builder member who would be interested in serving as GAC chairman next year; please consider this opportunity.
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EDUCATION -- WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Education and networking are the two main reasons people join organizations like ours. But when times are tough, class attendance falls off – so let’s make sure we’re offering what you need.
Dave Verret is our education chair; Linda Twitchell is our staff support. They need to know what classes you would enroll yourself or employees in for 2012. Join us for a one-time focus group meeting TBA in the next week to pick out next year’s program – please RSVP Linda at lindat@biawc.com if you’d like to pitch in. 
We can present any classes from the BIAW’s alphabetized, online list (click below). The BIAW has courses on code updates, professional designations, topical issues, legal/contractual issues, training and safety, and now has some ‘self-study” courses you can take online. Check out the list!  What is it your business needs to know to flourish in today’s market?
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OCTOBER  CLASSES – REGISTER NOW!
(The CESCL class has enough participants enrolled that we know it definitely will proceed.)

• "Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) Training”
Oct. 18-19, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. at BIAWC
and
"CESCL Re-Certification”
Oct. 20, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. at BIAWC.
If your project disturbs more than an acre of land or is in a subdivision, you probably need a Construction Stormwater General Permit from the Department of Ecology. All such sites now require a Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) on-call or on-site to inspect, install and manage stormwater controls. These courses are designed for residential builders. The basic course offers16 Appraiser classroom continuing ed hours. Re-certification credit: Certified Graduate Associate (CGA), Builder (CGB), Remodeler (CGR) and Graduate Master Builder (GMB). 
Registration deadline is Oct. 10. BIAWC member discount!  To register for the basic class, click here.
To register for the Recertification class, click here. 

•  "Green Building for Building Professionals”
Oct. 27-28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at BIAWC
Learn how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value. Cover strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. Techniques will be discussed for competitively differentiating your home products with increased indoor environmental quality and energy and resource efficiency.  16 Appraiser and Real Estate Continuing Education credits hours, 12 AIA/CES credits; designation credit: CGA, CGB, CGP. Taught by Ted Clifton, CGB, CGP, of LaConner. T
Cost: $300 for BIAWC members, $350 for non-members.
Registration deadline is Oct. 19. Make checks payable and return to: BIAW, PO Box 1909, Olympia, WA 98507 / 360-352-7800. Or click here for course information and online registration.

• "Green Home Trends and Appraisal Methodologies”
Oct. 28 in Burlington
This is a brand new program that offers an opportunity for appraisers to learn the difference between Built Green® project values and those of traditionally built homes. Pass the word on this one!  For more information, contact registration@seecsolutions.com.
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IT’S R.O.I.I.® SELECT ENROLLMENT TIME!
BIAW is now accepting applications for the 2011-12 ROII ® Select plan year. See
R.O.I.I.® Select Quarterly Application. The deadline is November 10, 2011, for January 1st Quarterly Enrollment. Contact Lara Hastings at 1-800-228-4229 or enroll@biaw.com with questions.
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NAHB "SUMMIT ON ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE”
Nov. 9-11, Dallas, TX
An intensive three-day summit is planned, emphasizing:
• Recruiting and retaining HBA membership and providing superior member services
• Leading an organization in difficult times
• Perfecting government affairs messaging and programming
This event, the first summit in two years, can increase your knowledge about our association, and help you learn more about becoming a leader and improving your career. Membership is down, but the numbers can be brought back by everyone becoming a champion for retention and recruitment. For more on the event, click here. For a blog about the event, click here.
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