An extra Insider -- some announcements we thought you'd want to see now.
Oct. 7, 2011

MEMBERSHIP STEW SUPPER, Presentation & call for Board Nominations
5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 19
Come over after work:  $10 dinner( stew, salad and roll) 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. – please RSVP NOW to sharonk@biawc.com so we have enough food on hand!  $15 at door without reservation.  Free soft  drinks.  Stop by and enjoy your "clubhouse.”  After a call for BIAWC Board Nominations we will feature a short presentation on "The Future of Housing" by Jack and Clayton Petree.
**SPIKE MEMBERS**Remember Spike Room open from 5:00 - 5:30 on Wednesday, 10/19.
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L&I RATE INCREASE – HEARING
Wednesday, 1 p.m. Oct. 26,  Bellingham Public Library
Rates are scheduled to increase an average of 2.5% in 2012, the lowest increase in five years. That is an average, however.  For the building and construction trades, the 2012 increase would be 6%.  For more on the program, see the Washington State L&I webpage.  Mail or e-mail written comments to Douglas Stewart, stdu235@Lni.wa.gov, Employer Services Program Manager, P.O. Box 44140, Olympia, WA 98504-4140 before 5 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2011. Faxes may be sent to 360-902-4729.
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BUILT GREEN® ORIENTATION for EVERYBODY
3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at BIAWC
Ted Clifton, Built Green® state president and a LaConner building professional, is bringing a two-hour presentation on Built Green® to us, free of charge, on Oct. 26.  Anyone in the building trades is welcome to attend.  There’s a move afoot to make Built Green® the basis for a Washington state green building standard.  If you want to know what the program involves and offers, how this relates to what you’re already doing, and whether Built Green® offers ideas you might want to use – this is the man to ask. His talk includes marketing information and practical advice on the Built Green® certification process.  Please RSVP to Linda Twitchell at lindat@biawc.com so we can get a head count.
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GATEWAY – LABOR COUNCIL ON SAFETY CONCERNS
As some of you may know, a group calling itself the "Whatcom Docs" released a letter claiming the Gateway project will create adverse health effects in our community.  In response to these claims, the Northwest Washington Central Labor Council AFL-CIO has compiled a well-researched and informative letter that dispels many of the allegations made by the Whatcom Docs.  If you are interested in the Gateway project, click here to read the letter.  Please feel free to share this with neighbors and friends who are looking for facts about the proposed terminal.
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BIAW FALL BOARD MEETINGS
Nov. 9-11, Yakima Convention Center
If you are planning on attending the FALL BOARD MEETING in Yakima on November 9-11, you should do the following now.
1)  Make a hotel reservation.  BIAW’s block of rooms are at the Holiday Inn Downtown directly across from the Convention Center. The block will be held until Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011. For reservations call (509) 494-7000 and ask for the BIAW block to receive the special rate of $99.
2) Contact Sharon Kingston, BIAWC Marketing and Membership, by Friday, Oct. 21, if you are planning on attending either the luncheon and/or the dinner. BIAWC will coordinate payment and RSVP to State for any BIAWC attendees. Sharon Kingston, 671-4247 or sharonk@biawc.com.

The schedule includes Wednesday, Nov. 9:
Senior Officers Meeting & Luncheon 10:00—1:00pm
Executive Officers Council Meeting 1:00—3:00pm
Long Range Planning Committee 2:00—3:00pm
Executive Officers Council and Governmental Affairs Directors 3:00—5:00pm
Leadership Workshop- 3:00—4:30pm
Local Presidents Council 3:30—5:30pm
Executive Committee Dinner 7:00—10:00pm
Thursday, Nov. 10:
Built Green Washington Directors 7:30—9:00am
Spike & Membership Committee 8:00—9:00am
Remodelers Meeting 8:00—9:30am
Associate Advisory Council 9:00—9:30am
WBBT 9:00—10:30am
Education Workshop- 9:30—11:30am: "Plan for Today, the Future, and the Unexpected”
WAHC 10:30—11:30am
General Membership Luncheon 11:30—1:30pm
Guest Speaker: Attorney General Rob McKenna
Special Board Meeting—Nomination and Election of 2012
Officers, NAHB Directors and State Representative
Legislative Policy Committee 1:30—3:30pm
Education Committee 2:30—4:00pm
Bylaws & Nominating Committee 3:30—4:30pm
Design Professionals Roundtable 4:00—6:00pm
Senior Officers & Past Presidents 4:00—5:00pm
Past Presidents’ Council 5:00—6:00pm
Formal Awards Banquet & Installation of Officers 7:00—10:00pm
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NAHB PRESIDENTIAL "TELEFORUMS”
The National Association of Home Builders is co-sponsoring several virtual town hall events with the presidential candidates. These events are to be conducted as "teleforums" that provide an opportunity to hear from the candidates and ask them questions via telephone. The following candidates have been invited to conduct individual teleforums with us:
President Barack Obama
Governor Mitt Romney
Governor Rick Perry
Congressman Ron Paul – forum was Oct. 13
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
Speaker Newt Gingrich
Businessman Herman Cain
To participate, fill out the registration form at this link. You will need to provide a valid telephone number at which you can be contacted when the event begins. Due to last-minute changes in the candidates' schedules, all teleforum times will be approximate. You’ll get an email on the day of that event, letting you know roughly what time to expect a call that will connect you. Each teleforum event will last roughly 45 to 60 minutes, and you will get instructions on how to submit a question to the candidate once you are connected. If you don’t want to participate, all you need to do is hang up when the operator calls you. We expect more candidates to soon confirm times in which they can participate in a teleforum event. 
Consistent with our policy, NAHB is not endorsing any presidential candidate. Questions? Contact Nick Gentile at ngentile@nahb.org.
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LAST CHANCE FOR UPCOMING CLASSES:
• "Green Building for Building Professionals"
Thursday-Friday, Oct. 27-28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., BIAWC offices – signup deadline is Oct. 20
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 Built Green® Washington President Ted Clifton, CGB, CGP, of La Conner. Cost: BIAWC and Built Green® members $300; $350 for nonmembers.
Registration deadline is Oct. 19. For information, contact Amanda at 800-228-4229 or amandaf@biaw.com. To register online, click here. Or make checks payable and return to: BIAW, PO Box 1909, Olympia, WA 98507 / 800-228-4229.
• "Advanced Green:  Project Management”
Oct. 31 & Nov 1, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Farmhouse Restaurant, 13724 LaConner Whitney Rd., Mt. Vernon
You have already taken the NAHB Green Building classes and earned your CGP – Certified Green Professional or are part of SICBA Built® Green program.  Now take it to the next level, become a Master CGP!  NAHB has reduced the student rate for September and October, so these courses are being offered for $205 instead of the original $285.  Both are 2-day classes and the registration includes lunch both days.  Be sure to register early!  Materials have to be ordered from NAHB.  Call Amanda at 800-228-4229 or amandaf@biaw.com today!
Click here for the registration form and more information.
• "Green Home Trends and Appraisal Methodologies”
Oct. 28, 8:30-4:30, North Puget Sound Association of Realtors, 525 E. College Way #J, Mount Vernon
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. For more information, send an e-mail to registration@seecsolutions.com.
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