Replies

1. 
   jonblakemore | Sep 22, 2007 06:26pm | #1

   We're a member of the local chapter. I can't say I've benefited much from the training or networking element, although it seems my local chapter is pretty weak in those areas. Their version of networking is $75/head lobster & steak galas or $150/head golf outings. Neither of which appeal to me.

   I have gotten good leads, somewhat in quantity but more so in quality. Other than a referral from a previous client, I like the NAHB leads the most. That in of itself is worth the $550/year to me.

    

   Jon Blakemore

   RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

1. 
   davidhawks | Sep 23, 2007 03:38pm | #7

   Thanks Jon,

   We had the EO from the New River Valley chapter come speak to our Const. Mgt. class in Wytheville the other week.  That's what sparked my recent interest.  I've since met with the folks at the NC chapter where I'll be setting up shop for good soon, and they seem to have a very strong membership and presence in the community.

   I've operated on the "fringe" for most of my career.  It's time to join the rest of the "legitimate" contractors and do things right.  Associating with members of a local HBA seems to be a step in that direction.Live in the solution, not the problem.

2. 
   MikeSmith | Sep 22, 2007 08:35pm | #2

   i've been a member of RIBA & NAHB since '75

   you get out what you put in..

   i was very active for the first 5 years or so.. not so much now.. nice to know there is an organization that has your back

   basically your local chapter is your state lobbying group.. if we don't support them , then we have no lobby with our legistatures

   codes... insurance... licensing.... consumer protection

   and  you can network with people who have the same problems as you

   for the price of annual dues, it's well worth it

   Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
1. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 22, 2007 10:53pm | #3

   Don't know how active the NAHB is here, but there's the BIAW... the Building Industry Association of Washington... and they seem like a conservative political lobby trying to pave the way for production builders to strip the land and throw up tracts with little environmental or consumer protection. The "local" HBA, such as it is, appears to be affiliated with them. I'm not a member of either. The only possible appeal for me would be their insurance pool. Other than that they have a distinctly negative public image.

1. 
   MikeSmith | Sep 23, 2007 01:51am | #4

   well... as you know from hanging out here.. builders come in all shapes, sizes & political persuasions

   i bet both associations you referred, to have lot's of people who think just like you

   i thought RIBA was geared to the large builder.. ( first impressions )

   what they are really geared to is whoever is willing to devote the time to the organizationMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   JeffBuck | Sep 23, 2007 10:16am | #6

   "... and they seem like a " ...

    

   well.

   as long as yer going into it with an open mind ... I'm sure you'll do well.

    

    

   "to strip the land and throw up tracts with little environmental or consumer protection "

   "Other than that they have a distinctly negative public image. "

    

   So join Greenpeace ...

    

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

   Edited 9/23/2007 3:18 am ET by JeffBuck

   Edited 9/23/2007 3:19 am ET by JeffBuck

1. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 23, 2007 04:41pm | #11

   Jeff, what a GREAT POST! A real contribution to the topic. Only took you two edits to get it right... and you still didn't say sh!t.

1. 
   davidhawks | Sep 23, 2007 09:20pm | #12

   TOO FUNNY!!!!

   ROFLMAO!!!!Live in the solution, not the problem.

2. 
   JeffBuck | Sep 24, 2007 03:38am | #14

   with your open mind you wouldn't learn anything anyway.

    

   and those edits were pastes.

   tell me exactly what you think your post added to the thread?

    

   OK ... now we know you don't like conservatives ...

    

   that's helpful.

   thanks for adding.

   Jeff    Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

3. 
   mike_maines | Sep 24, 2007 03:40am | #15

   You edited pasties?  I wanna see the pasties....

4. 
   dovetail97128 | Sep 24, 2007 07:25am | #17

   Jeff,
   So are you or are you not a member of the organization he asked about? (NAHB)"Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca

5. 
   JeffBuck | Sep 24, 2007 04:54pm | #20

   Not at the moment.

    

   have been in the past, and actually spent more time at meetings as a company rep when I was an employee. Used to go to all the meetings with one of the owners and sometimes fill in when neither could or would make it.

   I never noticed the political ralley feel he alluded to.

   Jeff

        Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

6. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 24, 2007 08:38pm | #21

   My post had to do with the statewide HBA, not the NAHB. For some reason you think I'm closed-minded about it, but I checked them out carefully and have gotten their newsletter and other materials from them. They are a political lobby here, and not much more as far as I can tell. They look very questionable to the public, IMO. There might be some benefits to membership but nothing like what I understand you can get from the NAHB. Unfortunately that organization does not have a chapter here where I am, there's just the "chapter" of the BIAW. I may go to the NAHB Builder show this spring.

7. 
   shelternerd | Sep 25, 2007 01:05am | #22

   David
   You're in Washington state and the HBA isn't affiliated with the NAHB? I'm working with the NAHB research center on their new Green Building website and we definitely have at least one, maybe two guys from Washington in on the conference calls. Ted Clifton from CliftonView Homes and Wayne somebody from Skagett. Usually membership in the state HBA includes membership in the NAHB. And you are right the state HBA is mostly about lobbying in the state house, the locals are mostly about cheap workers comp and golf outings and the national is every thing from drain the swamps and kill all the liberals to serious research on ways to build better homes and run a better business. You kind of have to pick and choose.Me, I'm a tree hugger and a conservative democrat but I still find a whole lot of value in being a member of the NAHB.
   ------------------

   "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

8. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 25, 2007 01:31am | #23

   If I haven't made it clear, the visible presence here is the BIAW and the local HBA is affiliated. By local I mean there are a couple dozen companies and they seem to meet very sporadically. The NAHB is probably here too, I am just not aware of it and have not looked into it. As far as networking with other local folks it would be the BIAW offshoot.

9. 
   shelternerd | Sep 25, 2007 01:42am | #24

   I have to admit that I haven't gotten much out of networking with other local builders out of the local HBA other than since my involvement with the Green Building Council.------------------

   "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

3. 
   davidhawks | Sep 23, 2007 03:50pm | #9

   I'd be hard pressed to get behind those efforts myself Dave.  Not because I'm a big fan of Green, but more because of what that kind of development consists of on the quality scale.  IMHO, it ranks right up there with the "double-wide farms" that are so prevalent in our neck of the woods.

   Thanks Live in the solution, not the problem.

2. 
   davidhawks | Sep 23, 2007 03:44pm | #8

   Your comments pretty much echo the opinions I'd made about what I thought the HBA's were supposed to be.

   The chapter here (NC) seems to be very involved in volunteer efforts and I'm all for that.  Kinda hard to feel like I'm giving back while sitting at one of those high-dollar dinner functions that Blakemore mentioned.

   Thanks for your thoughts.Live in the solution, not the problem.

3. 
   shelternerd | Sep 23, 2007 02:38am | #5

   I've been a member of NAHB for a little over twenty years. At first just to get the discounts on the workers comp insurance. Then I discovered some of the continuing education benefits offered through the Builder 20 program and the NAHB research center. I've been in the builder 20 program for ten years and it has radically improved the fun I have in my job and my profitability and helped keep my work week down to less than 40 hours for the last three or four years.

   You do get out what you want and to a certain extent what you put in. I've never had anything to do with my local HBA until they got the green building certification council going and that has been a lot of fun but also a HUGE amount of unpaid time. I'm getting up at 7:30 tomorrow morning (Sunday) to drive to Raleigh and represent our group at the state fairgrounds. It's really a lot of fun. While it's unpaid I do think it's been good for business and probably pays for itself that way.

   M

   ------------------

   "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

1. 
   davidhawks | Sep 23, 2007 03:53pm | #10

   Nerd,

   Wish I'd known earlier.  Could have been at the fairgrounds easily today.  3 hour drive for us.

   Thanks for your input, and kudos for supporting your group.Live in the solution, not the problem.

1. 
   shelternerd | Sep 23, 2007 11:18pm | #13

   We have a four hour "Green Building Certification training for home builders" session coming up on Oct 25th that might be of interest to you. There is a fee but just enough to keep out the riff-raff. Also we have the Solar and green home tour coming up on Oct 6th that I have a home on. And my band is playing at the Carrboro Music Fest next Sunday at 5pm. I'm told our music is largely forgettable. We can't get a record deal or any payin gigs so we stream it all for free down load at http://www.offtheroadband.com I DID NOT design that website. A three hour drive is too long as far as I'm concerned but let me know if you want me to keep you in the loop on Chapel Hill area green building activities. m
   ------------------

   "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

1. 
   davidhawks | Sep 24, 2007 05:37am | #16

   So far, my ignorance of Green has me taking an indifferent position on it.  Guess if I understood it better I'd be more interested.

   Usually don't get too interested in something new and trendy unless I'm forced to.

   Do you see Green Building as a "must have/ must practice over the next 2 decades?

   Maybe I oughta start studying.Live in the solution, not the problem.

1. 
   shelternerd | Sep 24, 2007 03:21pm | #19

   I felt indifferent until I found a definition I could live with that didn't lock me into outrageously expensive minimum requirements. I do think Green is the way to go. The AIA just put out a market survey and green and aging in place are up there with hurricane resistance as items most asked about in architects offices. If the market continues to shrink as it has been the green builders will be well positioned to stay busy. It's working well for our business.------------------

   "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

4. 
   dovetail97128 | Sep 24, 2007 07:28am | #18

   David,

   Not a member.

   Was interested many years ago but got turned off by the land use stance the organization had and has here in Ore.

   The insurance issues and package are appealing however.

   Just couldn't overcome my own conscience.

   "Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca

1. 
   davidhawks | Sep 27, 2007 02:07am | #25

   'tail,

   Respect your principals, even if I don't fully share 'em.  Don't really have those issues here.  'Bout the only resource we have locally is NASCAR.

   Dam glad of it!

   ThanksLive in the solution, not the problem.

5. 
   Splurt | Sep 27, 2007 04:33am | #26

   I am a past member.  After  years I sttopped going. They helped me , gave me good advice, made some friends, would like to go back and try to add a younger perspective. get some of my fav. associates to join me

          "Thats What I Would Do"

6. 
   bambam | Sep 27, 2007 06:43am | #27

   I tried to join in '05. They said the meeting was on this day...so I showed up and nobody was there.

   Called to see whats up (5 times and one email) "Oh we're sorry the meeting was cancelled. It will be next month on this day. Sorry we didnt inform you of that."

   Next month was another no show with no call or anything. I couldnt in good conscience spend my money on that particular NAHB.

   Most I hear are pretty good though. I want to get my CAPS certificate but will have to do it online I guess. That or go through NARI but the closest is 2 1/2 hours away in Houston.

   When everthing is going your way, you're in the wrong lane