The Taste of Chocolate

December 9, 2012

NAHB's Value Proposition: "The Taste of Chocolate"

As most of you are aware The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a resolution for a dues increase that will be discussed and voted upon at The 2013 International Builders Show, Las Vegas. 
As an active national volunteer for ten plus years, I see the great value of NAHB and my national dues, however the general members may not. Below is an article that I have written hoping to shine light on the national level of membership and help you, the grass roots member understand your total NAHB membership, from local though national.

NAHB's Value Proposition is in the eye of the beholder or, better yet, it's like....

"The Taste of Chocolate"

How would you describe chocolate to someone who has never tasted it before? How does the scent smell? How does it feel on your tongue? What does it taste like? Think about it; can you? I know I can't! I can't find the words that would deliver an accurate description.
Someone who has never tasted chocolate can never appreciate what it tastes like until the actual taste happens. This could be said for quite a few things or actions. How would you describe flying a plane? How would you describe the sensation of sky diving? The taste of scotch? Filet Mignon? Love? If someone has never experienced these items, how would you describe them? 


The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a lot like chocolate. How would an active national volunteer describe NAHB to a general member? Advocacy? Can't actually touch advocacy. Education; can you taste it? Legal and regulatory issues have no scent. 

The value of membership at the local HBA is a hands on experience, but if you never participated before, how would you know if it were beneficial. Locals struggle constantly with engaging the other 85-90% of membership to "taste" the local experience. The state HBAs? The same. In fact, when a general member, not actively engaged outside the local, is given a breakdown of dues they almost always state "I don't want to pay state OR national dues." I'm positive that if the general member were to be educated on their levels of membership they would understand IF a direct correlation were given to their personal income and growth.

"If 'it' affects builders, 'it' will affect associates" is not just a slogan or motto, it is reality. If associates need builders to be successful in order to generate profits, salaries and commissions then the HBA is a great investment and the money spent on your national dues is a great bargain. For builders, I would like you to figure out the amount of money it would take to aggressively protect your business. 

Below are the NAHB member actions performed by NAHB, your national dues in action. Click here for the full summary of each item and when you are done reading, truly absorbing how each point has helped you as a builder, think about how much money your national membership has saved you over the year.

1. NAHB Advocacy Efforts Save Builders $7,250 per Housing Start in 2012. 
2. Homeownership Campaign Reaches More than 30 Million Americans. 
3. Taking the Lead to Ensure Appraisals Accurately Reflect Market Values.
4. NAHB Saves Remodelers $412.6 Million.
5. Fighting Onerous Regulations that Cost Builders Time and Money.
6. Flood Insurance Win will Save Builders $2.42 Billion in 2013.
7. Keeping Credit Flowing for Home Builders.
8. Working with the Media to Boost Consumer Confidence in Housing.
9. Making Sure Home Buyers Have Access to Affordable Mortgages.
10. Work on Building Codes to Save Industry $2.36 Billion in 2013. 
11. Supreme Court Win Could Save Money for those Seeking Wetlands Permits.
12. NAHB Takes Fight for Property Owners to Highest Court in the Land.
13. Top Notch Education at Below Market Values.
14. GM Affinity Program Saves Members $2 Million.
15. Networking Opportunities Boost the Bottom Line.
16. Professional Designations Keep Builders a Step Ahead of the Competition.
17. A Website That Meets the Needs of Members.

 These actions not only saved and/or made you money it helped to pay your local, state and national dues tenfold. Associates, remember this reality phrase "if 'it' affects builders, 'it' will affect associates?" Your opportunities to sell have vastly increased, whether you know it or not. Your local, state and national dues are your investment in your career. 

And, if the above wasn't enough of an incentive to appreciate your membership value click on this link for added Member Only Discounts that could certainly offset your yearly dues.

Like I wrote earlier, I can't describe chocolate to you if you have never tasted it. I can say, however, that to me it's delicious (as my waistline can attest). Most people know that delicious is all in the taste but if you don't try it for yourself you'll never know and you'll always wonder, if only slightly, what you may be missing. If you don't explore what NAHB has done for all its members, builder and associate, you'll never know the feeling of someone protecting you and helping you to grow, whether it's you personally or the company you own or work for. You'll always just assume that our industry is self protected. That is not reality and professionals work within reality. Are your membership dues worth paying? I don't know, I can't feel, taste and see what you're experiencing. I do know that what we are paying is an absolute fraction of what we would all be paying, or losing, if not for our COMPLETE NAHB membership, unless of course you plan not to be in the building industry.

The NAHB membership is in the wrapper; open it up and taste. What you are experiencing?

Submitted by Michael Kurpiel, CGA, CGP

Reality: it's something that never goes away

Incomimg Home Builders Assoc of Louisville 2013 President Bob Thieneman Jr's Inaugural Speech

Incoming President Bob Thieneman, Jr reflects on his heritage, his business and looks forward to his tenure as 2013 Home Builders Assoc. of Louisville President.
http://youtu.be/MOHPAQRr04M

Robert Eberenz, Jr reflects on 2011

Robert Eberenz, Jr reflects on his tenure as 2012 President of Home Builders Association of Louisville -- a year when HBAL not only stayed within budges, remained fiscally sound, and retained members, but also actually increased membership.  Thanks Rob.
http://youtu.be/ufMFL3X5uQc

Billy Doelker Earns General Elmus Ussery Builder of the Year Award for HBA of Louisville

2011 Home Builders Association of Louisville President Billy Doelker of Key Homes in Louisville was selected as the General Elmus Ussery Builder of the Year.
http://youtu.be/-CBVqBRPfv4

Patrick Dominik of Sabak, Wilson & Lingo Selected HBA Louisville Associate of the Year

Congratulations to Patrick Dominik of Sabak, Wilson & Lingo, Inc who was selected as the 2012 Home Builders Association of Louisville Associate of the Year.  We thank you Pat for all the help you have given to the association in particular the help with so many Land Development issues.
http://youtu.be/TosouJgpF-4

Syd Anderson awarded John Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award

Honored builder Syd Anderson was selected as the recipient of the John Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award for 2012 during the HBA of Louisville Holiday Party.
http://youtu.be/yp0ueBL0ods

Mayor Fischer Swears in HBAL Board

During the 2012 Home Builders Assoc of Louisville Holiday Party, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer swears in the 2013 Board of Directors for HBAL.Swearing in of 2013 HBAL Board of Directors

Howard C Reeves Award goes to Bob Thieneman, Jr and John Miranda

The Home Builders Assoc. of Louisville had their 2012 Holiday Party last night. At the party, Bob Thieneman, Jr (last year's Membership Chair and this year's President) and John Miranda (NAHB Membership Chair) both received the Howard C Reeves Award for Excellence in Membership. During our recent membership drive, HBAL recruited over 100 new members. Congratulations to Bob and John and thank you.  Bob Thieneman, Jr and John Miranda Receive Howard C Reeves Award

Mike Isaac Receives Remodeler of the Year

Congratulations to Mike Isaac of Louisville who was selected as the 2012 Home Builders Assoc of Louisville Remodeler of the Year.  Mike Isaac 2012 HBAL Remodeler of the Year

113 Congress House and Senate Committee Leaders

113 Congress Senate Democratic Leadership

113 Congress House and Senate Republican Leadership

Social or Succesful? Yes, You Are"

Dianne D. Beaton

"Social or Successful? Yes, You Are"

                         by Dianne D. Beaton, CGA, CAPS

                              2DiFore Marketing Solutions

Are you just “fitting in” your social media strategy or do you have a plan?

Social media….. You’ve heard about it, but you may not really understand how it works. You probably participate on Twitter and Facebook, but what about some of the others like Google+? Oh no…now, Pinterest? What’s a company to do? 

Focus

First of all calm down. You don't have to be on every social media platform. In fact, one of the worst things you can do for your company’s brand is to join a new platform and then give up on it because, either you don’t have the time or your message goes out to the wrong audience.

Look at each of the social media platforms, what they have to offer, and then decide if they will work for you. Do you want your customers to comment or engage in discussion? Then Twitter and Facebook might be the best avenues for you to pursue. Does your business have a niche? Technology seems to flock to Google+ while those businesses that rely on visuals and graphics seem to be doing well with Pinterest

Understand your audience and then use that information to target your message by only joining social networking sites that are relevant and natural for your organization’s message. When you start participating in social media, understand that your goal is to become a valued member of the community. Embrace the culture, jump in, and start sharing, communicating and giving your audience constant value. 

Strategize

Whichever platform you decide to use, bone up on the platform’s protocol, for example, Twitter uses 140 characters per message – make them count and don’t just cut up a longer message and send it out as separate tweets. Nothing, and I mean nothing, makes you look more like the awkward elephant in the playground than acting like one

Familiarize yourself with each of the platforms – enough that you get a good grasp of the lingo used and its landscape and culture. There are enough free e-books written on each of the platforms to help you understand how they work.

Next, take a look at what your competition is doing in these social media spaces. Where are they hanging out? What are they using each platform for (publication, promotion, conversation)? You can get a quick sense of what's working for them by paying attention to where they spend their time and effort.

Lastly, be clear about your social media goals. Not to be zen on you, but if you want to participate in social media, then you have to participate in social media. A tweet once or twice a day announcing a new blog post is not engaging in social media. A tweet on a new blog post, followed by a question, followed by pointers to additional information, followed by replies to any responses you may get – now that’s engaging in social media. You should establish set times and frequencies for your social media. You shouldn’t be spending your entire day responding to various posts, but you should be checking in on a regular basis and your customers should get the impression that you are actively engaged in the conversation. 

It’s not about you

Social media is like any other networking exercise.  You have to go into it saying, "What can I contribute?" rather than, "What can I get?"  If your social media strategy, either personally or as a company, is just about spamming your message outward, it will not be effective.  However, if you use social media as a way to listen to your customers, market, and respond in a helpful way, then you can positively impact your personal and professional brand in a way that will benefit your customers and get you noticed.

Candidates for National Associate Chair

At the 2012 NAHB Fall Board Meeting, held in Austin TX, the Associate Committee elected Kathy Craven-Snodgrass as its replacement to our current National Associate Chair (NAC) Ann Garvey.  First of all, our sincere thanks go to Ann who not only held this position for her two year term, but took the position to a new level of respect by all members of NAHB and in particular by the Senior Officers. 

Since the NAC sits with the Senior Officers during all of their meetings, we felt it important for you to know a little about the newly-elected NAC.  In addition becuase of her excitement and exuberance, we felt that it was important for you to also know Monica Somerfeldt-Lewis.  So here are these two important leaders.  We hope you will sometime meet both of these since they so strongly represent you.

 Kathy Craven-Snodgrass, CGA, CGP, AAPiedmont Natural Gas Winston-Salem, NC

Thank you for considering my candidacy for NAHB National Associate Chairman. Through my work as a sales associate at Piedmont Natural Gas for more than 23 years, I have learned how to effectively communicate and form strong relationships with home builders. This critical skill is one that will allow me to effectively serve as the voice of the Associate members in 2013.

Since 1990, I have had the privilege of working with Associates and Builders at all levels of the NAHB federation.  A few highlights include: Winston-Salem Board of Directors Member 1992-2011; NCHBA Executive Committee member for 10 years; NCHBA Secretary/Treasurer in 2003-2004 (voting senior officer position); NAHB Associates Committee chair in 2006 and a committee member for 14 years; NAHB Executive Committee in 2006; NAHB Life Director since 2007; Spike Club member (600 credits); and BUILD-PAC Gold Key Club member. I have also been honored to be recognized as the 2006 NAHB Associate of the Year and inducted in the NAHB Society of Honored Associates.

Through my many leadership roles in our federation, I have attained the experience to effectively communicate the important issues of Associates to NAHB senior officers, leadership and board members.

When I am not attending HBA events, I enjoy making bead jewelry. Many folks don’t know this, but I have a degree in fashion merchandising. My builders just call me the “gas girl”! I also enjoy gardening, biking and fly fishing with my husband.

Monica Somerfeldt-Lewis, CGA, CAPS

Instead of providing the long list of my leadership positions and awards (they are all in the application you will receive), I want to tell you why I am running.

I am a candidate for National Associate Chairman because we need a strong, dedicated voice representing Associate members in the decision making process at NAHB.

I have had to make tough decisions during my recent Senior Officer and BUILD-PAC Officer terms. But, advocacy for a strong building economy remains vital to our Association and our members. When builders are building, Associates are working and membership increases.

You know me. You have seen me and heard me at every Associate Members Committee meeting for the last 6 years. I am passionate about housing. I am a fighter for our industry and our Associates. You know how hard I work to support NAHB’s advocacy efforts. I will continue to be our strong voice.

As the National Associate Chairman, I will always show up to get the job done. I will serve with an agenda to get this country building again and make sure our membership gets a return on their investment in NAHB. I will serve because I believe in NAHB’s role in the building industry. 

I ask for your vote in Austin on September 14th.

You can read more pages about me, at my Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis for NAC Campaign website.