Builders
Association Group Insurance Programs
Government Affairs: Local,
State & Federal Levels
Membership Publications and Education
Networking: General Meetings and Social
Events
Public Promotion of the Area's Housing Industry
Government Affairs: Local,
State & Federal Levels
Federal Governmental Affairs
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is the Housing Industry
"watchdog", monitoring legislation as to its effect on the industry
and lobbying members of congress to assure the industry's perspective is presented.
NAHB employs a highly professional Governmental Affairs staff that is highly
respected on Capitol Hill.
Representing more than 200,000 member businesses, the association has developed
a Legislative Contact system, generating hundreds of calls and letters to
Representatives and Senators on issues important to the industry, and creates
additional opportunities for members from around the country to come to Washington
and directly lobby their legislators.
The Builders' Association of Metro Flint (BAMF) stays "on top"
of Federal issues and remains in frequent contact with area Congressmen and
Michigan Senators in support of industry positions. And most importantly,
we keep our members informed on a continual basis.
Long Term Federal Issues:
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Tax Issues - The Housing Industry has been threatened
by proposals which would limit, or completely eliminate, the deductions
for mortgage interest and property taxes. The effect of these proposals
would be devastating to housing values and the home building industry in
particular, and the economy as a whole. NAHB and its affiliates continue
as the primary force to retain these tax advantages.
- Federal Deficit - Because excessive Federal Deficits have created
an era of uncertainty in the financial markets, resulting in higher interest
rates, deficit reduction leading to a balanced budget has been an industry
priority since the early 1980's. NAHB has been a primary voice for fiscal
responsibility, including the recent Balanced Budget agreement with its tax
incentives for housing.
-
Regulatory Reform - NAHB is a strong industry advocate
in an attempt to bring reason to the administration of OSHA, the Endangered
Species Act, Wetlands Regulation, and all agencies that effect the housing
industry.
Michigan Governmental
Affairs
The Michigan Association of Home Builders' (MAHB) primary purpose is to monitor
and affect legislation and administrative actions which impact the housing industry
and the state's economy as a whole. With more than 11,000 members and two highly
respected lobbyists, MAHB has become an extremely effective force in the State
Capitol.
The "Flint" association works closely with MAHB, and has been the
industry leader in the areas of property tax reform, model energy code opposition,
relief on the architect's seal requirement, and the 1996 fight against the
establishment of impact fees for road studies. The association maintains close
ties with most area legislators, and has been effective in modifying, and
even halting, legislation that would have had a negative impact on the industry.
Recent State Issues:
-
Model Energy Code - In 1995 the state Construction
Codes Commission adopted the CABO Model Energy Code (MEC). BAMF maintained
it would raise the cost of an average new home by more than $3,000 and would
eliminate highly desired features such as window walls and skylights. After
its adoption, the Building Industry stood alone in a legislative attempt
to repeal the code, and despite massive opposition from environmentalists,
insulation manufacturers and the news media, won the repeal by an overwhelming
margin, saving homebuyers thousands and reinstating choice in the housing
market.
-
Impact Fees - A legislator proposed a bill that would
allow the implementation of transportation impact fees on developers in
highly populated counties, a concept which has been a disaster for development
in other states. Due to opposition initially from BAMF, and subsequently
from MAHB, the bill has never moved out of the House Transportation Committee.
-
Single State Code - Despite strong opposition by
municipal officials, builders are building under the same code in every
venue across the state due to the efforts of a united home building industry.
Local Governmental Affairs
The Builders Association of Metro Flint maintains strong ties with the area's
Building Officials, Genesee County elected officials, and members of several
local units of government's boards and councils. Historically, problems at the
local level have been few and far between since Genesee County, and most of
its communities, have been desirous of growth and the tax base expansion that
accompanies it. However, in the past couple of years, as housing development
activity has increased dramatically, a considerable amount of anti-growth pressure
has developed within some segments of the public. And, unfortunately, local
elected officials are extremely susceptible to those pressures.
Because of these pressures, the Builders' Association has worked to focus
more attention on local issues in support of the industry in general, and
its members in particular. Now, not only do we need to monitor governmental
activities in our communities, we now need to monitor public sentiment, particularly
in the high growth areas of southern Genesee County.
It's at the local level where member involvement is most critical because
the individuals operating within each community become the eyes and ears of
the industry, and provide the information that is critical to keeping the
current era of growth and development alive throughout the Metropolitan Flint
area.
Political Action and
Education
Lobbying elected officials to influence governmental activity
may be the top priority of Builders' Associations at all levels, however,
of nearly equal importance are our efforts toward involvement in the elective
process. To aid in the election of individuals who support the concepts of
economic growth and development, we have Political Action Committees at the
National, State and Local levels which contribute funds to candidates, and
work to educate association members on relevant issues and individual candidates
in all contested elections.
As an industry responsible for 100,000 jobs, housing has, made a significant
difference in each of the past three legislative elections.
Following are the Association Political Committees:
-
Build PAC - The NAHB Political Action Committee is
regarded as one of the most powerful in the nation, contributing hundreds
of thousands to pro housing congressional candidates.
-
B-PAC - MAHB's committee has grown tremendously in
recent years, contributing nearly $100,000 to state legislative and judicial
candidates in each election cycle.
-
BID-PAC - BAMF's committee which contributes to local
legislative candidates and some local government officials. BID-PAC also
publishes a pre-election newsletter explaining its endorsements and major
issues which affect the election.
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Membership Publications
and Education
Publications for BAMF Members
-
Veritas is the BAMF newsletter published
every month. Each issue contains 10 or 12 pages, featuring economic and
housing updates, meeting announcements and details, tax information, legislative
news along with association news and events. You can also find Veritas
updates on the web in between issues.
-
As an NAHB member Builder Magazine, the premiere
industry periodical in the country, is mailed monthly, along with Nation's
Building News, a tabloid featuring updates on national housing issues
and events.
-
MAHB's monthly magazine, the Michigan Builder, published
in Flint, highlights a number of state issues, along with product and event
information.
-
Builders are entitled to Professional Builder.
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Educational Opportunities
-
NAHB's Exposition and Convention, now in early February,
features seminars by the top educators in the nation's Housing Industry
and displays by nearly every housing product manufacturer in America. It's
been held in Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, and will be in Orlando in a few
years.
-
MAHB's Winter Conference is held in late January. It is
held in various venues around the state, featuring an extended series of
seminars on home building, remodeling, and general business related topics,
along with an exhibition hall of housing products and services.
- BAMF offers educational programs at its new office building and co-sponsors
an annual seminar with local Building officials. Along with the special seminar
sessions and General Membership meetings on timely topics, we maintain a library
stocked with research information, along with video and audio tapes of national
seminars.
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Networking: General
Meetings/Social Events
General Business Meetings / Golf Outing
/ Christmas Party
General Membership Meetings - in a changing industry environment,
we've set a new annual meeting agenda to accommodate the schedules association
members. Business meetings will be held four times during the year, including
a sponsored social hour with light hors d'oeuvres, dinner, (cost is included
in dues), and a theme informational topic relating to business in general,
or housing specifically. We're also including updates on industry, community
and political issues, and association promotional activities. General Membership
meetings are supplemented with the series of special interest meetings and
events that follow:
-
Land Development Council - In 1997 the Association
created a council to deal primarily with land development issues, both technical
and political. The council meets at noon (normally the fourth Thursday of
the month) from January through April at the association office, then returns
in September and October. The $50 membership fee includes an LDC
newsletter and lunch at the meetings.
- Exhibitors' Night - In an attempt to give associate members an opportunity
to display new products and services to builders we have an Exhibitors'
Night during our February meeting. The response to this annual event has
been great from exhibitors and builders alike.
- Golf Outing - this early August event presents an opportunity for
a day of fun, contests, prizes, food, refreshments and camaraderie among housing
industry affiliates. Always "sold out" with 144 golfers, an even
larger number of members attend the banquet that follows. The Golf Outing
takes place at a local facility, and includes a round of golf with cart, lunch,
dinner and sponsored refreshments all day long. The evening ends with a steak
dinner, and the presentation of awards and prizes.
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Public
Promotion of the Area's Housing Industry
Parade of Homes
Our Spring and Fall "Parades of Homes" have become the premier new
housing events for the metro Flint area. In recent years participation has
ranged from 23 to 49 models, with homes situated in nearly every local community.
The "Parades" create the opportunity to promote the total housing
industry throughout the Flint and Detroit areas, along with the individual
participants in the event, using all forms of media from radio and television
to newspapers and billboards. Not only have they proven invaluable to expanding
the local housing market, the "Parades" have helped create excitement
and interest in the industry as a whole.
On the average, twelve to fifteen thousand adults attend each Parade. The
average participant draws three to five thousand, however, there have been
houses which have drawn over ten thousand individually.
The Spring Parade usually opens on "Mother's Day" weekend (May
13th) , while the fall event normally starts on the second weekend of October.
They run three weekends each, with weekday schedules varying between the Spring
and Fall.
Housing Quarterly
First published in 1991, Housing Quarterly (HQ) magazine is a public
oriented periodical featuring all aspects of the housing industry in Genes
County and beyond. It's articles highlight everything from growth in the community,
to housing issues and the economic effects of legislation, to housing products.
The final section of HQ features the houses in the "Parade"
with each entry receiving a full page.
Because the magazine has been such a valuable asset to our members, advertising
support has been so strong that we've never solicited outside the Association.
10,000 copies are published and are distributed through the mail, the "Parade"
and area businesses.
Housing Quarterly has been lauded by Builders' groups throughout the
state, and has proven to be an exceptional vehicle for promotion of the Parade
and the housing industry as a whole. However, it's greatest value has been
to enhance the professional image of the Builders' Association of Metro Flint
and its more than three hundred fifty plus members.
Media and Public Relations
How important is the home building industry? Why does the Government compile
statistics on home sales and housing starts every month? Why are building
permits a component of the index of leading economic indicators? The answer
to the above questions is really quite simple; home building means jobs!
And most people are amazed to discover just how many jobs new housing creates.
Economists maintain that construction of 1,000 single family homes creates
the economic impact of 2,500 new jobs. To put that in perspective, 655 single
family homes has the equivalent employment impact of opening an average sized
auto plant.
That's the kind of message the association has been projecting through hundreds
of media interviews, presentations to community groups and housing industry
promotions. It's a message that declares, "when public policy restricts
housing, it restricts the economic health of the community."
BAMF seizes every opportunity to project just how important the housing industry's
future is to the community, and the nation as a whole.
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Builders Association
Group Insurance Programs
Workers' Comp: Michigan Construction Industry
Mutual (MCIM)
Two decades ago, in response to unreasonably high costs, intrusive
audits, and all around unfair treatment of the Construction Industry, the
Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) pooled together its members'
resources, and developed a self insured workers' compensation program designed
specifically for the industry's participants.
Keeping in mind the seasonal controls over industry income, MAHB said, "let's
create a monthly reporting form and let members pay premiums as they are working."
Also, they suggested, "let's build in the ability to increase or decrease
our payroll figures based on what we do, not what insurance companies think
we do, and eliminate audit problems."
The Result? The Michigan Construction Industry Mutual (MCISIF), currently
representing over 2,700 businesses, with special features available only
to MAHB members. Those special features include:
For details contact the following:
Al Bourdeau Insurance Service - Ted Cram, Deanna Cypher, or Kathy White - (810)-742-3411
or (800)-537-3373
Coordinated Insurance Services - Tim Glavin - (810)-733-3880
Smith-Peabody-Stiles Insurance - Dave Lucas or Jim Peabody - (810)-629-1566
Health Insurance: Blue Cross/Blue
Shield of Michigan
The Builders Association offers Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the leading name
in Health Care Insurance and the one that Michigan doctors and hospitals all
accept, and desire to work with.
Our program is available to all association members, including their
employees, without exclusion for pre-existing conditions.
There are also special discounts and a number of options available, so our
highly experienced agents can tailor a program specifically for your needs
as they relate to coverage and cost.
For full details on the association Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan program,
contact either of the agents listed below:
Al Bourdeau Insurance Services - Andrea Roberts- (800)-537-3373 or
(810)-742-3411
E-mail - andrear@albourdeau.com
Coordinated Insurance Services - Irene Butters - (810)-733-3880
Property & Casualty: Great American
Insurance Company
In our long term effort to provide as many benefits as possible to our membership,
the association has secured a commitment from a leader in the insurance industry
to offer an extremely competitive Property/Casualty program. The coverages
that are needed for piece of mind and security are now available to all contractors,
subcontractors, suppliers, and services. And, they include a dividend program
presenting the opportunity to receive a return of dollars without even having
a claim.
Contact the following for details:
Al Bourdeau Insurance Services - Ted Cram - (810)-742-3411
or (800)-537-3373
Coordinated Insurance Services - Tim Glavin - (810)-733-3880
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