Designations, Resources Add Value to Membership - 9/27/2004 - Real Estate Education Training Schools Conferences

Designations, Resources Add Value to Membership

The above is not a question asked of me by my wife. Rather, it’s a sentiment gleaned from a meeting earlier this year of the Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) Remodelors™ Council.

At the MAHB summer convention, the MAHB Remodelors™ Council gathered to discuss general industry issues from around the state and to hold our regular council business meeting. Also attending was NAHB Remodelors™ Council Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Don Novak, CAPS, CGR, CBG, CKD, of Novak Construction Co. in Cedar Rapids, IA.

We discussed three main issues: local member involvement, value of membership and continued professional development — all recurring themes that warranted further examination within the context of answering the question, “What has the Remodelors™ Council done for me lately?”

The Challenge: How to Increase Member Involvement

How to increase member involvement at a local level is a challenge facing all local associations. This issue was thoroughly discussed at the roundtable with no solution offered. There is no silver bullet for remedying this challenge.

Some good suggestions included:

• Monthly council meetings held at different businesses
• Attendance drawings for cash
• Coordinated social events with members to foster networking opportunities

One Solution: Continually Promote the Benefits of Membership

One of the most effective ways to increase member involvement is to continuously promote the benefits of membership in NAHB. With so much offered at the local, state and national levels, it is only a matter of time before a member finds something important enough to become more involved.

We also discussed the ever-present issue of building value in membership. While it is understood that the majority of members have most of their contact with the NAHB through their local association, this is as it should be.

However, the activities at the state and national level should be at least of moderate interest to the local member. By receiving newsletters produced by the state and national Remodelors™ Council, members at the local level can connect and feel part of the entire federation.

The national Remodelors™ Council e-newsletter is ReNews, a monthly publication available free to Remodelors™ Council members. To begin receiving it, e-mail Melanie Hinton. 

State Remodelors™ Council newsletters are member driven publications — a means by which members can share information and learn about issues facing fellow remodelers in their particular states. If you have an interest in submitting an article or point of information, contact your local or state HBA.

Don’t Forget the Value of Continuing Education and Professional Development

You may be able to tell from the four accreditations that Don Novak has earned that he strongly believes in continuing education and professional develop programs. He is one of the most accredited members of NAHB.

When he assumes the leadership of the NAHB Remodelors™ Council next year, he will put the many NAHB professional designation programs on the top of his agenda. Such programs offer the opportunity to get local members more involved in the association and bring value to their membership.

Two remodeler specific designations — Certified Aging In-Place Specialist (CAPS) and the Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) — include courses that cover all aspects of being successful in the remodeling industry. These courses are typically offered at the International Builders' Show and The Remodeling Show. However, courses can be held at your local association. Contact your local association for more information on how to offer CGR and CAPS courses.

So, when looking for answers about how to increase member involvement, build value in membership and expand your members' professional development, it appears that the Remodelors™ Councils at the local, state and national levels are doing quite a lot for us lately.

There is certainly no lack of opportunity to become more involved or to receive value. It is merely a question of priority.

Brindley Byrd, CAPS, CGR, is president, Qx2 Contracting, Inc., Lansing, MI. Byrd founded Qx2 Contracting in 1994 with the goal of helping to provide quality, affordable housing. Since then, the scope of the company has expanded to include housing advocacy, professional industry training and business-to-business consulting. For more information, e-mail Bird.