Next Meeting

First Meeting of 2005
By Jim Fitz-Patrick

Our meeting this month, arranged by Program Chairperson Katie Wolf of National Fuel should be interesting to many of us. Our speaker will be a representative from USA Niagara, who will discuss downtown development in Niagara Falls. Our dinner will be from JT's new menu and Joe will offer us a choice of three entrees from which you can select that evening. The cost will be $20 inclusive. Reservations continue to be very important to assure proper seating arrangements and food preparation. Please call 283-0557 or fax 283-0733 your reservations to us upon receipt of this bulletin. Final date to reserve is Monday, January 10th.

Election

Our election of Officers and Members of the Board of Directors took place at our meeting on November 10, 2004 at John's Flaming Hearth. Reelected for another year were:

President - Stanley Swogier III: Swogier Construction, Inc.

1st Vice President - Lawrence Quigliano: L.J. Quigliano II, Inc.

2nd Vice President - Robert Minkiewicz: 84 Lumber Co.

Treasurer - John Ennis: William Schutt & Associates, P.C.

Secretary - Catherine Wolf: National Fuel

National Director - William Burg: Alside Windows and Doors

State Director - Skip Mazenauer: Niagara Frontier Publications

Remodeler Council Chairman - Stanley Swogier III: Swogier Construction, Inc.

Elected to the Board of Directors for a two year term ending December 31, 2006 were:

Carl Capolupo - United Rentals

Thomas DiMatteo - G.T. Custom Built Homes

James Mordeno - Mordeno Construction Company

Brian Tomeny - B&L Wholesale Supply

Elected to the Board of Directors for a one year term to fill a vacancy ending December 31, 2005 is:

Howie Gardner - Barden Homes

News from National

NAHB reports that activity in the housing industry has reached its peak but should hold up at fairly robust levels into 2005. National also indicates that long-tern interest rates will be increasing in 2005. Rates that will be at 2% by year-end will increase to at least 3.25% by the end of 2005. NAHB is forecasting that fixed-rate mortgages will average 6.25% in 2005, up from 5.9% this year.

Christmas Party

Christmas Basket Auction: Our annual Christmas Basket Auction was a HUGE success according to those attending. Special thanks to Lori and Stan Swogier who chaired the event for the 3rd year. Assisting them this year were Murdoch and Ginny Mitchell, Jolynn Quigliano and Donna Tisdale. About 100 members and their friends attended this year having the opportunity to win the more than 75 available baskets. The best part of all was that a part of the auction proceeds were used in the "Adopt a Family" Program for the 914th Airlift Wing Holiday through the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base. President Stan Swogier, 1st Vice-President Larry Quigliano, National Director Bill Burg and Board Member Gary DiMatteo were on hand at the base on December 21st to accept an award for outstanding support to a family whose husband and father are serving his country overseas. Each of the children, as well as mom, received several gifts plus a Tops gift certificate to provide them with a great Christmas dinner. Staff Sergeant Michael P. Corbett, the Family Support technician at the base, arranged all of this. Again, a special thanks to the committee for a great job and to Brian Mack (B&L Wholesale Supply) who donated his share of the 50/50 split to the family we supported.

2005 International Builders Show

There is still time to attend the International Builders Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The only problem is that you will have to register on site in Orlando when you arrive there on January 13th, 2005. For further information, please visit www.buildersshow.com/seminars or call NAHB @ 1-800-368-5242 extension 8111.

2005

We have received a supply of 2005 daily appointment books to be given to your suppliers, etc. If you want some of these books, please give me a call at 283-0557. They will also be available at the meeting on January 12th.

Dues

Bills for your 2005 membership dues will be sent out as soon as the Board of Directors approves the budget. In the meantime, if you want to pay your 2005 memmbership dues early, just make your check in the amount of $400 payable to Niagara County Builders Association and mail it to the Builders Office at 212-70th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14304.

Kitchen World

As most of you are aware, Kitchen World had a disastrous fire a couple of weeks ago, which completely destroyed their showroom on Robinson Road in Lockport. We are pleased to advise that Bob Sanderson and the Kitchen World Group established a new showroom within a few days so they could continue to serve their customers like they have been doing for the past 30 years. They are now located at 5879 South Transit Road in Lockport and their phone number remains (716) 434-5606. Now is the time to give them a call, or better yet, buy your next kitchen.

February Meeting

Our February meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 9th, 2005 at Suzanne's Fine Dining on Niagara Falls Blvd in Wheatfield. Please mark your calendars accordingly.