President's Message

“Tis the season” as they say. We have come to the end of 2007 and
the end of my term as President of the NCBA. I view the conclusion of my presidency with mixed emotions. Of course it was extra work at times, but it was always worthwhile and very enjoyable. It was a great pleasure to work with our members and staff to see the NCBA continue to flourish and grow. I am especially proud of the fact that we added almost 30 new members during my second year in office. Our association will be stronger and more effective because of the added membership. To all who served on the board and to the entire membership, I thank you for this opportunity. Our board is a dedicated group of individuals who work together very well.

We had an outstanding turnout for our November meeting at DeFlippo’s in Lockport. Despite being cramped for space, we had a great time. The meal was wonderful, elections ran smoothly, and we approved a $1,000 scholarship for a student in the building trades. Our speaker was Andy Hvisdak from the New York Department of State. He works as a code interpreter, dealing with local code enforcers, contractors and the public to help interpret the state building codes. His main emphasis was to assure us that if a contractor disagrees with a ruling from a local code enforcement official, he or she can call Andy or his partner in Buffalo and get an interpretation and explanation. The code interpreters will also sometimes intercede with the local government official to help you reach agreement. Thanks to Andy and to Bill Burg who arranged for our speaker. Andy also distributed his card so we could contact him and handed out several reprints with the new code changes and other information.

The current New York State Building Code books are now in the office for your use. A complete set of loose-leaf code books are available to be used in the office. You can easily make copies of any portions that you need. Lori Swogier and Joelyn were at the November meeting and reminded all that now is the time to make your donations for our Holiday Party. Our December event is always one of the highlights of the year. We hope that all of our members will join us to celebrate the holiday season and welcome our new slate of offi cers, led by incoming President Bob Minkiewicz. Look for details on the insert in this newsletter. It’s not too late to be a sponsor or contributor for the party. Call Cathy if you want to donate toward the cost of prizes or have a gift basket to include in the festivities. Joelyn and I wish all of you much peace and happiness this holiday season, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Next Meeting

New Officers Elected

A new slate of officers was elected for 2008-2009 at the November meeting. To be inducted in December are:

PRESIDENT	Bob Minkiewicz
1st V. P.	Bill Burg
2nd V.P.	Carl Capolupo
SECRETARY	Donna Tisdale
TREASURER	Larry Quigliano
NATIONAL REP	Bill Burg
STATE REP	Skip Mazenauer
DIRECTORS	Gary DiMatteo,
	Jim Kuryak,
	Joe Paolini,
	Gary Pollard,
	Fred Mallone

CONGRATULATIONS to our new leadership! We look forward to working with you.

Greentree Builders, Ryan Homes Win Energy Awards

Howie Gardner of Greentree Builders was presented with the Excellence in Energy Performance Award at the New York State Builders Show at Turning Stone in October. Th e award goes to the builder that has built at least 25 New York ENERGY STAR Labeled Homes and has the highest average Home Energy Rating score, combined with lighting and appliance energy savings from June, 2006 to June, 2007. Congratulations, Howie and Greentree!

Also at the show, Ryan Homes received the Superior Sales Award, which is presented to the homebuilder with the greatest number of New York ENERGY STAR Labeled Homes. Congratulations to Chad Rush and the folks at Ryan Homes!

Mitchell Elected To Softball Hall Of Fame

Past President Murdoch Mitchell has been inducted into the Western New York Soft ball Hall of Fame. Mitch was one of 13 new members elected to the hall for 2007. He played several seasons with various teams from the Town of Tonawanda, and also coached for several years. He was recognized at the ceremony as being responsible for the fi rst tournament ever held behind prison walls, when he brought his team and others to Attica for several games in 1980. A speedster who played shortstop and catcher, Mitch follows his close friend and teammate John Ennis into the hall. John was elected in 2006. CONGRATULATIONS MITCH!

NCBA Offers Building Trades Scholarship

NYSBA’s Research and Education Foundation sponsors the William Morehouse Scholarship Program, which awards money to qualified students who are pursuing a one, two or four-year college program in construction or a construction related field. To qualify, students must be sponsored by their local HBA. At our November meeting the board approved giving a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving local student in 2008. We will fund half of the scholarship, and NYSBA’s REF matches our amount. In order to administer the scholarship, we will be forming a new Scholarship Committee. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please call Cathy or Jerry at the office. The committee will be responsible for screening applications, interviewing candidates and selecting the scholarship winner. If you know of a deserving student who might be interested in applying, the rules and application are available from the NCBA office or can be downloaded at http://sf1000.registeredsite.com/~user996836/REF/WMS2008FINAL.pdf

New Resource Offers Easy Access to Mold Prevention Solutions

Article by Mike Poellinger, Chariman, Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition

With so many products on the market that can help to reduce and prevent mold, it is critical for homebuilders to filter through it all and know the facts. Instead of commercial product recommendations, builders need access to unbiased information gathered by an impartial non-profit organization. That is why the Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition (RSMC), made up of government, environmental, and industry experts was formed in 2006 at the International Builders Show in Orlando. Our mission is to educate by emphasizing best building practices.

Of those practices, the key to mold prevention is to prevent moisture. This is science based
information that, if adhered to, will save builders and homeowners tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. Mold prevention is simply a smart investment. Our web site at http://www. responsiblemoldsolutions.org/prevention.htm is a great resource for information on battling
mold. Topics covered include:

1. How to eff ectively control mold by controlling moisture
2. Are mold-resistant products the answer?
3. What are some mold-avoidance strategies?
4. What should I do if I find mold in my home or office?
5. Moisture control and best building practices are the key to fighting mold

As we mentioned, the RSMC doesn’t limit its mission to helping contractors. We are reaching
out to the consumer with timely tips. Feel free to share these with your clients:

1. Reduce humidity by venting to the outside bathrooms, dryers and other moisture - generating sources like showers, stoves and dishwashers.
2. When weather permits, open doors and windows, increasing airflow.
3. Ensure your doors and windows have flashings that expel moisture out of your home.
4. A small patch of mold can be cleaned with detergent or household cleaners, and warm water.
5. If you fi nd evidence of moisture intrusion, fi nd out where it originates and fi x it.

Taking steps to prevent moisture intrusion and mold are usually inexpensive, but ignoring them can be costly.

As our next major goal, the RSMC is developing a list of “Guiding Principles” for the industry, designed to help the greatest number of builders, contractors, building owners and homeowners avoid mold. With our Guiding Principles on moisture and mold control will come solutions on how to make homes and offices healthier and more comfortable spaces in which to live and work. This will give builders a complete guide from some of the best technical experts in our industry. The list is expected to be published in late 2007.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS!!!

Th e New York State Builders Association would like to create a statewide Member to Member Discount Program. NYSBA is planning to publish an annual piece in the beginning of 2008. If you are interested in off ering a special discount to your fellow members, please call Leigh Brown at 518-465-2492 ext. 121 or email LBrown@nysba.com. Please note: if builders and remodelers would like to off er discounts to the associate members, they are encouraged to do so.

Promote Your Business In 2008

Did you know that for only $50 you can send all of our members a full-page fl yer advertising your business? If you have a good ad already printed, all you have to do is bring 105 of them to the NCBA offi ce, and for a $50 charge we will insert them into our monthly newsletter. Th ey are mailed out to our entire membership, plus key elected offi cials, media and other contacts. It’s a great way to get your business in front of an audience of potential customers. Call Cathy at 693-5736 if you are interested in putting your insert into the NCBA newsletter.

NYSBA Helps Defeat Fire Sprinkler Mandate

On Th ursday, November 8, a team led by Jim Klein and Phil LaRocque of NYSBA helped to defeat an effort to push a code change requiring fire sprinkler systems for new one-and two-family homes in New York State. Proponents of the change have been promoting fire sprinklers for years. Thanks in large part to the NYSBA team, this time the initiative was beaten back. The building industry won this battle, but the war goes on. The industry will continue to fight any efforts to bring this issue back to the table.