We Need You! - Tyler Area Builders Association

PRESORTSTANDARDUS POSTAGEPAIDTYLER TXPERMIT NO 1571504 -A West Grande Blvd.Tyler, Texas 75703Phone 903-561-3964Fax 903-561-7273Email info@tylerareabuilders.comTABA www.tylerareabuilders.comTAB www.texasbuilders.orgNAHB www.nahb.comADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTEDAND FINALLY . . .One of the most important benefits ofTABA membership is one that is most oftenoverlooked: powerful advocacy.NAHB, TAB and TABA remain the “Voiceof the Building Industry.” Our strong organizationsensure lobbying power to protect againstlegislation that may negatively affect our industry and the Americanhome buyer.On the national level, the sole mission of NAHB’s BUILDPACis to guard your interests in the national political arena. Importantlegislative issues such as work force, housing finance and the environmentare closely monitored as the organization fights for a balancebetween reason and regulation.On the state level, HOMEPAC has the same goal. TAB stayson top of such issues as TRCC revisions, storm water issues andfire codes in their work to protect and improve the housing industry.And in Smith County, TABA works actively with cities andcounties to maintain builder-friendly regulations and relationships.Your grassroots involvement has never been more important.Join us on February 25, 2009, as we travel by bus to Austin to rallyon the steps of the Capitol and meet with our area representatives.We need your participation. There is, after all, strength in numbers.And by attending you can see, firsthand, another value ofyour membership.Thanks for your ongoing support,Kathey ComerExecutive Vice-PresidentPRESIDENT’S MESSAGEAs we look ahead to 2009, we can be thankfulthat Texas leads the nation in new home starts.One out of every four homes started in the USA isin Texas. Even so, it is especially important that weunite as an organization right now.A realtors’ association in the Texas Panhandleis currently putting out yard signs that read“Real-estate is Local.” The same can be said of the home building industry.The national news is filled with alarming headlines and disturbingcomments on the building industry and our economy. This angst is tricklingdown to our local economy.Our TABA Board of Directors just returned from our annual retreat,where we reviewed our three-year strategic plan. A great deal of thoughtand hard work went into this plan, and our committees have alreadyimplemented many of those ideas.One of the on-going action items in our plan is to “Do Business witha Member.” This is a great way to help our industry flourish and ourassociation grow.If our members support one another, we can truly make a differencein the community we call home. One of the ways you can showsupport is to attend the monthly “After Hours.” I especially would like tosee more of my fellow builder members attend. After Hours is an informalget-together that’s perfect for networking between both associatesand builder members.I thank you all for the opportunity to lead this association for theyear 2009. I look forward to working with each of you toward the bettermentof the home building industry.Nancy Barron2009 President