On The Level - July 2009

Contents:

REVERSE RAFFLE
JULY 17TH!!!

Get 'Em While They Last!!!  2009 Reverse Raffle tickets are on sale for $100 each.  The ticket entitles the bearer to dinner for two and entry into the raffle.  There is a New Twist to the game this year - NO MULLIGANS will be sold.  Instead there will be 125 half price tickets available for purchase during check-in.  These tickets will only to be sold to ticket holders and you can buy as many as you want as long as quanitites last.  These tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis so get to the event early! 

Check-in is at 5:30pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall and dinner will be served at 6:30pm.  The drawing will begin promptly at 7:00pm.  You must be present to win or have a representative there with your ticket. 

A NEW 2008 Chevy Colorado pick-up will be this year's top prize at the TABA Reverse Raffle and prizes 2-10 will also be awarded.  If you haven't already done so, please call a TABA Board member or Membership Meetings coommittee member or the TABA office to purchase your ticket.  Tickets sold out early last year so don't wait.

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Things are certainly heating up across our state and our local area, and I am not just talking about the weather.  Home sales and starts are picking up and that’s good news for our industry, our communities, and our businesses.  Did you know that Texas has one of the strongest real estate markets in the nation?  In addition, recent media reports reflect that half of all new jobs created in the US were in Texas.  Although things are not what they were in the past few years, we have much to be thankful for. 

Speaking of being thankful, we are always happy to welcome new members and we have several new members who have joined this past month.  I want to extend a warm welcome to each one of them.  Terry Weaver with Waterford Builders, Mike Rose with Decopierre, Adam Lemaster with Parsons Roofing and Ben Mauldin with Ben Mauldin Plumbing.  Welcome to the TABA family and we hope to see our newest members at our upcoming events.

As I have said many times before, one of the greatest benefits of TABA membership is that we encourage our members to network and promote business with each other.  The next time you are looking to start a new business relationship, look first at our membership directory.  TABA’s membership includes the areas’ best building contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, realtors, and providers of specialized services.

Would you like to win a new Chevrolet truck?  You could have a 1 in 375 chance to win one of ten fabulous prizes.  Join us on July 17th for the Reverse Raffle Event at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Temple.  This event has been loads of fun in the past and this year we have stepped-up the grand prize package to include a new truck.   Tickets sales are limited to 240 and always sell-out before the event date. If you have not purchased your ticket already, call Cheryl at the office or any of the board directors and get one before they sell-out.   Your $100 ticket admits two for dinner and beverages.  Ten lucky winners will go home with great prizes to include a Sony entertainment package, a Benelli shotgun and a trip to the Guadalupe River just to mention just a few.

If you haven’t already heard, our association is organizing a fishing tournament on Lake Belton for the month of October.  The tournament will take place in the morning, followed by our general membership meeting and fish fry that afternoon.  This will be a great opportunity to get in some quality relaxing time on the lake, fish with your buddy, and potentially win a cash prize.  The event has been scheduled for Friday, October 2nd and is being billed as a catch and release bass tournament.  The tournament will begin at safe light and weigh-in is scheduled for 12:00 noon.  You’ll see more information about the fishing tournament in the coming months.

Hope to see you at the reverse raffle!

Chris

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Belton Design Standard Update
The Belton Design Standards have now been reviewed by Council and there have been two Council workshops on the topic.  The public was not invited to speak at either workshop, but the Mayor and other council members have requested and received TABA input.

We have continued to repeat our frustrations about the standards, mainly regarding the stringent masonry requirements, but as to others as well.  A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th. 

Temple Overlay Update
The City of Temple I 35 Overlay was revamped multiple times to address local concerns and the Council approved the document at a third hearing on July 2nd.   

TRCC Wrap-up
One of the primary issues discussed at a recent Texas Association of Builders leadership meeting was the sunsetting of the TRCC.  Some key points made during the meeting included:

     ***Existing warranties that were provided under TRCC rule should continue to be honored; written warranties will likely stand in court. 
     ***The requirement for warranties won't exist on homes built after the TRCC is gone.  Builders may now choose not to provide warranty, but in doing so they take a chance on an implied warranty in court.  The Residential Construction Liability Act (RCLA) remains in place.  TAB Contracts will be updated and available by September.
     ***The requirement for inspections in the County will continue through August, by which time the County may assume the authority from the TRCC to continue the requirement.
     ***Continuing Education that was required for TRCC credit is no longer needed.  
     ***Continue registering your homes with the TRCC through August.  If your registration becomes due to TRCC prior to the end of August, it is important that you take care of that business as well--rates will be pro-rated.   
    
If you have any specific questions about the TRCC, please give me a call or see the TRCC website.

Legislative note
TAB was successful in getting the Fire Sprinkler Legislation Signed by the Governor.  Effectively, the legislation that has been signed into law leaves the choice for residential fire sprinklers in the hands of the consumer. 

TAB was successful on many fronts this legislative session.  It can't be understated how hard your association works for you, please join TABA leadership in applauding the Texas Association of Builders and the National Association of Home Builders for the effort they put into and the success they had in protecting the interests of our industry.

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It's the Deadliest Catch TABA Style!!

You've seen it on the Discovery Channel - The Deadliest Catch.  A show about crab fisherman in the brutal Bearing Sea.  TABA has decided to organize a (not so) Deadliest Catch of its own on the mostly calm waters of Lake Belton.  This is TABA's first shot at putting together a bass fishing tournament for TABA members and non-members.  Something new to try to reach out to those members who don't shoot skeet or play golf.

We have scheduled the event for Friday, October 2nd at Temple Lake Park.  Details are still being worked out, but it looks like fisherman will pair up in teams of two and start out at safe light (around 6:45am).  Weigh-in will be at noon.  An entry fee has not be established yet and prizes will determined by how many teams we sign up.  We will be giving out prize money for the Big Bass.

TABA members - we will have our Annual Associate Appreciation Fish Fry in conjunction with this event.  The Fish Fry is FREE and is sponsored by our builder members as a "Thank You" for all you do throughout the year.  The Fish Fry will begin at 12:00 noon.  Don't worry, it will be catered.  We will NOT be eating the fish our fisherman catch.  This will be a catch and release tournament.

Please keep reading your newsletter for more information as well as an entry form if you wish to participate.

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NEW HOME STARTS

  June '09June '08'09 YTD  '08 YTD
 Temple5936193248
 Belton1154350
 Morgan's Point3437
 Totals7345239305

ALL HOME CLOSINGS

 June '09230 '09 YTD951
 June '08170 '08 YTD1,084

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Reverse Raffle - Get Your Tickets While They Last

Our 3rd Annual Reverse Raffle is this month and the prizes are very exciting.  Our top prize is a brand new 2008 Chevy Colorado pickup.  You will have a 1 in 375 chance to win!  These are great odds and TABA is excited to be able to elevate our top prize like this.  Last year we sold out about one week prior to the raffle so don't wait to get your tickets...call the TABA office TODAY!!  We hope to see many of you Friday, July 17th at the KC Hall in Temple.  The BBQ will be delicious, the beer will be cold and the game should be smokin'.

August Fish Fry - Moved

As many of you know, August usually is the month that we have our Associate Appreciation Fish Fry.  In the continuing effort to condense our meetings, we have decided to organize a Fishing Tournament that will also include our Annual Associate Appreciation Fish Fry.  It has been scheduled for Friday, October 2nd at Temple Lake Park and will be a noon time event.  Those participating in the Fishing Tournament will be on the lake at safe light and weighing in at noon which is the time the fish fry will begin.  I hope you mark your calendars and attend.  It is free for those coming for the food (those participating in the tournament will have an entry fee).  I want this event to be a big success so I am hoping our TABA members will help us accomplish that goal.
The next event besides the upcoming Reverse Raffle will be the Home-PAC Skeet Shoot.  Be looking for information in newsletters and email blasts.

That's it from my desk.  Be expecting the 2009-2010 Directory in your mailbox sometime next month and I hope to see many members at the Reverse Raffle.  This event has become a "Must Attend" event.

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2010 HOME & GARDEN SHOW

Please mark you calendars for Saturday and Sunday, February 27th and 28th for the 2010 Home & Garden Show.  Check your mailboxes and newsletters for more information next month.

2010 PARADE OF HOMES

The 2010 Parade of Homes has been scheduled for April 16-18, 23-25, 2010.  Builders please be advised that these are your dates with completion expected 2 weeks prior.  More information regarding the 2010 Parade will be published soon.

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The Lengefeld Lumber Company and a variety of other sponsors invite you to join us for the 4th Annual TABA Home PAC Skeet Shoot.  As our event continues to grow and become more popular, we hope to exceed last year’s record participation which included 75 companies that participated by sponsoring, entering a team, and/or providing an auction item. 

Last year we had 115 shooters of varying skill sets participate and all indications were that everyone enjoyed themselves regardless of their ability.  If you desire to shoot, you better hurry!  Just fill out our form on our website skeet page and fax it to us.  We hope to again reach our goal of selling out our time slots and look forward to a very exciting shoot that will be fun and competitive.

The date of the shoot is Tuesday, August 25th.  There will be things going on most of the day that should be attractive to shooters and non-shooters alike.  Look for more about the event in next month’s edition of On the Level.

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