Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/182565
lo cal h b a news St. Clair County, Greater Montgomery HBAs Receive National Membership Awards Two local Home Builders Associations in Alabama were recently recognized by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for their outstanding membership recruiting and retention efforts in 2012. The St. Clair County HBA won the NAHB Grand Award for Percentage Increase in member recruitment. They beat out 156 other local associations in Group 5 to post the largest percentage increase. The Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association was awarded the NAHB Grand Award for Retention Rate for their membership retention efforts. They retained 84.6% of their membership last year, a rate higher than any other association in Group 2. Greater Montgomery HBA President Ben Byrd and Membership Chair Jayne Ward with the association's award for retention. GBAHB Recruitment Event Draws Potential New Members The Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders' Membership Committee recently hosted a New Member Recruitment session. The event was spearheaded by Membership Committee Co-Chairs Rob Dreher and Merry Margaret Coggins. More than 15 members met at the association office to call industry professionals and inform them of the benefits of becoming a new member. More than 100 potential members were contacted and the association expects to see at least 20 percent of those contacted join as new members. Greater Birmingham AHB Membership Co-Chair Merry Margaret Coggins talks to prospective members about the benefits of joining the association during GBAHB's recruitment drive. HMCB Foundation Supports First Time Homebuyer Program The Huntsville/Madison County Builders Foundation donated $3,500 to the Family Services Center to assist in the operation of their First Time Homebuyer Pre-Purchase Housing Program. The program counsels clients on how to understand their credit and how to repair it; assesses clients' needs, financial status, state and national government assistance programs' availability; teaches how to search and locate a new home in the clients' financial range; matches clients with non-predatory lending companies and learn common lending pitfalls; trains clients on avoiding delinquency in payments and foreclosure; and teaches clients how to maintain their new home and their finances after the purchase. These funds were made available through events sponsored by the Huntsville/ Madison County Builders Association, such as the Parade of Homes, Spring Tour of Homes, and the Building, Home & Remodeling Show. 2 0 | A la ba m a Hom e bu il d er | SUMM E R 2 0 1 3 Huntsville/Madison County Builders Foundation President Roy Johnson (right) presents a $3,500 check to Darin Geiger, Executive Director of the Family Services Center.