The message for BUILD-PAC has been a consistent message, as well as persistent. As the blog title indicates, the Grand Canyon was once a stream. Through persistent and consistent flow of water it became one of the Seven Wonders of the world. Influencing members to contribute to BUILD-PAC is very similar; a constant reminding of value and importance gradually increases the size of PAC. While BUILD-PAC is not one of the other Six remaining Wonders, it does provide wonderful results for our industry.
Association Maximization is pleased to deliver another in our tremendous list of
guest bloggers, Michael LeCorgne from Mandeville, Louisiana and Associate Vice-Chair
of the BUILD-PAC Board of Trustees Executive Committee. Michael has been in the
home building industry for over 30 years starting as a superintendent with one
of the largest production home builders in the country, at the time, and has
since covered many others areas of the industry throughout the Southeastern United
States. He holds an insurance producer’s license for four states and is
currently (14 years) a Risk Management Specialist with 2-10 Home Buyers
Warranty. Michael continually states how proud he is that
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty has encouraged and supported his continued
involvement on the many HBA levels.
Michael
holds the following NAHB designations: CGA, CSP, CGP, CAPS and is an approved
instructor for several courses through NAHB Education. Michael also serves
currently as the Vice Chair of the Associate Members Committee and serves as a
member of both the Education Committee and the Membership Committee. Michael
received BUILD-PAC’s Bill Polley Award as was inducted into NAHB’s Society of
Honored Associates.
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Michael LeCorgne, CGA, CGP, CAPS |
In the past, you have read or heard some of our past associate leaders’
thoughts and beliefs provided within Association Maxinization and all of these building
industry professionals are truly vested in the continued recovery of OUR
housing industry. Please note that I did say “OUR” housing industry as
all members of the NAHB federation should be equally committed to doing all
they can, both individually and as a group, to promote affordable housing, and
housing initiatives. Associates have a saying, “If it affects a builder, it
affects associates,” and that statement is true to its very core and is our
associate mantra today and going forward.
In my opinion, advocacy is the very first place anyone
should make a commitment. Although we don’t all have the same political
beliefs, we should all do our part in making sure that housing issues and
concerns stay at the forefront of those directing the decisions (legislators
local, state and national) that have positive and negative impacts on our
industry. The unfortunate part of politics is that often the “parties” choose
not to work together to resolve issues that have an adverse effect on our
industry. Even knowing this, we still have to work with the various parties and
continue to massage egos, just to be able to hope that our issues might be
heard.
I chose to participate in these efforts by being an
advocate for BUILD-PAC fundraising efforts as well as increasing participation
among the membership of NAHB. The message gets somewhat diluted when just a
small fraction of membership participates in its
delivery. With only 3% of membership participating with contributions, we tend
to be a bit short on representation. The
associates’ contribution is just 1% of that 3% with only 724 associates making
any financial contributions for our industry. Our 2 year goal for this cycle is
just at $2.75 million dollars. Associates make up just over $250 thousand of
that. My objective over the next year and a half will be to increase awareness
and participation of associates on all levels. It is vital for all members to
be vested in their livelihood! It is my goal to work with everyone to help more
associates and builders to invest in our business, our success and our future.
A minimal investment of only $20.00, which we can all afford, will go a long
way, IF we can get all of our membership on board. A voice of 140,000 will be a
much louder voice than that of 4,000!
Steady housing continues to be a stabilizing catalyst for
the U.S. economy. By contributing to NAHB’s BUILD-PAC, I believe I am doing
what all members of the federation should do to ensure that Housing remains a
focal point for our legislators. I actively recruit BUILD-PAC participation from
local, state, and national membership. I feel that not only do I “talk the
talk”, but also “walk the walk”! I now ask for others to join walk. Let us all
walk together for a brighter tomorrow in the housing industry.
When I first got involved on the different levels of
various HBA’s and NAHB, I would sit in the back of the room and listen to what
was being discussed. Every once in a while, I would speak up with a comment or
question – for clarity and thought provoking discussion. Soon I was invited to
sit “at the table” and thus started my involvement on a local basis. I thank those
who mentored and encouraged me to step up and get involved on a national level,
which I have done, with heart and soul. I encourage anyone interested in having
their voices heard or those wanting to get more involved, to please reach out
to myself, Kim Hefner, Associate Members Committee Chairman and Kathy Craven-Snodgrass, National Associate Chairman (NVP), or others that you may
know that are involved for guidance and direction to taking the next step.
I have built many great relationships over the years and
I look forward to building many more in the future. I hope to visiting with as
many associates and builders as possible while in Washington, D.C. during our
Spring Board meetings next week and share my thoughts about our future. As you
may tell, I am passionate about the home building industry and its survival and
I call on you to join me in this cause!
submitted by Michael Kurpiel, CGA, CGP
submitted by Michael Kurpiel, CGA, CGP