Home Builders Association of Greater Fox Valley

Dear Members and Industry Partners,

I am very excited to take over where Brian, and the 2009 Leadership of HBAGFV left off. They did a great job, we actually finished the year with a small profit! That is something very few Associations and unfortunately, our own companies, can say they did.

If you are reading this email, and you are still in business, or working, I believe you have turned the corner! One thing my dad always told me, was when things get tough "put your head down, and keep on stroking". Which, if you are still standing now, you have done.

For many of our members this is their first real recession to endure. WIth our business being 40 years old this year, we have gone through em all, and by far, this was the worst that I remember, and John Hall Sr. remembers! I spoke with Joe Keim Sr. numerous times throughout the downturn, and he echoed those sentiments. We have all had good friends, family, co-workers, and competition lose there businesses, jobs, and more. Usually a recession cleans up the crap, it takes the teacher, or lawyer that decides to be a builder, and other pickup-truck builders out of the picture. Unfortunately this one reached way too deep.

So, once again, if you are still standing, and can hold out for a few more months, you are going to make it! The market will improve, jobs will come back, and it will be a nice slow and steady pace. Just make sure you take your time getting going, taking the things you learned to make your company work during this time, and keep them in mind as you grow.

Now it is time for my HBAGFV sales pitch: It is really simple, for $499 a year ($449 if you renew and bring in a new member, and you both get the $449 rate!) you get an Association that has survived the worst, turned the corner and is growing! Not only do you get membership in the Home Builders Association of Illinois, and the National Association of Home Builders for most reasonable price in the area, you get top notch services:

1. * We offer the most efficient email communication throughout the associations. Chicagoland.
2. * We offer Full Arbitration for a reasonable fee.
3. * We offer Free Home Listings for available Homes by our Builder Members on our website, including Photo, Logo, Link, and Info! Free (1 Per builder)
4. * We offer a full complement of meetings that often have a combination of social networking, as well as an educational component. This January is a Banking Round Table, and in February we are going to have specialists talk about using the web and social networking sites like Facebook, and Twitter to market yourself.
5. * We offer reasonably priced meetings $10 online for members, and $20 for non-members online.
6. * We offer all services and dues collection online with a secure PAY PAL payment process, with either a credit card, or electronic check.
7. * We are connected politically. We are meeting with Congressman Foster (at his request) in January to discuss further measures that should be taken to help fix our damaged housing industry, and we actively promote and drive Grass Roots efforts that have helped yield great results, like helping extend the first time home buyer tax credit.
8. * We are working with local municipalities to reduce the overall costs of building in their towns, teaming together like partners to get us all through this.
9. * Most importantly, you have the most powerful advocates working for you, our 100% volunteer run organization is dedicated to fully to the HBAGFV and You.

Alright, those are just a few of the real important reasons why continuing your membership, and if you have not yet renewed your membership, now is a great time to do it.

This is my third time serving as President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Fox Valley since 1998. I do this, not because I am crazy, a glutton for punishment, or for the glory, I do it because I care tremendously about my HBAGFV Family, and about the Greatest Industry in world. We provide shelter, and build people's dreams! How many people can say they do that? Not many, especially now.

We all need to work together to make it successfully, at the Home Builders Association of Greater Fox Valley, we share, and we help each other. We are like a family. I am looking forward to seeing you all again at our first meeting this year January 14th!

I wish each and everyone of you the best of luck in this new year!

Respectfully,

John R. Hall Jr.