Start the new year right and takeadvantage of your first opportunity toparticipate in the HBA networking cir-cuit. The first Membership Meeting isquickly approaching. The location isthe Eugene Hilton and the date isThursday, January 20th. Our new members willreceive special attention during table-to-tableintroductions along with any member that wouldlike to make an announcement pertaining totheir 2005 tour discounts or any HBA memberdiscounts the company may be offering.

Are you going to offer a discount to the tourbuilders? Do you give HBA members a discountfor doing business with you? If you answered yesto either question, attend the meeting ready toexplain your discount. To help get the word out,we will list all of the discounts announced at themeeting in the February edition of this newsletter.

The HBA sponsored Member Benefit pro-grams will also be explained at this meeting.More times than not, you can save more than yourmembership investment simply by taking advan-tage of these programs. Representatives fromeach sponsored program will be on hand toanswer your questions.

Associate Members - have younoticed that several more builders areattending the monthly meetings? Weheard your concern about wantingmore builders to attend the meetings sowe began a new program that allows the

sponsor to purchase the builder meals. It’s work-ing! This month’s sponsor, our friends atNationwide Floor & Window Coverings, haveagreed to continue purchasing the builder mealsso we’re expecting another great turnout.

Builder Members - you and a guest are invitedto attend the meeting at no cost. Compliments ofNationwide Floor & Window Coverings.

Every Member - this is a great meeting to bringa prospective member to. A lot of the questionsprospects have are about the HBA sponsoredinsurance programs.

We look forward to this high-energy eveningand want to say Thank You for the outstandingsupport from the evening’s sponsor NationwideFloor & Window - what a great group of people!Your attendance is one way to support our spon-sors and say thank you for supporting the HBA.Hope to see you all there! The networking socialbegins at 6:00 p.m. and the fun will start at 7:00.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE“Welcome To 2005!”

Welcome everyone to 2005! This looks to be another great year for the Home Builders Association.I would first like to say thank you to Mike Gansen and the incredible HBA staff for all their hard workin 2004. I joined the Home Builders Association for a lot of the same reasons that most of you joined,because of what the association could do for me. The HBA provides me with marketing tools such asthe tour of homes, and better rates on phone bills and insurance. But it has turned out to mean waymore than that for my company. It is a tool to keep informed of the latest trends in our business, keepeducated through the Master Builder Program, but most importantly of all, the HBA keeps us fromgetting run out of business.

I say this because of the work that the HBA is doing in Governmental Affairs. With the diverse andoften combative political arena of our area, each of us alone would not stand a chance in fighting thefight that we need to fight. From escalating SDC charges to changes in land use, we would soon findthat the municipalities priced us builders out of our jobs. By standing up for what is fair, and oftencalling the cities’ bluffs, our governmental affairs staff and committee are keeping most of usemployed.

With that said, there is a more important subject in our area than SDC’s, the Urban GrowthBoundary. I believe that in this coming year we will finally get the Urban Growth Boundary issue onthe cities table to start the discussion. It will be a while yet before the expansion is made, but to haveit on the city’s table is a major 1st step.

Volume 15, Number 1 January 2005

“I have goals forthis association inthe coming year,and these goals are ambitious”

Coming Up... 2HBA Hall of Fame Inductee 3Builder & Associate of the Year 4Government Affairs 5Membership 6HBA Awards 7-8RMLS Update 9Builders Garage Sale 11

THE FIRST 2005 NETWORKING EVENTMembership Meeting – Thursday January 20th – Eugene Hilton

continued on page 8

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HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LANE COUNTY2

PUBLISHER’S STATEMENTON THE LEVEL is the official monthly newsletter of the Home Builders Association of LaneCounty, Inc., a non-profit corporation. Opinions expressed here in are those of the editor orthe credited author and may not reflect those of the entire membership. Written materialsmay be submitted to:

ON THE LEVEL2053 Laura St., Springfield, OR 97477

(541) 484-5352 • www.hbalanecounty.org

Editor: Ed McMahon, Executive Vice President –Home Builders AssociationPrinted by: Central Print & Reprographic Services; 342-3624Graphic Design and Layout: Teri & Greg Hughes of Design Works; 334-0954Ad Sales by: Ed McMahon of Home Builders Association; 484-6560

Jan 13-16 NAHB ConventionOrlando, FL

Jan 18 Home Show Task Force10:30 – HBA OfficeBoard of Directors11:30 – HBA OfficeBuilders Garage Sale Committee1:30 – HBA Office

Jan 20 Public Relations CommitteeNoon – HBA OfficeGeneral Membership Meeting6:00 Social Hour7:00 DinnerEugene HiltonSponsored by: Nationwide Floor & Window Covering

Jan 25 Membership CommitteeNoon – HBA Office

Feb 1 Government AffairsNoon – HBA Office

Feb 9 Florence General MembershipElk’s Lodge

Feb 10 Executive Committee11:30 – HBA Office

Feb 15 Board of Directors11:30 – HBA Office

COMING UP ...

2005 OFFICERSPresident Chad RuhoffVice President Dan HillVice President Rebecca LarsonAssociate Vice President Johnny KirschenmannTreasurer Marc HepnerSecretary Peggy WilliamsPast President Mike Gansen

2005 BOARD OF DIRECTORSBUILDERS ASSOCIATESMike Gansen Marie DueDan Hill Mike GatesRebecca Larson Marc HepnerLarry Reed Johnny KirschenmannAndrea Rippee Ron SmithChad Ruhoff Jeanette WelkerLamoine Savage Peggy WilliamsKatrina Wester Chris Wolgamott

FLORENCE CHAPTER 2005 OFFICERS

President Dee Osborne1st Vice President Bob Maxwell2nd Vice President Bob NelsonAssociate Vice President Dave HarringtonTreasurer Dorrit OrySecretary Lonnie IholtsPast President Michel Vaughan

2005 NATIONAL DIRECTORSChad Ruhoff Paul Witt (Alternate)Mike GansenMike Butler

2005 STATE DIRECTORSMike Gansen Jeff MillerChad Ruhoff Ron SmithTom Walter Paul WittChris Wolgamott

LIFE DIRECTORSJohn Breeden Rawlin Westover

STAFFExecutive Vice President Ed McMahonedm@hbalanecounty.org direct line 484-6560

Office Manager Linda Carlsonlinda@hbalanecounty.org direct line 686-6529

Director of Government Affairs Roxie Cuellarroxie@hbalanecounty.org direct line 302-1410

ON THE LEVEL NEWSLETTER — JANUARY 2005 3

Looking for the best?

The obvious choice.

“The Tradition Continues”Our New Inductee To The HBA HALL OF FAME

Tom WesterTom has been in the construction business for over

35 years before his retirement in 2004. He is a thirdgeneration builder. In fact, Tom’s Dad, Tom also, wasa member of a group that traces its roots back to 1956- the founding members of this association.

Tom worked for his dad while growing up untilbranching out to build apartments on the U of O cam-pus in the early 1960’s. In 1965, Tom went into part-nership with his dad and together they built their ownapartments and warehouses.

During the 1980’s Tom built primarily single family homes.As his experience grew, be became skilled in developing wholeneighborhoods. Tom developed Sterling View Estates andEmerald Estates. The 1991 “Street of Natural Choice” was heldin one of Tom’s developments.

Tom became very involved in developing neighborhoodshowever, his specialty was not limited to housing developments.Tom was an influential part of redeveloping the HBA neighbor-hood after the tough times of the early eighties were behind us.As Tom came back “one house at a time” he invested his energyto assure the resurrection of the HBA as well.

Tom is the fourth ranking SPIKE in our association with 210SPIKE credits. He has always been committed to using HBAmembers on all of his projects. He has always realized theimportance of supporting the businesses that support the asso-ciation and he has walked his talk.

Tom’s involvement in the HBA has been not only exception-al but also very extensive. With such a rich history, the following

list is sure to omit some of his accomplishments. Evenwith omissions it is a very impressive list;• 1992 & 93 Builder of the Year• Recipient of 1999 HBA President’s Award• 1992 HBA President• 1991, 92, 93, & 94 Board of Directors • 1991, 92, 93, & 94 State Director• 1993 NAHB National Director• 1993 PAC House Contractor

• 1993 Received Certified New Homes Sales Professionaldesignation• Founder and producer of the 1990, 91, & 93 ConstructionDestruction Derby• 1995 Paid for a 1 page ad in Register Guard Home Showinsert listing HBA members• 1999 Tour of Homes Co-Chair • Numerous years, committee participation in Membership &Retention, Tour of Homes, Legislative, Casino, and New HomeTask Force• Other activities include attending several Florence Chaptermeetings, Home Show booth volunteer, consistent PAC donor,annual participant in the HBA Golf Classic, and a successfulparticipant in several membership drives• Royal Spike with 210 membership SPIKE credits• Produced another builder, HBA board member, and proba-bly the fourth female President of this association.

Previous inductees include:1998 - Norma Bussear 1999 - John Breeden, Al Jacobson, &

Rawlin Westover 2000 - Richard S. Millhollen 2001 - Bob &Judy Schafer 2002 - Allen DeGeneault 2003 - Alan Ludvickson

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LANE COUNTY4

www.nng.com

Dan HillArbor South

Architecture & Construction• Recipient of 2001 Government Affairs

Award• Certified Master Builder• 2004 & 2005 Vice President• 2002, 03, 04, & 05 Board of Directors• Participant on Membership, Builder’s

Garage Sale, Builders Choice Home, andGovernment Affairs Committees

• 2004 Project Playground Participant• Gold Donor for the New Office Building• Life Spike with 27 membership SPIKE

credits• Participant on Builder’s Choice Home,

Membership & Government AffairsCommittees.

Judy GouldSiuslaw Valley Mortgage

• 1995 Street of Dreams Co-Chair• 1995, 96, & 98 Tour of Homes Co-Chair• 1995, 96, 97, 98, 99, 01, 02, 03, 04 Board of

Directors• 2003 Secretary• 2003 & 04 Picnic Chairperson• 2003 President’s Award• 2004 Associate Vice President• A Ten Year Participant on the Tour of

Homes Committee• Participant on 1994 Membership, Golf &

Kickoff Party Committees• 1998 & 1999 Membership & Casino Comm.• 2000 Membership, New Building Task Force

& Golf Committees• 5 Year Volunteer on Builders Garage Sale

Committees• Life Spike with 61 membership SPIKE credits

&BUILDER OF THE YEAR ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR

Each year one builder and one associ-ate member are selected to receive theAssociation’s most prestigious awards.The recipients have demonstrated bothleadership and a commitment to our con-tinued success. Builder of the Year isselected by a panel of associate membersthat take into consideration the volunteerefforts of all builder members throughoutthe year. A panel of builder memberscompletes the same process to select theAssociate of the Year.

We would like to congratulate our 2004winners -Both Dan and Judy have demon-strated the commitment and effortrequired ensuring the continued successof the Association.

The bullets listed beneath their pic-tures list the leadership positions andother activities they have performed forthe HBA. But the list only highlights theirvolunteer activities. Both have performedother tasks that are too numerous to men-tion. Congratulations and thank you forthe outstanding contributions the recipi-ents have made during 2004, in previousyears, and in the future.

Gosh and golly. Another year gone. I stopped makingNew Year’s resolutions a long time ago because they justmake me feel guilty when I don’t keep them. Get up at fivein the morning to drive in the rain to a gym to workout orsnuggle deeper into my down comforter? It isn’t even acontest. My comforter always wins. However, I thoughtthat maybe this year I would consider a few resolutions thatI could apply to the work place to make me a better personand employee. Here are a couple of resolutions I havebeen considering:

1. Don’t get upset about SDCs. Remember that systemdevelopment charges are simply business expenses thatlocal jurisdictions ask us to pay so that we can all reside ina more livable environment.

For example, the Eugene Mayor’s Parks Committee, ofwhich I am a member, just completed a draft of the newparks comprehensive plan, which contains more than aquarter of a billion (yes, billion with a “B”) dollars worth ofnew parks projects. Staff is suggesting that about $120 mil-lion of Option 1 park projects be acquired or built in thefirst five years and an additional $120 million or so ofOption 2 projects be completed in the following five years.In the last ten years of the 20-year planning period, Option3 projects would be constructed and they don’t even have aprice tag attached yet. I don’t believe that anyone actuallybelieves that anything close to that many projects will beattempted or completed. I was frustrated a few times onthe committee because I felt that the committee shouldhave tried to determine a realistic amount that the com-munity could be expected to spend on parks over the nexttwenty years and then decide what projects to recommendwithin that budget. However, I was pretty much the onlyone on the committee who that thought money should bean issue. Repeatedly I was told that our role was to recom-mend a “vision”. Here is the problem. It now has a pricetag - a quarter of a billion dollars - and has been sent to theEugene Rates Committee, which is now discussing how tocome up with a new parks SDC so we will pay our share ofthe vision.

The process is being slowed down somewhat becauseEugene is running into the same snag that MWMC raninto. This is a land use decision. Eugene’s legal councilinformed city staff about three weeks ago that such is thecase. That means that the draft Parks Comprehensive Planmust go through the planning commission. The bad newsis that I think that staff would like to by-pass the planningcommission with the actual project list so they can hurrythe SDC along, which of course, is what MWMC did, andwhy we have three cases against MWMC pending beforeLUBA. The good news is Eugene staff will probably be will-ing to wait until we get a decision out of LUBA which willclarify the correct process for all of us.

The parks project list is an excellent example of why thestate’s land use system requires that all significant projectsbe included in the area’s comprehensive plan and not sim-ply adopted by the elected officials. Right now, the RatesCommittee has an incredibly long list of projects that theyare being asked to consider for SDC eligibility. What therates committee can not do is actually determine what pro-jects on the list will be constructed. For example, one pro-ject on the park list is an underpass that would be con-structed beneath four lanes of Delta Highway near theDelta Ponds. The Rates Committee can talk about howmuch growth’s share of the project should be and howmuch should be funded through the park’s SDC versus thetransportation SDC. What they can not determine is if thecommunity actually intends to build it. That is what theland use process is for. The list of significant projects isincluded in the comp plan amendment process for thecommunity to discuss. Do Eugene residents want to spend$3.6 million for the underpass project? Do they want tospend $14 million for an aquatic facility in Willow Creekarea? How about $10 million for a multi-cultural andaquatic center for the Whiteaker / Skinner Butte area? Ormaybe $22.8 million to buy more land for the RidgelineTrail? Do they want to spend $5 million to renovate theAlton Baker Canoe Canal? Or $6.5 million to implementthe Skinner Butte Park Master Plan? Or pay $4.25 millionto acquire riverfront land near the new federal court-house? The list goes on and on. It needs a lengthy com-munity discussion in order for the community to decidehow much money it wants to put out for new parks andwhich new parks it wants to build.

It is after that discussion has been held and the commu-nity has signed off on what it wants to realistically achievein the way of new parks that the SDC discussion is held.After the comp plan amendments have been adopted, theprojects are no longer a vision. They are a concrete plan ofhow the community actually plans to invest its money intoparks. It is that project list that is the basis for determiningSDCs - not just the vision that has come out of the Mayor’sCommittee. How well I will be able to keep my New Yearsresolution will depend a lot on how Eugene goes aboutproposing a new parks SDC.

2. Don’t worry if the metro area does not expand itsUGB. Be philosophical about it. By the time that a UGBexpansion will actually produce any new lots, most of thebuilders I know will be retired, relocated, or retrained.Besides, I own my home and each year it increases dispro-portionately in value because of the shortage of buildableland.

Okay, I admit it. The odds of me keeping these two res-olutions are less than the odds of me getting up at five inthe morning and heading to the gym. At least I would feel

good if I actually made it tothe gym. I don’t think I couldsay the same about acceptingbad SDCs or watching ourmembers go out of businessfor lack of land. Did I men-tion that EWEB is coming outwith a new water SDCmethodology in a few days?I’m already upset and I don’tknow a darn thing about it.

Have a safe, healthy, andprosperous new year.

5ON THE LEVEL NEWSLETTER — JANUARY 2005

(541) 747-1586

Oregon Thermal Contracting, Inc.

GO

VER

NM

ENT A

FFAIR

Sby R

oxie Cuellar, D

irector of Governm

ent Affairs

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LANE COUNTY6

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSSmart Growth!

2004-2005 Membership SponsorsComfort Flow Heating and Above All Sanitation

have teamed up to sponsor our 2004-2005 Membership Updates.

Company Contact SponsorCasey Jones Well Drilling Co. Inc. ................................Casey Jones Jr...............................................Mike Gansen

Good Connections Electric Co......................................Peter Zhun ................................................Chad RuhoffPowerhouse Contractors ..........................................Sean Slater ................................................Mike Gansen

WELCOME BACK!American Gas Appliance Service Inc..............................Warren Hench .....................................Johnny Kirschenmann

Crescent Homes .............................................Marc Grassauer ...........................................Peggy WilliamsWilliam Teel Construction ..........................................Willy Teel...................................................Bob NelsonUS Bank Home Mortgage ......................................Diane LaCosta......................................Johnny Kirschenmann

THANKS FOR THESE RENEWALS2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Arbor South Archit./Construction Braun Excavating Inc. Chase Manhattan Mortgage Comcast Courtland Manufacturing Inc. Eagle Veneer Inc. Ferguson Northwest Inc.

Gary Morris Construction Inc. Gemstone Builders Inc. George Braddock Construction Gooden-Harrison Construction Heceta Development Group Home Insulation Company Ives Construction Inc.

Jerry’s Home Improvement Lane Forest Products Inc. McKenzie Kitchen & Bath Morse Bros. (MBI) Moshofsky Truss Company Oregon Estates LLC Ruhoff Homebuilders Weber Elliott Engineering

This award is presented to the member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting associa-tion membership and retention. Peggy’s commitment to the growth of this association has been consistent forthe past four years. Peggy and her husband Bruce joined the association in March, 2001. Five months later shereached SPIKE status and was tied for top recruiter enlisting eight new members. Peggy won the SPIKE of TheYear honors in 2001 and in 2002. She placed a very close second 2003. And now she returns as the 2004 SPIKEof the Year. She is the only member to have won this prestigious award more than once.

She was very instrumental in resurrecting the New Member Orientations that are now held quarterly. Peggy has accumulated animpressive 124 SPIKE credits which is anaverage of 2.58 new members per month –WOW! She also co-chaired the MembershipCommittee in 2003 & 2004 and attendedtwo NAHB Membership Conferences. Sheis also committed to using subs and suppli-ers that are HBA members and encouragesother members to follow her lead. Heraccomplishments also included convincingseveral lapsed members to rejoin. Peggyfirmly believes in the activities of the associa-tion and she appreciates the benefits ofbeing active. Peggy has definitely earned aplace in the HBA History book. Imaginewhat our influence in the community wouldbe if more members followed Peggy’s lead.

2004 SPIKE OF THE YEARPEGGY WILLIAMS

THE CABINET MAN

Specializing in all Types and Phases ofConcrete Construction

2030 HollyEugene, Oregon 97408

686-8842

CCB#103585

ON THE LEVEL NEWSLETTER — JANUARY 2005 7

2004 PRESIDENT’SAWARDS

The recipients of this award are members who, at the president’s discretion, deserve spe-cial recognition for outstanding service to our association during 2004. The following mem-bers have gone the “extra mile” to guarantee our continued success.

Mark Hepner Comfort FlowHeating

• 46 SPIKE Credits• 2002 Presidents Award• 2003 & 04 Membership

Co-Chair• 2004 Tour of Homes Co-Chair• 2005 Treasurer• 2002 Golf Committee Chairperson• 2002, 03, 04, and 05 Membership Co-Sponsor• 2002, 03, 04, 05 Board Member• Our New Home Donor• Builders Choice Home Donor• Golf Hole Sponsor• Committee Participation includes Membership,

Tour of Homes, Builders Garage Sale, PublicRelations, Picnic, and Golf

Johnny Kirschenmann Rexius Forest By-Products

• 48 SPIKE Credits• 2003 & 2004 Treasurer • 2005 Associate Vice

President• 2000 - 2004 Board Member• 2005 Treasurer• 2002 Ambassadors Club Chairperson• 2003 Tour of Homes Co-Chair• Golf Hole Sponsor• General Membership Meeting Sponsor• Builders Choice Home Donor• Committee Participation includes Membership,

Tour of Homes, Builders Garage Sale, andAmbassadors Club

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LANE COUNTY8

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2004 BUILDER’S CHOICE HOUSE AWARDChad RuhoffRuhoff Home Builders

This year’s recipient has been active onthe Builders Choice Home Committee forthree years. In 2003, he gave up an optionon a lot in Village at Spring Creek so that theBuilders Choice Home could be built there.On numerous occasions, he had his own

crew take care of problems at the PAC House while they werebuilding next door. This year, he chaired the Builders ChoiceHome committee. He secured substantial donations for thehouse, oversaw much of the construction, and was always avail-able to take calls and deal with problems. He has made a sub-stantial contribution to the Builders Choice Homes that he hasworked on - both financially and with his time. We are verypleased to give this award to Chad Ruhoff.

2004 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRSAWARD

Mike GansenGansenConstruction

This years recipient has been active in govern-ment affairs at both the state and local levels forseveral years. He has been a state director since2001. He chaired the state Environmental andLand Use Committee in 2003. Next year, he will

begin serving on our state board and working his way up the chairs tobecome president of OHBA - the first local builder to do so sinceRawlin Westover was our state president in 1987. He has participatedon our local government affairs committee for six years and will chairthat committee in 2005. He has testified over the years on our behalfat several local planning commission and city council hearings. Heworked on the HBA residential lands inventory. We are honored topresent this year’s Government Affairs Award to Mike Gansen.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGEContinued from page 1

I have goals for this Association in the com-ing year, and these goals are ambitious, so Iwill need your help. These goals include:

1) Maintaining and growing the member-ship through education of what membershipwould mean to your business.

2) Increase our ties with other pro-businessassociations in the area to create a united frontpolitically.

3) Strengthen our Association’s futurethrough fiscally sound decisions and creatingadditional revenue for the association.

4) Involve more of the membership in theactivities of the Association.

This leads me perfectly into my next topic.By more of the membership I mean you, all ofyou. This association is membership owned.This means you and I are owners of this asso-ciation. It needs our time commitments torun, earn money to support itself, and supportthe activities that protect your business. By giv-ing some of your time to the HBA, you mightlearn about a certain phone company that willsave you money, and give back to yourAssociation at the same time. You might learnabout a new law that is going to come intoeffect soon. You will be able to grow your busi-ness by networking and marketing with othermembers. Take pride in your HBA, join acommittee.

Sincerely ,

Chad Ruhoff, HBA President

ON THE LEVEL NEWSLETTER — JANUARY 2005 9

FROM NAHB

ThisResidential

MarketHighlights

chart iscourtesy of our

friends fromRMLS.

Lane County New Pending Closed Average Median AverageOregon Listings Sales Sales Sales Price Sales Price Market Time

November 2004 400 354 390 202,100 179,700 55

Year To Date (2004) 6,040 4,838 4,642 185,600 160,000 53

November 2003 330 339 308 172,900 155,300 69

Year To Date (2003) 5,860 4,386 4,192 168,600 149,000 65

While the thermometer dropped,closed sales rose 26.6% in November 2004.New listings also climbed 21.2% and pend-ing sales were up 4.4% from November2003. At month’s end a total of 956 activelistings would last 2.5 months atNovember’s rate of sales.

Compared to the same period in 2003,January-November 2004 shows an increasein market action with closed sales up10.7%, pending sales up 10.3% and newlistings up 3.1%.

NOVEMBERHIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. economy continues to moveahead at a good pace despite considerablecomplications. Growth of U.S. economicoutput (real Gross Domestic Product) aver-aged 3.9% for the first three quarters of2004, strong enough to generate systematicimprovements in the labor market. NAHB’sforecast shows further above-trend growth(3.7%) in the final quarter of the year.

Good GDP growth has been maintaineddespite waning stimulus from the 2003 tax-cut legislation and despite the turnaroundin monetary policy since mid-2004. Theeconomy also has endured tepid readingson consumer confidence/sentiment, a situ-ation provoked partly by world-class spikesin global oil prices as well as in home heat-ing oil costs and gasoline prices at thepump.

The resilience of the U.S. economy inthe face of formidable problems in energymarkets relates partly to reduced depen-dence of our economy on petroleum, com-pared with earlier times. The resilience alsosuggests that many businesses and con-sumers expect elevated oil and gasolineprices to be temporary and have not adjust-ed their behavior to the higher prices.Fortunately, energy costs recently havecome off their record highs, and NAHB’sforecast assumes further declines in 2005.

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LANE COUNTY10

What a nice evening! 9 Past Presidentsand over a hundred members attendedthe 8th Annual Holiday Banquet at theEugene Hilton on December 16th . MikeGansen made closing comments followedby Chad Ruhoff commenting on his plansfor the upcoming year. After that, ourstate executive officer, Jon Chandler wason hand to install the new Directors. Theawards presentation followed and severalmembers were totally surprised whentheir names were announced. The win-ners of all the awards are announcedthroughout this newsletter – take time tocongratulate the winners – they deserve it.

HOLIDAY BANQUET

RECAPSix members of the HBA Board of Directors have completed their term December

31, 2004 and we are going to miss their leadership. The builder members exiting theBoard are David Dukes, Don Elliott, and Paul Witt. Judy Gould (Siuslaw Mortgage),Paul VanderPlaat (Precision Funding), and Rick Reichenberger (Meritage Mortgage)are the three Associate members exiting. All six members have been and will continueto be appreciated.

David Dukes & Paul are both Past Presidents with extensive experience on theBuilders Choice Home. Both actually built PAC houses for the HBA before it was doneby committee. David and Paul also know the importance of membership. David is the5th highest ranking SPIKE with 185 membership credits and Paul is at an impressive 97membership credits with places him in the top twenty SPIKES.

Don Elliott served as the general on our new office building and has played a veryactive and important role with our Builders Garage Sales. He also co-chaired the Tourof Homes. Don is going to concentrate on handling his company‚s growth in 2005 andwill probably return to the board in 06 or 07.

Judy Gould, Paul VanderPlaat, and Rick Reichenberger will all be missed. Judy‚saccomplishments can be reviewed in this edition because she was the deserving recipi-ent of the 2004 Associate of the Year award. Paul won the same award in 2003 and healso played a leading role in the success of the previous Builders Garage Sales and wascourageous enough to chair the Membership Committee. Rick will best be rememberedas the golf chairperson that moved our tournament to Springfield Country Club ˆ thetournament sold out in 1 hour and 45 minutes so we believe Rick made the right move.

As you can see through their accomplishments, all six of these leaders will be missed.They are stepping aside to create the opportunity for other active members to benefitfrom participating in a leadership position. It is very comforting to know that, eventhough they are no longer on the Board, David, Paul, Don, Judy, Paul, and Rick are aphone call away willing to lend a helping hand.

WE’LL MISS YOU!

OSHA Reminders:

Assured Equipment GroundingConductor Program

January – March:White

April – June:Green

July – September:Red

October – December:Orange

* * * * * *

Time to Post the OSHA 300 Log Summary!

This is the Log of Work-RelatedInjuries and Illnesses. Posting isrequired from Feb. 1 to April30. If you do not have a copy, itis available online atwww.cbs.state.or.us or you cancontact your Workers’Compensation carrier.

11 ON THE LEVEL NEWSLETTER — JANUARY 2005

We Pay The Best Interest In Town.Personal Interest.

SIUSLAW BANK4780 VILLAGE PLAZA LOOP, EUGENE 684-9300

Member FDIC

My name is Julie Pickett, and I am aConstruction Banking Officer at Siuslaw Bank. At our bank, my colleagues and I take yourfinancial success personally.

Call me to take a closer look at Siuslaw Bank.We offer a wide range of programs fromconstruction and commercial loans, toBusiness Online Banking and free Bill Pay forbusinesses. Banking with us is personal, andas the oldest independent communitybank in Lane County, our focus is onserving our local clients.

Here is a great opportunity to cleanout the garage, get a tax deduction,and support the HBA. Most membershave an inventory of old tools or otheritems that are nothing but dust collec-tors taking up space. This event is agreat way to support the associationwithout having to pull out the check-book. Reclaim some space, get a tax

donation form from St. Vincent dePaul, help purchase playgroundequipment for an affordable housing unit, and support the associ-ation that supports your livelihood. The committee has put a lotof thought into the event and has tried to make it easy to partici-pate. Simply start storing the materials and give us a call when youare ready to get rid of it. We will even pick it up for you - all youneed to do stand there and point. If you are cleaning up a job siteput the good stuff in your truck and drive it straight to the HBAoffice. We have a space for storage so you can drop things off atyour convenience. Well – we did have! There are two containerslocated at our office building but both are already FULL! That’sright – two 20’ containers and both are full. Don’t worry, anothercontainer is on it’s way as this is being written – maybe you should

phone first. The two that are full are loaded with great donationsfrom Mid-Valley Glass, Koala Construction, and CountryWoodworking – THANKS!

The Sixth Annual Builders Garage Sale will occur from 9:00 AMto 6:00 PM on Saturday April 16th and 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM onSunday April 17th. For now – keep saving those items and let usknow when you are ready to get rid of them. And remember, if itis inconvenient for you to deliver the items, no problem, St.Vincent dePaul will pick them up for you. A portion of the pro-ceeds will benefit St. Vincent dePaul’s affordable housing projectsso you can feelgood knowingyou are helpingthose less fortu-nate than us.

If you willhave items todonate Pleasephone Ed at 484-6560. A time forpickup will bearranged.

Remember the crowds and success of last yearssale? How about the camaraderie between ourHBA volunteers? Lets make this year even better!

GarageSale

YOUR JUNK IS ANOTHER PERSONS TREASURE

Sixth Annual Builders Garage Sale

WHAT A GREATEVENING!

It just so happened that the HolidayBanquet was held on Roxie’s birthday. Notwanting to miss the opportunity to sing HappyBirthday to her, Linda wrote a few revised lyricsto “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. Linda thenrecruited Dan Hill, Rebecca Larson, andJohnny Kirschenmann to sign to Roxie at themeeting. The revised lyrics follow – enjoy!

God rest ye merry homebuilders

Let nothing you dismay.

Remember Roxie Cuellar

Was born upon this day.

To save us all from SDC’s

And Liberals gone berserk.

Oh, tidings of building lots and work,

Lots and more work.

Oh, tidings of building lots and work.

But Rebecca, Dan, and Johnny weren’t fin-ished. They also revised a few other Christmassongs to help Roxie celebrate her special day.The performance was definitely a highlight ofthe meeting and enjoyed by all.