August 2016 reporter

NORTH TEXAS HOMEBUILDERS ASSOCIATION

4410 Fairway Boulevard Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Volume 9, No. 8 • August 2016

P: 940.692.2211 F: 940.692.2214

www.nthba.com

From the President Sunbelt Builders Show is August 3rd & 4th.

If you haven’t ever experienced a show of this magnitude now would be a great opportunity. This year’s Sunbelt Show will be at the Gaylord resort in Grapevine, TX. a hop, skip and jump away for those of us in Wichita Falls. The Sunbelt Show will feature hundreds of vendors displaying their products and services.

Some new products, products you may already be using, energy efficient products that will work with the 2015 Energy Code while others will be presenting educational classes.

This is a great opportunity to look, learn and network with builders and vendors from all over the state of Texas.

The Texas Association of Builders along with the Sunbelt Builder Show Committee members have lined up a spectacular opening session on Wednesday, August 3rd with Chip & Joanna Gains from the popular TV show Fixer Upper. They will be talking about “How to build a Brand”.

The general session on Thursday morning will be “Tiny Houses – A Movement or Fad” and the afternoon is “Cyber Security: Staying Connected Without Leaving the Door Wide Open to Cybercriminals”. If these aren’t enough interesting topics to learn about; there will be many more learning sessions, presented on the exhibit floor, throughout the show. The 2015 Energy Code, Leads Are People too!

Tracking & Responding to Digital Leads, “It’s not Sexy, but it’s the law: Update on EPA & OSHA regulations that Affect the Home Building Industry”, “Smart Home Technology: What are the latest trends and why does it matter to builders?” are just a few you can attend.

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Special Thanks to our 2016 NTHBA Partners: Diamond Atmos Energy Platinum First National Bank Guarantee Title

What’s

INSIDE

• Annual Golf Tournament • YP Clay Shoot

• MSU President Addresses Home Builders Luncheon By: Lee Grace • 363 Training Squadron Change of Command Ceremony • Lawn Care During the Summer Months

Renewals American National Bank...........................Donna Adair American National Bank.....................Caroline Groves Dennis Company.........................................Alan Hinson Energy Cut....................................................Ed Mawson Harmon & Holcomb Homes.................Eddie Holcomb Kelly Moore Paints...........................Jesse Guadalcazar OK Concrete.......................................Brandon Litteken R.J. Wachsman Homes....................Randy Wachsman Steve Lane Construction.............................Steve Lane Stone Lake Developers............................Bill McGregor

Thanks for Renewing!

August Birthdays

General Membership Meeting Thursday, August 11, 2016 Kemp Center for the Arts 1300 Lamar 11:30AM Guest Speaker: President/CEO Sheppard Military Affairs Committee (SMAC) Jon Larvick

R. J. Wachsman...............................................................7 Jean Taylor....................................................................14 Sharon Tucker................................................................20 Stan Mountain...............................................................23 Wayne Mansur..............................................................23 Eric Nelson......................................................................29

Happy Birthday!

Calendar of Events

2016 Dates to Remember • August 1-5 Sunbelt Builder Show & TAB Summer Committee & Board Meetings, Grapevine, TX. • August 11 General Membership Meeting • September 1 General Membership Meeting • September 26 Annual Golf Tournament

Sunbelt Builder Show....................................August 1-5, 2016

• October 6 General Membership Meeting

General Membership....................................August 11, 2016 Meeting.......................................................................11:30AM

• October 14 Young Professionals Clay Shoot

Budget & By-Laws..........................................August 17, 2016 Committee Meeting..................................................10:30AM Board of Directors..........................................August 17, 2016 Meeting.......................................................................11:00AM Government Affairs.......................................August 24, 2016 Committee Meeting..................................................11:00AM

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• November 3 General Membership Meeting • November 17-18 TAB Fall Committee & Board Meetings, Austin, TX. • December 1 Annual Christmas Party

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The show is in conjunction with the TAB Suma membership with TAB and NAHB, here is your opportunity to find out. As a member you are always welcome to sit in on any of the committee or board meetings. The things you learn at these meetings will help you to understand how TAB is continually working to protect the interest of every business person whose livelihood depends on the building industry, builders, sub-contractors, suppliers and decorators to name a few. If you aren’t able to be at the Sunbelt Builder Show, make sure to read your emails, the Reporter and attend the General Membership meetings for reports from the meetings by the officers and directors who attend. We do our best to keep everyone informed.

Always remember, to get the most out of your membership, you must get involved. The incoming President will be organizing the committees prior to being installed in October therefore if you would like to be considered to serve on a committee for the North Texas Home Builders Association please contact the NTHBA office and let Teri know.

The August 11th General Membership Meeting is considered the meeting before the Annual Membership Meeting which is September 1st.

According to the NTHBA By-Laws the nominations committee will be presenting the nominations for the 2016/2017 Board of Directors they have chosen then it will be open to take nominations from the floor. If you have someone in mind you think would better serve a position on the board than those who have been chosen by the nominations committee, the August 11th meeting will give you the opportunity to speak out. Please plan to attend.

I hope to see you at Sunbelt and the August 11th General Membership meeting!

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Associate Directors Cindy David 1yr Kolter Lukert 2yr

State Director - Barney Brock Alternate State Director - Steven Hinson Life Director - Chuck Dennis Life Director - Jose Garcia Executive Vice President - Teri Gibson

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MSU president addresses home builders luncheon

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Please Please keep keep our our members, members, their their families, families, their their businesses, businesses, our our country, country, our our country’s country’s leaders, leaders, our our veterans, veterans, and and our our enemies enemies in in your your prayers. prayers.

Continue Continue to to pray pray for for those those we we know know who who have have special special issues issues going going on on in in their their lives lives that that need need extra extra prayers. prayers.

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Dr. Suzanne Shipley, president of Midwestern State University, spoke about the role of MSU in our local economy and the future goals of the university at the July membership luncheon of the North Texas Home Builders Association held Thursday, July 7, at the Kemp Center for the Arts.

The school presently has slightly more than 6,000 students representing 44 states and 54 countries in addition to the United States. The school has 241 faculty members and a staff of 401. The university offers 42 undergraduate majors with 17 undergraduate degrees and nine master’s degrees.

During the fall, 2015 semester, the cost for a student taking 15 credit hours and living on campus with a campus registered vehicle was about $9,400 in tuition and fees.

Dr. Shipley noted that the university receives tremendous support from the community. This year to date, the university has received more than $2,699,000. These include funds from University Development, scholarship funds from outside sources, the Annual Fund, the President’s Excellence Circle, the athletic department’s corporate sponsors, the Mustangs Athletic Club, the Fantasy of Lights, the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU, and the Alumni Association.

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She noted that 64 percent of students received more than $14,772,000 in grants, while 40 percent of students received more than $5,962,000 in scholarships including athletic, academic and external scholarships.

Approximately 80 students also receive Work Study awards. For the fiscal year 2016, that amounted to $149,672.

Student loans are another vital way for students to pay for their education. In 2014-15, 51 percent of students received more than $30 million in federal, state and private loans, for an average of $8,877 per student. The total financial aid awarded to MSU students in 2014-15 was slightly more than $51 million.

Currently, MSU has tuition revenue bonds projects totaling more than $58.4 million. These include bonds for a new building for the Robert D. and Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences & Human Services, renovations to Moffett Library, a new mass communications building, new turf fields for the football and soccer facilities, a new dormitory with 500 beds, and fire marshal upgrades to South Hardin, Bolin Science Hall, Fain Fine Arts and Ferguson Hall. Dr. Shipley credited her predecessor, Dr. Jesse Rogers, for the university receiving these revenue bonds.

Dr. Shipley also talked about a staff compensation plan that has recently been put into place to bring staff salaries more in line with where they should be as compared to other universities of similar size.

She stressed the MSU is known for its high academic standards, having raised its standards in 2006 and again in 2011. “We lost enrollment both times but have regained that enrollment.”

The university is also recognized for its degrees in high-paying fields.

Finally, Dr. Shipley talked about four “Strategic Initiatives” or goals for the university.

The first is “Promote a Strong University Community” and she is working to do this by showing how MSU fits into the Wichita Falls community.

The second goal is “Aggressively Pursue New Student Populations.” MSU is doing this by

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reaching out to communities between our city and Fort Worth to offer programs in those areas for working adults to continue their education through MSU. She hopes this MSU President Dr. Suzanne is shown with NTHBA effort will lead to 2,000 Shipley President Eddie Holcomb. more students in the MSU system by 2022.

Goal Three is to “Create a Destination Residential University” by growing the campus population and culture and expanding opportunities for students here in Wichita Falls.

Goal Four is “Stimulate a Culture of Engagement.” She described this goal as “How we partner with a growing Wichita Falls and help both of us to succeed.”

Dr. Shipley ended her talk by opening the floor to questions. She was asked about campus carry for registered gun owners. She said campus carry takes effect on Aug. 1.

She closed her portion of the luncheon by predicting that MSU is going to have another winning season in all sports.

The Diamond Sponsor for the NTHBA is Atmos Energy, while the Platinum Sponsors are First National Bank and Guarantee Title Company.

The luncheon was catered by Monarch Catering.

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Home builders awards scholarships

By: Lee Grace

Two area college students will receive help with their tuition and other college costs through scholarships awarded Thursday, July 7, at the Membership Luncheon of the North Texas Home Builders Association. Bobby Diltz, chairman of the association’s Scholarship Committee, presented the scholarships to Brennen Nelson of Henrietta and Will Shaw of Wichita Falls.

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Brennen Nelson is the son of Eric and Allison Nelson.

He is a 2015 Graduate of Henrietta High School. He graduated with a grade point average of 3.75 on a four-point scale.

As a graduate from Scholarship Committee Henrietta High School Chairman Bobby Diltz congratulates Brennen Nelson.

Brennen was a member of the National Honor Society and the FFA. Brennen was on the livestock judging team and went to state two consecutive years.

2806 Midwestern Pkwy.

While in FFA Brennen attended the three major fax 940-696-2700 livestock shows in Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin showing lambs and goats. Brennen also participated www.guaranteetitle.net in football, basketball, track and golf, was a Boy Scout and is a member of the Blue Grove Baptist Church.

His goal to become a mechanical engineer was Commercial Services inspired by his desire and love of being able to have John Thompson hands on experience building.

Mike Sharp Brennen began his college experience in 2015 Robert Masters when he had also received a scholarship from 3301 Kell Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308 NTHBA. Recently Brennen completed his second semester of college at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma where he was awarded the Vice President’s Scholar Award. While there, Brennen served onRemember a successfultolivestock judging team.

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Brennen is employed this summer in the engineering BRYAN WAGGONER division with TXDOT. Brennen said he is excited to move back to Wichita Falls and begin the fall semester at 3907 Kell BoulevarG ‡ WLFKLWD )DOOV ‡ Texas 76308 Midwestern State University where he plans to study (940) 691-3641 mechanical engineering. )D[ ‡

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E-Mail bryanl@waggonercarpetone.com Continues on page 9

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8

Committee Reports

Continued from page 7

After receiving his degree, Brennen’s future goal is to seek local employment in the building industry and make a difference in our community.

Will Shaw is the son of Ross and Ann Shaw.

He is a 2016 Graduate from Rider High School graduating with a 3.13 GPA on a four-point scale.

Will plans to continue his education at Texas Tech Will Shaw shakes hands with Scholarship Committee University, also studying Chairman Bobby Diltz when mechanical engineering. handed his check.

His extracurricular activities during high school included the Rider FFA where he served as a Texas FFA Foundation Ambassador as a team lead at the Texas FFA Convention for the past two years. This position included serving as a host for special guest, sponsors and dignitaries.

Will spent time competing in Leadership Development Events and advanced to Area in Job Interview as well as Career Development Events and advanced to Area in Land Judging. Will was eighth in the Tulsa School of Welding national competition and advanced to state in the Texas Skills competition. Will is a member of the Texas Junior Red Angus Association, Texas Junior Livestock and the Jr. Angus Association.

Will is currently a member of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and attends Grace Church. Will participated in the Jamaica Mission trip with the Church in 2014 and was a volunteer for Christmas in Action to help with community events.

Since early childhood Will has been fascinated by how things work and are built. He started with Legos as a building medium and growing older has been introduced to new technologies that can bring his ideas to life.

After graduation, Will plans to bring his mechanical engineering degree back to Wichita Falls where he has a passion to help the community grow and develop.

Nominations Committee – The nominations committee met in July and below is the list of Officers & Directors the committee recommended to the Board of Directors for 2016/2017:

Officers:

President - Michael Grassi Vice President - Barney Brock Assoc. Vice President Sharon Tucker Treasurer - Scott Flinn Secretary - Randy Schaffner Immediate Past President Eddie Holcomb

Builder Directors Doug McCulloch * Steven Klasse * David Bedingfield ** Stan Mountain **

Associate Directors Kolter Lukert * Dennis Probst **

State Directors

Steven Hinson Justin Holcomb - Alternate Jose Garcia - Life Director Chuck Dennis - Life Director Executive Director Teri Gibson

*One Year Term –Note: Those serving a one year term are finishing out their initial 2 yr. term. **Two Year Term This list has been approved by the Board to be presented to the General Membership on August 11th. At that meeting, members will have the opportunity make other nominations from the floor, for any of the positions noted in red. If nominations are made there will be vote by secret ballot at the Annual General Membership Meeting on September 3, 2015. If there are no nominations made the list as presented will be officially voted on at the September 1, 2015 meeting. Please plan to attend both meetings in order to participate in this vote.

Young Professionals Council – will be hosting a Clay Shoot for Friday October 14th. See information on page # 8.

Parade of Homes & Special Events – The committee has scheduled the annual golf tournament for Monday, September 26th at the Wichita Falls Country Club.

See page # 11.

Details and entry forms for both events can be found on our web site nthba.com and you will continually receive information in your email. We will also be posting information on Facebook.

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Lawn Care During Arid Summer Months Care and patience makes the difference between a lush, healthy lawn and a coarse, brown eyesore, especially when rainfall is sparse.

Most people take pride and care in maintaining their lawns, although weather conditions often hamper even a green thumb’s best efforts. And, it’s not just a matter of beauty — or friendly neighborhood competition.

Maintaining your home’s landscape is important for property values.

According to the Oregon State University Extension Service (OSUES), many people water their lawn more than necessary. As a result, lawns have developed a reputation for using a lot of water. Instead of following a predetermined watering schedule, check the soil moisture regularly. You can then alter your schedule to better meet your lawn’s needs.

To check soil moisture, the OSUES suggests inserting a screwdriver into the soil. If it penetrates the soil easily, it is moist. If not, you know your lawn is getting dry.

During dry summers, consider watering half as much as usual. Lawns will stay mainly green, with a few brown spots, if they receive ½ to ¾ inch of water per week.

Watering once or twice a week to apply this amount of water should be sufficient.

Another option, one that home owners may be reluctant to consider, is to forgo watering altogether and allow the turf to go dormant and turn brown during the summer. If having a brown summer lawn is not your idea of compromise, here are some additional lawn care strategies from the Agronomy and Horticulture department at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln: • Minimize fertilization. Over-fertilized, over-watered lawns tend to lack the wherewithal to thrive under stress. This spells trouble during a drought because the lawn hasn’t developed a deep root system. Heavily fertilized lawns also require more water, so home owners may want to wait until fall to fertilize.

• Mow your lawn properly. A good rule of thumb for each mowing is to never remove more than one-third of the height of the grass.

Mowing higher forces grass to develop and use deeper roots.

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• Try mulching — even if you don't have a mulching mower. Let clippings remain on the grass. Lawns tend to lose more water and nutrients through evaporation when you remove clippings.

• If you didn't aerate your lawn in the spring, consider doing so this fall. Aeration creates small holes in the ground that allow water to soak deeper into the ground and promotes root growth.

• Maintain your lawn care equipment.

Sharpen mower blades at least twice this summer. Dull blades tear grass, forcing grass to use 40 percent to 60 percent more water while it struggles to recover from stress.

• Finally, water during hours when the sun is not full strength, such as in the early morning or at dusk. Irrigating during the day wastes water, because much of it evaporates in the heat.

Even if your community has imposed water limits, it doesn’t necessarily sentence your lawn to a long, brown summer. Follow them. Watering on alternate days can save 40-50 percent of water, and heeding these few guidelines will go a long way to helping you maintain and enjoy your lawn, even though the hot, dry summer.

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It has only been a short time ago the North Texas Home Builders Association had the opportunity to welcome Maj. Mark Lahey to the 363rd Training Squadron at SAFB. Now we wish Lt. Col. Lahey the best on his new assignment and welcome Lt. Col. Thomas Thorp.

Thank you Lt. Lahey for sharing your squadron with us during your tenor. It has been a pleasure socializing with you all. We certainly look forward to the continued camaraderie under the command of Lt. Col Tom Thorp.

Welcome!