Chalk Line

Growing Stronger

Laura Kimbrough
OMB Executive Officer

The other day I received an email from a fellow Executive Officer reporting on the National Association of Home Builders meetings held in May.  He said that one-third of the executive officers in attendance with associations over 1,000 members reported that they had reduced staff this past year due to the loss of members.  He said others in attendance indicated they were going to be reducing staff in the near future because of declining membership.  The main reason stated for the decline in membership was the economy.

As I read the email I realized how fortunate Olympia Master Builders (OMB) and our members have been that we have not experienced what other parts of the country have experienced.  Yes, the market is slower here than it has been over the past few "boom" years. But it is still strong and healthy. 

And OMB continues to grow and our retention of members remains strong. We are now 1,054 members strong and the third largest home builders association in Washington State.  In the first quarter of 2008 OMB had the highest percentage growth of any home builders association with over 1,000 members in the country.   OMB's Membership Committee has been working very hard on recruiting and retaining members and their efforts have produced results!

I take OMB's membership efforts very seriously because I believe there is strength in numbers.  I believe the better OMB can serve our members and the more members we have, the ultimate result will be that more people will be able to afford homes and experience a better quality of life.

I try to get that point across when OMB hosts our new member orientations.  During my part of the program I always stress to our new members that everything members and staff do within the walls of this office building is for one purpose - to help them excel in their business because in doing so, they will be competitive and innovative and that will keep the cost of housing down which in turn will give them more potential customers which will result in more families being able to afford a home.

So what do we do here within these four walls? As I look over my schedule this past week, I see several examples. We've spent time on the final details for the Twin Harbors Home Show - an event to help our members promote their products and services to the general public.  We've met with an elected official to explain OMB's position on issues within her city and the ramifications on the cost of housing.  We met with the Economic Develop Council to discuss partnering on some educational classes for our members. We've met with Thurston County staff to provide input on suggested changes to improve efficiencies.  We've addressed some policy questions with our growing Built Green program.  At the May General Membership Meeting OMB presented the Remodeling Excellence Awards to our remodeler members for their outstanding remodel projects - a great way to continue to inspire our remodeling members to do even greater work.

May was the National Association of Home Builders Membership Month when a lot of emphasis was placed on membership recruitment.  But, as we enter into the summer months our membership efforts will continue and our efforts to help our members continue to have strong businesses will also continue.  Because....there is strength in numbers.