OMB Accomplishments For 2006

Established the Ken Donohue Memorial Scholarship Fund, in memory of a respected leader of this organization, credited with building the membership to what it is today. Donohue passed away in July 2006.

• Increased gross revenues by another record level of 12% to almost 1.5 million dollars.
• Had two OMB members win first place in statewide REX Awards: Erwin & Associates for Residential Exterior Over $25,000 and The Artisans Group for Commercial $100,000 - $250,000.
• Procured a record total value of auction items - more than $95,000!
• Assisted in the production of a Best Available Science Forum - a one-of-a-kind forum that debunked the mandate by State agencies that their science calling for "Big Dumb Buffers" is the only way to protect the environment.
• Completed the sixteenth year in a row in which the Association has operated "in the black".
• OMB Built Green™ program more then doubled the total number of homes that have been certified as Built Green™.
• Awarded seven scholarships: three in Twin Harbors, two in Mason, and one each in Lewis and Thurston Counties. These awards are given to high school students to continue their studies in building industry related subjects. One of the Twin Harbors students was selected as BIAW scholarship winner.
• An extensive company review was conducted by our accountant, Larry Siminski, who found our books to be sound and healthy.
• Members built a ramp at the home of ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease patient, allowing him better access and independent mobility with use of his wheelchair.
• Held the largest OMB Tour of Homes ever, featuring 26 homes.
• For the first time, featured Tour Homes in the outlying communities of Yelm and Tenino.
• Featured six Built Green™ Homes on the Tour - the most ever.
• Broke records and exceeded budget projections for each revenue line item.
• Restarted the Builders Council - after many years of inactivity the OMB Builders has started meeting again. This Council is instrumental in focusing the message and work of the government affairs program.
• For only the third time since 1959, the members of OMB elected a President to serve a third term in that office. Mark Shaffer of Mark's Drywall was President in 1997, 2006 and will serve his third term in 2007.
• The Twin Harbors Home Show set records in booth payments and the largest ever sponsorship support. Speaker guests included Marianne Binetti, Ed Hume,& Marty Wingate.
• Raised $4,600 for the Scholarship Fund during the Fund-A-Need portion of the Auction.
• Honored our Spike members and Recruitment Contest Winners by sailing across Willapa Bay on the Lady Washington. Over forty-five adventurous sailors enjoyed the moon lit night while the ship participated in a mock battle with the Hawaiian Chieftain.
• For the first time, partnered with Hawk's Prairie Rotary to run the box office at the BIG OMB Home and Garden Show - a win-win partnership for both OMB and the Rotary club.
• Brought in Ken Lerman, National Business Consultant, to speak at the April General Membership Meeting.
• Retained Pacific Legal Foundation to represent OMB as an Intervener, supporting Thurston County's appeal of the erroneous Western Washington Growth Board ruling that has created chaos in the land use and planning areas of the County.
• Supported the Alder House repair project (a home for the handicapped) in Lewis County.
• For the first time in years, members of the Olympia City Council actually attended a meeting at the OMB office. Thank you to those courageous Council Members!
• Set a record attendance of more than 70 for this year's South Pacific Chapter Annual Christmas Party.
• For the first time, utilized the services of a professional Auctioneer service.
• OMB Built Green™ certified its first Built Green™ home in one of our Chapters.
• For the first time in years, Members of the Olympia City Council actually attended a meeting at the OMB office. Thank you to those courageous Council Members!
• Congratulations to South Pacific Chapter's 2nd annual Builders' Surplus Sale in Long Beach. Over $1,000 was donated to the local American Cancer Society.
• For the first time in OMB history the Board of Directors unanimously approved a budgetary line-item in support of the Thurston Affordable Housing Council.
• Twin Harbors Home and Garden Show hosted its first ever Designer's Challenge helping to break attendance records for that show.
• Established the Active Associates within the Associates Council to help build volunteer strength for the Association.
• Twin Harbors, the OMB's only chapter hosting a Tour of Homes, had their second Tour this year with over 500 visitors to the five homes, from 36 different cities.
• Applauded Lewis County's scholarship winner Dustin Hicks, a second time winner.
• The annual Contractors Round Up was sold out for fifth year in a row.
• For the first time ever, held a Street of Dreams where all five featured homes exceeded the $1 million price range.
• Congratulations to the Lewis County Home Show, first ever vendor sell-out. Also their first free admission to a record crowd and gave away over $2,000.00 in prize drawings.
• And finally, for the first time that we know of, this Association was picketed by current local elected officials (Olympia City Council Member TJ Johnson and State Representative Brendan Williams) for taking a stand on a land use Initiative and our support of pro-housing candidates.
• And, once again, thanks to all of our members for their support and contributions in making this record of achievement possible.

Thank you!