News and Hot Topics

MSLBMDA Gives You Legislative Clout

New Member Benefit - Credit & Collections Through MSCCM

Mountain States Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association has partnered with Mountain States Commercial Credit Management to offer two new member benefits. We have designed a program to help your company maximize profits by providing tools to manage credit decisions and reduce collection costs. This will compliment existing credit policies and offer even the smallest member credit reports and collection services at volume discounts.  Please go to http://www.msccm.com/mtstates_form.html to learn more about this valuable new service! 

What's Hot, New, and Very, Very Green?

The Certified Green Dealer™ Program is a new Web-based "distance learning" program that will certify the nation’s lumberyards and building material dealer locations as sources of information on green building and green products through online training and printed resource material. Lumber dealers are a primary source of information about products and "best practices" for builders and remodelers, and with this Program, dealers can now brand themselves as certified sources of information about good green building techniques and green products.

Created under the auspices of LBM Journal, certification of lumber dealer locations is not affiliated with any particular national standards-setting organization, such as NAHB or USGBC’s LEED program. Instead, the certification is based entirely on demonstrated mastery by the lumber dealer personnel of "best practices" building science and green building basics. The short-subject videos (each "lunch-and-learn" length of under 25 minutes) have been produced in partnership with Building Media, and any lumberyard or building material dealer location can access the Certified Green Dealer™ Program with a browser and broadband connectivity to the Internet.

A lumberyard or building material dealer location can become a Certified Green Dealer™ if 75% of its sales personnel view a series of Web-based training videos (and pass eight individual quizzes) about building basics, green building, and green building products.

MSLBMDA's Support of Green Building Practice

The MSLBMDA, in working with the AF&PA, the Colorado Timber Industry, and other allied industry groups, we were successful in opening up the green building rating language in legislation in Colorado under Senate Bill 51 in 2007. The Bill's language was originally exclusive to LEED and has been amended to read "high performance certification standard program." 

The MSLBMDA supports green building practices to promote construction of high performance buildings, however we respectfully oppose legislation that incorporates the exclusive reliance on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. We believe there is more than one way to measure a building’s environmental performance. Green Globes is an alternative building standard, which evaluates attributes of “green” or “high performance” buildings and provides forest products a level playing field.

It is important that Green Globes and any other comparable green building programs are considered to increase flexibility in the procurement process, while also providing continued markets for wood products. It is also recognized that LEED is a very expensive program. Green Globes has a big advantage in that regard. If you have an interest, the MSLBMDA can provide you with a cost comparison between the two programs.

2009 PRODUCTS EXPO ALREADY OVER 70% SOLD!

The Denver Merchandise Mart was the place to be as nearly 1,300 retailers, contractors, architects and vendors met in picture perfect weather for the Mountain States Lumber and Building Material Dealers' 2008 Products Expo.

We packed the house on Thursday night, which over the years has become the social gathering of the Expo. It is always a great opportunity to network, see new products, visit with the suppliers you do business with all year, and in general have a great time with industry friends.

Next year's Expo is set for March 19-20, 2009 at the Denver Merchandise Mart (a little later than our typical dates due to timing at the venue).  As always, we greatly appreciate the tremendous group of vendors that support our Expo and to all of you who take time out of your busy schedules to join us at the event.  Thank you all!  Mark your calendars, invite your contractor customers, and plan on joining us next year for this premiere industry event!

Suppliers, make sure you have your 2009 booth space secured, or give us a call at (303) 793-0859 or (800) 365-0919 so we can make sure to guarantee you a spot in this dynamic Expo! We'll look forward to seeing you next year!

Industry Education and Training Through the MSLBMDA
GO TO CALENDAR PAGE LINK FROM HOME PAGE

WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES
"How Much Should You Care About Certified Wood"
Thursday, April 17, 2008 • 1:00 PM MST
Craig Webb, Editor ProSales Magazine Moderator
$139 per logged on computer
Take advantage of this training without travel opportunity

"Increasing Your Commercial Business"
Thursday, May 8, 2008 • 1:00 PM MST
Ted Garrison, 25 Years in Construction & Real Estate Industries, Moderator
$139 per logged on computer
Take advantage of this training without travel opportunity

"Chain of Custody Certification: What Is It? Does It Matter?"
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 • 1:00 PM MST
Craig Webb, Editor ProSales Magazine Moderator
$139 per logged on computer
Take advantage of this training without travel opportunity

"OSHA: 10-Hour Course for General Industry"
First in a series of 10 sessions
Thursday, May 15, 2008 • 1:00 PM MST
$575 per logged on computer (member) for entire series of 10 sessions.
$799 per logged on computer (nonmember) for series of 10 sessions.
Take advantage of this training without travel opportunity

MSLBMDA Fall Conference
October 2-4, 2008
"How Green Is Your Future"
Join us at the phenomenal Sonnenalp Resort in Vail
Terrific $155.00 room rate - Book Your Rooms Early
by calling 800-654-8312 and mentioning that you are
with the Mountain States Lumber Dealers Group.
Click HERE for basic info.  Further details forthcoming.

Mike Butts' “BLUEPRINT READING/ESTIMATING WORKSHOP”
ALL NEW PROGRAM CONTENTS • Watch for details on new content
December 3-4, 2008 • Holiday Inn Denver Central - 4849 Bannock Street
Denver, CO - (303) 292-9500 - $85 room rate

Mike Butts' “YARD FOREMAN SEMINAR”
December 5, 2008 • Holiday Inn Denver Central - 4849 Bannock Street
Denver, CO - (303) 292-9500 - $85 room rate


Check the Calendar Page often since we will be adding more classes continually! Give us a call if there is something specific we can help you with that you don't see scheduled. Thanks so much!