Still basking in the success of the Home Show

Still basking in the success of our Home Show in April, including numbers showing that 30% of attendees were first-time visitors, happenings in the Rhode Island Builders Association continue at a dizzying pace. By the time you read this, Homes for Our Troops and RIBA's Builders Helping Heroes (BHH) charity probably will have already held their groundbreaking/ribbon-cutting ceremony for the house BHH is building in Burrillville. Once finished toward the end of this year, the house will be presented, free of charge, to a Rhode Island Marine veteran who lost both his legs in the Afghan War. There, he and his wife will begin a new life. Many thanks to those who have donated or have agreed to donate some $300,000 worth of labor and materials for this worthy project. But there is still some serious cash to be raised. Please visit www.buildershelpingheroes.org to see how you can help. RIBA's legislative advocacy continues apace, and I urge every member who can to attend our Build-PAC fundraiser on June 6th at the Waterplace Restaurant in Providence. Funds raised at these events will help elect candidates who are friendly to our industry. Our legislative committee continues its hard work on a number of issues crucial to the housing industry and your business. These are only some of the things that your trade association is doing for you and for our state. In fact, your membership dues are probably the biggest bargain that you and your business get each year. Use your many member benefits! And if your subs and other industry colleagues don't yet belong to RIBA, encourage them to join. We can accomplish far more together than we ever could alone! Membership information is online at www.ribuilders.org. Felix Carlone is the president of the Rhode Island Builders Assn.