CSA Makes a Deal for YOU!

Looking for high-level sales training for your staff but put off by the typically high cost of a consultant? CSA has a deal for you. Through our relationship with Tim Shaver of the Sandler Sales Institute, we are able to offer a 12-week course of excellent sales training for only $300 per person. This kind of training normally runs in the thousands of dollars, but we happened upon a situation where Tim is piloting web-based teaching. The only catch is that course participants must complete an evaluation at the end of the program.

Sessions will run for one hour beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesdays, starting Sept. 15 and running through Dec. 1.

Details of the course and a registration form are now available. The course is limited to 25 people, and the fee increases to $400 for those who don’t register by Aug. 15. Because extensive materials must be prepared and shipped to registrants, we can’t take anyone after Sept. 1 (but this one will sell out fast – don’t wait until the deadline to register or you may find that there’s not a spot left).

Rarely do we have the opportunity t provide such high-level training at such an affordable price. Register your sales team today. You don’t want to find out from your competitor just how great this program was!

Click to enlarge, print and use the registration form.

NLBMDA ALERT: Health Care Reform

NLBMDA has long worked with a broad-based coalition of business groups to advance health care reform that would lower costs and increase access to quality health care. Unfortunately, the Democratic health care bill introduced in the House of Representatives, "America's Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009," (H.R. 3200) is a misguided approach that aims to expand health care coverage through a government-run public plan and costly mandates and taxes on the very small businesses the bill purports to help.

H.R. 3200 is a massive restructuring of the health care system in this country and includes many mandates and additional taxes on employers. The bill will create a public health care option and establish an individual mandate requiring every American to either buy private insurance or buy into the government run plan. If an individual fails to do so then they will be faced with a 2.5% tax on their modified gross income. Employers will be required to provide a payment towards healthcare costs to their workers. The minimum employer contribution in the case of an offering employer is 72.5% of the premium on individual plan and 65% of the premium for family coverage.

The so-called "pay or play" provision requires employers to offer a qualified plan to all employees. What is considered qualified will be determined by the Federal Government and currently the definition of employee appears to include both full and part time workers. If the offered plan does not meet federal standards or the employee opts to enter the public plan, then the employer must pay an 8% tax that will be contributed to the federal healthcare exchange.

This is a major burden for business in the current economic climate. An additional "surtax on the wealthy" that has been proposed to help cover the $1 trillion price tag of H.R.3200 will also impact the many small businesses that pay taxes on their individual tax returns. The surtax will begin for couples with a modified adjusted gross income of $350,000, and is expected to raise $554 billion, or half the total costs of the Democratic plan. Data from the Joint Committee on Taxation, however, says that at least 55% of the revenue raised by increasing the top two tax rates will come from small business income.

Take Action: The House may vote on H.R. 3200 this week before the August Congressional recess. NLBMDA and many of our federated state and regional associations have signed on to a coalition letter today to the Hill expressing our strong opposition to employer mandates and tax increases. Contact your Representatives today to urge them to oppose H.R. 3200 and work instead for real reform that cuts cost and improves competition in the health care system. You can quickly email your member of Congress through NLBMDA's Build the Vote website. Health care reform that increases costs for small businesses is a risky move that threatens our economic recovery.

News You Can Use - Trends and Numbers

Overall Housing Starts Rise 3.6 Percent in June, With Single-Family Starts Up 14.4 Percent

Privately-owned housing starts in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 582,000, 3.6 percent above the revised May estimate of 562,000, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Single-family housing starts in June were at a rate of 470,000, a 14.4 percent increase above the revised May figure of 411,000, the agency reported. Read more.

Existing-home Sales Rise 3.6 Percent in June 2009
Existing-home sales rose for the third consecutive month with inventory easing and home prices declining less sharply in June, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units in June from a downwardly revised pace of 4.72 million in May, but are 0.2 percent lower than the 4.90 million-unit level in June 2008.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful about the gain. "The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country," he said. "We expect a gradual uptrend in sales to continue due to tax credit incentives and historically high affordability conditions. Despite the rise in closed transactions, many Realtors® are reporting lost sales as a result of new appraisal standards that went into effect May 1 of this year." Read more.


New Home Sales Soar 11 Percent in June
Sales of new single-family houses in June 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000, 11 percent above sales in May, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The figure, however, is 21.3 percent below the June 2008 estimate of 488,000.

Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 11 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 units, according to U.S. Commerce Department numbers released today. Coming on the heels of an upwardly revised number for May, the gain marks a third consecutive month of improved sales activity. Read more.


Survey Finds Home Prices Increased Significantly in May
NEW YORK, NY -- According to the May 2009 RPX Monthly Housing Market Report released last week by Radar Logic Incorporated, the price per square foot for housing increased from April to May in 22 of the 25 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) covered by the report. The price gains in most of these MSAs were larger than average for the month of May, which may indicate that seasonal market forces are being augmented by a more lasting recovery in these housing markets.

Radar Logic's 25-MSA Composite increased 2.1% in May on a month-over-month basis, which was an improvement from its 1.2% increase in April. The 25-MSA Composite has increased 3.7% since March 30, 2009, when it hit its lowest point since the end of the housing boom. Read more.

Consumer Confidence Falls for Second Straight Month
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index™, which had retreated in June, declined further in July. The Index now stands at 46.6, down from 49.3 in June. The Present Situation Index decreased to 23.4 from 25.0 last month. The Expectations Index declined to 62.0 from 65.5 in June. Read more.

NLBMDA News - Congress Works to Extend FHA Foreclosure Fund

Before the August recess, Congressional leaders are working to pass legislation boosting funds for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), as well as the Federal Highway Trust Fund and unemployment fund. The bill would increase the FHA Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund commitment limit from $315 to $400 billion. Without such action, the funds available for foreclosure mitigation could run dry in August, jeopardizing the few positive signs of life the housing industry is currently experiencing.

NLBMDA News - Tax Credits for Home Improvements Sought

Georgia Congressmen Hank Johnson (D) and Nathan Deal (R) plan to introduce legislation to create a tax credit for the purchase of materials for home improvements. The $2,000 (single filer)/$4,000 (joint) credit would double for the purchase of materials that qualify under a green building standard. Read more.

NLBMDA News - Home Builder Confidence Gaining in July

Home builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes notched up two points in July to its highest level since September 2008, according to the recently-released National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The HMI rose two points to 17 in July as builders saw an improvement in current sales conditions but continued to express concerns about the future. Read more.

News You Can Use - The Many Shades of Green

Southern Pine Producers Show Scant Interest in Green Certification
Survey finds few want the certificate but most want to be thought of as green
by Craig Webb
A majority of Southern Pine producers responding to a recent Southern Pine Council survey don't have green certification for their forests now and nearly half don't plan to do so, despite getting regular requests for certified products and feeling it's important to market Southern Pine's green qualities. Read more.

Producers cite costs in green certification survey
(Jul. 28) Wood certification has reached its 15th birthday, but many forestry companies still harbor reservations about the costs and benefits associated with green certifications.
This was the finding of two recent surveys conducted by Random Lengths, an industry publication that tracks lumber and other LBM commodity prices, and the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA), a forestry trade group. Read more.

News You Can Use - Safety Corner

The National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) recommends the following safety tips for protection against carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Install CO alarms outside each sleeping area of the home and on each floor of the home. For greater protection, connect the CO alarms throughout the home so that when one activates, they all activate.
• Adhere to all manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions for installation.
• Identify and store all local emergency contact numbers for a CO alarm emergency.
• Program these numbers in your cell phone as well, in case you are not at home when an alarm activates.
• Test monthly and confirm that each CO alarm is operating properly to the manufacturer’s instructions. Read more.

Webinar: What Dealers Need to Know about DOT State & Federal Laws

W E B I N A R

What Dealers Need to Know About DOT State & Federal Transportation Laws
with Larry Marler of Construction Suppliers Association
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 3:00p.m. (EST)
$139.00 per logged on computer

Everyone knows that the Department of Transportation has clamped down. Trucks are being stopped and records reviewed more often than ever before. Do you and your employees driving the trucks understand the regulations? Are you in compliance? The changes that have occurred over the past few years are many and the penalties for non-compliance are severe. A basic overview of the following will be covered in this special webinar. Be sure that you, your managers and drivers all get together to participate in this one!

Topics:
· Who’s under the law
· Who’s exempt
· Commercial vs. CDL
· IFTA & IRP
· Truck Maintenance & Inspections
· Accident Reporting Requirements
· Hours of Service and Work Records
· Physical Requirements: Bridge Law – How it Works and much more…..

The presenter, Larry Marler has over 38 years in the transportation safety business. He served as 19 years as Safety Director for 5 major long distance carriers and 19 years assisting members of CSA. He knows our industry and will be able to answer your questions so be sure to have them ready!


Click on the pictures to enlarge, print and complete the registration forms.

Georgia Passes New Law That May Enhance Enforceability of Non-Compete Agreements

From Jackson-Lewis

The Georgia legislature has passed a new law that makes employee restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements easier to enforce. While House Bill 173 has been signed by the governor, it will not go into effect unless the Georgia Constitution is amended in a statewide referendum in the 2010 general election. If implemented, Georgia will transition from a state where such agreements can be difficult to uphold to one where such agreements are regularly enforced, thus joining the majority. Read more.