Advantage Software Seminar

One of CSA’s most popular seminars is back!

Are you…
Interested in learning more about the Advantage Computer System?
In need of a little extra help with the program?
In charge of inventory control?
Looking to resolve common problems and learn “quick fixes”?

If you answered yes to any of the above, this seminar is for you!
The Advantage Computer Systems Seminar, hosted by CSA and Advantage Computer Systems, will be led in a roundtable­style discussion by Wade Frazier and Ed Brown with ECI Advantage. They are excited to answer all questions and facilitate discussions.

The best part of this seminar is that the attendees pick the discussion topics! When registering for the seminar, attendees will be asked to pick five topics to discuss. Wade and Ed will then create an agenda and curriculum from these topics.

The cost of this seminar is $100.00 per person, and will begin promptly at 8:00a.m. and run until 4:00p.m. Lunch, breaks and materials are included in the registration fee.

Accommodations at the Hampton Inn in Fairburn are available. We’ve reserved a block of rooms, but in order to reserve your room, please call 678-782-4600 and tell the reservations staff that you are taking a room in the CSA block. Rooms for Sunday, November 8 (the night before the seminar) are $69.00 plus tax per night, and includes breakfast at the hotel. Reservations are the responsibility of the attendee. Rooms will not be held after October 21, and reservations after this date will be taken on a space availability basis only.

Please click the picture to enlarge, print and use the registration form.

Webinar: As Long As There Is Competition

W E B I N A R

As Long As There Is Competition...
Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 3:00p.m. (EST)
With John Cortright

$139.00 per logged on computer

Add the coming of winter to this economic environment and anyone can tell you that sales are difficult to come by. But, there is still business out there and we need to take control of our future by ferreting it out and making it ours!

John Cortright, our speaker, started as a stock clerk in retail and in a 15 year period worked his way up the corporate ladder to Senior Vice President of a three hundred million dollar building material firm. He dealt with new strong competition, over saturated markets, economic downturns and yet he exceeded sales and profit expectations. Hear about his unique methods for building success in this special webinar.

Topics that will be covered in this one hour:
· How to produce more sales from your existing client base
· How to take business from the big boxes – low budget or no budget
· The most dependable and profitable customer base is like an iceberg, only 10% is visible. Uncover and take control of the other 90%!
· Make your sales budget and increase the profit in the process
· Take control of your business so that you move out of this downturn AHEAD of the pack!

The webinar is being hosted by Turnkey Programming. Prior to the webinar, you’ll be contacted by them with the webinar phone number and password, as well as instructions for logging onto the website to view the webinar live.

Click the pictures to enlarge, print and use.

On Safety: Six Ways to Address Distracted Driving

At least one of the organizations sending an official to speak at next week's Distracted Driving Summit supports technology as part of the solution. The Governors Highway Safety Association listed six ways the federal government could address the problem without penalizing states that fail to enact texting or calling bans; GHSA is already on record as stating drivers should not use cell phones for any purpose while they are driving.

"To address this growing problem, the federal government does not need to sanction states that do not pass cell phone or texting while driving bans. Rather, there are a variety of actions the federal government can take to help states best respond to distracted driving," the organization stated in a Sept. 14 statement of its position. GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey Jr. is scheduled to speak Oct. 1 at the summit as one of the Legislation, Regulation and Enforement panelists at the summit. Read more.

On Safety: OSHA News - Advancing PPE Regulations

OSHA updates its PPE standards
Last month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration revamped personal protective equipment standards for general industry, shipyard, longshoring and marine terminals.

The changes pertain to eye, face, head and foot safety. Among other things, they require that filter lenses of eye safety devices meet standards concerning the "transmission of radiant energy such as light or infrared."In revamping the standards, OSHA aims to keep them in line with technological advances and applicable national consensus standards. It also seeks to ensure that PPE design and construction responds to job-specific hazards.

The final rule takes effect on October 9. Read the OSHA Trade News Release here.

Source.

Webinar: Welcome to Lawyerland - How to Navigate the Court System

W E B I N A R

Welcome to Lawyerland: How to Navigate the Court System
Tuesday, October 22, 2009 at 3:00p.m. (EST)
With Annie Catmull with Walker, Wilcox and Matousek

When faced with the prospect of litigation, understanding the court system will help you control costs and improve the likelihood of a satisfactory resolution, so you can get back to business quickly.

One of the most difficult things to learn about the court system is how to navigate all of the filings and motions. The speaker will give you the basics of how to bring or defend a case.

Topics that will be covered in this one hour:
-Small claims, common pleas, and municipal courts. What are their differences?
-What to expect in Federal and State Courts and when to expect to be there.
-Going to court, whether you are allowed to represent yourself and when you are not.
-Different cases, advantages and disadvantages of litigation alternatives: mediation and arbitration.
-The minimum initial steps you should take as soon as you learn you or your company is being sued.
-Finding a reliable attorney, getting them the facts, and how to control costs – the growing trend of flat fee billing.

The presenter Annie Catmull is a lawyer with Walker, Wilcox and Matousek (located in Houston, TX and Chicago, IL). This firm focuses on complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy/recturing, and insurance coverage disputes. Her nationwide practice includes the representation of creditors ranging from large and small independent businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She was a speaker at the NLBMDA ProSales Industry Summit in 2008 on the subject of bankruptcy and the homebuilding industry.

This webinar provides you the opportunity to learn from one of the leaders in the industry without having to leave your business. No travel, no time away from the office. The price is just $139 per logged on computer. To get the most bang for your buck, gather all your managers around one computer and use a speaker phone.

The webinar is being hosted by Turnkey Programming. Prior to the webinar, you’ll be contacted by them with the webinar phone number and password, as well as instructions for logging onto the website to view the webinar live.

Click the pictures to enlarge, print and use.

Equipment Financing Program

Association Health Programs offers an Equipment Financing Program for CSA members. Included in the offer are terms such as no down payment, flexibible terms to meet your cash flow needs, fast approvals and simple documentation. There is a secure online application and payment calculator at www.associationpros.com

For more information, contact Stuart Pase at 888-450-3040 or email stuart@associaitonpros.com

NLBMDA News

You can find all the most up to date national organization news here.

USGBC Releases Second Draft of Certified Wood Credit Benchmarks
Health Care Continues to Dominate Congressional Schedule
Homebuyer Tax Credit Looming
Boxer-Kerry Introduce Energy Bill, Version 2.0
Have You Subscribed to the NLBMDA Green Update?
Save the Date! NLBMDA Legislative Conference Scheduled for March 15-17, 2010

News You Can Use - Running Your Business

Credit card fees can take a bite out of your profits. CSA members can lower their costs by up to 20% by enrolling in a special program. Enrollment is free and your credit card processing system will be reprogrammed for the cost savings at no expense to you.

For more information and a free, no obligation quote, please call 847-219-6711 or fax 815-455-5317.

CSA Celebrates with an Open House

The Construction Suppliers Association celebrated the opening of its new offices with an open house on Wednesday, September 30th. Over fifty members, friends, and associates attended throughout the day to tour the new offices and enjoy some lunch together.

The space is located at 120 Handley Road, Suite 610 in Tyrone, Georgia. We're open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You're invited to come visit us anytime. Call 678-675-1860 for more information, directions and to schedule a tour. See all the photos from the Open House.

Our photo slideshow.

Official Notice to Members: Board Nominations

The CSA Nominating Committee has nominated the following people to serve new terms on the Board:

Kevin Hamblin, Builders Station, Carrollton GA, 2nd Vice Chair (automatically ascends to the chair)
Tee Bridges, Stone’s Home Centers, Bainbridge GA, Board member
Mason Kocher, Kocher Building Materials, Montgomery AL, Board member
Ray Gaster, Gaster Building Materials, Savannah GA, Board member

CSA’s bylaws state that members have 30 days from the date of notice Wednesday, October 7, 2009 to submit alternate names. If no alternate name is submitted by at least 20% of the eligible voting membership, the slate of nominees is automatically elected. If one or more names are submitted by at least 20% of the eligible voting membership, then an election will be held. If you wish to submit alternate name(s), please do so to Jim Moody, CSA President, by fax at (678) 674-1864, e-mail at jimmoody@gocsa.com, mail at 120 Handley Road, Ste. 610, Tyrone GA 30290, or phone at (678) 674-1860.

The Nominating Committee was composed of David Swift, chair; Billy Badger; Tom Hall; Jeff Edwards; and Chris Moon.