Take a second and picture yourself... Toes in the bright blue water... A cold beverage in your hand... A warm breeze blowing through the palm trees that surround you... Waves rolling into the shore before you... SOUND GOOD? Of course it does! It's the first of March - who's not thinking about needing a vacation right about now?

We want to send YOU on a vacation to a destination of your choice! Hawaii? Yes! Key West? Sure! Cancun? Why not?! We're thinking a tropical vacation, but if you're not a beach bum, you can take the $3,000 travel gift certificate and go wherever you would like. Combine the $3,000 certificate with your own cash and take the dream vacation to Europe that you've been imagining for 10 years! Not interested in a vacation? If you'd rather stick around town we will give you $2,000 cash instead!

So... do you picture yourself on an awesome vacation or having a couple extra thousand to do as you please?

Now that you know what you want, here's how you are going to win... Each time that you sponsor a new Builder or Associate member your name will be placed into a drawing to win a $3,000 travel gift certificate or $2,000 cash - your choice. The more members your sponsor, the better your chances! There is no limit to the number of times your name can be entered in the drawing. In fact, if you sponsor 6 or more members, we will double your chances! On your sixth member, your name goes in twice...seventh member, your name goes in twice, and so on. Recruiting 3 Affiliate members = one builder or associate membership = one chance to win. This competition began January 1, 2010 and will end December 31, 2010. The drawing will be held at the January 2011 Installation of Officers and Awards Ceremony.

You can win quarterly, too! In addition to the winning a Tropical Getaway, you have a chance to win a prize in the first three quarters of the year! When you sponsor a new Associate or Builder member, your name will also be placed in a drawing to win a prize for that quarter. There is no limit to the number of times you can be entered in the drawing. Prizes will be awarded for the following quarters: January 1 - April 30; May 1 - July 30; August 1 - October 31. The quarterly prizes will be announced soon!

Are you ready to Catch the Membership Wave? Start by talking to your sub-contractors or any suppliers that you work with. Try to remember how you felt before you joined the Association, the questions you had, and then fill in the blanks with what's working for you - what you are getting out of your membership. The more enthusiasm you show about your membership the more likely they are to listen to what you have to say. You can pick up Membership Applications at the H/MCBA office or online at www.buildersassn.org. Contact Kristen Carroll, Membership Services Coordinator, if you need help recruiting new members or more info on the benefits of HMCBA membership. She can provide you with resources to help you recruit, all you have to do is ask!

The Membership Committee is planning some great events to go along with this year's theme (Surfs Up! Catch the Membership Wave!), so make sure you are keeping up with the information either here online or in the Membership Minute! I invite any of you who are interested to join us on the Membership Committee - we'd love your input on membership promotions and need your help contacting members to make sure they are satisfied with their membership!

If you have ideas, comments, or suggestions on how we can help YOUR association grow, please contact Kristen at 256-536-2602 or email her at Kristen@buildersassn.org.