Hello Friends,

Perhaps you’re at the NAHB International Builders Show this week, or on vacation with your kids.  It’s a good time of year to take a break from the snow and cold of our winter.  I’d love to hear your take on the IBS show or maybe you’d like to share what you learned with our membership.  All you have to do is raise your hand and volunteer to speak and we’ll find you a group that wants to listen!

Exciting news – we’re bringing back the Better Homes Awards program!  Make sure you have photos of your projects to enter in the competition.  BHA committee members are working out the details now and hope to have the program up and running by the first of May.  Please put October 18, 2025 on your calendar for the program which will be held at the St. John’s Club on beautiful Lake Champlain.  I’m hoping for a stunning sunset to start the evening off with but even a beautiful sunset will be dazzled by your projects that night!

Our VP of Education, Lew Castle, and VBRA member Goodro Lumber have set up an event at the Patricia Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury on April 1^st .  This is not an April Fools joke!  Members can have breakfast and or lunch, courtesy of Gaines Insurance, Goodro Lumber and the Glass Onion culinary institute, and meet with potential employees from the carpentry tech center.  Huber will be on site to talk about their building products as well.  This is a prime opportunity if you’re looking for employees – please come and please share the event details with others so that we can have a good turnout.

Have ideas for an event or educational topic?  Please contact me and we’ll set something up.  

Know a fun place for members to gather for a Beer with Builders or Wine with Women Wednesdays? Let us know so we can get some events on the calendar.

I hope you’re enjoying your weekly legislative updates this year.  DRM is doing an outstanding job keeping us in the know about the happenings in Montpelier.  Updates are sent out on Fridays and Mondays each week so keep an eye on your email account so that you’ll be aware of issues that may impact your business.

As always, I welcome your comments and ideas, your help and support to grow this Association so that we truly are The Association for every building professional in Vermont.

Warmly, 

Dixie 

Dixie F. O’Connor, President