Message from the FHBA Foundation Chairman, Mike Hickman

Welcome to our first monthly e-newsletter for the FHBA Foundation. I want to thank FHBA President Jay Carlson for appointing me as chair of the Foundation, for his continued support, and for the support of all FHBA members that make this Foundation a huge success.

As Chairman of the Foundation, one of my goals is to increase awareness of the things we are doing through the Foundation. This e-newsletter will enable us to better communicate with FHBA members, “Future Builders of America” sponsors, teachers and students. We want to hear from all of you! Please send your ideas, accomplishments, and photos to Alan Baggett at FHBA, or contact me at mike@hickmanhomes.net.

Our industry is faced with very challenging times; times that test the resolve of all of us to give back to the community. Your participation, your contribution and your commitment will bring you a far greater reward than anything else you do.

Thanks again!
Mike Hickman, Chairman

MANATEE COUNTY

WATCH OUR VIDEO


Produced by TV Home Source, TVHomeSource.com

The Future Builders of America chapters in Manatee County visited a Zirchelbach Construction job site for the new Fed Ex building off North US 41 this past week. Many of the students had not seen a commercial site and were given the opportunity to tour the site as well as see a power point presentation that walked them through the stages of construction using photos to illustrate each stage. Students were then divided into 3 smaller groups and given a tour where they were able to ask questions ranging from job description and salary to specifics on safety procedures. All 95 students enjoyed lunch grilled by Zirchelbach’s Grill Master’s, a community service team created by Zirchelbach to assist non-profit organizations with their events, before heading back to school.

Southeast High in Manatee County

We all had a great time working on this Habitat project this past Saturday. Ten students along with three Advisors from Manatee County FBA chapters were assigned jobs doing framing, putting on siding, or painting trim work. Check out the attached picture.

OCALA (MARION COUNTY)

Future Builders of America (FBA) Chapter of Marion Technical Institute (MTI) held a fundraiser on November 24th from 11:45am -12:30pm.

The students elected to have a “Builder’s BBQ” for a fundraiser. They invited students, staff of MTI and members of MCBIA. Two members of MCBIA, Jerry Guerra from Bailey Industries and Scott Wolter from Yandle's Building Materials came out to volunteer their time to be the grill masters.

Tony Vazquez, Construction and Power Instructor at MTI, said, “It was a great success and we may do more in the near future. The students really got involved and enjoyed the “Builder’s BBQ”.

Students are raising money to attend FBA’s Leadership Camp held annually in June. Learn more about FBA and MCBIA’s connection with MTI by visiting www.mcbia.org home page under “Our Community” .

NAPLES:  IMMOKALEE

Mock Interviews

Christopher Lofton (2008 FBA Member) came by to thank The Immokalee Foundation for the “mock interviews” that were held during the summer.  Christopher was interviewed by Immokalee Water and Sewer District (IWSD) this week and was hired on the spot.  IWSD told him that out of 100 interviewees he was the only one with professionalism, well prepared (resume, professional certificates, well dressed) and asked proper questions about the job.  This proves that the hard work does pay off!  Thank you to Dick Stonesifer, Ed Laudise, and Robert Senecharles for helping me with the mock interviews.

Mobile Training Center:  FBA partners with Banner Construction Center
                              

There are three significant challenges facing the construction industry. They are: the recruitment of both entry level and skilled workers; the assessment of new and incumbent workers; and the delivery of cost effective, standardized craft training. The Mobile Training Center (MTC) has been created as a demonstration product designed to show any construction partner a methodology for delivering all or any part of recruitment, assessment, and training services. It demonstrates a modular approach engineered to allow flexibility in service options.

The trailer is comprised of four major sections: a computer lab; a covered, exterior classroom/presentation area; an exterior training area; and an interior tool and equipment storage/training area.
The MTC has the ability to pull into virtually any site or remote location. It is wired for external energy supply and has internal generators for sites without a power source.

The MTC is a technologically advanced mobile center. External internet and phone communications are capable through a state of the art satellite system. Career and training video presentations, assessment tests, and online curriculum can be instantly downloaded. Testing completions can be instantly uploaded to administrative centers worldwide.

The MTC is available statewide for demonstration to construction industry groups, workforce boards, and school boards. It is available by lease for training, assessment, or enrollment services. The BCC staff is available for consultation on designing or building your own MTC.

created by Marc Shahboz and the students of SFC IMP

Memorial Veterans Wall

Congratulations to the students of Immokalee that volunteered to build a stage for the Memorial Veterans Wall in Naples.  This was a great opportunity for the kids especially since we were the only school to be asked to participate in the event.  We have heard many good things about the kids’ leadership, behavior, and work ethics!  They were absolutely a great group.  They didn’t even stop working to eat a donut.  They were the best well behaved teenagers that I have run into in a long time - Elda Hernandez, Vocational program manager for the Immokalee

HIGHLANDS COUNTY

On Saturday, November 15th, the Highlands County Builder’s Association held the 4th Annual 4-person Scramble at Pinecrest Golf Club at Lake Lotela.  Proceeds to this event benefit the HCBS’s Future Builders of America chapters for Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Sebring High Schools. Everyone had a great time and a wonderful lunch. Thank you to all participants and event planners.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Written By: Vanessa Dumas, President of Charlotte Technical Chapter of the FBA,  

At this time, Charlotte County Chapter FBA drafting and design students as well as the contraction students are currently working on two different projects. The drafting students are working on the 2008 FBA Shed Project, which is going green and using an alternative building system. This new green building consists of using SIP panels. We also want to give recognition to Brian Bishop of Home Front Homes, being our sponsor. We cannot begin to thank him enough for so generously donating his time, inviting us to his SIP factory for a tour and donating the majority of the materials for this year’s shed. The drafting students are really working hard on this year’s shed to ensure it will come out looking beautiful. Everything is going well and things are running smoothly as they work on the drawings of their floor plans, wall sections, and elevation views for their shed. The drafting students are also working on a 3d model of their shed to give the viewers an idea and perspective of what the shed will look like. While the drafting students are designing, the construction students are hard at work in the outside environment working on the deck for a historical home located in Punta Gorda. When finished with that project, they have future plans of constructing and building a home located in Port Charlotte.

Seven sheds were drawn by the second year drafting students for the annual fundraiser. The word “shed” does not really do justice to these beautiful creations.   The students will sell raffle tickets from the beginning of November until the drawing held at the Punta Gorda block party on April 18th.  The students all voted on which of the seven sheds they wanted to build.  The designer of the chosen shed, Vanessa Dumas, has been granted an internship with Home Front Homes in their drafting department.  We expect to see more internship offered to FBA students in the upcoming months in our area by our supportive business members of the CD-BIA.   

Pctures of the event on April 18th, along with the drafted model designs.

POLK COUNTY

On Friday, November 14, the PCBA Foundation hosted their 1st Annual Sporting Clays Event at Tenoroc Shooting Sports & Training Center. Honorary Chair, Congressman Adam Putnam and 42 other enthusiastic shooters worked their way through a 10 station course with clay birds flying out from all directions and levels. 
The funds from this event will further the Foundation’s mission to award scholarships to Future Builders of America students in Polk County.

The day began with a continental breakfast then the teams hit the clays course and ended with awards and a BBQ chicken lunch prepared by “Hoggin the Smoke” BBQ with Ron Mattson at the grill.

The Dykstra Construction Team won with the highest team score of 325 points out of a possible 400.  Steve Hendrix of Bartow Ford, playing on the Dykstra team, won highest individual score with an 85 out of 100 shots hit.  The winner of our “Shots Gone Wild” trophy was Glen Waters with Built by Waters.

We would like to say thank you to our sponsors: Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. as “Big Gun” sponsor and Killebrew, Inc. as a station sponsor.

 Thank you to Honorary Chair, United States Congressman Adam Putnam for his support of the Future Builders of America shown here with PCBA President, Carlton Hodges

Last October Commissioner Sam Johnson donated $10,000 of his discretionary fund the PCBA Foundation to assist with FBA projects. The photo below shows Commissioner Reed trying out one of the two chairs she purchased from the Foundation. Mr. Heath also thanked Commissioner Sam Johnson for the $10,000 donation from his discretionary fund last year.

Polk County Commissioner Jean Reed, seated. Left to Right – Daniel Bagwell, Jimmy Giles, FBA Advisor,
& Matt Leonard from Bartow High School FBA Chapter.

CAMP HARPER

Did you know that the Florida Home Builders Foundation has 500 acres of land near Tallahassee, Florida? The plan is to build The Future Builders of America Leadership Center at Camp Harper.  This camp will be one of the first in the nation to also be built using “Green Technology”. Right now the footers are dug and the volunteer’s members are laying the rebar and soon we will be pouring the concrete for our first building, a beautiful 40’ x 48’ pavilion. 

Click Here to see Pavillion Drawings

In fact if you would like to get a birds eye view of the camp visit http://maps.live.com, then put in 900 Natural Bridge Road, Lamont, Florida 32366; look for the 40 acre horseshoe lake called “Black Lake”.  This site will give a fascinating look at the 500 hundred acres of pristine land that will become The Future Builders of America Leadership Center at Camp Harper. 

Make Your End-of-the-Year Donation

Are you looking for just the right nonprofit organization to make an end-of-the-year donation to?  Want to build a worthwhile financial contribution into your 2009 budget? Then consider the Florida Home Builders Foundation (FHB Foundation) and its nonprofit workforce development Future Builders of America program. Your financial contributions can help ensure a strong foundation for the next generation of construction professionals. The FHB Foundation promotes three programs: FBA, continuing education scholarship, and the FBA Summer Leadership Camp. The support of generous sponsors has been essential to the overall success of the FHB Foundation and the FBA. As we look toward the future, now is the time to pledge your support to help ensure the longevity of this program and the future of our great industry. Donations to the FHB Foundation and Future Builder of America program are considered tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Contact Alan Baggett , FHB Foundation Director, or Joyce Collins Foundation Specialist, to learn how you can contribute. They can be reached at 800-261-9447, or abaggett@fhba.com or jcollins@fhba.com . For more details, visit www.fhba.com

Want to be a part of the creation of Camp Harper but money is tight, then how about volunteering your time, just ask Foundation Trustee Mike Dannenhauer (Five County Insurance Agency, Inc.).  Mike donated an entire day with his tractor and blazed the trails and roads at Camp Harper.  Mike say’s “I had a great time, I learned a lot about the property, and can't wait to get back up there again”.

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GOES HERE

CONTACT US
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YOUR LOGO
GOES HERE

CONTACT US
FOR INFORMATION

(800) 261-9447 Alan Baggett x14