Last month I was the guest of a major manufacturer at a beautiful resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I had a wonderful time and a great opportunity to share experiences with 25 other roofing contractors, independent reps, and employees for four of the seven days I was there.

During our roundtable discussions, I discovered the same theme throughout the country. We have a climate in our industry where contractors dictate to the manufacturers or independent reps which contractors can be licensed to install their products. Being a numbers game, there are a couple of manufacturers with competing lines who consistently let this happen in Colorado and throughout the nation. I heard stories of one independent rep who cowers to the demands of a local contractor, even at the expense of the other licensed contractors for the manufacturer. I even confirmed the rumor that one of the contractors wrote a seven page letter on why another contractor should not be an approved applicator of their line. There are also accounts of the same manufacturer who has local reps telling potential customers, architects, and spec writers that the contractors who install the other line are second tier companies. This same company, by the way, mailed a cancellation notice without a phone call, an explanation, or the even the courtesy of addressing the letter to the principal owner. Is this first tier, or what?

If second tier means standing behind the product you install, taking every discount when paying your bills, sharing from 31 percent to 42 percent of the profits with your employees, and winning local and national awards for the projects you complete, then call me a second tier contractor for the rest of my career. I would much rather give my business to the companies and reps that support their contractors, than deal with those that participate in such underhanded and unfair tactics. If this is the way they conduct business, then who is really the second tier company?

It seems to me that these companies have it all wrong. We as an industry should be more like the Napa Valley wine country. The large wineries allow their winemakers to moonlight for the smaller wineries. This philosophy has kept the quality of wine in the valley consistent for decades. If a manufacturer is afraid of losing market share, the reason could be the way their reps are allowed to do business.

Dan Zahtila
Black Roofing, Inc.
CRA President
dan@blackroofing.com

FINAL UPDATE FROM THE CAPITOL:

Senate Bill 12-038: Protect Consumers / Residential Roofing Work:
In the last month, this bill worked its way through the House and passed 3rd reading on May 1st. It is awaiting signature by the Governor, although there are still opposing parties asking for a veto. While the bill does reiterate an existing Colorado Statute that a contractor cannot pay a homeowners deductible, the bill does not allow an insurer to deny a claim if a contractor offers to pay the deductible. There are individuals suggesting that this is the case - it is not. If the bill is signed into law, a fact sheet will be forwarded to CRA members with a detailed breakdown of what the new bill will mean to roofing contractors as well as consumers when it goes into effect this fall.

SB12-001: The second of two bills calling for preferential selection on government projects to Contractors who meet certain employee & benefit requirements was killed in the House State Affairs Committee. AGC along with other groups opposed the bill - finding it be burdensome to administer at all levels, as well being unnecessary because existing Colorado law requires 80% Colorado labor on all state projects.

SB12-181: Concerning Building & Construction Contracts:
This late bill from Senator Tochtrop & Representative Kerr was introduced by ASA and heard in Committee on May 2nd. Addressing such issues as construction contracts from other states, mechanics liens, payment schedules and retainage reform, the bill was unfortunately postponed indefinitely at its first outing.

The 2012 Legislative session will come to a close on May 9th. It is always a frenzied educational process that occurs for the first 4 months of the year under the gold dome. Legislators must be educated on the issues presented before them and constituents must be educated on the laws that may affect them. My final words of wisdom for this session will remain true for next year's session as well - it is best not to pass on someone else's concern if you haven't researched the basis of their concern and assured yourself that you agree with it.

I have had numerous communications with people regarding Senate Bill 38. Many of those conversations were with people who had heard how things would be changed dramatically and negatively by the power that insurance companies would suddenly wield over roofing contractors and homeowners alike. Yet some of those people had not even read the bill.

I remember from years ago, the hysteria that Chicken Little created when she thought the sky was falling. She ran to tell all her friends, they believed her and joined in the chorus without question, and if I'm not mistaken, Foxy Loxy was the only one in that story who had a happy ending in the form of a nice tasty meal. I urge members and non-members alike to not be like Chicken Little's friends. Ask questions, read the bills, interpret them yourself and then ask for others' interpretations. Take the time to go through the difficult but very necessary steps of judging any possible legislation. This is a never-ending, law-making process and we may not like everything that comes out of each session - but in the end, I can guarantee you that if you do some homework, you'll discover the sky isn't falling after all.

Have a great summer!

Amy Hawkins
CRA Government Relations Chair
amy@boulderroof.com
303.443.4646 (o) 303.591.3512 (c)

May 24 Membership Luncheon to feature Richard Wobbekind's 2012 Colorado Business Economic Outlook

Thursday, May 24, 2012
Denver Merchandise Mart - Forum Meeting Room #1
451 E. 58th Ave (I-25 & 58th Ave)
11:30 a.m.

Cost: CRA Members - FREE!

We are bringing back one of our most popular speakers -- he can easily be called one of the region's top economic forecasters -- Richard L. Wobbekind.

Wobbekind, Executive Director of the Business Research Division and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will highlight the forty-seventh Colorado Business Economic Outlook report. This forecast analyzes changes that have taken place in all economic sectors during the past year, and looks at the events and activities that will shape the changes in our population, employment, overall economy for the coming year and the impacts on the construction industry.

Click here for details and to sign-up for the May 24th Membership Lunch.

Please note we are having May's lunch on a Thursday instead of Friday.

CRA's First INTRODUCTION TO ROOFING Training Class to be held at Red Rocks Community College this Summer

In late 2010 CRA surveyed the membership and over 85% of our members indicated the need for a roofing training program.

As a result, CRA's Education/Training committee has been working the past 18 months to create a formal training program so that our members have a place to train/cross-train current employees. The committee has formed a partnership with Red Rocks Community College and their Rocky Mountain Education Center to hold an Introduction to Roofing course starting this summer 2012.

The Introduction to Roofing course will expose your employees to the basics of roofing and teach them what they are doing, why they are doing it and upon completion give them an understanding that roofing can lead to several career paths within the industry. Retaining good employees is important to all of us and providing them the education they need is a proven method of retention!

We are limiting the class to one student per company. Student commitment forms will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Please note that students will also be required to present a 10-Hour OSHA Card prior to enrollment. If a card is needed, it's mandatory that the student attend an OSHA 10-Hour scheduled for May 18-19, 2012.

Our Education Committee has worked hard to get to this point and we hope that the Introduction to Roofing course fits your needs and with success, we look forward to this becoming a valuable member benefit!

Click here for CRA's Introduction to Roofing course details.

Community Service - 2012 Projects

Homes for the Troops. . .

CPL Nick Orchowski was married only four days before being deployed to Iraq. CPL Orchowski was the main gunner of the lead vehicle in a convoy, when they came under attack while on the main supply route leading into Baghdad. An insurgent's vehicle slammed into CPL Orchowski's vehicle, disabling the truck and throwing Nick out of the gunner's hatch. With his right shoulder pushed into his cervical spine area, CPL Orchowski suffered fractures of C4, C5, and C6 vertebrae and was immediately paralyzed from the neck down.

This is just one of many stories of U.S. soldiers severely injured in the line of duty. Homes for our Troops, a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004, is building a specially adapted home for CPL Orchowski in Parker, Colorado.

The Colorado Roofing Association is pleased to announce that several of its contractor and supplier members have graciously offered to help by donating their time and materials to this wonderful cause. Thank you to Alpine Roofing, B & M Roofing, Black Roofing, and Tiley Roofing for donating the labor to install the roof; Bighorn Rain Gutters for donating the labor to install the gutter system; Certainteed for donating the shingles and underlayment; Weather Guard for donating the coil for the gutter and downspouts; and to Roofing Supply of Colorado for delivering and loading the roof. I would also like to thank Rich Schafer with Black Roofing for spearheading the endeavor. Thanks again to everyone involved!

Mechanic's Lien Pinpoint Seminar - June 12

Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Renaissance Hotel
3801 Quebec Street
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

Cost: CRA Members - $85 for first attendee/$75 for next attendee from same company

The CRA in partnership with Mountain States Commercial Credit Management is holding a seminar on Mechanic Liens on Tuesday, June 12th. The seminar will cover the in & outs of filing liens, disburser notices, bond claims and all the required forms that go with them. In addition, using the internet to assist you with your liens. The seminar will be presented by Jean Arnold, Partner with Arnold & Arnold, LLP, who has been practicing law for over 28 years -- specializing in mechanic lien and construction law.

Click here for details and to sign-up for the June 12th seminar.

CRA ITEMS TO NOTE

CRA Building Code & Standards Committee,TRI Installer Training May 3 Recap & Photos, Western Roofing Expo June 24-27, 2012, Building America Summer 2012 in Denver - Conference for the Residential Sector, 2005 Cleasby Conveyor for Sale

New CRA Building Code & Standards Committee

CRA has formed a new Building Code & Standards Committee. The committee will provide opportunities for members to participate in and become advocates of the code change process. The committee will also advise and educate members on changes and updates to building codes and standards as they relate to the roofing profession.

Volunteer today to become actively involved in lobbying for yourselves and the roofing industry as a whole. As an association we can work as a group to make positive changes with local municipalities that will help all of our businesses!

To VOLUNTEER for the Building Code & Standards Committee, EMAIL debbie@coloradoroofing.org today!!

Note: The Building Code & Standards Committee will hold it's first meeting on May 9, 2012.

TRI Installer Certification Program for Moderate Climates

On May 3, 2012, the Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) held an informative one day course in Denver. Twenty-nine local contractors attended this program that is designed to enhance the knowledge of individuals involved in the construction and installation of tile roofing systems. ABC Supply Co. sponsored the training and invited CRA members to attend. Here are a few photos from the training. Please note that another TRI Certification Program will be held here in Denver in late September/early October 2012.

	A Big THANKS to all who attended!!!

Western Roofing Expo - June 24-27, 2012

Plan to attend the Western Roofing Expo 2012 – your once-a-year opportunity to maximize your company’s productivity, efficiency and profitability. Known for bringing all of the elements of the roofing industry together, WRE 2012 focuses on the western region of the United States and the specific needs that roofing and waterproofing contractors face in these areas.

• See a comprehensive collection of the latest products and services at THE roofing industry event
• Learn from industry experts at the first-rate education program for roofing professionals to help contractors gain a foothold in growing trends within the roofing industry.
• Network in an unmatched professional environment with industry’s best and brightest
• NEW this year: Safety Expo 2012 offering certified classes for you and your crews

Click here for full details.

Building America Summer 2012 Technical Update Meeting

Register now for the third annual Building America Summer 2012 Technical Update Meeting, scheduled for July 24-26, 2012, in Denver, Colorado. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible!

Cost
The conference is free of charge and lunch will be provided; however, participants must register in advance.

Location
Renaissance Denver Hotel
3801 Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80207
Phone: 303-399-7500

This meeting, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program, will showcase the latest in cutting-edge, energy-efficient residential building technologies and practices. The sessions will focus on addressing issues that must be resolved to deliver solutions that reduce whole-house energy use in new and existing homes by 30%-50%.

This meeting is targeted to researchers, architects, contractors, manufacturers, builders, utilities, legislators, lenders, realtors, auditors, raters, installation technicians, HOA representatives, and anyone else interested in improving energy efficiency in both new and existing residential buildings. Together, we can make a difference in residential energy efficiency!

If you have questions, please contact BAMeetings@confluencec.com.

For Sale: 2005 Cleasby Conveyor

2005 Cleasby Conveyor, Hawes Hydraulics, 25ft long, 60 inch wide, 1000 lbs capacity, CL120444880, Turn Table included. $10,000 obo.

Contact Katie at 970-324-5834 or 303-343-7096, Curbside Roll Off, Aurora, CO., email Katie@crirolloff.com

Safety Corner:

OSHA Announces Fall Prevention Campaign

In 2010, more than 10,000 construction workers were injured as a result of falling while working from heights, and another 255 workers were killed.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a new campaign led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to prevent deadly falls in the construction industry. The awareness campaign will provide employers and workers with life-saving information and educational materials about working safely from ladders, scaffolds and roofs. In 2010, more than 10,000 construction workers were injured as a result of falling while working from heights, and another 255 workers were killed.

"The best way to honor Workers' Memorial Day is to make sure that another family does not have to suffer the pain of losing a loved one because of preventable workplace injuries," said Secretary Solis. "Falls are the most fatal out of all hazards in the construction industry, accounting for almost one in every three construction worker deaths. Our simple message is that safety pays, and falls cost."

OSHA's fall prevention campaign was developed in partnership with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda program. OSHA and NIOSH will work with trade associations, labor unions, employers, universities, community and faith-based organizations, and consulates to provide employers and workers – especially vulnerable, low-literacy workers – with education and training on common-sense fall prevention equipment and strategies that save lives.

OSHA has created a new fall prevention Web page with detailed information in English and Spanish on fall protection standards at http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls. NIOSH and NORA also have created a page on the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/stopfalls.html, as well as a joint website on fall prevention at http://www.stopconstructionfalls.com, which will be maintained by the Center for Construction Research and Training, that contains information from industry, nonprofit and academic sources.

Source: OSHA.gov

ITEMS TO NOTE . . . FROM ACROSS THE NATION

In a clear victory for NRCA and other business organizations, a federal court in Washington, D.C., has issued an injunction blocking the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from enforcing its new poster regulation, which was scheduled to go into effect April 30. The regulation would have required all employers to display a poster describing employees' rights to organize under the National Labor Relations Act. The court's injunction is in place until another appeal is concluded, which is not expected until at least October.

In another important decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit sharply curtailed the period of time that companies can be cited for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reporting violations, reversing the decision of an administrative panel and long-standing OSHA precedent. In its ruling, the court cited the law itself, which establishes a six-month statute of limitations for OSHA record-keeping violations.

The Better Business Bureau recently reported its top 10 lists of businesses most frequently asked about and businesses with the most complaints. Roofing contracting companies were the No. 1 most asked about businesses but did not appear on the list of businesses with the most complaints. (Cellular telephone companies were first on that list.)

The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has expanded the definition of what constitutes a "small" business for the purposes of participation in agency programs in select industries. SBA's recent revisions did not change the current definition of a small business within the roofing industry, which currently is $14 million in annual revenue. However, SBA is moving through the process industry by industry and has indicated to NRCA it is likely to propose a rule with changes for construction industry companies within the next 30 to 60 days.

NRCA recently has released two important new safety products. First is The NRCA Safety Manual, Third Edition, which provides updated and expanded explanations of OSHA, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation regulations along with industry practices developed to improve worker safety on roofing job sites. The manual includes information about new OSHA residential fall-protection and hoisting rules, among others.

The second safety product is NRCA's popular Pocket Guide to Safety, a 100-page, pocket-sized, spiral-bound booklet perfect for all your employees on the job. A Spanish version also is available.

OSHA announces fall-prevention campaign

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced a new campaign led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to prevent deadly falls in the construction industry. Click here for the full story.

ICC announces new green code is available

The International Code Council (ICC) has announced the 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) is available. The new green code is expected to increase the energy-efficiency of structures while providing direction and oversight of green design and construction. Click here for the full story.

The Colorado Association has partnered with NRCA, one of the construction industries oldest and most respected trade associations to bring you the latest roofing publications, DVDs, educational webinars and other NRCA products. CRA receives a commission on items purchased through the "CRA Bookstore" which in turn will help fund the CRA educational opportunities and pin-point seminars we provide to you, our members, each year.

NRCA University offers business management webinars

NRCA University announces its Business Management Webinar Series 2.0 with five new webinars designed specifically for roofing professionals. Dates and topics are:

• May 30: Thinking Strategically About Insurance
• June 6: The Ins and Outs of Effective Drug Testing
• June 13: Compliance with OSHA Record Keeping-Anything Less than 100 Percent Will be Costly
• June 27: Proper Pre-job Planning

The price is $55 per webinar for NRCA members and $75 for nonmembers; NRCA members also can purchase the package of five for just $220. To register, go to www.nrca.net/webinar or call our Customer Service Center at (866) 275-6722.