In 1989, the MBA's very successful Retro program was merged with BIAW's. But declining ROII refunds, a lack of transparency and a need to increase returns have caused us to restart our own Retro program. Don't be fooled by BIAW claims  you have a choice in Retro programs. GRIP, our new insurance program, offers lower enrollment fees, greater transparency and eliminates BIAW's 10% fee. If you enjoyed BIAW's 9% ROII refund last year and think you got enough information about what they spent their 10% share of the money on, stick with them. If you feel you deserve better, click here and get a better "GRIP" on your insurance. You can enroll in GRIP anytime up to June 1 (even if you have already signed up with ROII).

The eighth annual Built Green Conference is this Friday, March 12, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. There will be exhibits with exciting green products and services; many educational sessions; and our featured keynote speaker is professor David Orr. Orr is the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College and is the author of "Design on the Edge: The Making of a High Performance Building."
New this year, the trade floor will be open to the general public from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Now, industry professionals and consumers alike will be able to learn about green-building technology and services to make homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Public passes may be purchased for $15 at the registration counter on the day of the conference. For complete information on the conference program, educational sessions and exhibits, please visit our web site at www.builtgreenconference.com.

zHome is a revolutionary 10-unit townhome development that uses smart design and cutting edge technologies to radically reduce its environmental impacts. Join the Design Professionals Council on Thursday, March 18, to hear zHome project manager Brad Liljequist, AICP, LEED-AP, City of Issaquah, to hear about his current zHome project.

Did you know there's an additional way you can be up to date and in the know? We encourage you to follow us on Facebook. From there, you can connect and network with councils and special interest groups. Be sure to share this official association page with co-workers, colleagues and friends who might be interested in our association and its programs by inviting them to be fans too!

Don't let this opportunity pass you by without considering the wealth of business you can gather. Come out to this month's Associates Council After Hours Social at Belltown Billiards in Seattle on Tuesday, March 23. This no-host gathering will bring dozens of current and future members together for socializing, networking and business referrals.

Professional Women in Building is all about creating lasting relationships that build on trust, support and regular connections. Join us on Tuesday, Mar. 16, for fun and dynamic activities that will help us learn about each other and connect in unexpected ways. Our informal and structured games will get you out of your chair. You'll laugh, make friends and be engaged. You'll probably reveal something you wish you hadn't, but so will everyone else! And, as an added bonus, we'll be serving lunch.

Maybe you've heard some of the recent buzz about Passive Houses. So what is a Passive House? How does one achieve this high standard? What are the costs? Are there any career opportunities? Please visit ConstructionMatch.org, and check out Cindy Hoover's blog about this standard of energy-efficient home design, techniques, career opportunities and more. Cindy is a Licensed Architect, Certified Passive House Consultant Experienced and Construction Manager Inspector.

Do you have a remodeling project that is your pride and joy or a project that has received overwhelming positive feedback? You should enter that project into the Remodeling Excellence Awards! The REX Awards are open to Remodelors™ Council and the Design Professional Council members. The entry deadline is 1 p.m. on Friday, April 30. It is always nice to be recognized for your hard work!

Social media is not simply today's trendy marketing play – it's here to stay and can impact every aspect of marketing and growing a business. Interested in learning more about social media and how you can integrate it into your marketing plans? Check out classroom and online classes offered by Master Builders Career Connection.

Are you ready for the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule to go into effect on April 22? Due to high demand for this mandatory training, we've been adding additional sessions of this mandatory training. The next available session is Thursday, March 25.