Mission StatementThe North Peninsula Building Association

represents builders and associates of the building industry. We advocate constant improvement of

building and business practices to provide quality construction in our community.

Vol. 5, Issue 9 www.npba.info 360-452-8160 PO Box 748 • 3430 E. Highway 101, Ste. #1, Port Angeles, WA 98362 September 2012

KP PRIZE: Closest to the pin within 12 inches wins $1,000

CONSECUTIVE PUTTING GREEN CONTEST: Opportunity to win $5,000

HOLE IN ONE CONTESTS PRIZES INCLUDE:- Airfare & accommodations to your choice of six sports venues in 2013! Lakeside Industries- 2012 Nissan Frontier - Wilder Auto • A Big Green Egg - EverwarmSHOOTOUT CONTEST: One lucky player will have a chanceto take a shot to win $25,000 to be split 60/40 with the NPBA!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012The Cedars At Dungeness

Tournament Sponsor

CartSponsor

Driving Range Sponsor

Presentedby

Mulligan Sponsor

The 13th Annual Golf Tournament is coming right up on Sept. 28 at The Cedars at Dunge-ness. Registration will start at 11:30 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. New for 2012 are some great new prizes! Cost per player is $90 and includes golf and awards dinner. Be sure to register your team by calling the NPBA at 452-8160 or e-mailing events@npba.info for more informa-tion. See you on the tee!

The next time you come to an NPBA event, look around at your fellow members. I guar-antee that more than half of the people you see will be associate members. These are peo-ple who are essential to the home-building process and help enable our industry to pro-vide Americans with an unrivaled selection of quality homes.

Among the ranks of associate members are subcontractors, sales and marketing special-ists, architects, interior designers, title and escrow experts, lawyers, peo-ple in the financial services industry, product suppliers and manufacturers, and many more who are essential to the challenging task of providing housing for a growing popu-lation.

Associate members also are essential to the NPBA and to the NAHB federation, offer-ing sponsorships, devoting countless hours at committee meetings and volunteering at spe-cial events, and strengthening our industry in the process.

Most importantly, our associate members help broaden our perspective so that we can assess issues more objectively in the context of our entire industry.

In recognition of the thousands of associ-ates who volunteer their time and services to NAHB and its state and local affiliates, NAHB has designated September as Associate Mem-ber Appreciation Month. NAHB always has appreciated the dedication and enthusiasm of its associate members, but in today’s un-settled – and unsettling – housing market en-vironment, we appreciate that dedication and commitment more than ever.

During September – and every other month, for that matter – I urge all NPBA members to get to know one another better, learn about each others’ businesses and whenever possible, to do business with other members.

Our HBA is strong when in-dividual members are strong and doing business with other members is a great way to strengthen the association

while ensuring that the people you work with understand the issues and concerns that af-fect your day-to-day operations.

Associate members are invaluable to our businesses and an essential part of our proud history, tradition and spirit. Let’s all thank them this month by doing business with a member!

Associate Appreciation MonthSeptember is

You are invited to a Mixer Event with NPBA and Olympic Peninsula Homes~Land Sept. 21 from 4-7 p.m. at Jose’s Famous Salsa Factory, 126 E. Washington St. in Sequim

Appetizers and beverages will be served and there’s a raffle for some great prizes.

Do you have questions about an upcoming project? Then take this opportunity to come out and meet NPBA members who can answer your ques-tions! We look forward to seeing you there.

September 21 • 4-7 pm

Vol. 5, Issue 9 September 2012

Get Connected with

Member FDIC

800-800-1577 ourfirstfed.com

*First Federal was voted Best Place to Bank and Best Customer Service in 2011 Peninsula Daily News ‘Best of the Peninsula’ poll.

Thank you for voting us Best Place to Bank for 16 years!*

Lower mortgage rates. Faster closings. We’ve made our mortgage loan process easier, faster, better!

Legal alert for employersThe National Labor Relations Board

(NLRB) recently has decided a case that has everyone’s head shaking. A recent deci-sion by NLRB rejected an employer’s stan-dard practice of seeking confidentiality in its workplace investigations. See Banner Health System dba Banner Estrella Medical Center and James A. Navarro, Case No. 28-CA-023438 (July 30, 2012).

According to Banner’s majority, an em-ployer may not direct or even suggest that an employee maintain confidentiality re-garding an ongoing investigation unless the employer has “a legitimate business justifi-cation” that outweighs employees’ rights to engage in concerted activity under Section 7 of the NLRA. Exceptions to this new ruling must be on a case-by-case basis for concerns such as: witnesses need protection, evidence is in danger of being destroyed, testimony is in danger of being fabricated, or a cover-up needs to be prevented. The best defense for employers is to state the legitimate business concern at the beginning of the investiga-tion and remove blanket confidentiality statements from investigative checklists.

Although the future impact and reach of

this NLRB ruling is unclear, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may not be far behind in making blanket “confidentiality” policies illegal. A recent letter sent by the EEOC Buffalo field office to an employer warned that its policy prohibiting employees from discussing an ongoing internal investigation of harass-ment was unlawful. Although the EEOC field office letter is not law, it has attorneys wondering if the trend is to follow the NLRB decision.

Employers are advised to review and re-vise, as necessary, all policies and proce-dures relating to confidentiality, insubordi-nation and prohibitions against discussing wages and other terms of employment. The implementation of employment investiga-tion procedures based on circumstances also must be carefully weighed before in-structing employees not to discuss work-place investigations to avoid liability under the NLRB. Employers are well advised to consult with their attorney prior to con-ducting internal investigations; alternative-ly, employers should hire qualified, experi-enced outside investigators familiar with the

changing laws to conduct the investigation.

Important: NLRB rulings apply to most employers and not just unionized work-places! If you have questions about the im-pact of the Banner decision or any other employment questions, contact your attor-ney or Donna L. Knifsend, Esq.

In Banner, the employee, Navarro, made an internal complaint regarding the manner in which he was directed to perform his du-ties when the equipment he normally used was not functioning properly. Citing health and safety concerns, Navarro refused to follow his supervisor’s instructions. He re-ceived “coaching” on the basis of insubordi-nation. Human Resources began an internal investigation. While interviewing Navarro and other witnesses, it was SUGGESTED that they not discuss the investigation with other employees.

Section 7 of the NLRA gives employees the right to act together to try to improve their pay and working conditions or fix job-related problems. Employees have a right to engage in protected concerted activity even where they are not unionized.

Summer Is Home Energy Audit Time!Summer is here, and while we’re all enjoying the benefi ts that come along with it, including lower energy bills, this is the perfect time to conduct a home energy audit!Visit the PUD’s YouTube channel to view our “Home Energy Audit” video where you can learn how to conduct your own home audit that can save you money as we head into Fall!Find it at www.youtube.com/clallampud

www.clallampud.net

What has NAHB done for you lately?

You can read all about it in our association’s excellent news- letters – and you should!

The Monday Morning Briefing goes to every member for whom NAHB has an email address and highlights NAHB’s activities for the week as well as a brief look at the current state of our as-sociation’s legislative and regulatory priorities.

Eye on the Economy is the very popular every-other-week compilation of entries from NAHB’s Eye on Housing blog, topped by a sum-mary of the current state of the economy and the factors that affect it. All members may elect to receive it.

Washington Update arrives in subscribers’ inboxes on Friday afternoons and provides a “deeper dive” into top legislative, regulatory and housing finance issues.

Please take a moment to read these infor-mational publications to keep updated about the important work that is being done by our federation on behalf of members. If you are a member and would like to subscribe to any of these newsletters, email faleana@npba.info with your preferences to be added to the list.

radiant, high velocity, solar panels, hot water electric boiler systems, ventilation systems, energy auditing, and indoor air quality prod-ucts and solutions.

All Weather performs custom home heating installation and service, residential retrofits and light com-mercial applications. It has been in business for 30 years and is owned by Tom and Ida McKeown and Jeanné Sparks.

All Weather takes pride in the work it does and its primary goal is

to provide you, your friends and your family with the best possible combination of prod-ucts, services and educated team around.

For more info visit http://allweatherhc.com/ and LIKE them at https://www.face-book.com/allweatherheating

Vol. 5, Issue 9 September 2012

Donna L. Knifsend

DearDonna

Calendar of events:September: 10 Government Affairs Committee Meeting, 1:30 p.m.13 Executive Board Meeting, 5 p.m.21 NPBA & Homes~Land Mixer, 4-7 p.m.28 NPBA 13th Annual Golf Tournament, 11:30 a.m. registration, 1 p.m. shotgun start28-29 Built Green Clallam at Dungeness River Festival

October: 11 Executive Board Meeting 5 p.m.18 General Membership Meeting 6 p.m.

For more information about NPBA events, visit our website at NPBA.info.

Question: Where can I get Washington court forms?

Answer: Most courthouses do not provide forms, but

check the county court website. Often limited forms such as small claims and local forms are available for downloading. Free forms also are available at www.courts.wa.gov/forms/. If you are looking for self-help legal packets including court forms, check www.Washingtonlawhelp.org. The King County Bar Association at www.KCBA.org has useful publications including information from the Northwest Justice Project. Check with your local libraries and law libraries because they often have forms and computers available.

While many websites sell or offer free forms, be careful to make sure that the forms are state and circumstance specific.

Disclaimer: The advice given herein is strict-ly for informational purposes only and does not reflect advice to the readers. If you have a legal issue, see an attorney for full evaluation and advice.

Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co. and Hartnagel Building Supply

Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co., since 19061601 S. C St., Port Angeles, 457-8581

Hartnagel Building Supply, since 19603111 E. Highway 101, Port Angeles, 452-8933Store Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5:30

p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., (Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Hartnagel only)

Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co. and Hart-nagel Building Supply are the lumber and building materials supply stores in Port An-geles that have been serving homeowners and builders for decades.

Entirely owned by the 40 employees who greet most of their customers by name, they also offer rental equipment, special orders, contractor services and delivery throughout Clallam County.

As one of the original members of the NPBA, they have been annual, major spon-

Seen on Facebook ...

sors of the Expo and helped create Future Builders — in fact Linn Acres is named for Lonnie Linn, the general manager at Angeles Millwork.

For more info, visit www.angeles-millwork.com and “Like” them at www.facebook.com/AngelesMill-work.Hartnagel

All Weather Heating and Cooling

302 Kemp St.Port Angeles, 452-9813; 452-5177 fax

All Weather Heating and Cooling special-izes in the installation of electric furnaces, ducted heat pumps, ductless heat pumps,

Each Thursday, the NPBA features a member on its Facebook page. Here are the profiles from this past month.

Be sure to visit the NPBA’s Facebook page and “Like” us.

Volunteers neededNPBA is looking for volunteers to serve on a variety of committees. If you are interested

in helping, please contact FaLeana at faleana@npba.info or call the office at 452-8160 to discuss the rewarding volunteer opportunities which exist in your association!

Nominations are now being accepted for 2013 Board Members! Please contact Nominations Chairman, Roger Wheeler, RJ Services at 452-1420 or Exec-

utive Officer, FaLeana Wech at 452-8160 if you are interested in serving in this capacity.

Vol. 5, Issue 9 September 2012

2012 OffiCerS ANd BOArd Of direCtOrS

President: Rick Gross, Estes Builders LLC1st Vice President: Garret DelaBarre DelaBarre Construction2nd Vice President: Bill Feeley, Feeley Construction Inc.Treasurer: Julie Myers, First FederalSecretary: Donna Knifsend Lawsuit Prevention & MgmtImmediate Past President: Tracy Gudgel Zenovic & AssociatesState Directors: Annie O’Rourke, Drafting Solutions Scott Schwagler, J & J Construction Garret DelaBarre, DelaBarre Construction Mark SmithBuilder Directors: Alex Anderson, Alex Anderson Concrete Larry Hanna, L.P. Hanna Construction Bill Feeley, Feeley Construction Inc. Greg McCarry, Westerra HomesAssociate Directors: Kelly Raymond Dan Donovan, Allform Welding Inc. Roger Wheeler, RJ ServicesLife Director: Bill Roberds, Excel Utility Construction Inc.Executive Officer: FaLeana Wech

oUR EMPLoYEE oWNERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Our 40 employee owners and our families thank you for shopping locally at our stores.

3111 Hwy 101 E, Port Angeles452-8933 • hartnagels.com

1601 S “C” St., Port Angeles 457-8581 • angelesmillwork.com

LIKE US for the latest news and events

www.facebook.com/ AngelesMillwork.Hartnagel

—— Supplying materials for your building and maintenance projects. ——

If you’ve shopped for building materials in Port Angeles in the last decade, chances are pretty good that you’ve met Bob Hill. With a dedication that is hard to match, Bob works tirelessly to keep customers happy, shelves stocked and orders organized.

In addition to managing the retail sales staff, he also oversees the rental, paint and tool departments. Plus he places all of the weekly

orders for many of the products on our shelves, so if there’s something you’re looking for, Bob is the guy to see.

Bob is fortunate to know some of the most reputable contractors in town and gets to visit with them each morning while they are picking up materials. Plus, he loves the challenge of helping customers with different projects every day. A solid background in the painting and construction industry gives him an advantage when it comes to understanding what builders and homeowners may need for their projects.

When it comes to “local,” Bob is just about as local is it gets. “I am blessed to be one of 40 employee owners of a 106-year-old business, in the community where I was born and raised. It is unique to have that kind of longevity. Plus after playing softball for 30 years, I know most of the contractors and many of our customers personally. Being at the store feels like being with friends and family,” says Bob.

Thank you Bob Hill, for 15 years of continued dedication to our customers, our company and our community.

“You certainly won’t find anyone more knowledgeable about the products you carry there than Bob.” – Dan Pretty, long-time customer

Bob Hill – Retail Sales Manager Celebrating 15 Years at

Angeles Millwork & Lumber Company

Member

Thank you to the following renewing

members!reinhart Consulting

the Plumbing Connectiontom's Plumbing

Wilder Auto