We want to bring to your attention that we are conducting Regional Meetings all over the state during the week of January 8th - 12th, 2007. The reason, quite simply for these meetings is to help all of us be better leaders of our associations and to increase the effectiveness/value of membership for each individual members, which is the primary reason we are in these leadership positions in the first place.

There are many opportunities throughout the year for all of the local associations to access the resources and networking opportunities through your state association. We, the NCHBA Senior Officers, certainly hope you all will take full advantage of those many opportunities. We do realize; however, that not all of you can attend all of the meetings throughout the year and so the reason for this memo. Of all the opportunities you have throughout the year to improve your effectiveness as a local leader, this one is the best.

The Regional meetings are totally geared for you, the local association leadership team. It is the only time in the year when the State Association Senior Officers, joined by the State Association Staff literally come almost to your back door. We bring general information to you to help you stay abreast of an annual events calendar, to help you stay abreast of issues from across the state, to help you grow and strengthen your membership, to help you develop your leadership teams for now and into the future and most importantly -- to help you be the successful leaders you all want to be. We also bring resources to help you deal with issues specifically pertinent to your area and we bring your neighboring local association leaders to you in order to allow networking and possible coalition building.

But in order for this effort to have any chance of success it requires one thing - YOUR ATTENDANCE. We realize the hectic schedules that we all live under each day; however, the commitment from you in most cases, is a matter of a few hours and some travel miles. Most of the meetings are lunch meetings allowing you ample time to travel to and from your businesses - there is one Dinner meeting planned in Region I which will conclude no later than 9 PM. There is no financial cost to you for attendance and the meal is free. We really can't make it much easier than that - now can we?

Talk with your team, schedule your time, arrange a carpool and notify your State Regional Vice President by Christmas time as to how many from your association are attending. Remember, your association members elected you or appointed you to a position of leadership, which is in all honesty a position of service. Come and receive the tools which you will need to get your job done and done well!

Schedule --- Location --- Regional VP, contact info and staff representatives:

Monday - January 8, 2007
Region II-10:30AM-1 PM-Holiday Inn-Williamston- Glenn Morrison 252-321-1813
(Greenville, Martin Co., Northeastern, OBX, Roanoke Valley, Roanoke Chowan, Rocky Mount, Tarboro)
Staff: Paul Wilms and Michelle Anysz

Region X-10AM-1PM-Smoky Falls Lodge-Maggie Valley-Buddy Smith 828-743-6888
(Appalachian, Asheville, Haywood Co., Hendersonville, Jackson Co., Macon Co., Transylvania)
Staff: Mike Carpenter and Susie Thompson

Tuesday - January 9, 2007
Region I-6:30PM-9PM-Logan's Roadhouse-Jacksonville-Joe Taraschio 252-726-2578
(Brunswick Co., Carteret Co., Kinston, New Bern, Onslow Co., S Brunswick Island, Wayne Co., Wilmington - Cape Fear)
Staff: Paul Wilms, Michelle Anysz and Lisa Martin

Region IX -11AM-2PM-Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club-Burke Co., Marty-Jo Wilson-828-264-1143
(Caldwell Co., Cleveland Co., High Country, McDowell, Rutherford, Western Piedmont)
Staff: Mike Carpenter and Susie Thompson

Wednesday - January 10, 2997
Region V-10AM-1 PM-Holiday Inn-Lumberton-Jim Graves 910-482-8100
(Columbus Co., Fayetteville, Moore Co., Richmond Co., Robeson Co., Scotland Co.)
Staff: Mike Carpenter and Michelle Anysz

Region VIII-10:30AM-1PM-Rock Barn Country Club-Hickory-Gary Faulkenbury 704-736-4335
(Alleghany Co., Ashe Co., Hickory-Catawba, Iredell Co., Lincoln Co., Wilkes Co.)
Staff: Paul Wilms and Susie Thompson

Thursday - January 11, 2007
Region IV-12 noon-3PM-Burlington Alamance HBA Office-Burlington-Ralph Doggett 336-570-9142
(Burlington-Alamance Co., Greensboro, High Point, Roxboro-Person Co., Vance Granville)
Staff: Mike Carpenter, Michelle Anysz and Lisa Martin

Region VII-10AM-1PM-Winston Cup Museum-Winston Salem-Erik Anderson 336-722-4818
(Asheboro-Randolph, Davidson Co., Mocksville-Davie Co., Rockingham, Surry Co., Tri- County., Winston Salem)
Staff: Paul Wilms and Susie Thompson

Friday - January 12, 2007
Region III-11AM-2PM-Carolina BBQ-Garner-Warren Smith 919-841-4901
(Franklin Co., Harnett Co., Durham Orange Chatham, Johnston Co., Raleigh-Wake Co., Sampson, Sanford, Wilson Co.)
Staff: Paul Wilms, Michelle Anysz and Lisa Martin

Region VI-11AM-2PM-University Hilton-Charlotte-Larry Airey 704-815-3507
(Albemarle-Stanley Co., Cabarrus Co., Charlotte, Gaston, Lake Norman, Salisbury-Rowan Co., Union C.)
Staff: Mike Carpenter and Susie Thompson

(NOTE: THE MEETING DURATION TIMES ARE PLANNED TO BE ADEQUATE; HOWEVER, STAFF AND SENIOR OFFICERS WILL STAY AT EACH MEETING AS LONG AS ANY ATTENDEE HAS A QUESTION OR AN ISSUE).