BUILDING FUN GOES HIGH-TECH WITH ONLINE COLORING BOOK

Brightly colored blocks, Lincoln Logs and LEGO�s - something about building has fascinated children for generations.  And according to a recent report, 23 million kids ages two to 17 - or almost 40 percent of American children - currently have Internet access from home.  Now, thanks to a new initiative by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Women�s Council, kids across the country can combine home building education and virtual fun with the Homes of Our Own online coloring book.

Located at www.nahb.org/coloringbook, the online coloring book is the interactive new home of NAHB�s traditional Homes of Our Own program.  Since the program launched in 1996, builders have helped teach children across America about home building and tree preservation through this inventive, informative environmental education program.  Now that the program has debuted online, all children with web access in school, at home or at the library, can learn the process of building homes, discover how builders protect the environment and even draw and color pictures of their own homes in a virtual environment.

The online coloring book features the classic drawings of the original Homes of Our Own book.  Innovative new site features allow children to share their drawings with friends and family via e-mail, print their masterpieces and receive a,  �Junior Home Builder� certificate online.

Both the online coloring book and the original printed program materials can be used to support school curricula, library programs and community events.  Since the Homes of Our Own program launched, hundreds of thousands of children have participated.

 For more information please visit the NAHB web site at www.nahb.org.

HOUSING FACTS,

FIGURES AND TRENDS IN 2004

•  The median and average prices of new and existing homes
  more than doubled in the last two decades of the 20th century.
• An average of 19 windows, 19 tons of cement and 13,837
  board feet of framing lumber go into a typical newly built
  2,272 square-foot home.
• A walk in pantry is the most favored special feature in new
  home kitches with 78 percent of respondents in a recent
  NAHB survey rating it as desirable or essential.
• The second most important kitchen feature is an island work area 
  (71 percent) and light wood cabinets (59 percent)
• In the first 12 months after purchasing a newly built home, 
  owners spend an average of $8,905 to furnish, decorate
  and improve their investment.
• Buyers of existing homes spend $3,766 more than non-moving home owners during the first 12 months after purchasing their home.
  

BUSINESS TIP

Avoid the wasted time that comes from playing phone tag with a customer or co-worker.  Simply leave a specific call back time and be there to answer the call.  Example: �Hi Mr Johnson, I want to talk to you about an order.  Please call me back between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m..�  In addition, leave a call back time on your voice-mail message when you leave the office.  �I will be back at 3 p.m. and can be reached until 6 p.m.

(Source The Lifetime Guide to Business Writing & Speaking, Jack Griffin, Prentice Hall,800-947-7700)

NOTE: �You don�t have to blow out the other fellow�s light to let your own shine.� - Bernard M. Baruch U. S. Businessman (1870-1965)