Q: Why should someone join the NSHDA?
A: As a member, corporate or designer, you are entitled to a wide range of member benefits. Membership in the Association provides access to ongoing and current training
Designer Membership benefits include:
o Unique Networking opportunities with the industry leaders
o Ability to share common interest in industry development and active involvement in that development
o Access to other designers and suppliers for Question & Answer sessions
o Ability to pass out information on any new services and/or product
o Access to unique Marketing Opportunities (e.g., the NSHDA website, three home show, display advertising, etc.)
o Possible use of using the NSHDA as trade identity (i.e., “proud member of NSHDA” on your website or business cards, etc.)
o Access to education opportunities (including discount for full designer members)
o Access to the Design Competition and Awards
o Access to the Annual General Meeting and Christmas Social
o Possible insurance options – this benefit has yet to be developed. (Errors & Omission coverage, health & dental, etc.)
Corporate Member Benefits include:
o All of the above, except no discounts on education
o A 90-second presentation at all monthly meetings
Q: How do I join?
A: Simply complete the membership form on our website (http://www.nshomedesigners.com/), and send it to our Registrar, Mark Pinhey, or bring a completed copy to our next monthly meeting (see the homepage for the schedule of events and location).
Q: What do you do at the monthly meetings?
A: Monthly meetings are primarily used as teaching sessions for our members, where industry leaders are brought in to bring us up to speed on the latest advances in building technology and industry practice.
We use these information sessions as an open dialogue between members and our industry partners, and are an opportunity for our members to share design concepts, procedures and details.
We also use these monthly meetings to inform members of upcoming courses, Association business and industry news.
Monthly meetings are preceded by the monthly Board of Directors meeting as well as a sit-down meal and social gathering at a local eating establishment.
We strive to make these monthly sessions informative and welcoming to all members. We invite our corporate members to introduce themselves and let us know what new products and services they offer.
Q: What courses and information sessions are
offered, and who can sign up for them?
A: All of our courses and information sessions are open to any member. Courses are the information programs that are required for completion of our Certification Program (www.nshomedesigners.com/page6.html). Designer members receive a discounted rate, and Student members are only charged a nominal fee for courses we offer in-house.
Some courses are presented by the Nova Scotia Building Officials Association (see http://www.nsboa.ca for a list of their upcoming courses), and are not generally available to the public at large. We also work with the Nova Scotia Home Builders Association (www.nshba.ns.ca), the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour (www.gov.ns.ca) and other industry partners.
Information sessions are the in-house meetings held during our monthly meetings. In these sessions, we discuss industry news, the latest advances in building technology and industry practice. These sessions are intended to foster open dialogue between designers and their industry partners.
A list of upcoming courses and information sessions is available at our website (www.nshomedesigners.com).