New officers at Home Builders Banquet
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

Outgoing President Lenny Parks was emcee for the annual banquet, seen here with his wife.

It was an evening of great food and fellowship as members of the Union-Towns Home Builders Association met to enjoy giving awards and swearing in new officers for 2007- 2008.

The banquet was held at Brasstown Valley Resort on August 28 with well-known author and humorist Rhonda Rich as the main speaker. She is the best-selling author of What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should), Life in the Pits, and The Town That Came A-Courtin'. Talking about her life and excerpts from her books, she had the audience laughing and applauding throughout.

Outgoing officers were lauded for their many accomplishments. Those involved in the huge success of the Mountain Living Showcase on August 24- 26 were given loud applause and many awards. The Showcase was in three parts: the Home Expo was held at Brasstown Valley Resort, chaired by Len Poole and very well attended and enjoyed, as well as the Golf Tournament, held at BVR, chaired by Marty Harrell and then the Parade of Homes, chaired by Gus Grader, was tour of many beautiful houses in the area constructed by members of Union-Towns Home Builders Association.

Timberbuilt Homes were big winners during the event, bringing home 3 awards: Best Interior Floor Plan, Best Master Suite, & Best Over-all Home in its price range. Timberbuilt builders, Brent Conaway & David Hyde, have this home currently listed with Re/Max Hiawassee.

The U-THBA is a member of the National HBA, and has the third largest membership in the U.S.

New 2007-08 officers: (LR) President- Len Poole; V.P.- Rosie H allam; Assoc. V.P.- Sonny Mahon; Secretary- Solomon Patrick; Treasurer- Marty Harrell; Directors- Don Schnieder, Judy Smith, Bill Cohron, and Calvin Collins. Photos of this home by Conaway Author Rhonda Rich was terrific speaker at the banquet. This group of U-THBA members were awarded special plaques: (L-R) Gus Grader and Doug Dowdy, Prestige Log Builders; Len Poole, Fine Line Builders; David Hyde, Timberbuilt Homes; Bill Cohron, Cohron Construction; Brent Conaway, Timberbuilt Homes; Aric Drott, Hidden Summit; James Bridges, Notla Land Co.; Steve Giles, S.L.Giles Enterprises; Corey Collins This is one of the homes that was in the 2007 Parade of Homes, built by S. L. Giles Enterprises and received 7 awards: Best Mountain Home, Best Interior Floor Plan, Overall Best Home, Best Exterior Design, Best Landscaping, Best Master Suite, and Best Kitchen. It is located in the Bearmeat area. Jane Bryant, Executive Officer, was given a plaque and a bouquet of flowers for her dedicated work for Home Builders.