Last month the members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Salt Lake constructed a "Habitat House" for a family that has been working intensely despite hardships to realize their dream of owning their own house. More than 70 firms and 200 individuals contributed or volunteered in this community service activity.

Travis Curtis, owner of Oasis Construction and the Community Service Committee Chairman for the HBA, organized this three-day event. The work was scheduled like an assembly line. These volunteers were skilled and they went to extraordinary efforts to coordinate the process with manpower and speed that you don't see in the normal construction process.

The house framing started on Monday morning and the house was completed Wednesday night. The yard was installed Thursday morning. Volunteer superintendents, including John Gassman of McArthur Homes Inc., Von Dotson of Gold Medallion Custom Homes, Cory Jensen of Garbett Homes, and Bob Edmunds owner of Siding Services, managed each sequence of events. These leaders coordinated the trades and volunteers so that the construction proceeded like clockwork.

Each volunteer knew that their efforts would help the deserving family obtain their dream of a home. The men and women in the home-building industry are known for working hard, sometimes for their rough appearance and for their big trucks. During the three-day blitz build they exhibited that they also had big soft hearts.

We thank them for their contribution of time, money and materials. A family who has struggled to qualify for this home will realize their dreams because of them.

The Habitat for Humanity organization determines who is qualified to acquire the house. Habitat for Humanity requires the future homeowner to exhibit financial responsibility and to participate in the construction process by working 250 hours in the building of their home or another Habitat home. The fact that this is not a giveaway program and that ownership comes with sacrifice and responsibility makes this service especially rewarding.

August is the traditional month that the HBA of Greater Salt Lake has the Parade of Homes. This year's Parade is exciting because of its scale and variety. There are 39 homes in the Parade. Five homes are at the fixed site at Somerset Ridge in Draper and 34 homes are scattered throughout the valley. Many of the members of the HBA who constructed the Habitat House are also participating in the Parade of Homes. The Habitat House is a community service; the Parade of Homes is a community event.

The Parade has homes at all price levels. The show includes five homes worth between $1 million to almost $4 million. The total real estate value of this year's Parade exceeds $21 million. This year's Parade includes two historical restoration homes - one of pioneer heritage and another from the bungalow era.

The Parade also includes a home constructed by the construction management students at Salt Lake Community College. The Parade has something for all to see.

My enthusiasm for the Habitat House and for the Parade of Homes is not based solely on the achievements of constructing a home in three days, or of 39 homes in the Parade or of $1 million-plus homes or the diversity of product to be seen this year. My enthusiasm is for the hard-working efforts and for the talent of the builders and associates in the Home Builders Association.

I never thought of homebuilding as a service industry. The volunteer effort in the Habitat House is a service from the heart. The Parade of Homes is an exhibition of professional service and skills offered by our members. You should know that these talented men and women work hard to produce a product that meets your needs or will be a part of your dreams and aspirations.

Join in the Parade and find your dream house, meet your professional builder or see the craftsmanship of your trade contractor. Meet those who can help you realize your dreams of owning a new home built for you. See you at the Parade.