It was a very proud moment when I stood at the Burrillville site where our charity, Builders Helping Heroes (BHH), is building a house for a Marine who lost both his legs in Afghanistan. It was May 18th, and I was there with other representatives of the Rhode Island Builders Association, BHH, Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), members of the Marine Corps League, public officials, and many local residents for the official groundbreaking.
It was particularly inspiring to see the variety of people who attended. There were many young people, many veterans, local police and firefighters and even Brad Campbell from our neighboring trade association to the west, the Home Builders Association of Western Massachusetts.
There was Josh Bouchard, another young Marine wounded in the Afghan War and another who has benefited from the fine work of HFOT.
It was most inspiring of all to meet the Marine who will live here, Cpl. Kevin Dubois, and his wife, Kayla. They are a beautiful young couple and now, after all they have given for our country, will have a new, specially adapted home where they can start their family.
Many members and non-members alike have rallied to support this project with donations of labor and materials, along with cash donations. If you can see your way clear to do so, please join them. It will be one of the best things you ever do. To find out more about donating time or materials, please visit www.
buildershelpingheroes.org.
Cash donations can be made by visiting www.homesforourtroops.org/dubois.
Legislative program
Many thanks to those who have worked so hard to advance RIBA's legislative advocacy during the General Assembly's 2013 session. But as I write this, the session isn't over yet! Remember that the bills RIBA supports directly benefit you and your business. It's not too late to help!
Recruitment rewards
There are thousands of good, legal contractors in Rhode Island, and we want every one of them to be a RIBA member.

So our membership drive continues, and you as a member can earn rewards, including entry in a yearly cash drawing for $500, for bringing in new members. Talk to your contractor colleagues, your subcontractors and your suppliers and tell them that, if they don't belong to RIBA, they should. It's one of the best bargains their business can get all year!


Felix Carlone is the president of the Rhode Island Builders Assn.Felix Carlone, F.A. Carlone & Sons