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In 1985 Larry Gaffney,
President of the Home Builders Association of Josephine County,
received a newsletter from NAHB (National Association of Home
Builders) asking all local associations to compete in a Builder
Olympics Program, within their state. The winner of the State
competition would then compete with the winners from other states.
This is yet to be a reality. It is our belief that Grants Pass is
the only Association in Oregon still holding the Builder Olympics.
The first year the competition was between two classes from Hidden
Valley High and one from Illinois Valley High. The second year
Grants Pass High and North Valley High joined. A few years later,
Rogue River High was ask to participate, even though they are
located in Jackson County, thus making our competition what it is
today.
Paul
Bostic, a long time member of our association, was Builder Olympics
Chairman for the first nine years, followed by Jack Swanson for the
next two years, then Paul Beltis since 1996. Jack passed away
November 2000 and will be truly missed. We have named the trophy the
"Jack Swanson Trophy" in his honor.
This
program is designed to provide a place to display what the students
are learning in their high school shop and construction classes and
also provide some vocational training that will be valuable, no
matter what profession they choose. The students build a practice
shed a few weeks before Home Show with the assistance of a volunteer
builder coach from our association. They must obtain the materials
for their practice sheds as well as selling it.
If
you would like to donate in any way to this event please contact the
Home Builders Association of Josephine County at 541.479.1311.
THE EVENT
On Saturday during the
Home Show, the teams meet at the fairgrounds early in the morning
and begin the construction and competition. These are no ordinary
storage sheds! Since the purpose of this program is to build skills,
the sheds are constructed in the same manner as a typical house
would be, with stud walls, roof trusses, composition roofing and
T1-11 siding.
The
competition is judged on quality of construction, speed, adherence
to plans and safety. It normally takes the better part of the day
for this construction.
The
only way this program can work is through the generous donations
from suppliers and volunteers. Local building suppliers and members
of the community donate the materials or the funds to purchase them
for use in this competition. Since these sheds are made of top
quality materials, this is no small sacrifice on the part of these
donors. Please support the suppliers and donors who have made this
event possible by giving them your business and visiting their
booths while at the home show.
On
Saturday afternoon, the sheds are auctioned to the highest bidders,
by a volunteer auctioneer, with the proceeds being divided among the
participating schools. They use the money to purchase new tools in
their construction program.
Please watch our young builders at work and help support our local
high schools. These students are our next generation of builders and
building related individuals and need all the help we can give them.
Next Builder Olympics date is Saturday, May
12,2007, at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. |
