As I was saying …

For more than a decade, NRCA has had a growing and powerful relationship with Rebuilding Together,® a national organization whose mission is to rehabilitate single-family homes for low-income homeowners, thereby saving homes that would otherwise, most likely, simply deteriorate.

Working through a network of more than 200 state and local affiliates, Rebuilding Together was responsible for more than 10,000 renovation projects during 2009. Nearly all of them needed new roofs.

The roofing industry, as you can imagine, has responded magnificently to requests for help. Brad Segal, president of Bradco Supply Corp., Avenel, N.J., serves on Rebuilding Together's national board of directors and makes significant contributions on an ongoing basis. NRCA affiliates in Arizona and Florida have actively supported Rebuilding Together's Kickoff to Rebuild, which is held every year on the Friday before the Super Bowl. The National Football League is among Rebuilding Together's partners.

Other NRCA affiliates also work regularly with Rebuilding Together to coordinate the amazing volunteer effort needed to complete 10,000 projects annually. During 2009, NRCA affiliates, including the Union Roofing Contractors of Southern California, Associated Roofing Contractors of the Bay Area Counties and Colorado Roofing Association, went beyond the normal response for help.

Rebuilding Together has renewed its partnership with Sears Holdings Corp., Hoffman Estates, Ill., and will help administer the Heroes at Home program that helps veterans whose homes need repairs. Rebuilding Together also offers a program called Serving Those Who Serve to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan repair their homes. The long—and growing—list of Rebuilding Together sponsors includes such corporate leaders as Lowe's Co. Inc., Mooresville, N.C.; Cricket Communications, Milwaukee; and Choice Hotels International, Silver Spring, Md. They, too, deserve our collective thanks.

This year, during the 2010 International Roofing Expo® (IRE), all attendees will have an opportunity to become directly involved with Rebuilding Together by participating in the IRE's first Community Service Day. Working with Rebuilding Together's New Orleans affiliate, attendees will have a chance to see, firsthand, the power of Rebuilding Together and what it means to communities when we can work together to rebuild.

There are lots of reasons to attend the IRE. None is more important. I look forward to seeing you there.

Bill Good is NRCA's executive vice president.