SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION

Lumbermen's Association of Texas has enlisted consultant Bill Blades as keynote speaker for its annual convention and expo April I l-14 in Dallas. Author of Selling: The Mother of All Enterprise, Blades will share leadership strategies during the general membership meeting and luncheon.

Country musician Gary P. Nunn will entertain at the Saturday night Grand Finale Gala honoring LAT past presidents, current president Bill Robinson and wife Nancy, and president-elect Randall Puckett and wife Joyce.

The convention also includes a trip to Planet Hollywood, golf tournament and No Fun Run.

Louisiana Building Material Dealers Association elected Curtis Turner, Baton Rouge Lumber Co., to succeed A.J. Harris as its 1996 president during its annual convention Jan. l8-21 in Baton Rouge. Don Bertrand is the new lst vice president; George Hanel, 2nd vice president; Mimi Blouin, treasurer; George Kellett, national dealer director, and Dudley Webre, Sr., altemate national dealer director.

Harris presented the President's Award to Dudley Webre, Sr. Steve Ashy accept-

Five-Year lndustry Forecast

U.S. housing starts should stay above 1.3 million annually for the rest of this decade, promoting strong demand for timber, lumber and panel boards, according to the Wood Markets '96 Edition, a five-year forecast and reference to solid wood products.

The 300-p. report also predicted:

* Timber shortages in North America could begin appearing as early as 1996.

* 1996 lumber prices should improve 5Vo to 8Vo over 1995 before legislative restrictions will have an effect. Proposed quota-based limits on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. will lead to an immediate price increase of $25 to $50 per thousand on dimension lumber.

* OSB and plywood panel prices will plunge 20Vo to 30Vo in 1996 due ed the Ned Ball Award as outstanding member of the year, and Lamar Buffi ngton, Buffington Corp., received the 1995 Supplier of the Year Award. to a 40Vo rise in North American OSB capacity over the next two years. The trend will continue in 1997.

Carolinas-Tennessee Building Material Association is sponsoring a one-day forklift instructor development course to be held on multiple dates in Raleigh and Chadotte, N.C. Desigred to meet current and proposed OSHA and ANSI standards, the program reportedly prep,ues students to be instnrctors, emphasizing safe operation and maintenance of powered hand trucks, lift trucks and forklifts.

Seminars will be held March 7, May 16, Sept. l0 and Nov. 14 in Raleigh and April 17, Iune 18 and Oct. 15 in Charlone.

Mid-America Lumbermens Association's Oklahoma state committee met recently to discuss strategy relating to State Question 669 and to deliver a $2,000 contribution to the Taxpayers for Faimess Committee, which is hghting the controversial proposal. MLA believes SQ 669 promotes gross inequity and will have a negative impact on housing, economic development, county government and schools.

* In the next five years, North American MDF and particleboard output will swell by a combined increase of 3OVo to 2.2 billion sq. ft. Surging MDF will weaken prices through 1998.

* Pacific Rim markets for softwood lumber and plywood will remain strong for exporters in 199697. However. OSB and MDF exporters will face increasing global competition.

* Substitute and engineered wood and non-wood products coupled with the aggressive penetration of foreign suppliers will create further volatility and dynamics in the North American market.