FLORIDA SCENE

JOHN D. GARTEN execudve dlrector

tFue FOLLOWING anicle is defin- I itely solicitous, self-serving, and somewhat boastful in nature. Readers, particularly wholesalers, should keep one hand, or at the very least, one eye on their checkbook. Having said this, proceed at your own risk.

We're looking for associate members! Those are the ones that offer a product and,/or service to the retail dealer members of F.L.B.M.D.A. So what, and who isn't???

Well, we think we can offer the asso- ciate something in return for their membership investment, something thar is somewhat unique in state or regional associations-a voice or a say so in what goes on in our organization.

Like everyone else, we encourage our retail dealer members to look to an associate member when doing business. But in addition, the associate in F.L.B.M.D.A. is allowed and prompted to involve him or herself not just through committee involvement, but actually to sit on the board of directors with full voting privileges.

Our board of directors consists of 25 individual members from across the State of Florida. and six of these are associates. Of the six, two serve on the executive committee (Holden Welsh of Basch Products in Miami as vice president, and John Rourk of Timber Products in Orlando as vice president elect). The other four serve as asociate directors (Joel Miller of Cook Lumber Co. in Tampa, Pete Munderloh of Genstar Building Materials in Stuart, Ralph Clark of Clark Lumber Co. in Perry, and Donnie Gramling of Southeastern Metals in Jacksonville).

Of the nine committees within our structure, associate mernhrs s€rve on seven. In fact, our convention commiltee (the largest committee) shows ten associate members out of a total of 20.

When educational programs are offered to our membership, the needs of the associates are always taken into consideration. For example, we recently conducted a series of seminars on plywood training, with the cooperation of the American Plywood Association, in ten different cities throughout Florida.

Associate members were present in every seminar. In addition, our education committee is in the process of developing a training manual for the operations m:rnager, geared for both the dealer and supplier (associate) alike.

Four years ago, our association adopted a flat rate dues structure that is identical for the retail dealer and the associate; that being $250 per year for the headquarters, and $1fi) per branch (which is optional). Our theory is that our benefits and services extended to both categories of membership are equal, hence, the same dues structure.

One of our p.rst presidents, Dudley Collins of Cox Lumber Co. in Sarasota, had the foresight to recognize the importance of the associate during his term of office, and was one of the individuals personally responsible for spearheading the changes that gave the associate their rightful position in our association.

Of our total membership of 44O firms, the associate totals 2(D, and we're always looking for more. As Webster says, an associate is defined as a "partner." We certainly think so in Florida.

I told you this was going to be solicitous (did I spell that right?)!

Creosote.Penta.CCA

Mark Brown, owner (318) 728.6401

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