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Mississippi Building Material Dealers Association's 2? directors and officers voted unanimously to stop paying National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association dues and become an independent association. Due to budget constraints, MBMDA did not attend last year's NLBMDA convention and expected a SOVo hike in National dues this year.

Association executive William Lee said the move. effective March l. will not affect MBMDA's daily operations, services or status as an association. "We've been through a slack period in Mississippi," he said. "We may recohsider rejoining (NLBMDA) in the future."

Also during MBMDA's 72nd annual convention and trade show in Biloxi, Lee Nabors was installed as new president. lst v.p. is Steve Breland, 2nd v.p. Larry Broadhead, executive committee members Joe Alexander and Nancy lrby, advisory board member Doris Moran, and directors Jeff Box, Jody Johnson, Kenny Puryear, Dorsey Ray, Barry Meek, Brad Ogletree,

Greg Evans, Ted Allen II, Jewel Dunaway and Tommy Moree.

Attendance at the show was disappointing-reportedly because competing events were held concurrently, so next year's convention will be moved back a week. to Feb. I 1-13. 1999

Florida Building Material Association members donated all the trusses to complete the expansion at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando (see photo below). Each year, the village hosts the families of thousands of terminallv ill children.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is considering holding another joint convention with the Ohio Lumbermen's Association in2002.

Newly installed president Steve Kelly, Kelly Bros. Lumber Co., Covington, has a (Please tum to p. 22)