EDITORIAL

We need a unlted yoioe now, not later

DECENT victories by environmental and Tlpreservationist groups have brought into sharp focus the wood products industry's pressing need to more effectively tell its story.

As the lumber industry once again scrambles with last minute measures to limit the damages from environmental onslaughts, those very groups continue their well financed and professionally organized campaigns, scoring victory after victory.

It's not as if industry lacked a valid message. Quite the contrary. Our arguments stand on solid ground. Yet the emotion, distortions and, yes, outright lies of the environmental faction have carried the day. Their enthusiasm, money and professional, full time organizations made the difference.

What the lumber and wood products industry needs is a true umbrella group to coordinate efforts to ensure our interests are well served and

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articulated. We call on the leaders of every area of wood products to come forward and take the steps needed to have an all-industry organization with the muscle to ensure that the United States has a rational timber supply program. Not a one issue organization, but one that will be in place for decades so that both the public and government hear the real facts in matters affecting both industry and the public good.

While several groups and organizations have made commendable efforts to this end, we think it is too little and, probably, too late. To be heard in today's noisy world of communication and government, you need lots of money and lots of management.

lf this great industry is ever to survive in its present form, now is the time for its top people to provide the leadership that willfinally turn us from perpetual defense to positive offense.

"My father was fond of saying that you will have to change many things over the years in the lumber business, " recalls Joseph M. Galvin, President and CEO of Horstmeier Lumber Company, wholesale warehouse distributors, Baltimore, MD, "but never change your insurance coverage from the Pennsylvania Lumbermens. "

Joseph Galvin leads the current crop of five Galvins in the family business established by his father. John T. Galvin purchased the Horstmeier Lumber Company in 1904 and selected the PLM for his insurance coverage. Although it was less than l0 years old at the time, PLM had already established a reputation for specialized coverages, reasonable pricing and outstanding performance at the time of a loss.

Tiue to his father's maxim, many things have changed at Horstmeier Lumber Company in the last 84 years. The company has taken on many new product lines, it has increased its volume of business immensely, it has taken on new customers, new management and it has even moved to a new location.

Amidst all this growth and change, two factors have remained unchanged: the Galvins still run the show at Horstmeier Lumber Company and PLM still provides the coverage.