Employee Recognition

T HE LENGTH of employment t of its people is a point of special pride for the Bel-Air Door Co. of Alhambra, Ca., as was made amply clear at a recent celebration the company held to honor a man who has worked for the company for 42 years.

In taking note of the achievements of Rudy Ramirez in his more than four decades with the firm, company president Sam Fineman spoke of the pride the company has in Ramirez and in "the many, many workers in our plant who have been with us 15,20 and 25 years. The contribution of these people is an important part of BelAir's success."

Starting as a door machine operator in the mid-1930s, Ramirez worked his way up to be plant manager, the position he holds today. Bel-Air officials credit him with a number of important contributions in product development and plant operation.

These include improvements in the manufacture of Bel-Air's Plaza combination door replacement unit and a number of steps in the manufacturing process of it and

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Story at a Glance

Recognizing an employee's more than four decades with the firm, company honors its plant manager, citing his many contributions to both pro- ducts and plant productivity.

S0CIAI H0UR: lll Sel and Betty Ann VanderWegen, Ken and Helena Gohrick. l2f Ray Nailor, Barbara and Ten Hanson. l3l Craig Fletcher, Al Gustalson. Bob Walker. l4l Jim Richardson, Joe Campero, Greg Thelen. l5l John Carr, Bob Caldwell, David Barry. 16l Jeanne and Phil Bjorn, Mel Stacey. [71 "Woody" Railey, Nancy and M00n Mullins.

l8l Stewart and Rosamond 0rr. l9l Larry Huck, Jim Hentschell. ll0l Dave McGaw, Ed Glover, Jerry Miller, Rich Fuerbach, Gary Fraley. llll Bob and Joan McPherson with Bill Scates. (l2l Ralph Burnett, Walt Cumbo, Jerry Billngton, 0rm Fluegge. (l3l Greg, Jefl, and Jerry Newenhof, Vi Fluege. ll4l Gladys and Matt Mattson, Jerry and

Chuck Lauber. llSl Steve and Kim Graboyes, Terry 0'Reilly. Il6l Dee Hellenthal, Van Aubuchon, Pam Jolin, Jim Branaman. llTl Gary and Joyce Popp, Bob Thomas, Rob Neufeld. llSl Valerie and Gary Bower, Jan and Linda Willette, Verla Harris. llgl Harry Andreason, Johnny Weimer, Dan Fellows.

I IKE THE diamond theme the L Western Building Material Association used to observe its diamond year, its convention and building products showcase was a jewel.

But that came as no surprise to the many who attend each year; for since the first year, "The Western" has traditionally had the biggest convention of any dealer organization in the West.

This year's attendance was more than 1660, the largest in ten years. WBMA covers Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

Being the progressive group it is, WBMA is already positioning and planning for the future. Programs will include an increasing emphasis on education so its members can better cope with changes brought about by do-it-yourself business. This is expected to be aimed at both middle and top management, according to a top WBMA spokesman.

Training and other educational efforts will also attempt to prepare the dealer to respond to the effects of inflation upon his or her business. Another area the association feels will take increased time is legislative activities.

The popular Building Products Showcase was held again at the Multnomah County Exposition Center, adjacent to the Thunderbird and Red Lion Inns that housed the convention at Jantzen Beach, a part of metropolitan Portland.

Nearly 150 individual exhibits presented a wide range of products and services to dealers, buyers and other industry members who walked the aisles durine the two days of the showcase.

Sunday morning, the Quick Pitch Sales Talks, five minute presentations of products and services by company salesmen at the show, drew an attentive crowd. Winners of the awards for the best presentations were: first, Jim Bender, Palmer G. Lewis Co.; second, Jesse Hart, Rockite International; and third, Don Erspamer of Certainteed.

Program activities were off and running next morning, November 13, with an 8:00 a.m. breakfast meeting featuring motivationalist Troy Bussey who spent much of his time emphasizing the importance ofgood health as an essential factor in improving an individual's selfmanagement.

His ten tips for time management were:

(1) Plan, (2) Concentrate. (3)

Pacific Northwest dealer association celebrates its 75th birthday

Take breaks, (4) Avoid clutter, (5) Don't be a perfectionist, (6) Don't be afraid to say no, O Don't procrastinate, (8) Eliminate the unnecessary, (9) Delegate responsibility and authority, (10) Don't be a workaholic.

Other speakers on the extensive program included Carl R. Terzian, a General Motors speaker, who presented a number of examples of people who were able to achieve their purposes in life because America provides the opportunity for all, even the handicapped, to make of their lives what they will.

Dr. Paul Swadener of the University of Oregon later talked the dealers through the intricacies of the programmable computer, explaining and giving examples of how these relatively new machines could be used in figuring mark-up percentages, cost analyses and other functions strictly related to lumber and building material retaillng.

He noted that desoite their cost (up to $600) they quickly pay for themselves and are not subiect to the rapid obsolesence that has characterized some other electronic marvels.

The growing problem of preventing crimes against a business was covered by Jack Case, manager of asset protection for Boise Cascade, who pointed out that the increasing value of lumber and building materials has, more than ever in the past, made them a target for thieves.

Noting that losses against a business are 8001,-9001, employee caused. he pointed out that $20 in sales is needed for every $l lost to theft. "Many dealers just don't know how the theft occurred," Case noted, adding "every time you prevent a loss, you make a profit.

"Evaluate your employees as to who might steal," he said. Case called loose employee supervision an invitation to steal. Out of the employee force in any business, he related, 250ft won't ever steal, 250i will and 5006 will decide to steal if tempted. Remove the temptation, he urged, noting that lighting is the cheapest all-around theft deterrent.

Senator James McClure (R-ld.) speaking at breakfast next morning, called for a major reordering of the national tax system to reward

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Story at a Glance

More than 1660 attended diamond anniversary convention of Western Build- ing Material Associ- ation. Earl Fosse, Wenatchee, Wa., elected new president. . . future programs to emphasize education and inflationfighting.

WESTERN President

(Continued from previous page) savers and producers and to cut government spending. "The effects of inflation will destroy us if we don't change," he warned.

The ldaho senator said that there wasn't "a chance in the world that we will meet our national housing goal of two million starts." He observed that the U.S. is presently harvesting only "half the timber we should. "

Appraisal expert James S. Blaising counseled dealers to aim for a return on the replacement cost of their assets and to prepare now for the eventual sale or estate disposi- tion of their business. He called buy/sell agreements " Russian Roulette," saying that they were not fair to anyone, but only that they treated all the same.

Banker Walt Mulvey. v.p. of the First National Bank of Oregon, said dealers should manage their business for a possible recession this year and to always manage the company more for the balance sheet

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AI 0UICK PITCH selling talks were lll exec. v.o. Chuck Link and Duane Wolfe, who emceed popular c0nventi0n event. l2l "Famous" name judges lor the "Ouck Pitch" presentations: Bill Bailey, Phil Harris, Harry James. l3l Carl Taylor pitches his product. l4l Ed Watson (background), Vernon L. Pieratt. l5l "Skip" Cheek, Scott Boyse. 16l Tina Villalobos with 14-mo. Jasmine. {71 Gordon Hopland, Catherine Hintze, Lee Hollenbeck.

Building Material Association

Officers

Earl Fosse, Brownson Lumber Co Wenatchee, Wa.

Vice Presidents Vic Camozzi. Volco. lnc. Jerome. ld. Sid Voorhees, Eugene Planing Mill, Eugene, Or'

National Directors Ray Blackstock, Blackstock Lumber Co., Inc., Seattle. Wa.

C. E. Link, Western Building Material Association, Roseburg, Or.

Districl Directors

(l) Howard Axtell. Independent Lumber, lnc., Fairbanks, Ak.

(2) Ted Grainge. Superior Building Supply, Inc., Kenai, Ak.

(3) Robert Adams, Mudison Lumber & Hardware, Ketchikan, Ak.

(4) Elliott McCluney, Riverside Millwork & Building Supply, Mt. Vernon. Wa.

(5) Joe Lovato, Lumbermen's of Washington, lnc., Winslow, Wa.

(6) Greg Field, Field Lumber Co., Kent. Wa.

(7) "Woody" Anderson. Woody's Olympia Lumber Co., Inc., Olympia, Wa.

(8) Charles Hoenhous, Willows Lumber Co., Puyallup. Wa.

(9) Gary Cornell. Cornell's Woodland Park Lumber Co.. Portland. Or.

(10) John Stoltenberg. Stevens Lumber Co., Cashmere, Wa.

Orm Fluegge, Billington Builders Supply. Inc., Yakima, Wa.

*Cecil Cleveland, Valley Best-Way Building Supply, Inc.. Spokane, Wa.

Robert Brinker, Brinker Bros. Lumber & Hardware, MiltonFreewater. Or.

(14) Rod Uglem, Home Lumber Co., Lewiston, Id.

(15) Dick Stemper, Astoria Builders Supply Co.. Astoria, Or.

(16) Scott Roerig, Willamette lndustries. Inc., The Dalles, Or.

(17) Tad Scharpf, Scharpls Twin Oaks Bldrs. Supply Co.. Eugene, Or.

(18) *Clayton Smith, W. J. Conrad Lumber Co., lnc., Coos Bay, Or.

(19) Bud LaMarr, Fort Jones Lumber Yard. Fort Jones. Ca.

(20) William E. Miller, The Miller Lumber Co.. Bend, Or.

(21) Don Ferguson. Swan Lake Moulding Co., Klamath Falls, Or.

(22) Ray Connolly, Snyder Lumber Co., Inc., Enterprise, Or.

(23) Ned Thurston, Bales Lumber Co., Inc. Caldwell, ld.

(24) Earl Nelson, Nelsons lncorporated,Twin Falls. Id.

(25) Merlyn Jolley, Jolley Building Supply, Inc., Shelley, Id. AT LARGE

Walt Shriver. Edwards Building Supply, Inc., Wilsonville, Or.

*Frank Powers. Seattle Lumber Co., Renton, Wa.

Geroge Jacobsen, Lloyd Lumber Co., Nampa, ld

"Ixceulivc Committccnlin

Housing starts in Nov. (latest figs.) were 2,104,000 units on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis, the 9th mo. in a row above the 2 million mark, but many expect it will be the last at that level for a no. of mos.

Normal seasonal declines plus increased costs of $$ are among reasons cited as bearish for housing .yet Nov. single family starts were 1,498,000, highest,for the year to that date. .. multi-family starts declined 4.70/o to 606,000.

Building permits in the 14,000 communities that require them declined 1.60/0, including single family permits. after four straight gains, construction conffocts .faded in Nov....llo/o behind the prior mo.. but still l3o/o ahead of the year earlier...

The feds'tigtrt $$ policy keePs mortgages expensive for borrowers and a depressant uPon housing. . . the prime lending rate, the bank's minimum rate, is 11-3/40/0, the result of credittightening by the gov. savings gains at s&ls ftit o near record in -Nor., according to the U.S. League of Savirigs Assn. Two new mortgage plans (vari' able rate and graduated PaY' ment)OK'd Jan. 1, by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board are expected to increase home ownership 5o/0, and llo/o of renters can eventually afford their own home...

A 7o/o hike in rail freigtit rates for wood products have been ok'd by the ICC, which is now pondering info gathered at a S.F. hearing from wood products people protesting ICC cancellation of the so-called blanket rate.

Louisiana-PaciJic Corp. has received $64.8 million as a second partial peyment from the gov. for the taking of its lands for the Redwood National Park; Arcata Nationalhas gotten $30.4 million as a second part Payment...

Connor Lumber Sales, Rialto, Ca., has completed incorPorating land, bldgs., & imProvements it acquired adjacent to its plant from the now defunct West Range Corp. facilitv. . . Tacoma Lumber Sales, City of Industry, Ca., is wrapping up its affairs after going out of business.

Harwood Products has opened a 11,520 sq. ft. truck shop oppo- site its Willits, Ca., ('A" plant. .. Commodore VanitY, Van Nuys, Ca., has rnoved to a larger piant, double the floor space of its earlier plant. Borneo Sumatra Trading Ca. has moved from San Mateo to Oakland, Ca...

The FTC is currently studying the proposed acquisition of Keystone Portland Cement by Lane Star Industries, because of "antitrust" considerations... E. A. Nord Co., Everett, Wa., plans to add 6 new dry kilns to its present 18... Gilchrist Timber Co. is

Dew Lumber, Pinedale, WY., held an open house recentlY for its expanded facilities. . . Natianal Lumber & SUPPIY will be anchor tenent at a new $9 mil' lion El Toro, Ca., shopping center. . . Hayward Lumber, Lancaster, Cal., is currentlY operatine out of a l2'x55' trailer fol-lowing the recent fire. .

Lone Star Industries' western region has two new stores Planned for So. Ca., no word Yet on sites. burglars robbed Ganahl Lumber, Riverside, Cal., of $3,000 of lumber. Clarence Kramer, pres of Alaska Lumber & Pulp Co., was among those killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens'wife.

The final word on the oulcome of RARE // (the Roadless Area Iieview and Evaluation) is expected by the time You read this; despite anticipated disagreements" no action can be tiken on the Environmental Impact Statement for 90 dav-s. further lawsuits could tie up the 62 million acres in question for years. .