Forest products leaders hammer out long-range plans

II"AANAPALI BEACH didn't see too l\ much of forest products industry leaders, gathered at the Royal Lahaina Hotel on Maui, Jan. 14-18, for the Bth annual Economic Council of the Forest Products Industry.

In the first place, they were pretty busy in and out of regular sessions giving birth to the document printed below.

Secondly, the weather was so uncooperative that the Robert Trent Jones designed golf course had to be shut down for one d"yan unprecedented occurrence. Bill Swindells of Willamette Industries, Inc., was not foiled, however, he found an open course forty miles away and managed an 83 to become the richest golfer at the meeting.

Sfory a] d Glonce

Serious study by industry big-wigs produces plans that could have far-reaching benefits for all connected to the industry.

Sunday evening was beautiful. The Council got off to a great start with a cookout on the terrace and perhaps too many House of Lords martinis, thoughtfully provided by NFPA president Russell Ells and his charming Viola for many correspondents and delegates. Hawaiian entertainment by a lovely young troupe was fresh and delightful, if a little long.

The next four days, Monday thru Thursday from 9-12, the group met in full or sub-council sessions, chaired admirably and with a sense of humor by that unparalleled storyteller L. L. "Stub" Stewart. He's the president of tsohemia Lumber Co.. which is located somewhere off the road in Culp Creek, Ore.

Sub-committee chairman, assisting Stub by re-capping their three hour sessions into five minutes, included Stephen B. Mosher, executive vice president, timber & wood products group, Boise Cascade Corp., Yakima; Harry A. Merlo, GeorgiaPacific's newest vp., now in charge of that company's redwood division in Samoa, Calif.; R. H. "Bob" Bescher, assistant vp., forest products division, Koppers Co., Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., who made the shortest speech we've ever heardttWe agree with it like it's writ."; and that timeless

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Recommendqtions of the FPIOC to the

Industry's Economic Council

"lHE FOREST Products Industry Orr ganization Committee, which reported to the Economic Council, before the Council made the recommendations below made proposals and comments on industry structure, resource and promotion programs, timetables and interim actions.

They suggested a single national entity be created from five major product-oriented divisions or associations which would help finance it. Control of the national entity would flow from those five divisions. Twelve activities were seen as definitely requiring national coordination.

Resource matters would be the exclusive responsibility of the National Council. It would also coordinate and guide, though not operate or control activities of the five supporting groups.

A single National Promotion Program pushing wood exclusively would be another responsibility.

The FPI,OC also concentrated on two major implementation objectives :

(I) A single effective voice for the industry on all matters affecting forest resources and

(2) The necessity of one, co-ordinated promotion program.

Among other recommendations, they felt that Wood Marketing, Inc. should be merged with the Forest Products Promotion Council to become the Forest Froducts Marketing Council, a non-profit industry organization, NFPA should control national, technical, code and insurance work, but activities of it and FPMC should be coordinated.

Recommendotions of the 1968 Economic

Council of the Forest Products Industry

The 1968 Economic Council of the Forest Products Industry. believing in the vitql need for concentrotion of the totol foresl products industry forces to insure (l) o single coordinoled notionol promotionol progrom for wood products qnd (21 o united ond extensive industry wide effort on qll motlers reloting lo ihe forest resource, believes thot the following recommendotions will leod the woy, both in the short ond long ronge, loword providing the opporlunily for on oppropriofely f unded coordinoted industry progrom in bolh qreos.

The study of the Forest Products lndustry Orgonizotion Committee, under the choirmonship of Jomes D. Bronson, wos mosl helpful in providing the initioiing guidelines with which fo build workoble progroms in the best interests of the entire industry. The choirmon qnd the members ore to be congrotuloled for providing the vehicle for immediote industry ossociolions review ond oction on the recommendqtions of the 1968 Economic Council of the Forest Products Industry. The Council qccepts the report ond urges its use in evoluoting the Economic Council of the Forest Products Industry recommendqtions:

Notionol Promotion Progrom

It is essentiol thot the repeoted urgings of lhe severol Economic Councils colling for o single coordinoled notionol promolion progrom be implemented.

(l) lt is recommended by the council thot the WMI ond FPPC be merged to form the Forest Products Morketing Council os recommended in the Forest Producls Industry Orgonizolion Commitiee report.

(21 Prompt evqluolion of the responses lo the Economic Council of the Foresi Products Industry promotionol recommendotions ond subsequent courses of oction should be the responsibility of o losk force oppointed by the post choirmen of the Economic Councils.

(3) The progrom of the Forest Products Morketing Council should incorporote, but (Continueil on Page 21) ln our 1966167 modernization program we will have invested over four hundred million dollars! This includes our new COIN system (computerized Complete Operating lNformation), new rolling stock, conta inerization, land development and improvements, mineral research development, microwave and radio communications, retarder yards, protective maintenance and other innovations. All of this was with one thought, one Purpose in mind - BETTER SERVICE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS!