ltrElNEWS

HARRY MENDENHALL executive vice president

ffEnf are some agencies that offer I to collect claims in settlement of the plywood antitrust suit for you for a fee. The courts have awarded damages and claim payrnents to involved dealers have been predetermined by a plan submitted by the attorneys and approved by the courts. An individual letter will be sent to each dealer involved indicating a specific amount. Builder Marts of America has announced that they are offering to collect for you. There is no reason to accept their offer since the amounts of settlement are already set, and it is only a matter of processing the administration.

Our National association has written six grading agencies and expressed concern about the increasing number of "concealed shorts" in bundles of lumber some dealers are receiving from their suppliers. The "nesting" practice is becoming more critical due to the increasing use of computers in today's business operation. The insertion of bundles of lumber which contain "shorts" into computers will reflect inaccurate inventory figures. National has asked the various grading agencies for their recommendations for eliminating the practice.

March 13-15, our LMA legislative task force will travel to Washington for the Conference with Congress to meet our representatives face-to-face on current issues affecting our industry and business. We need your support. We represent all dealers in the association, and there are 22 Congressmen and two senators we must visit. We can't do this big job unless we have dealers interested in continuing to make a living from their business. Plan to make the trip with us. And while you are in Washington take time to visit the many interesting museums, shrines, monuments and archives.

We have received the initial dividend for the 1982 insured year. The dividend amounts to 360/0, but because of the lower overall performance of the group there will be no bonus. Dividends will be paid out based upon the individual company performance. Dividends will be paid after the first of the year since it will be a little while before computer printouts are made for dividends.

The association has renewed the group Workers Compensation Insurance with State Fund for the 1984 insured year. The Association Trust has an established policy that in order for a dealer to receive an earned dividend from the group the individual firm must be a member of the association and a member of the group Workers Compensation Insurance Program at the time the dividend is paid. It is also an established policy that certain administrative fees required to operate the program will be deducted prior to payout to dealers.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Keep us psted, on your club or group's upcoming meetings. But be sure ond su,bmil them at leasl, seaen weeks belore the euent to make sure there will be time to list them in an issue in circulatinn belore the big day lwppens.