Northern California Dealers' May Meeting

Focusing on independents in the '90s, the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California plans to give members the tools necessary to compete at the 54th annual convention May 13-15 at the Lake Tahoe Hyatt Regency, Incline Village, Nv.

Following a new fonnat, seminars will cover business losses, workman's comp, Hazmat, Tifle V4 and ADA as well as tax advice. NLBMDA president Jerry Olrich will tell the general session on Friday "What's Going On at National." NLBMDA lobbyist Allynn Howe will discuss "Politics as Usual." "Building Relationships With Your Suppliers" will theme the third presentation.

Afternoon sessions include: "Borrowing Money Below Prime," Jim Roberts, Sunnyvale Lumber Co.; "Section 125 Employee Benefits," Harry Williams, Acacia Financial Cenoer; "Business and Estate Planning," William Burke, CIGNA. Past president's meeting will conclude the afternoon with a combined trade show, new product demonstration and reception from 5:30 to 8:30.

Saturday sessions will begin with

"What to Tell Your Customers on Timber Supply and Prices," then "Government Regulations." "Manager as Coach," "Controlling Workers Comp Costs Who Is Accouncable?" and "Taming the Loss Monster" will follow a membership lunch. The president's reception and banquet that evening will conclude the convention. Thursday will be devoted to skiing and the annual Dangerous Divot Diggers Golf Tournament at Incline Village Golf Resort.

The slate of officer candidates prepared by Don Johnson, Jim Merchant and Tom Griesbach includes president Frank Solinsky, Payless Building Supply, Chico; first vice president Kathleen Patterson, Central Valley Builders Supply, St. Helena; second v.p. Bob Rossi, Rossi's Building Materials, Fort Bragg; treasurer, Gary DeYoung, Close Lumber, Sutter.

Board of directors nominees: Jim Roberts, Sunnyvale Lumber; Jerry McMillan, P.J.'s Lumber, Fremont; Ken McCrary, Big Creek Lumber, Davenport; Brad Harnden, San Joaquin Lumber, Stockton; Jeff Perritte, White Pine Disfibutors, Fresno;

Scott Kassahn, Meeks Building Center, Sacramento; Randy Blakemore, Agate Sales, Grass Valley; Matt Peterson, Mead Clark Lumber, Sanca RosaInsurance trust€es: Phil Larios, Payless Building Supply, chainnan; Mike Yaeger, Yaeger & Kfuk, Santa Rosa; Vito Mule, Hayward Lumber, Salinas; Greg Gay, Meeks Building Center, Sacramento, and Florine Auch, Dean's Lumber & Hardware, San Ramon.

Help For Medco Workers

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has detennined that the 325 workers laid off when Medford Corp. closed its plywood division are eligible for federal benefits.

The investigation found their jobs at the Medford, Or., plywood mill and power plant were adversely affected by foreign imports. Under the Trade Act of 1974, anyone whose job loss is caused in part by foreign competition becomes eligible for job search assistance, cash benefits, relocation allowances and other programs.

The department concluded that in 1991 and 1992 the company's customers cut back on purchases from Medco while increasing imported plywood purchases.