;Ilnpr o a ement P i o duct s

The 21st Annual New Product Exposition during INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE WEEK" held in conjunction with the NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW'& BUILDING PRODUCTS EXPOSITION represents the single biggest compilation of new items for the trade. At one time and place, attendees will see what is to be found in the exhibits of this year's Show.

I The New Product Exposition will be located just inside the McCormick Place South Exhibit Hall during the August L3-16,2000 events in Chicago,IL.

I This year, for the first time, all entries in the New Product Exposition will receive internet exposure onAHMA s New Products Online service.

I For additional details and entry forms for exhibitors, contact: American Hardware Manufacturers Association 801 North Plaza Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4977 USA Phone: 847.605.1025 FAX: 847.505.1030 www.NationalHardwareShow. com or AHMA s FAX on Demand Service 888.424.7458

(Request FOD Document #1.05)

Sponsored and conducted by the American Hardwnre Manufacturers Association

Ace Ups Conservation Etforts

Nearing the 30th anniversary of Earth Day April22, Ace Hardware is stepping up its ongoing Conservation Initiative.

Efforts includes national retailer advertising and merchandising support, promotional events, and customer recycling programs to help retailers sell d-i-y products that reduce energy and water consumption or are made of recycled or less toxic materials.

According to retail merchandising mgr. Jimmy Alexander, "\Ve've adopted the Earth Day motto of 'Shop Ace and Make Our World a Better Place' to let our customers know that many of the d-i-y products on the Ace retail shelves can help them save natural resources and money and protect our planet for the future."

Last year, for example, Ace's recycling program collected I 1,000 lbs. of rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries, salvaging over 2,000 lbs. of toxic-heavy cadmium. A similar program to reclaim mercury by recycling fluorescent lamps is expected to expand nationwide by next year.

Among other programs: o Ace Kids Club features conservation projects; o Hplpful Hardware Club for Ace customers has special conservation product buys and articles on conservation in its consumer magazine; o Monthly retail end-caps offer conservation item selections, and o Conservation-related products are highlighted in national circulars.

More Lumber In Your Futures?

Hoping to provide another tool for hedging the price risk of buying lumber, the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange is considering adding contracts for the North American lumber industry.

The Exchange is working with C.C. Crow Publications to study the feasibility of offering derivative, nonagricultural "products which are relevant to the lumber industry and regionally based," said Terry James, chairperson of the new product development committee.

Portland, Or. based market reporter Crows is surveying industry firms to gather input to be used in designing the contracts.

Currently, the non-profit WCE, Canada's only agricultural futures and options exchange, offers futures contracts on oats and field peas, as well as both futures and options contracts on canola, flaxseed, feed wheat and western badey.

AWPA 2000 Annual Meeting

The 96th annual meeting of the American Wood-Preservers' Association will be held May 7- l0 at the Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Ca.

Among the highlights will be the president's and new members' receptions, the presentation of the 2000 AWPA Award of Merit and the banquet/dance to introduce the new officers.

Technical sessions and a presentation about the Formosan termite problem are also scheduled.

Discussions include "Marketing Opportunities for 2000 and Beyond," "Treated Wood Crosstie Usage by Railroads" and "Are You Reallv in It for the Long Term?"

There are a lot of good reasons for carrying L-P Solid Starf products: wide variety, a limited lifetime warranty and the fact that they build great homes.

Full line now available in stock:

. LPI'20 and 32 series l-joists (solid sawn flanged)

. CTR* 150 and 250 series l-joists (Gang-Lam" LVL flanged) r LPI 36 and 56 series l-joists (Gang-Lam LVL flanged)

. Gang-Lam 2650 Fb and 2950 Fb beams in standard and billet thicknesses (1-314" to 7" thick)

. Solid Start rim board

For more information, including a copy of our warranty, contact Huff Lumber.

GATHERING of Bay Area lumbermen March 21 at Francesco's Restaurant, Oakland, Ca.: (1) Jim Lewman, Brent Crosby, Ralph Boshion. (2) Kevin Fogarty, Pete Hurd, Frank Kinney. (3) Dave Mensing, Becky Addington. (4) Joe Casella, Mark Feno. (5) Jon MacBeath, Manuel Lavrador, Jr. (6) Al Mury, Milt Mikkelson, Bill Elledge. (7) lke Zafrani, 93 years old. (8) Ralph Hill. (9) Frank Timmers, Paul Ward. (10) Jim Harrison. (11) Bob Woehl, John Tallman.