ARIZONA

By FRANK DA executive vice president

THe association office has been I working the past few months with the director of the Arizona Insurance Dept. and the National Rating Bureau on establishing a Workmen's Compensation rate for inside employees.

Up to this time there was one rate, code 8232, covering both inside and outside employees.

Since the building materials industry has modernized in the past decade to building material centers the result has been an increase of inside employees not exposed to the hazards of those working outside. We felt our request was justified.

We were advised on April lst our request had been granted.

The new code will be 8232 for outside employees and 1258 for inside employees. This will mean a considerable reduction on the inside rate and a slight increase for outside rate.

In other news, four people representing ALBSA were in attendance at the third annual conference with Cong"ress sponsored by NLBMDA.

Those in attendance from Arizona were: Al Schechter, president of ALBSA, and v.p. of Sunset Lumber Distributors Tucson; Dean Drake, general manager, O'Malley retail div., Phoenix; Charles Ray, president of Ray Lumber Co., Phoenix; and yours truly.

All roads lead to our annual convention in Tucson, May 15, 16, 17. A fine program is set for the affair with a big attendance expected.

cally affect our personal lives, as well as businesseg in the years ahead. The distribution of building materials, as well as many other products will be affected by the pending elimination of some 6,000 miles of railroad track, primarily in the eastern part of the United States. With this track reduction, the importance of a good warehouse distribution system becomes even more vital.

Prices of most products, especially energy related, will increase, and in an effort to maintain lower cost of sales. the functions of an outside salesman will probably change. The end result may be fewer personal sales calls and more emphasis on telephone solicitation. Generally, all products are in good supply for 1975, with the possible exception of roofing, which is still under some supply/demand pressure.

Housing forecasts for the 19751976 period are generally all less than two million starts-perhaps this is the reason why most manufacturers are placing product and advertising emphasis on the do-ityourself market for the next two to three years.

Overall, the general concensus was: a sluggish first half in 1975, and a brighter third and fourth quarter. Inflation, high unemployment, high costs, more government controls and regulations, and higher money costs are here to stay."

Participating from WBMA were Vern Greer, John Kendall, Wayne Mattson, Jerry Williams and Ross Kincaid.

T HE end of a year as president of I LMA has arrived which makes me a has been but don't count too much on my not sticking my nose in industry affairs now and again.

I believe every dealer should remain an active part of his industry association and I intend to follow my own precepts. It may be for a selfish purpose as well, since serving the association also keeps me current in industry problems and helps me find solutions to my own problems. I must confess that I have received every bit as much as I have given.

My sincere appreciation goes to the board of directors, executive committee, staff and committeemen of the association for their outstanding support. My personal thanks to each of you as dealers for your support of our industry during this past year of turmoil and challenges.

Since this magazine is subscribed to by Western region dealers it should be of interest to all of you to know that the presidents and executive v.p.s of LMA, Lumber Association of Southern California, Arizona Lumber & Builders Supply Association and Western Building Material Association (Mountain States and Montana were unable to attend) met in San Francisco April 8-9 to determine how we could better serve our membership. Since all of us in the Western area have similar problems it is vital that the associations meet periodically to compare notes and to maintain the rapport of the Western dealers as a very important group.

LMA has developed a program to conduct noise surveys for dealers to be in compliance with OSHA requirements. The association has received over 100 requests for surveys and they will be conducted during the summer.

To all of you, thanks for making my year as president one to remember.

PROMOTION - siding, railing of tight-knotted Weslern red cedar boards enclosing handsome deck of cedar 2x4s is illustrated in new Home Beautification Concepts press kit, part oJ nationwide publicity campaign to daily, weekly newspapers by Western Red Cedar Lumber Assn., to boost dealer activity in new home construction, remodeling, outdoor living, d-i-y markets.