WESlIERN ASSOC[A1I[ON NEWS

Mountain States Lumber & Building Maferial Dealers Association had a record crowd of 920 attendees from lumberyards and specialty shops at the 1991 building materials buying show at the Denver Merchandise Mart.

Over 135 booths had displays lrom 82 different exhibitors at the March 13-14 event. Figures to date record upward of $5.3 million in purchases. Attendance increased 420/o over 1990's record of645 to the best attendance in the show's five year history.

Best booth awards were given to five companies: Eagle Rock Supply, Denver, and Wigand Corp., Colorado Springs, tied for best single booth; Boise Cascade Wholesale Building Materials, Denver, and All-Coast Forest Products, Englewood, tied for multiple booth; Capital Lumber Co.. Denver. double booth. Colorado Forest Industries, Denver; Allied Lumber Dealers, Englewood, and were Buryl Carringer, Sterling Lumber & Investment; Scott Yates, Denver Lumber Co.; Bob Earle, Economy Building Materials; Gordon Harbert, Harbert Lumber; Mark Swager, Anderson Lumber Co. il0Ul{TAltl SIATES Lumber and Buildino Material Dealers Association, Englewood, do., will display this bronze commemorative coin in celebration of its 1 00th anniversarv. Stafl associate Geri Jorgensen handled ttie prolect. 1-:'i:,.iptii.t:i::.rrtr,t|:ri:ri..tirt.:.,.....,..:...i,1.:i,r.i.rr::rr.i,il.i:u::i.t:.:ii.t..

MSLBMDA pres. Mark Swager, John Lindsey, Mark Statham, Tom Chase, Alice Wooley, Gordon Harbert, Bill Moore, Guy Dobbins, Bill Bader, Lee Jordan, Mike Guetz, Everett Babb, Dave Stookesberry and Ken Brown acted as hosts on the show floor.

A management conference is scheduled for Nov. 7-9 ai the Sheraton San Marcos, Chandler, Az. A special l00th anniversary banquet, an information exchange, educational programs, networking, a steak fry and golf are planned, according to Fred Caruso, executive vice president.

Lumber Association of Souihern California has named immediate past president George Swartz as head of its membership committee.

Other chairmen appointed: Peter Ganahl, budget; Martyn Temple, legislativel Bob Slettedahl, fall management conference; Bill Sullivan, fall conference exhibits.

Denver, received booth competition .100 \"'ARV COMPLETE Union Ave.,

The association is calling attention to recent laws affecting retail businesses in California including prohibiting require- telephone number on a credit card slip or requesting a credit card for identification for a bank check.

New laws also require merchants who do not permit refunds or exchanges to disclose policies before goods are purchased and give a copy ofa sales contract to a customer at the time it is signed or within l0 days ilthe transaction takes place by mail.

Small claims court limits have been extended to $5,000. Consumers can now seek up to $2,500 in civil damages for illegal use of information in credit reports.

Fines for smoking trucks have been increased. In addition the need for diesel truck fumes to be discharged overhead will start Jan. I, 1993.

Firms applying lor state contracts are now required to guarantee a drug free workplace. Employers can lace criminal and civil penalties lor violating state safety regulations that result in a worker's death and employers who fail to warn employees of a serious concealed workplace danger can be charged with a crime.

Western Building Material Association reminded its members that penalties f,or willful and repeat OSHA violations can go up to $70,000 per violation instead of $10,000 with a budget agreement signed by President Bush to provide lor a seven fold increase in maximum penalties.

For serious violations (harmful physical effects), the potential penalty will increase lrom $1,000 to $7,000. So far, there have been no reports of any court challenges to these new levels. However, the association believes that combining this increase with recent policy changes that raised egregious violation penalties into the million dollar range, there will be enough at stake for employers to question whether OSHA sfrould be funded by the penalties it collects.

Future Dates

Check our Calendar on page 20 lor information on upcoming conventions, meetings and trade shows in your region.

Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California will hold its 52nd annual convention May ll-14 at Harvey's Resort & Casino, South Lake Tahoe, Nv.

Elections will be held with nominees including Tom Griesbach, Lampe Lumber, Tulare, pres.; Larry McFadden,

Fairlax Lunrber, Fairlax, lst v.p.l Kathleen Patterson, Central Valley Builders Supply, St. Helena, 2nd v.p.l Mack Giles, North Bay Lumber, Corte Madera, treas.

Nominees lor directors include Phil Larios, Hayward Lumber, Salinas; Allan Smith, Farmers Lumber, Corcoran; Don Wattenbarger, Wattenbarger & Sons, Bakersfieldl Becky Hibbert, Hibbert Lumber, Davis; Rick Whiting, Builders Supply, Paradiset Bob Rossi, Rossi's Building Materials, Ft. Bragg.

Bob Jessell, Central Valley Builders Supply, St. Helena, has been nominated for insurance trust committee chairman with committee nominees Mike Yaeger, Yaeger & Kirk, Santa Rosa; Gary DeYoung, Minton's Lumber & Supply, Mountain View; Mary Mendoza, Valley Distributors, Turlock.

A mid-management seminar will precede the convention on Sunday followed by the annual associates trade show/ reception. Gary Donnelly, NLBMDA executive v.p.; Donn Zea, Timber Association of California, and Jerry Reynolds, former coach of the Sacramento Kings, will be general session speakers on Monday. Awards will be presented at the president's dinner that night followed by Gerald Grider, PGL Building Products, a guitarist and humorist.

The annual golftournament at Tahoe Country Club will close convention activities on Tuesday.

Grade School For Lumbermen

Sixteen students primarily from Southern California hardwood distribution yards recently completed a Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club-sponsored short course on the inspection and grading of hardwood lumber.

Coordinated by Dennis Johnston. Johnston Hard- wood Inc., Long Beach, Ca., the March l8-22 class was conducted by Tom Wright, assistant chief inspector of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, at the Ramada Inn, Carson.

Students then applied their knowledge in outdoor practice sessions held at Johnston's yard.

When Your Bank Wants Out

To protect against banks trying to back out of loan agreements, the Western Building Material Association offers some common sense precautions: o Do all you can to help lending officers and their managers to understand your business. [f oflicers change, meet the new person as soon as possible. You're best off if more than one person at the bank knows your business. o If a bank makes sudden, unethical or illegal moves that imperil your company, consider finding a lawyer. If possible, arrange new terms with the bank to save your firm. o If all else fails, sue. But remember it might be years before you see relief. And bitter legal battles can take a heavy financial and emotional toll on you and your company.

. Get all loan agreements in writing. Don't expect banks to honor oral commitments.

. Ensure documents accurately reflect all pertinent terms, conditions and covenants, and that you fully understand them. Question ambiguous items.

Posts,

poles, pilings, timber, crossarms, grapestakes, dimension lumber. Pacific Wood Preserving of Bakersf ield produces vi rtually all pressure treated wood products. And, with computerized inventory control, Pacific Wood Preserving of Bakersfield offers accurate and complete service. A single phone call can put this complete capabil ity to work for you. Call today:

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General Manager

In California (800) 582-3950

Outside Californ ia (805) 833-0429

Housewraps Are Energy Savers

Increased emphasis on energy efficiency makes it important for a dealer to be able to offer a builder construction products with proven energy saving records.

Housewraps applied during construction are among the most eflicient air infiltration barriers available. Reducing drafts and the penetration of outside air, they work with insulation to provide year around comfort and energy savings. In addition to providing an air and water resistant seal, the products reduce the chance ofwall and insulation damage from condensation build-up by allowing moisture vapor to pass through. Housewraps can be used with stone or stucco as well as wood or vinyl siding,

WRAPPII{G a house a housewrap provides energy savings. The oroduct should be recommended to builders, remodelers and residers.

Builders report that housewrap products are easy to apply and provide an added advantage in protecting the interior from wind and rain during construction.

Housewraps work in both cold and warm climates. Homeowners report savings in winter heating bills and summer air conditioning costs. Utility savings equal to a payback for the material in less than a year have been experienced by homeowners in some areas.

Air infiltration barrier wraps also work well with remodeling or residing to improve the efficiency and function of a home. The product should be part of every sale to a remodeler or residing contractor. Some housewraps can be applied over old, loose or cracked siding, eliminating the expense of removing old siding.

Environmental Defenses On Tap

The Alliance Coalitions Task Group video and publications library is available for loan to members of the Alliance or alTiliated organizations.

Video tapes and books ranging from the Northern Spotted Owl issue to Wetlands to mill operations and grassroots organizing and lobbying can be borrowed by contacting Tara Palya Q02) 463-2732.