Merchandisers and Merchandising f eaf ure LMA annual convenfion

T ]lA has picked orre of the outsl'andilg L marketers oI ttorlltern California to l-,c its new president for the first vears of tht: '70s, Lvle Schafer of Mintons Lumber & Supph'. \{ountain View. Long recognized as an industry leader, his election repre' sents the industry's growing awareness arld intere-st in merchandising.

Other new olliccrs for the '70''7I term are Robert Kimlile, lst. vp., Sequoia Lumber, \'isalia; Jim Vebber, 2nd. vp., Hubbard & Johnson [,umber, and Bob Butcher, San Lorenzo Lumber, treasurer. Harry E. Nlendenhall. tlrt: new exec. vp., took over management of the association tht: first of this nonth.

"A people po\{er association" is how Samson Wiener, current president of the National l-umber & Iluilding Material Dealers Association, described that group's rolc in the new decade. President of a Dallas Iumber company bearing his name. kick'ofl speaker Wiener urged all factions of the industry to continuc to work together building the present acceptance NLBMDA has on Capitol Hill in S'ashington and in statehouses and legislatures throughout the U.S. "Collectively, wc are a powcrful {orce, ortr opposition is also powerful, we must continuc to urcrk together," the lanky Texan r:ounseled.

"ln the nert 6-12 months" thinss look very bright," he forecast, adding that "the federal sovsrnment must and will find the money needed for building. Ours is an eNpanding economy, people want houses any administration wants to create a hous' ing boom before a presidential election. At the latest" he guessed, the assured upsrving would be felt by mid '71

That noon, April 28, luncheon speaker Robert Gros, vp., Pacific Gas & Electric. told of his experiences in Russia and thtr other Iron Curtain countries.

"Make no mistake." he advised, "Russia is our enemy; not a hot war enemy, but atr cnemv nevertheless." That enigmatic coutttry. while {ricndly on a per-qon-to-Persorr basis with visiting Americans, believes truly in their system "nd *hut their Communist rulers tell them, he explained.

The progress made in repairing the terrible damage of WW II has been in spite of, not because of, their political system. The culture and beautiful things of their country date from the days of the Czars. The police state, for the average person, Gros related, is a thing of the past.

The present two top rulers, party chief Leonid Brezhnev and Alexei Kosygin will be out of office in one year guesstimates Gros. He says it is impossible for anyone to be an expert on Russia, given the ingrained secretiveness of the politieal system. He offered no explanation for his surprising forecast other than the general rumbles and waves lately emanating from the Kremlin.

Following the industry reception that night, the Del Monte Hyatt House-based convention heard presentation of the golf awards at the annual Presicllnt's DinnerDance.

Taking home the hardware in class A with 71s were Ted Mathews, Reid and W'right, Fresno and Jack Russell, Western Sash and Door, Oakland. Clas-s B was won by Joe Schram, 7lt/" (and he doesn't even practice!!); class C was won by Oakley Plywood's Bob Millard, 7O. NIrs. Jean Masters won the ladies div. with a 71. The course played was Laguna Seca.

Next morning president-elect Lyle Schafer and president Duane Bennett demonstrated the Visual Information Program

Story dI o Glsnce

Some encouraging forecasts available from NLBMDA. Consisting of a compact projection machine, cartridge films of 7-8 minutes length, how-to booklets tieing in with the flve films and other merchandising materials, the package sells for $635. Nearly 120 dealers in the U.S. have already purchased the VIP program. It has been widely described as producing like an additional trained salesrnen.

Lyle Schafer elected president Harry Mendenhall, new exec vp. introduced LMA/Merchant Magazine ad contest.

The winners of the third annual LI{ALlerchant lllagazine advertising contest were announced at the conclusion of a speech on advertising by editor David Cutler.

The contcst divided entries up into four categories, depending on gross volume. The winner in the category frorn $250,000-

$499,000 was Capital Lumber Co.

$500,000-$I million, Hale & Symons.

$1 million-$2 million, Santa Cruz Lumber Co.

Over $2 million, Hubbard & Johnson. Marketing presentations followed. Among them were Stanley Tool telling about their new plier/vise due in late May, Johns-Manville on mini pack insulation, W'estern Pine Supply said their best sales aid was the company rep who calls on the dealer every week and helps on store layout, rack design and the like. Colony Paint demonstrated how they tint color into their paint, Masonite described their comprehensive merchandising/sales kits, A.msirong their tuneup kits and Simpson Timber's Pat Reiten explained that 70/o of their sales are thru retailers and outlined the extensive kits, catalogs and other merchandising materials available.

The luncheon Tuesday capped the 30th annual convention and introduced the officers, directors and committeemen. said thanks to outgoing president Duane Bennett for a good job performed admirably under trying circumstanccs and also honored Joe Schram for working so ably as acting exec. vp. under the same difficult conditions. Joe also got the longest and loudest round ol applause of the convention.

We are very pleased to be able to announce the forthcoming consolidation of our Hardwood Lumber Operations with those of the Lane Lumber Company in the location of the new facilities they are constructing in the City of lndustry. This consolidation will be effective approximately July 1, 1970.

Erick Ahlbom of Nor-Cal Millwork, Inc., has been installed as president of the Woodwork Institute of California at the 19th annual convention in Palm Desert.

Other oflicers installed were Ray Hejlik, Hejlik Cabinet & Millwork, Ist v.p.; Harry H. Haeussler, Jt., Qualifab, 2nd vp.; Edwin Bernhauer, Fresno Planing Mill Co., treasurer; Bernard B. Barber, Jr., exec. sec. Ralph McClure, Union Planing Mill, was installed as a new member of the board. Adolph Warvarovsky, Los Angeles Millwork Co., the retiring president, was named chairman of the executive committee.

Other directors of the W.I.C. are: Charles di Cristina, Clare Effrige, Owens Minton, Ray Mosher, Byron Taylor, Bud Brick, Jack Carpenter, Jim Cline" Burnett Miller and John Murray.

Keynote speaker was Rev. G. F. Giambastiani, S.J., University of Bologna, Italy, who spoke on o'Trends in American Architecture Contrasted with Italian Architecture.t'

Paul Gedigian of Custom Wood Products was the winner of the W.I.C. Putting Tournament, and in so doins added considerably to the enjoymenr oT Bob Briggs of Anemostat-!flest, Inc. and Frank Quattrocchi of American l'orest Products, as they had picked him as the winner.