LMA's 34th Annual Gonvention

V personalities, politicians and yes, even lumbermen, were a featured part of the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California's 34th annual convention, concluded recently at Silverado, Napa, in the heart of America's premier wine country.

Election of officers began the business sessions and LMA has chosen another young man with a moustache to be their 1974-1975 president, Joe Mayfield of Mendo Mill and Lumber Co., Ukiah, Ca. First v.p. is Jerry DeCou, DeCou Lumber Co., Atascadero; 2nd v.p., Bud Spencer, San Ramon Valley Mill and Lumber, Danville; treasurer, Bruce Pohle. New and hold-over directors include Herb Eaton, Dick Cross, Harold Manselian, Keith Rucker, Ken Walsh, Jim Barker, Charles Porro, Tom Hogan, Lloyd Wattenbarger, Bud Spencer, Orville Eastman. Bruce Pohle. Howard

Graulich, Bill Oberholser, Art Post, Frank Baxley, Gene Bell, Loyal Tipton, Chal Cross.

Outgoing president Gordon Knott reviewed association business and noted that LMA has established a five year growth plan for the association and has also decided to acquire a permanent home, though the where and what of the new Hq. program have yet to be developed.

Wally Bruner, guest speaker at that day's special luncheon, talked about his nationally syndicated tv. program, "Wally's Workshop," and advised dealers to take special pains in serving women customers, provide elementary aid in d-i-y and take advantage of tie-ins with manufacturer promotions. The program, now in its third year, is sponsored by U.S. Plywood.

He observed that d-i-y was a $23 billion annual industry and that "65'k of all pre-finished paneling goes home on the top of a car." He contends the customer, most often a reluctant fixer-upper, comes in pre-sold, because of tv and magazine ads, but is woefully unprepared for even the simplest task once he purchases the materials.

Second day's business sessions opened with insurance man Dave Hicks introducing an employee benefit program that will be provided through the association. As envisioned, it will provide a potentially wide variety of benefit packages for members' employees.

A pioneer of electronic data processing for the lumber industry, Chet Nortz, Mountain States Lumber Dealers Assn. and president of his own firm, Management Advisors, Inc., Salt Lake City, described the working of his system that uses an accounting system modified for EDP and coupled to a mini-computer that is Ieased or purchased as part of the program.

Story of o Glonce

EDP, association plans for the next 5 years, speeches by tv personalities and politicians and election of officers highlight northern California dealer group annual .... Joe Mayfield is new president next year's meet is set for Lake Tahoe.

He warned that EDP was no panacea, that it was simply a tool. "It won't save you any money, but it will get the paperwork done more quickly and provide management with more information."

The system he described can break down sales into four different customer categories with 30 inventory classes, 10 salesman classes, sales tax, drayage (if any), nontaxable sales and a daily sales report. There are several types of the system available but the one Nortz recommends costs about $550 per month on a five-year lease basis with purchase at the end of the period for l0o/o of original cost.

The system he described is the only one presently in use that has wide usage in the field; there are 125 of them already in use in the U.S.

The special luncheon that capped the successful annual was scheduled to hear gubernatorial candidate Ed Reinecke, but heard instead his state campaign cochairman Harold Dobbs, a prominent San Francisco attorney, who explained that Reinecke is now spending all his available time preparing to defend himself against a three count indictment of perjury.

In a well-received speech, Dobbs made a low-keyed, reasoned defense of the candidate as well as briefly outlining Reinecke's position in regard to the issues.

A number of plaques were then awarded to individuals who had worked in behalf of the industry and the association during the past year. Twenty-three firms were presented with plaques for their efforts in the safety contest.

The president's award was won by Homer Hayward, and Jean Schafer, the vivacious wife of Lyle Schafer of Santa Cruz Lumber Co.. won the color tv in the drawing. That wrapped up the happenings until next year, when the 35th annual will be held at Lake Tahoe.

COtPARIl{c NOTE8 (1) are assn. exec. veep Harry Mendenhall, tv's Wally Bruner. (2) Jerry DeCou, Ken Wells, Connie Dickens. (3) Paul Ward, Merchant Magazine's Dave Cutler, Paul Herrfetdt. (4) pat and Ross Ingraham. (5) Chet NorE, Frank Reed. (6) Don Kelleher. (7) Eart Tatman, Bud Robey, Steve Yaeger. (8) Ham Knott, Betty and Bob

IIOREPTCTUNESED ON THE T*XT PAGE,

Kimble. (9) Don McCann, Gary Walters. (10) Joe Mayfield, Linda Knott, Harold Dobbs. (11) Bill Niesen, Bill Johnson. (12) C.R. "Dick" Salvesen, Wally Bruner, Lyle Schafer, Les Ley. (13) Hal and Naidine Renfort. (14) Bob Babicky, Armin Speckert. (15) Dick Williams, Clyde Srouss. (16) Jim Pickel, Jim Webber, Art Masters. Bob Butcher.

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ARM TWISTING job in picture (1) by Brian Bonnington (right) on Bill Oberholser, "iorcing" him to have that second cocktail sure. (2) Lyle Schafer, Jo and Jim Webber' Jean Schafer. (3) Ralph Lamon, Frank Reed,

Suzanne Lamon. (4) Owen and Cecelia Corcoran, Lloyd Hecathorn, Mike Roach. (5) Bill Niesen, Eve and Pete Middlekauf. (6) John and Barbara Polach, LarrY and Helen Hansen. (7) Bob Rienick, Tom Heilpern. (8)

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Conc.nlrrllon point for tln Bert in the We.t in imPottod rnd dome Elic paneling, 3truclural plywood, plywood rlding Plus

Elmer Lewis, Orv Eastman, Jack Jacquet' (9) Earl Ruth, Roy Parsons (10) Bob Close, Len Viale, George Thompson. ('l 1) Vivian and Ed Niske. (12) Patti Johnson, Bob Farrell, Eve Middlekauf r*", l& l*reor qlroa, $|urwmo