THtr SOUTHLAIilD

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

f U N E marks the end of the J school term for most students.

Some of those students maY be comine to the retail lumber dealer seeking eriplovment. How many of them will actufllv be hired? How many of them will be interested enough to actually look to a retail r;r wholesale lumber operation as a place ol employment? How manY ol those emoloveO witt Ue absorbed into the industry'as permanent employees?

Anv-industry to survive must have const;nt infusions ofyoung people. Peoole who can be trained to take on positions of responsibility at lower levels in order to replace the people at those levels who have moved into uPPer manaqement echelons, who in turn have reolac-ed those who have retired. The cycli must be continuous and literally unbroken to be a success and companies or industries that are successiul over long oeriods of time have and maintain a good employee selection Program.

- In Junb. countless numbers of Junior Collese graduates will be in the job markEt. These people maY have had courses in building design, merchandising, marketing, salesma-nship, public relati,ons or any number of courses that would offer good background for a potential lumber company employee. ' Additionally, the colleges will be graduating many persons with degrees in business -administration, architecture and many other majors, anY of which would be an asset to a person concerneo about business.

Whv alwavs look for the trained emolovee? pindine the man who can imrn.bioi.ly be at h-ome in a certain position isn't always possible. More of the members of the industry should be thinking about bringing young people in and trainins them. Look around and see what other-industries do. Look at other industries and see what they pay. Then act accordingly.

After you have hired that new emolovee look to the Lumber Association ior-help in training. The product knowledge course has b6en very well received' Thiee-hundred studenis have been enrolled in the course. Many more have utilized the course by recycling the books and getting only the tests. In the very near future an educational program on-lumber handling will be available. D river safety programs were made available. The area meetings usually have material presented that is beneficial to all employees.

By R. V. PETERSEN executive secretary

Q evennl years ago. there were tJ a number of eye-witnesses to a daylight, street-side murder. Unusual circumstances. But not so bizarre as the refusal of those witnesses to come forward with assistance for the victim. Their excuse: not a desire for anonymity, not Dersonal fear. but a refusal to become "involved" in the welfare of a fellow being. A self-centered philosophy which denies the need to be concerned with the affairs and well-being of others'

We see this same egotistic attitude demonstrated within our own organization by our members, and more evident on -the periphery bY those who refuse to be roused to participation in any activities other than oi completely selfish orientation. "Lack of personal interest" in such matters as annual conventions is not dissimilar to refusal to be involved in the welfare of others. Failure of participation in matters and concerns of association activities is another manifestation of the egotistic refusal of involvement.

Fortunately for the industry and the individuals who comprise it, there is another side to the coin of involvement. This was demonstrated forcefully and successfully by nearly 400 dealers and industry factord who recently participated in tha Timber Resources Conlerence in Washington. These were people willing to become involved, willing to tackle oroblems altruistically for the benefit of ihe industry. And, by so doing. achieving definite personal accomplishment.

As a follow-up to last year's "March on Washington," lhe 1974 Conference went far to re-alfirm to Congress the vital concern of the industry for proper controls to assure the continuing and maximum utilization of the nation's forest resources. The results of this dramatic lobbvine effort are even now being seen and wili-be increasingly evident in comine months.

That so much can be accomplished bY so few individuals acting in concert is a clear demonstration of the latent force within any group. It also emphasizes the need for people-participation, whether on the home front in routine activities of an association or in the emergencies of a timber shortage. The message is clear: if you are an asiociation member. lend it your strength and vitality by active support ln rts analrs; Il You are a nonmember, your help and participation is needed for improvement of the industry and the incidental benefit to yourself as an individual. Don't stand alonel