Winds and Floods Fail To Dampen Wholesaler Enthusiasm

n N THE night ofApril 24, V NAWLA wholesalers and mill sales executives were treated to what Floridians ternt a "nrild tronical stornr." But l6 inchcs of rriin and 50 mph winds (!) could not dampen the spirit ofthe 87th annual meeting of North American Wholeslle Lumber Associltion at Boca Raton. The lumbermen sintply rolled up their slacks, held their shoes and socks in their hands and did their usualthing standing in lour inches of water in the ornate lobby of the Boca Raton Hotel & Club.

Along with outstanding business sessions. delegates were provided lhe ol.rportunities of person-to-per-

Story at a Glance

Lumber son. head-to-head conferences between buyer and seller.

Convention Co-ordinator Paul McCracken, Tumac Lunrber Co.. Portland, Or., put together an interesting and varied business progranr.

At the opening session Dr. Arth ur Laffer. noted econontist fronr the University of Southern Calrfornia. discussecl taxation.

Creator of the Lafler Curve, he proposes thutthc evcr-increusing wedgc of laxation on inconrc stiflei econontic health. incentive and prodLrctivity. Ar the sanre time, Lhis "wedge" of taxation has the long ternr effect of redricing revenues fronr tir xcs.

On the seconcl clay (flood day) of the convention, thcre were speakers on anti-trust, ltersonnel selection ancl nrotivation, transportation, and a special sentinar dealing with the LIFO svstenr of inventorv for tlistribution i rrrcl ol)erlttors.

Lawyer Charles Donelan, an expert in anti-trust law and federal trade regulations provided easy-tounderstand answers to what br.rsiness must do to keep out of the many pitfalls of anti-trust.

Leo McManus, an indr"rstrial psychologist, explained his nrcthod of selecting and nrotivating personnel through an organized procedure ol' character evalr.ration.

THEY C()ME from all over t0 the meetinos. Shot at registration desk caught ll to-rl Barnes Mauk, Seattle, Wa., Dave Mittell, Boston, Ma.; Knute Weidman, San Mateo, Ca.; Bob Wells, Long Beach, Ca.; and Maxine Nieblino ol NAWLA's Portland staff.

Daniel O'Neal. Chairnran of the Interstate Conrnrerce Contntissiorr. then gave his vievi's on thc rcasons behind the federal governntent's nrove to deregulate truck and rail transportation. The qLrcstion-anclans\\'er session u'as ncarll' twicc the length of his preparccl renrarks. O'Neal urgecl input f'ronr thc association ancl its incliviclual nrcnrbcrs. Distribr"rtion 1,arcl nrertrbers hearcl LIFO cxpcrt John Robcrtson. in a two-ancl-a-half' hour sentinar. urge taxation breaks through the usc of LIFO.

Orr Thr,r rsclay, the featr.rred slreakcr was lornrer Governor of Oregon. Tonr McCall. who gavc clelegates his thoughts on effective involvenrenl. in politics by the incliv'iclLral.

The Man ufacturer/Wholesaler "Rap Session" on Thursclay was attcnded by over 200 delegates. Six inclustr), questions u'ere discussed at round tables ol eight and then sunrnrarizcd to the entire audience.

Ted C. Bloch. Bloch Lunrber Co., Chicago. u'as electecl presidcnt for 1979-80: lst r,.p is Paul N. McCracken, Tunrac Lunrber Co.. Inc.. Portland. 2ncl v.p. is Weyman FI. Maxey, Maxey-Bossharclt Lunrber Co., Duluth; and the treasurer is Janres K. Bishop, PlunkettWebster Lunrber Co.. New Rochelle. N.Y.