I-I trl nroorrt

J.E. HIGGINS LUMBER COMPANY

Since 1883

Corporats Office: PO. Drawer H. L. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (41s) 938-9300

10 Oporating Dlvlsions serving Northern and Central California and Nevada.

Hardwood Distrlbution Warohousos r Sacramento r Union City (S. F Bay Area) r Fresno r Bakersfield r Santa Maria r Monterey Bay r Santa Rosa r Reno, Nevada

Hardwood Flooring Division

Golden State Flooring, Brisbane, CA

Douglas Fit Mouldlng Division

Golden State Millwork. Rocklin. CA

NAWLA

(Continued frorn page 3l )

He noted that preparing to win was more important than the mere will to win. He urged NAWLA members to initiate the action to reach their goals, then adjust that plan to fit the circumstances. Be flexible, he said.

In a truly excellent presentation, D. Bruce Merrifield, The Merrifield Consulting Group, delivered a cogent, nuts-and-bolts approach to fast management growth. Speaking from personal experience as a wholesaler, he covered strategy, winning guidelines, productivity tactics and good management methods. His suggestions for employee motivation and profit evaluation were first rate.

The final day speaker was Robert A. Moawad, ceo of the Edge Learning Institute, Tacoma, Wa. In a talk covering everything from serious to comic, with a song thrown in, the energetic motivator gave his message on encouraging people to realize their full potential.

NAWLA delegates also elected of-

Handyman Spinolf Due

Handyman Home Improvement

Centers, a San Diego, Ca., based division of Edison Brothers Stores Inc., St. Louis, Mo., is expected to be spun off into a separate entity sometime this summer.

If approved by stockholders, a new corporation will be formed with a net worth of more than $70 million including real estate holdings. Shareholders will receive one share of Handyman stock for each four shares of Edison Brothers held.

Edison reportedly has originated the spinoff of the company, which they acquired in 1969, because it is so unlike their other operations which concentrate on fashions. Handyman has 55 stores in California, Arizona and Oregon with 3000 employees.

1985 & €6 Housing Forecast

Housing starts in 1985 should range from 1.7-1.8 million, according to a group of economists and other housing analysts at the National Association of Home Builders' semiannual residential construction forecast conference.

However, the picture isn't quite so ficers: president, Glenn L. Banks, Banks Lumber Co., Elkhart, In.; lst v.p., John Weston, Far West Fir Sales Co., Huntington Beach, Ca.; 2nd v.p., Bill Sheathelm, Schultz, Snyder & Steele Lumber Co., Lansing, Mi.; treasurer, Robert R. Scholl, Scholl Lumber Co., Bethlehem, Pa., and secretary, H.M. "Pete" Niebling, NAWLA exec. v.p., Arlington Heights, Il. bright for 1986. The speakers generally agreed that starts next year will fall into the 1.5-1.6 million range as the economic recovery winds down.

This year's convention was held April2l-25 at the Americana Canyon Hotel, Palm Springs, Ca. Next year's is set for the Boca Raton Hotel and Club, Boca Raton, Fl., April 27-May 2, t986.

An interesting bit of trivia, as NAWLA approaches its 94th year, is that it boasts nine firms which have held memberships for 75 years or more. Thirty-three companies have been members for more than a half century. Ample proof, if any were needed, that the North American Wholesale Lumber Association is effectively meeting the challenge of excellence.

The speakers' forecasts were also somewhat more optimistic than NAHB's own predictions which call for 1.63 million starts this vear and 1.52 million in 1986.

Teamwork

(Continued from page 14) bonus plans are forms of recognition which must be instituted by top management. All can inspire team work.

(6) Loyalty to the team must be practiced and encouraged.

Members of a team must feel that the manager will always be on their side, to defend them against unjust criticism, demand fair treatment for them and support their efforts to improve productivity and job satisfaction. Building on this, team members will develop loyalty to each other and the team. The final goal is to have each member of the team realize that as a team they can accomplish more than as an individual.

Team building techniques can be applied by anyone in charge of a group, not just those at management Ievel. Used individually, collectively or in conjunction with other team building methods, they can increase the efficiency of a team.

Many other team building theories exist. Assignment of tasks, involvement of team members in selecting newcomers to the team, job rotation, cross-training, de-emphasizing status symbols and advisory councils are all proven methods of achieving teamwork. Any manager who has time to read and do his homework will discover an abundance of material available.

As Frederick Taylor, a pioneer in management techniques, said, managers must "listen, learn, and laud."