North American lumber wholesalers' meeting

EIOR the first time in 104 years, the son of a former -a' North American Wholesale Lumber Association president has been elected to that office.

Stephen V. Snavely, Snavely Forest Products Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa., was elected president as NAWLA gathered for its annual meeting. His father, Chris Snavely, was president in l97l-72. Other officers elected: lst v.p. Fagan Cox, John Cox Lumber Co., Houston, Tx.; 2nd v.p. Stephen Boyd, Manufacturers Reserve Supply, Inc., Irvington, N.J.; treas. Jerry Gustafson, Tumac Lumber Co., Inc., Portland, Or., and secretary Nicholas R. Kent, NAWLA exec. v.p.

The apparent consensus among attendees was that business this year for most was 'Just okay," but that next year would be slightly improved. While many were carefully hopeful, some pockets of concerned caution remained'

Dr. Lynn Michaelis, Weyerhaeuser's top economist, foresees no big volatility in lumber prices in 1997, but $60 swings are possible. Slightly slower growth is likely, he said, calling it a good thing as growth that is too strong results in destructive inflation. Housing starts will be down in early 1997, Dr. Michaelis said, though by 2000 they may rise to 1.8 to 1.9 million; all in all, a good lumber market next year.

The president of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, Roger Scherer, told the opening general session that technology was the key for dealers competing with Big Box retailers. He sees ordering inventory over the Internet as an important part of the future, saving costs.

Industry expert J. Michael Marks said lumber had changed from a sales driven to a price driven industry. He stressed the need to eliminate all possible distribution costs as a path to profitability. "We're so busy with distribution, we haven't thousht enouqh about the end user," he said.

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Story at a Glance

Good '97 lumber market forecast ... cost control in distribution and the role of technology discussed ... Stephen V. Snavely elected president.

Wholesalers Open Teacher Program To Retailers

Due to the popularity of its Teachers Tour programs, the North American Wholesale Lumber Association is inviiing ieiaiters ana others industry members to join its new North American Wholesale Lumber Environmental eOuiation, partnership (NAwf EEPJ.

"Ever since we hit the road and told the story of the NAWLA/CRA Redwood Region Teachers Tour progr,am, the re$panse has been phenomenal," explained NAWLA's exeiutive vice president Nicholas R. Kent. "Virtually everywhere we go, we get the same question; hoW can #e get involved?" ,i

Previously structured only for wholesaler partieipa' tion, the program has been reformulated as,a partnership for the creation of new environmentul "6u"31ien programs to prepare educators for the natural resources utilization debate.

Sponsoring organizations, such as the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and regional associations including the Northern Californiabased Lumber Merchants Association, must contribute $1,000 each year they are involved. To directly sponsor individuals, the groups or member companies must provide $250 per teacher, transportation to and from,the tour and, optionally, pocket money.

NAWLA's co-sponsor, the Temperate Forest Foundation, will assume a larger role, handling all site work' including creating tour agendas, soliciting manufacturer participation and financial support, producing informa- tion packets and,coordinating actual components of the tour (hotel guides, buses, scheduling, etc;).

Each facet of every tour, from teacher selection and housing arrangements to sdhedules of adtitities' will be reviewed by the NA,WLEEP steering committee to ensure sponsors that the tours meet or exceed their expectations. Especially important is post-tour followup contact with the teachers.

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' This summer, 30 teachers eacl will:attend tours June t9"22in Charleston, S.C., and July 1O-13 in Arcata, Ca,. Future tours may include the Mount St. Helens, Wa., area, the Southeast and Northeast U.S., and eastern and western Canada.

The program is designed for teachers and/or curricu. lum writers of grades 3 through 5 specializing in environmental 'studies, science, biology or ,ielated topics. Applicants selected for the tours will be supplied with roundtrip transportation to tour locations, local transpo*ation, as well as lodging,and all meals on site.

]he.tou1typically 1"do* visits to rnanaged public and privately owned forestlands; nurseries, research laboratories, lumber' mills, fisheries and stafe parks, where instructors can speak with foresters, biologists, mill workers and government offiiials frorn yanous r9qulatory,agsrries. Teachers will learn about sustaihable development, harvesting techniques, roforestation, pto' tecting streams, minimizing soil erosion, wildlife conservation, bio-diversity and government regulations.

Wholesalers' meetino

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Commercial alliances between various industry members can be a way to cut costs and lock in sales, Marks noted.

The John J. Mulrooney Award, which recognizes exemplary service to the North American forest products industry, was received by William Stimpson, former chairman of the board of the Gulf Lumber Co., Mobile, Al.

An expanded structure for NAWLA's successful Teacher Tours program encompassing other industry orga- nizations was formed as NAWLEEP, the North American Wholesale Lumber Environmental Education Partnership (see story on previous page). NAWLA is also developing an Internet Web site and a new sales training manual.

The association has 33 directors, including four new ones: Robert Bell, Bolen-Brunson-Bell Lumber Co., Memphis, Tn.; Peter Krihak, Holbrook Lumber, Albany, N.Y.; Brad Johansen, Welco Lumber Corp., Vancouver, 8.C., and Beverley Gilmore, U.S. Glu-Lam, Inc., Bedford Park.Il.

This year's meeting was held at Loews Ventana Canyon

Kent. (4) Bill fo!,. Frlrk Cammack. (5) Merry Schmidt, Bobby M. Thomas, Ralph Schmidt. (6) Greg Krir6e. (7) Gary Bennett.' (8) Steve Killgore, Clayton Barris, Bairy Kronick,'Cene Watters. (Si Steve Tyahla, Larry Cantliffe. (10) Charlie Moss, Bernie Bernstein, Jon Reed. (11)Joe.Nealon, Jim Mace, Eric Canton. (12)Jim Epperson Sr. (13) Craig Broady. (14) Bob Pippen, Charlie Crawford. (15) Sue & Bill Scott. (16) Terry Griffith, Jim Graham. (17) John Heath. (18) Jim Outram. (i9) Gary Tragesser, Frank Benneti. (20) Bob Jahns. (21) Chuck Geisltir, Anira Cinton. (22) Eric Witson, boti Petow. (23) Dinny Waters, Mark Junkins. (24i Dhvid Stearns, Bob Chadbourne. (25) jim Epperson Jr., Ken Caylor. (26) Walter Russell, Stan Bell, (27) Br.rddy Kluinb, Carol Pipkins, ken Fiobinson.

Resort. Tucson, Az. The l05th annual will be at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort, San Antonio, Tx., May 3-6, 1991The first annual NAWLA Traders Market will be held November 7-9 this year in Dallas, Tx. Described as a hands-on session where supply and distribution meet, it targets the people who daily buy and sell lumber and other wood products.

MULROONEY AWARD winner (1) Billy Stimpson (center), flanked by Ross Gorman and Fred Stimpson. (2) Mike & Margie McFarland. (3) John Snead, Lauren & Bill Jones. (4) Bill Tufts, Carlos Furtado. (5)

Stewart & Vicki O'Neill Chris & Terri Snavely. (6) Kelly Peterson, Jose Kastelic, Tony Frogameni, Dennis Connelly, Greg Peterson. (7) Jim Elder, Mike & Dawn Holm. (8) Steve & Beverly Johnson, Gordon & Dodie King. (9) E.J. & Ann Langley, Mark Anthony. (10)Jan & Don Enoler, Ray & Mo Haroldson, Rich & Joy Schaberg. (11)Sandy Stimpson, Willie Goyne. (12) Weyman Maxey, Steve Boyd, Peggy & Dennis Downer, Pat Bennett. (13) Chris & Lisa Weiss, Gloria Mace. (14) Annette & Jack Skriden, Sara Maxey. (15) Veronica & Bob Legg. (16) Liz Frogameni, David Billingsley, Julie Kastelic. (17) Ted Fullmer, Etaine a Joi Friesen. (18) Caiol Penoyer, Annette & Monte Jensen. (19)Robert Hanis, Ed Bayless. (20)Cindy & Jim McGinnis lll. (21)Will Riegel Bob Shull. (22) Charlie Jourdain. (23) Chris Grover. (24) Doug Holt. (25) Lance Humphrey.