Wide ranging program at Arizona annual meeting

rpROSPERITY Thru Optimism"

I was the upbeat theme for a very upbeat and successful convention held during the middle of the month of May by the Arizona Lumber and Builders Supply Assn. at Tucson's Doubletree Inn.

Among the accomplishments a' chieved at the 54th annual meeting was the election of an especially strong slate of officers that includes George Rothfuss, Prescott Lumber Co., Prescott, president; Charles Ray, Ray Lum' ber Co., Phoenix, lst v.p.; Jim Barlow, O'Malley's, Tucson, 2nd v'P.: Earl Heldt, Heldt Lumber, Phoenix, treasurerl and Frank Davis, re-elected as exec. v.p. Now completing his 30th year in the lumber industrY and his l0th as AL&BSA exec. v.p., Davis was honored with a special resolution by the association for the remarkable job ofbuildingthe group he has performed over the last decade.

Among the new directors for 1975-76 are Al Butler, Del Ivie and King McKee. Next year's meeting will again be in Tucson, May 6-8, with the choice of hotel indefinite at this point.

Convention keynoter Dr. Carl Winters began the proceedings with a blast at those who unfailingly fault America, particularly singling out the TV newscasts. which he described as "ourdaily dose of desperation from the peddlars of pandemonium." Opti mism must be based on hope to be realistic. Winter emphasized.

Story ata Glance

Optimism keys 54th annual George Rothfuss new President . . . credit and collections, consumerism, financial trends, land use planning and relations with Washington highlight program. .Tucson siteof '76 convention.

Banker B. Paul Jones, senior v.P., Valley National Bank, Phoenix, reviewed the economic fundamentals of the economy, and especiallY as theY relate to building, and ventured that the "fundamentals point to optimism; a slow rise to next year and maYbe beyond."

TELEVISI0N technicians check lighting, sound (11 before press conference staged by the association as part of its annual meeting. Well attended, it resulted in a number of favorable stories, as well as TV coverage, in local media. 0n panel are (l-r) Dean Drake, Al Schechter and Dick Snyder, NLBMDA exec. v.p. (2) Al Schechter, Rep. Sam Steiger, Frank Davis, AL&BSA exec. v.p. (3) Bob Pallow, Chuck Noble, Peggy Pallow, Frank lvanovich. (4) Front row: Fred Moor, Jack Sullivan, Jim Sullivan. Back row: Mike DeBeelis, Bichard Chambers, Jack Evans. (51 Ken and Jody Thompson; in background: Ellen and Wayne Thompson; foreground: Carol Thompson; Wilma and Ken Lott. (6) Bob Silvey, Earl Heldt, Roger Hancock, Harold Spotts.

He observed that business now, more than ever, must grow on its equity base as access to credit is more difficult. He described ur"is access as the "key to survival and growth."

A press conference held the second day of the convention, May 16, drew numerous representatives from the local papers and TV stations. It consisted of a panel of industry experts: Richard Snyder, exec. v.p., National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Assn.: Al Schechter, president, AL& BSA; and Dean Drake, O'MalleY, Phoenix.

Describing the industry's biggest problem as increasing the yield from bontittu.ed on page zo )