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By CHUCK LINK executive director

A nOuf 160 people participated Fin Western's l2th All Industry Marketing Conference at Yakima, Wa., May 23-25.

At the Kick-Off Luncheon they heard a very complete and up-to-theminute report on the Monongahela issue and what it means to each of us. George E. McCown and Sam Donaldson of Boise Cascade stressed that it is a consumer issue, it's everybody's problem, and will require effort from everyone to solve it.

Mary

Marks

of Evergreen Lumber,

So. Colby, Wa., Gordon Gerretsen, WBMA v.p., and yours truly reported on the activities of the Learning Resource Center. We emphasized the excellent results of the Building Material Marketing Course.

A total of 186 students and 33 instructors have participated in the five six-month courses since 19"72. It's truly an industry effort with valuable, tangible results being reported by employers and students alike.

Ron Pulliam, Young Westerner's Club President, presented information about YWC's comprehensive recruitment program. His introdution to the topic "The Challenge of People and Your Business" set the state for stimulating roundtable discussions.

Pat Reiten, Simpson Timber Co., Dick Marble. Yakima Hardware Co.. and Bob McPherson, Van Petten Lumber Co. in speaking on the subject "Your Market Today and Tomorrow" all were optimistic. But they also said the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer must develop strategies to serve the consumer and/or builder customers in a climate of ever-accelerating change. The presentations proved to be good background for the roundtable discussions that followed.

William Stone, Better Business Bureau of Central Washington, very appropriately led into the topic "Finding Solutions to Your Problems" with an interesting report on the availability of arbitration as a means of solving differences between businesses and customers. You will undoubtedly hear more about this in the future.

Roundtable discussions on Tuesday morning and a final summation of the Conference at luncheon concluded the I 2th Marketing Conference.

WBMA past president Homer Greer and his committee earned the thanks and congratulations of all for a very worthwhile and successful Conference.

By R.V. PETERSEN executve secretary

Qrntuc is trad.itional moving A)time. It seems also to be a time for moves and changes within the industry. Recent activity in this area includes enrollment of the following new MBMDA members:

Tony Stein, A-Frame, Inc., Baker, Mt.

Allen Rogers, Big Sky Supply Co., Ronan, Mt.

Bob Stack, Cut Bank Building Service, Cut Bank, Mt.

Mike O'Connell, Western Dimension, Butte, Mt.

Dick Roberts, Whitehall Building Materials Co., Whitehall, Mt.

Welcome as a new associate member was extended to Chuck Niswanger, Glacier Forest Products, Great Falls, Mt.

Former Masonite salesman, Terry Soine. has established Woodsman Builders Supply at Columbus. Falls Building Supply, Thompson Falls, has been purchased by Francis Avenue Lumber Co. (Spokane) and will be managed by Jim Wells. It becomes Thompson Falls Building Supply.

George Wolf has assumed the management reins at Havre Builders Supply, Havre, Mt. New representative in the area for Certain-teed Products is Don Vincelette.

A famlliar name has been phased out with the deactivation of the L. E. Hamilton Lumber Co., Missoula, Leonard Hamilton having decided to pursue less strenuous activities. In a collateral move John Hawkins (John R. Hawkins Lumber Co., Billings) announced his retirement from the active scene.

Alan Kind (Linder-Kind Lumber Co., Helena) is currently crutching around the premises because of a broken ankle due to taking one too many shortcuts.

We regret to report the death of two long time members of the industry in Montana:

James H. Hawkins, 84, Kalispell Lumber Co., Kalispell

George E. Wilson, 62, Lumber Yard Supply Co., Great Falls