u!a - &VIEWS

early one and one-half years ago il was suggested by a member that the association attempt to organize a credit union for building material employees.

A sfudy was made and tle response from both dealers and employees was so keen that the association prepared documentation and sent a request to the feds (National Credit Union Administration) for authority to establish a credit union.

HARRY MENDENHALL executive vice president

The activities of the Credit Union have grown so rapidly that it has been difficult attempting to keep pace. Although, at the time of preparation of this article, we have onlv visited 8 companies and discussed only the credit union with the employees, 151 employees have become members and total assets have grown to $56,270.

The association staff has been making calls to member yards after work to discuss the CU with the employees and the acceptance by both dealers and employees has overwhelmed us. We have approximately 100 night calls on dealers remaining to make. The pbtential and current acceptance indicates this program is undoubtdAly ttre most successful employee benefit program yet undertaken.

We are the fust building material association to sponsor a credit union but word is spreading and we have had several calls from other associations on how to set up a credit union.

What is the Credit Union? Simply a cooperative belonging to dealers and employees; a place to establish a savings account and to borrow at d low interest rate. It is non-profit, therefore any income earned must be retumed to share holders through dividends on share accounts.

Employers are interested in benefits available to employees and realize it is something that very few labor unions have available. Several employers have purchased shares from company- funds to help build the loan reserve. If employees had to wait for a loan resirve to accumulate from the payroll deductions to their share accounts it would take almost a year to build enough reserve to be effective. With the help of employers and association reserves the credit union had the capability to make loans immediately.

The employees recbgnized the fact that dealer members had used company funds to purchase shares to build the loar teserve and are extremely grateful.

Only employees of the LMA member organizations 4ay _qartic- ipate in the Building Material Employees Federal Credit Union. Employees of non-members will look with envy across town to the LMA members having this program available.

For all of our LMA meirbeis, the credit union is the only program we have developed that has received such ttemendous acceptance and appreciation of the employees. If you have not requ'ested the LMA staff to discuss it with your employees we sulgest you call us or drop us a line. You're certainly missing out on the greatest program of the cenfury.

CHUCK LINK executive director

AUn newesr staif member is lTSharon Romas. We are pleased to introduce you to Sharon, who had been with the American Plywood Association in Tacoma for 10 years, and before that with the Weyerhaeuser Company for six years.

Her experience and knowledge will be a valuable addition and we welcome her to the staff. Her principal duties will be the Group Insurance and Pension Plans. Gay Rochel, who had handled those duties for about 3/z yearc, left because her husband was transferred to Portland.

Yours truly testified recently in sup- port of HR.. 7972 (banning export of round logs from federal lands) at a hearing in Olympia.

It was held by the subcommittee on Intemational Economic Policy and Trade of the House International Relations Committee. Anyone wishing a copy of the testimony may obtain one by calling or writing WBMA.

Unemployment compensation taxes in some states are in trouble, partly because of deficit funding inthe 197375 recession, but also because unemployment benefits have become more attractive. It's costing business dearly.

Here are a few tips to help avoid unnecessary expenses: Spell out company rules clearly and frankly. Keep all signed records. Maintain a nondiscriminatory discipline policy, with warning notices.

Keep track of absenteeism and tardiness, whether the worker phones in, and be sure to have a person designated to receive all such calls.Remember, many claims are "protectable" but are never protested.

The U.S. Senate is now considering the Alaska lands bill, which would put 102 million acres for parks and wilderness areas.

About '72 million acres would be designated as instant Wilderness and another 40 million acres withdrawn for Wilderness study.

Included in the Wilderness set- aside would be 3.4 million acres in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, which would seriously affect timber supply for forest industry operation in the state. Urge your Congtressmen to vote no.