Final Arizona convention

HEN the Arizona Lumber & Builders Supply Association gathered for its annual convention, its financial problems were well known, but most observers felt a solution of these problems was still possible. Yet, a week later the 67 year old organization was dead.

Following several years of worsening money problems, the ALBSA determined at their May 13 and 14 convention that an emergency meeting should be held May 19 for a final reckoning. Faced with insurmountable fiscal problems, the group voted to dissolve ALBSA. (See The Merchant, June, p. 21.)

Since that time Phoenix attorney Robert Whitten has been retained to wind down affairs and disincorporate ALBSA. He is currently in negotiation with the association's former landlord for a settlement on a long term office lease and has approached the Internal Revenue Service to explain the situation regarding tax and other filings. Estimates run up to two years to complete the closure of the ALBSA.

ALBSA members have been approached by the Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association to join their group. Fred Caruso, Mountain States executive vice president, says, "We are actively recruiting their members." Others in the industry speculate that members of the Young Lumbermen's Association, a part of ALBSA, may form the nucleus of a new industry group. Other projections foresee a new association forming "in a few years, " according to informed sources.

The hnal convention was in abbreviated form, held over only two days. The initial Friday, May 13, was devoted to the annual Drake/Bell

Memorial Golf Tournament and a steak fry held that evening.

Next morning, two industry speakers began the business sessions. Russ Fredsal of the Western Wood Products Association spoke optimistically on the fundamental balance present in today's supply/demand equation in the lumber business. He warned that unreasonable pressures by environmentalists could seriously hamper this balance and leave the United States unable to meet the demand for wood here and abroad. He called some of their measures "a time bomb for the 1990s."

He was followed on the program by Art Chapman of the Southern Pacific, who described advances in railroad productivity and said that "railroads are here to stay." He said the rail carriers need to realize the full potential of the U.S. rail networks, as the truckers have with America's highways.

Story at a Glance

Statewide lumber dealers association's 67th and final convention.. financial woes kill popular organization...final dissolution expected to take up to two years.

The annual meeting then began the first of the discussions that would lead finally to the vote a week later to dissolve the ALBSA.

Four proposals to provide management for the group following the sudden departure of former executive vice president E.J. Johnson were swept aside by subsequent financial developments. In addition to two proposals by local association managers, both the Mountain States group and the Lumber Association of Southern California made merger bids. It is anticipated that some Arizona industry members will choose to join one or the other of the two out-of-state lumber dealer associations.

The luncheon speaker was Bob Clasby, defensive tackle with the new Phoenix Cardinals football team. From a lumber family, Clasby is currently working part-time for Snavely Forest Products at their Chandler (Phoenix) distribution center.

Officers elected at the final meeting are president Dave Runyon; lst v.p. Tony Padilla; 2nd v.p. Steve Snavely; sec. Sherry Gaylor and Tim O'Malley, member at large. The immediate past president is Michael O'Malley.

The eclipse of the Arizona Lumber & Builders Supply Association was met with genuine sadness by most members. As one summed up: "After almost seven decades of achievements and successes, it really hurts to see this great part of our Arizona industry die."