WESlIERN ASS0e[ATr[0N NEWS

Lunber Merchants of Northern Cal. lfomla executive director Les Sanders recently sent tbe following message to members:

We believe LMA gives members the most for their dues dollar of any volunteer organization although we have to compete with local chambers, the builders exchange, Little Lrague and at least 25 other causes for the few bucks lumber dealers have to allocate. But should we be lumped with these other organizations?

The first thing prospective members ask is, "What's in it for us and how will it affect our bottom line?" I think we stand out over other groups because we can answer: o Only LMA is in business specifically to protect your interests and help you make aprofit. o We can keep you informed on important issues impacting your daily business decisions. o We just received a $167,000 workers comp grcup dividend check. Not being in our group plan probably cost you more than the price of annual dues. a 65Vo of our dealers buy their business/computer forms from LMA at substantial savings. o Our educational opportunities are designed specifically for you and your employees. Whenever possible we use.industry speakers who relate to and understand our problems.

O Our programs and services are established by members for members.

It's fairly easy to put a "savings" price tag on all these membership services, However, the most important benefit cannot be priced. Attending meetings, taking home good ideas, helping solve mutual industry problems and establishing lifelong friendships are priceless.

We are in the people business and the more members we get actively involved, the more effective and strong we become.

Last December we took an extensive opinion survey of our membership. It produced new ideas and confirmed we are doing a good job. The membership committee has concluded LMA is a dealer-driven organization and if individual members push tbe benefits of belonging we can double our numbers in several years.

Their immediate action will include enlisting the help of our insurance consultants in signing up dealer prospects. For:r associate member have volunteered to contact four dealer prospects each. The Associates Council, which includes all supplier/service membe$, is commised to support this important effort.

Don Johnson is quarterbacking an effort to use the talents of our retired past presidents and other active loyalists. Director Bill Blackwell has set a personal goal of signing up eight new Nevada deal-

Additional members wanting to help can call the LMA office (916) 369-7501.

I have assigned the new member canrpaign to Dimitra Smith. Her enthusiasm is infectious. President Frank Solinsky,, membership chaimran Kathleen Patterson and I encourage you to respond when she asks for your help. Better yet, if you know someone who should belong to LMA, ask them. Call us and we will do the follow-up work.

Membership in LMA doesn't cost - it pays!

For

Western Lumber Production - First Half lnland

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Source: Weslem Wood Producls Association

Western Mills Behind 1992 Levels

Western mill production for the frst half of 1993 lagged behind 1992levels, with Inland mills suffering the heaviest declines, reports the Westem Wood Products Association.

Overall output for the ftust six months of 1993 is 8.857 billion ft., down 7.27o from last year. fuers ue off l04o at 8.518 billion ft., with shipments down 8.37o to 8.716 billion ft. Coast mill production is down 3.l%o fot the year, while Inland production is ll.4%o lower. Coast mill order files are down 7.3Vo, with Inland order volume down l2.8Vo. Coast mills shipped 47o less volume, Inland mills l2.6Vo less.

At 2.145 billion bf., mill stocks are 4Vo lower than a year ago, when2.234 billion ft. was held in inventory.

SPACIOUS aisles with gondolas ananged in deparlments characterize Pan Lumber Co.'s newesl slore in West Union, Or. Manager Cameron Crop slands at lhe service @unter.

Parr Opens 11th Store

Residential and commercial builders comprise about 807o of the customers at Pafr Lumber Co.'s recently opened West Union, Or., store.

Built on nine acres on N.W. Wagon Way, the store and warehouse occupy 32,000 sq. ft. of space, making it one of Parr Lumber's largest facilities. Organized by departrnents, the sales center carries a full line of tools, appliances, materials and supplies for residential and commercial building including fasteners, flashing kits, skylights, windows, cabinets, doors and millwork plus a full service lumber yard.

"All our people are experienced and lnowledgeable. We think we have the best building materials sales staff around," maintains store manager Cameron Crop, a l4-year Parr employee who now heads a staff of 32. The store is open seven days a week.

Headquartered in Hillsboro, Or., Pan Lumber has 11 building materials centers in Oregon and southwest Washington.

Knoll & Pioneer To Merge

Knoll Lumber & Hardware Co., Kenmore, Wa., and Pioneer Building Centers, Snohomish, Wa., will combine operations under the Knoll Lumber name, effective Nov. l.

Knoll operates full service retail yards in Kenmore, Woodinville and Mill Creek and outlet center Discount Lumber in Marysville (Smokey PoinO. Pioneer operates full service yards in Snohomish (formerly Snohomish Building Center) and Monroe (formerly Dunbar Lumber).

Both Knoll and Pioneer are second generation family companies in business since 1945 and 1947, respectively, serving contractors and do-ityourselfers, said Knoll president Rick Barnes. Craig T. Knoll is chairman and ceo of the company started by his father, Carl Knoll, in Kenmore.

Knoll will continue to operate both Pioneer locations with existing staff under the management of Pioneer president Rorry Dunbar. The six locations will employ 130 with an annual sales volume of $30 million.

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BE Still Up For Sale

Quietly on the block for some time, 99-unit Builder's Emporium, Irvine, Ca., is now officially up for sale.

BE says several companies are currently evaluating the chain for possible acquisition. And earlier in the year parent company Collins & Aikman Group reclassified it in financial documents as "discontinued operations held for sale."

In trying to revamp its image to attract potential buyers, BE added a new management team and expects some type of image change by year's end.

Reportedly, the new leaders want to bring the chain back to basics by focusing on hardware, tools, electricals, plumbing and lawn and garden.

Single Family Starts Strong

Housing starts are positive nationwide with a possible 1.1 million single family sta(s this year despite California lagging behind withTVo of the total or 78,000 units.

The National Association of Home Builders labels this on par with the best years of the 1980s. If California could be discounted, 1993 single family housing starts would be at their highest level since 1979.

NAHB predicts a new record will be set for the value of single family housing next year in addition to a close to 137o increase in the California market. Houses being built are larger than those of the '80s. Single family houses in 1986 averaged 1,660 sq. ft. and only 33Vo had 2.5 or more bathrooms. Houses today average just under 2,000 sq. ft., an almost 20Vo increase, and nearly 50Vo have 2.5 or more bathrooms.

Composite Products Popular

"More and more people are choosing composite wood products over plywood because composite products provide equal or better results and often are less expensive than plywood, making them a popular choice among builders and specifiers," says Jim Peterson, Parr Lumber, Hillsboro, Or.

John Price at Lumberrnen's in Vancouver, Wa., agrees. So does Ken Kiest, general manager of Oregon Strand Board, manufacturer of Comply, a five-ply panel produced from veneers and wood fibers. "Engineered wood products are the wave of the future," he maintains.

Products such as Comply are environmentally responsible and do not depend on old growth timber. They take advantage of the entire tree. Even the wood shavings, which normally would be considered waste, are used, Kiest explains.

"Today dealers need to be able to offer their customers environmentally responsible products," adds Ed Fatz, Oregon Strand Board marketing and sales representative. "Especially in the environmentally aware Pacific Northwest, customers like the option of choosing products which accommodate environmencal concerns while responding to structural demands."

ALSC Treated Committee

Howard Powell, TP, Conyers, Ga., has been appointed chairman of the American Lumber Standards Conrmittee's treated wood advisory corrmittee by ALSC chair Wilbur Hammond. His fust meeting was July 8 at the Airport South Courtyard, College Park, Ga. Committee members and alternat€s include Jim Basler, Osmose Wood Preserving Co.; Lee Childers, Suwannee Lumber Mfg. Co.; William Cox, Jr., Cox Wood Preserving Co.; Pete DeShan and Steve Shields, Hickson Corp.; D. M. Dilbeck, TP; Jeff Easterling, Southern Forest Products

Association; Courtney Hutcherson, Cherokee Wood Preserving; Thomas Jones, Southern Pine Inspection Bureau; Donn Keefe; Kenneth W. Lee, Florida Lumber Inspection Service; Fred Omundson, CSI; J. W. Price,III, Madison Wood Preservers; R. E. Shackelford, III, Gulf Lumber Co.; Brad E. Shelley, West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau; Ian Stalker, Universal Forest Products; Jerome Tobias, HUD-FHA; Mell S. Tolleson, Jr., Mellco.

Hardwood Inc. Branch Moves

Hardwood Inc. is moving its Wilsonville, Or., distribution operations to Vancouver, Wa.

The nation's largest wholesaler of hardwood lumber and plywood, it will move in August or September when remodeling is completed on the leased 22,5N sq. ft. of warehouse and office space.

The company required a larger site that could handle its 48-ft. trucks and was near tle freeway system, said branch mgr. Bryan Hoyt.

A division of Sauder Industries Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Hardwood Inc. has Northwest U.S. headquarters in Tacoma, Wa.

WWPA Ecology Publications

Two new publications from the Western Wood Products Association can be used to tell lumber customers and the public why wood is the best environmental choice in building products. (See related Editorial, p. 6)

Choices, a 12 page full color brochure, emphasizes environmental decisions to be considered when selecting materials for construction. Environmental impact of all products is discussed with an explanation of how lumber meets ecological needs.

Users' Guide for the Wood Works Logo is a collection of camera-ready artwork that WWPA full members can use to publicize the ecological benefits of western woods.

FRT Plant Under Construction

Chemco, Inc., tle wodd's largest producer of FTX fire retardant shakes and shingles, has begun construction on a 43,000 sq. ft. plant at their Ferndale, Wa., location to house all FIX treating operations under one roof.

The facility is set to come on line in October, in anticipation of California s new law requiring all new wood roofs be treated with a minimum class "C" fire retardant.