THE ARIZONA

SGtrNtr

By FRANK DAVIS executive vice president

THE Arizona association recently r formed a wood promotion committee to put into high gear a program that will emphasize to the builder and consumer that an all wood home is the most economical and best buy in today's home market.

This does not mean that the association has not been wood promo. tion minded in the past. A lot of time and efiort has been put forth in his area. Many factors have prevented us from promoting wood as we should. Wood promotion requires a large amount of money and manpower. Associations are limited in budgets and with one executive vice president responsible for all programs, this has limited our promotion efforts in any one specific area.

For many years in Arizona, home construction has been predominately of masonry. The average dealer sales to builders in the wood area has been mostly confined to roof trusses, roof sheathing and interior wall studs.

The main factor of masonry predominance has been the builder's attitude that a masonry home is cheaper to build than an all wood home.

Economics has suddenly changed this situation. Block prices have risen and in recent labor negotiations, labor costs for brick layers rose sharply. Now the home builders are leaning toward wood construction.

With these changes taking- place, our association feels that now is the time for an all out promotion campaign to be launched to take advantage of the situation so wood can get a bigger share of the home construction market.

(Cantinu,ed, on Page 35) terested persons with the details of the rules and the provisions of the new standard. Assisting in this endeavor will be stafi people of WCLIB and WWPA.

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

f)N September l, Voluntary Prod- V uct Standard 20.80 became efiective, replacing Simplified Practice Recommendation 16-53.

Seventeen years is seemingly a long life for a standard that was considered to be so inadequate and under open attack for at least eight of those years. Yet it served its purpose well.

A portion of VPS 20-70 provides for the development of National

Grading Rules. New grading rules have been made available by the rules writing agencies and now there is the arduous task of acquainting consumer, specifier, builder, architect and distributor with these rules and the grade nomenclature which they encompass.

On September 15 and continuing into early October, the Lumber Association of Southern California will conduct area meetings for all retailers and wholesalers in our area, to acquaint yard personnel, countermen" outside salesmen and other in-

There will also be literature available for reference and some hand. out material for your customers. And, o{ course, Wayne Gardner and "Rod" Rodriguez of LASC will be available to assist anyone with specific problems, as will the people representing the various rules writing and rules enforcing agencies.

On page 34 of The Merchant there is an article on the addition of "Rod" Rodriguez to the LASC stafi. Since A,ugust 3rd, "Rod" and Wayne have been making calls on members to introduce him, and acquaint him with the pleasures and

(Continucil on Page 35)

By R0SS KINCAID executive vice president

I)ECENT Western staff changes in' It clude the departure of two "old' timers" and arrival sf 1rve "newcomers.t'

Felix W. Johnson: a veteran of 14 years with WBMA whose excellent service to members has won him respect individually and for Western. Felix became a full partner with George Borgen at Gig Harbor, Wash. The firm will be known as Borgen and Johnson Building Supply.

Dorothy Butcher: the move to Olympia for WBMA means the loss of Dorothy to our stafi. Since her husband's employment is in Seattle, she cannot make the transfer. She, too, has been with Western for some time . 20 years. Her cheery telephone voice and genuine concern in handling members' problems as well as'her wonderful attitude around the office will be sorely missed. We surely hope that Dorothy finds a business home soon in the Seattle area , she is a most competent person in general office work.

Alice Hindman: from Olympia, to Seattle and now back to Olympia with the WBMA move, Alice has been getting acquainted with the myriad of details that are involved with association activity. She has been highly recommended by several of our members that have known her in business in Olympia. We are looking forward to her becoming a part of the 'oteam" that serves Western membership. Al. ice is handling insurance and pension office work as well as the accounting.

Pat Dyer: Pat has now been with WBMA for several months and is doing a good job with general office procedures.

We hope you will have the opportunity to visit Western's new head. quarters in Olympia and get ac. quainted with new members of the staff.

A HIGHLY successful series of n meetings, staged in co-operation with personnel from the Farmers Home Administration, made available to all dealers around the state the details of the low-income construction loan program of FmHA.

Rural homes are a prime market for builders and building materials dealers in rural areas and for those in larger markets who serve rural areas.

Since rural areas, by FmHA definition, include communities up to 5500 population the program offers opportunities to every dealer in Montana. W'ith mortgage money in tight supply, and expensive, this well-funded rural construction program opens excellent sales possibilities. Meetings in Wolf Point, Glendive, Billings, Three Forks, Polson and Conrad brought the program within easy driving range of almost all dealers. Those dealers who did not attend these meetings and who have not learned the deiails of this program are urged to talk with their local county or area supervisor. He is a valuable contact to have. tunity for meetings of their boards of directors. Then, - business matters having been attended to, adjournment to tee or stream was in order. No record was kept as to the "biggest or most" trout so it can only be reported that the rainbows were bright and co-operative.

The annual mid-summer get-togeth. er of salesmen and dealers provided an interesting weekend in Lewistown. As usual, both the salesman and dealer organizations used the oppor.

In the Hoo-Hoo golf tourney, the highlight was the men's bestball twosome competition, with Keith Schnurbusch and Jim Wilharm taking top honors. Al Clark paired with Joe Brooke to finish second, Dean Swank and Milt Sethre garnering third, and Arnie Nelson and BiU Ogle fourrh. On the distaff side Eileen Sethre took home top honors for low net, with Esther W'alter, second; Ruth Clark, third; and Barb Swank, fourth. As usual, Lewistown host dealers Al Gates and Arnie Nelson extended themselves to arrange a splendid outing.

New G-P Distribution Cenler

A new 90,000 tq. ft. building materials disribution center, doubling the original inventory space, has been opened by Georgia-Pacific Co1p. in Woodinvillg Wash., accurding to Clair E. Nieszo manager.

"The $800,@0 center is representative of the company's involvement and faith in the Seattle area," said Niesz.

The structure includes the offices of Alfred M. Wright, Nortlwest regional manager, distribution div., and E. G. Reynolds, district sales manager, gypsum div.

NAWLA Membership Gqins

The merger of the Forest Products Wholesalers' Assn. into National-American Wholesale Lumber Assn. has caused an unprecedented influx of new members.

Twenty-one FPW companies took advantage of the merger agreement. Seventeen other companies have also applied to NAIVLA since April 1. The 38 applications in just four months provide the l-righest membership gain in over a decade. It brings the NAWLA membership up to 404 individual companies.

The Deqler Knows Best

A survey by Masonite of consumers who purchased Royalcote panels indicates that 57 percent found the lumber dealer the most helpful source of information. He rated as the first source of information by 28 percent.

The paneling was used most often in the kitchen, 36 percent. Other rooms high on the list were family rooms, basements, dining and living rooms and hallways. UIIITED

BEST!

A United statf of Yeteran lumbernen eryorionced in handling the requirements of the retail doaler

United in their etfort to pro. vide prompt, officient sen im on wholesale ordors from 0ur to more and more California dealers and distributors. For year arouid supplies of dimension lumber and precision-trimmed studs, depend on D&R.

United inventory of prime sofmood lumber maintained with the rutailol dealer's nccds In mind.

(lld Growth Fir Dimension lrom

F.S.P. Lumber Co., Port 0rford, 0regon

Hemlock Studs from Warrenton Lumber Co., Warrenton, 0regon

Hemlock Dimenshn fiom

Westport Lumber Co., Westport, Oregon l{ow, oyer 5,000,000 feet of dimension lumber and studs monthly manufctured especially for Southarn California construction needs.

Fast, regula ocean shipnenb by barga from Southern 0regon and $e Columbia River direct to Southern California.

Art tlefi would apprsciate an oppoilunity to tell you how you and your cust0me6 will benefit fron usinc demndable 0 & R dimension and studs.

Youianieach lrim by calling 812-1280 or 78$11544.