New industry training effort begins in the Pacific Northwest

HE recently established Learning Resource Council, part of the Western Building Material Association, is being headed by the very able Ross Kincaid, who has moved over as director from his previous slot with WBMA as exec. v.p.

The aim of the LRC is educational upgrading, from new men and women to executive level personnel. LRC also will coordinate with manufacturers and wholesale distributors in securing maximum mileage from their educational programs.

Current council members are some the the top people connected with the industry: C.E. Link, Boise Cascade, Boise, Id.; Dick Anderson, American Plywood Assn., Tacoma; Jim Bender, OwensCorning Fiberglas, Seattle; Roger Conrad, W.J. Conrad Lumber Co., Coos Bay, Or.; Tom Howell, Cascade Building Center, Yakima, Wa.; Ansel Hyland, Eugene Planing Mill, Eugene, Or.; Herman Keilner, Model Lumber Co., Tacoma; Larry Knudsen, Lumbermen's of Washington, Shelton, Wa.; Bob McPherson, Van Petten Lumber Co., Walla Walla, Wa.; and Dick Passage, Green River Community College, Auburn, Wa.

At a recent meeting the following evaluations were made and these directions were agreed upon:

(1) On collating educational material for the LRC library, community colleges have film libraries and can cooperate; APA and other associations can help; essential to contact right person in manufacturing firms to secure action. Committee agreed case histories of successes and failures should be gathered.

Story at a Glance

Learning Resource Council, an off-shoot of the Western Building Material Assn., begins a major new drive to upgrade the effectiveness of industry employees at all levels.

(2) The building material marketing course was again endorsed as a valuable LRC effort; a strong recommendation was made that a "mini" BMMC should be taken to districts on perhaps a three night, three hours per night basis.

(3) The Dynamics of Selling System was endorsed; to be capsuled into a one evening presentation in cooperation with manufacturers and distributors.

(4) Cassettes could be produced and re-produced at minimum cost at Green River Community College. The school library could reproduce cassette tapes without infringement on copyrights.

(5) It was recommended that the following subjects be included in programming for yard and counter personnel: sales, product knowledge, importance of customer service, how to treat customers, how-to information, blueprint reading, estimating, building techniques, credits and collections.

(6) For management LRC should continue roundtables, sponsor consultants, Project Dad concept, management memos.

(7) Concept of Ray Saberson's Lumber Dealer Merchandising Institute was strongly endorsed. For a minimum fee to those employees who enrolled, regular mailings of selected case histories would be sent, with incentives for winners.

(8) Council should invite to a meeting those community colleges equipped and desirous of cooperating in the presentation of industry subjects. This would make essential training courses available throughout WBMA's region.

(9) Approval was given to sponsorship of the James Adams Advanced Estimating classes; this was contingent upon avail. ability.