Begins Second Decade Hardwood Club

they also find time to socialize with each other.

Recent activities have included a night cheering the California Angels at the Big A, a day at the races, and a cruise along the Mexican Coast. Future plans include the annual Christmas dinner/dance at the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel, the first annual golf tournament, and a continuing speaker program at monthly meetings.

By Craig B. Kincaid Robert S. Osgood, Inc. [,os Angeles, Ca.

THE Los Angeles Hardwood Lum! berman's Club, a group dedicated solely to comradery and fellowship, has begun its second decade under the leadership of newly elected president, Craig B. Kincaid, managerof the hardwood lumber departrnent at Robert S. Osgood, Inc. While they do manage to compete for their share of the large Southern California hardwood market,

The club's primary activities are luncheons or dinners on the second Thursdav of the month where memben bedome acquainted on a purely social basis. Often these friendships facilitate later business dealings, or they lead to the sharing of mutual problems related to business, but ultimately to greater communication.

For ten years the club has been governed by a single, unwritten bylaw: no lumber business discussed at meetings. "It's that one rule that makes the club enjoyable," said newly elected vice-president Gage McKinney, manager of MacBeath's Brush Industrial Hardwood Co. "It also makes it legal." he added, referring to Federal anti-trust laws.

The Merchant Magazine

The formula seems to have worked well. The first ten years have seen the club grow from a nucleus of five to 49. The club was founded by Ken Tinckler, Stahl Lumber Co., the first president; Bob King, the first v.p. and Jeny Lapin, the first treasurer, both of Mercury Hardwood; and Robert Sherratt; and Jack Havens, Heritage Hardwoods.

The membership has grown to include most of the prominent hardwood lumbermen in Southern California: it also includes members from San Francisco and Memphis, Tn. David Cutler, editor-publisher of The Merchant Magazine was made an honorary member two years ago.

Along with its social activities, the Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club has also made regular charitable contributions during its history. Past recipients have included the Blind Children's Center of Los Angeles, the Salvation Army, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Ca., the National Hardwood Association's Grading School, Memphis, Tn., and many others.

During its ten year history, the Hardwood Club has graced some of the finer eating and drinking establishments of Greater Los Angeles. In the (Please turn to page 74)