, . .

Personnel Services Growing

The rapid rise of the retailer who deals in paint, hardware, tools and all the rest in addition to lumber has changed not only the traditional concept of a lumber dealer, but has created both a need for qualified management personnel, and specialized personnel firms to supply them to the industry.

Three years ago, Roth Young Personnel Service was opened in Los Angeles by president James Bright. Since then, nearly 20 branches have opened in other parts of the country, including branches in San Francisco and Seattle.

The branches swap information, within the proper confines of confidenceo of course, and pride themselves on their extensive records of screened applicants. The firm does not recruit applicants.

The retail division in Los Angeles is headed by Jack Heims.

Wood In Our Environment

The 1970s will see an increase in the ernphasis upon the nation's environment which began to assume major proportions in the closing vears of the 1960s.

&

HARRY MENDENHATT executi've vice president

Lumber Merchonts Associqtion of Northern Colifornio .{5,16 El Comino Rcol, Sulr. 0 lor Alioc, Callt. 9aA2 llr5l 911.1617

' A S a recruit into the life and ac- fa tivities of a lumber association with four months on the job, I can give an overview of the association, activities and members, from a fresh { oulsider''s ) *viewpoint. *

Firstly, I find that a great num. ber of individuals do not understand the full meaning of an industry association. It is my strong feeling that an association such as ours is composed of a group of merchants who as individuals do not have the strength and capability to be heard on matters affecting their industry at state an(l national levels; who do not, as individuals, have the benefits of group type programs; who through an association develop a symbolism of honesty, integrity, com. munity spirit and a camaraderie among fellow merchants in a similar industry.

Secondly, I find that an dssociation can, should, and must provide a service to the membership. Such service may be in the form of group insurance programs; state and nationdl Legislative activities to preclude the approval of legislation harmful to the industry and to press for approval of legislation which is beneficial to the industry; safety programs; marketing advice; analysis of consumer trends, ad infinitum. *

Initially, I was surprised to learn that there was a lack of active participation on the part of many mem. bers. My visits to almost all the member firms and an analysis of the association's activities gave me a better insight into the problem. The lack of participation by many is not by choice. Many members do not have firms of sufficient size or volume of trade to permit the cost of participating on committees, attending seminars and conventions. They have a very limited number of personnel which precludes the absence of'the owner/ manager from the firm. There are sme among this group, however, who feel so strongly about participating in association activities that they make time and funds available. * * *

Guidarrce o[ an association such as ouls is provided primarily from those firms which have a sufficient work force and sufficient resources to permit attendance by the owner, manager or key personnel in the association activities. I understand the merchant's point of view but am of the opinion that attendance at seminars, conventions and committee work will provide the smaller yards with increased enthusiasm, permit close contacts with merchants operating large or chain type firms and in general will benefit the smaller yard by the experience and information obtained through these sources.

Election Night in S.F.

A San Francisco Hoo-Hoo Club 'll' f9 meeting recently welcomed and congratulated Larry Owen, club 9 member and the newly-elected Snark of the Universe. Larry told of his attendance at the International Hoo-Hoo annual convention in Boston.

New elected officers are: Ted Little, president; Lee Rappleyea, vp.; Reg Ricci, treasurer and Pete Johnson, secretary.

Board of directors: Ed Brush, Max Cook, Bill MacBeath, Larry Owen, Hugh Pessner, Ruy Ryan, Pat Tynan, Art Wall, Knute Weid. man and Cal Wood.

Brown New K-C Monoger

Herbert S. Brown has been named manager of all lumber sales by Kimberlv-Clark Corp. according to Ray Williams, gen. manager of the forest products div. Brown is now in charge of sales of all lumber products produced by Kimberly-Clark's Anderson, Wildwood and Mt. Shasta mills. He has been western lumber sales manager since 1961.

Son Diego Club Elections

Ron Angelo has been elected the new president of San Diego Hoo-Hoo Club. Other new officers are IVIilt 0lsen as vp. and Bud Baker as sec.treasurer.

A new film on the lumrber industry was shown at the installation dinner dance.

Other club officers are Bob Crov. Wayne Raney, Harold Morgan, Ken Fritz, and Gene Huckstadt.

Nominating committee was composed of Bill Olmstead, Al McAlpine and Ed Gavotto.

"Some

Selling off the iunk and making money

f\REATION of a wholly new v market for wood that doesn't supplant a prior wood market or curtail existing usage is perhaps the zenith of good marketing. When it also utilizes unsaleable material, it'-s really something else.

Some years ago, Everett-Hoban, Inc., Stony Brook, New York, had 10,000 ft. of special usage industrial lumber rejected and found themselves involved in trying to find some useful need for the materialsimply to get rid of it. After a number of unsuccessful ideas" they came up with an ideal use for the material with sales results far beyond their dreams.

The Long Island wholesale firm had supplied an order o{ cedar "trunking" to one o{ the railroads. Trunking is a 4x6 product with a space cut out, much like gutter stock only square. It is used as a conduit for electrical cables, usually for signal devices. Prior to laying the cables into the ootrunking," the wood "conduit" is spiked to railroad ties and after the lines are placed, the U-shaped wood is capped by a piece of. 5/4x6" four.sided "capping" material.

But the mill had removed too much wood and the sides were too thin for the fastening screws of the "capping." Thus the rejection.

Over the next couple of years, the staff searched their imaginations. An unofficial but acceptable gutter pattern was devisedbut there were no takers for a different kind of gutter.

Finally, a chance remark led to the answer. Decorative interior ceiling beams. This type of construction was popular in the area with two types of decorative beams being utilized. A number of contractors were manufacturing otboxed" beams consisting of nailed and/or glued 1x4's right on the job-site. Others were using a remarkably lifelike plastic product.

Everett-Hoban dispatched a salesman and in l0 days time, the inventory was completely sold.

Hoo-Hoo lnternqtionol Slote

Westerners again dominate the slate of officers of Hoo-Hoo International following their recent convention in Boston.

Larry Owen, Simeone-Williams Co., Lafayette, Calif., was elected president, or Snark of the Universe, as the club styles it. Jack Cheshire, a lumberman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the new vice president of the fraternity that has ll0 clubs scattered throughout the fifty states and three foreign countries.

Roy Dunbar, North Valley Lumber Sales, Redding, Calif., has been named as the director of club jurisdiction six, which covers California, Nevada" Arizona. New Mexico. Utah, Colorado and Hawaii.

0wen, active for years in Hoo-Hoo, as are the other elected westerners. was a major force behind the fund raising efforts that brought about the realization of a long cherished HooHoo goal, establishment of their own memorial redwood grove.

Hoo-Hoo membership is about 10,000 and is limited to lumbermen, foresters, officers of lumber associations and the trade press.