lndust rV groups grapple with post-September 11 scheduling

fN THE immediate aftermath of the ISept. | | attacks. many organizations canceled or postponed their events out of respect for the attack victims and concerns about airline safety.

Some groups that initially chose to postpone had to make difficult decisions about their events as fallout from the attacks reverberated throughout the industry.

The Western Building Material Association decided to postpone its annual convention and buying show originally set for Nov. 8-11 in Bellevue, Wa.

WBMA's Casey Voorhees said a rescheduled date in January would soon be announced. He added that postponement was due to an expected low turnout. "lt didn't make sense to have a bunch of exhibitors standins around," he said.

APA-The Engineered Wood Asso- originally been set for Sept. l4-17.

APA president David Rogoway noted that low attendance commitments, a sputtering market and contin- ued uncertainty about the safety of flying led to the decision. initially chose to postpone had to make difficult decisions about their events as fallout from the attacks reverberated throughout the industry. ciation canceled its annual meeting that had been rescheduled for Nov. 47 in San Diego, Ca. The meeting had

Mock said, "Our response to these events should include moving forward with our meeting and conference."

The Cedar Shake & Shinsle Bureau hosted its rescheduled annual meeting Nov. 2 in Richmond, B.C. The original meeting had been set for Sept. l4-15 in Whistler, B.C.

The Certified Forest Products Council has decided to reschedule its conference and showcase. originally set for Sept. 26-28, for April 25-21. 2002 in Atlanta, Ga.

Also rescheduling was the National Hardwood Lumber Association, which initially canceled its Sept. l2-15 convention in New Orleans, La. The rescheduled convention will take place Jan. l0-12 in Memphis, Tn.

"It is a disappointment to the staff, the board and the member and supplier company representatives who had indicated they planned to attend," Rogoway said. "However we felt in the end that a poorly attended meeting would not be in the interests of the membership or the industry."

Meetings of the board of trustees as well as other advisory committees will be rescheduled.

Architectural Woodwork Institute rescheduled its annual meeting and convention, originally set for Sept. l3-15, for Nov. 15-17 in Boston, Ma.

Newly elected president Doug

North American Wholesale Lumber Association was among the groups sticking with its original show date. Despite a decline in attendance from last year's show, the Oct. ll-13 Traders Market in Dallas, Tx., did attract about 1,500, many making their first airline trips since Sept. 1 l.

Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association also carried on with their fall management conference Oct. 4-6 in Jackson Hole, Wy. (See coverage, p. 23). Attendance was, according to executive vice president Geri Adams, "a trickle lower because it became difficult to get here, with canceled flights and such."