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By R0SS K|]{CAID executive vice president

fNSURANCE and pension trustees, - during a full day session, reviewed these two great programs of service to members. Despite escalating hospital - medical costs, the overall package's experience this past year allowed the trustees to return to participants a $11,006.58 dividend.

All members taking advantage of these services as well as others interested participated in the administrative seminars. The seminars clarified details of the benefits and procedures to make sure the program is thoroughly understood,

Trustees chairman Clayton C. Morse, Sel Vander Wegen, W. Stewart Orr, MeI Bettis, Arny Kirkebo and John Kendall do an outstanding ser- vice to members as they advise and "watch dog" the manner in which the program is developed and administered.

The new learning resource center of WBMA received a "test run." Dick Fidler, staff merchandising director, successfully led a selected small group in middle management. The objective was to begin to establish "sales leaders" with an understanding of the function, its importance and methods. The enthusiastic response of this group means the program will soon be underway for other member participants.

Those involved in the pilot group were: Barry D. Anderson, Woody's Olympia Lumber; Jim Greer, Greer & Thomas Lumber; Dave Haggett, Wall Builders Supply; Larry Knudson. Lumbermen's of Shelton.

Jim H. Michel. The H. O. Seiffert Co.: Richard Pruczinski. Knoll Lum- ber & Hardware Co.; Richard Schulzke, Bayview Lumber Co.; and Barry Ultican. Parker Lumber.

A tax break for home improvements ? We've supported this concept for some time. Representative Seymour Halpern of New York has introduced HR 8387 that would give homeowners a $1,000 income tax deduction each year for home improvements and repairs. Your letters to your congressmen might make the difference. WBMA urges your followup.

Members who have ordered and received their product training manuals think this is a fine and essential tool. Four additional chapters have now been mailed for the manuals and three more are in production. We suggest you send in your order,

Two more suggestions that will make or save you money are: fn an economy of constant--almost mandatory-change, the association must continuously evaluate itself and its product-the functions that best serve the membership, the services that keep it abreast or ahead of changres with the industry.

(1) WBMA has thoroughly analyzed the plan books offered by National Plan Service and has specially selected eight books that include plans that can be enthusiastically promoted in our northwest region.

(2) Members agree the WBMA's small business tax control service offers excellent tax saving procedures.

QERVICE to its members is the J basic product of any association. That product must have recognized value and be accepted by the membership.

For strength, an association needs a continuing infusion of new blood, new manpower with new ideas. It must depend upon the participation and effort of the entire membership. It must look for continuing vitality to a rbroadening manpower base, which makes it essential to enlist the interest and service of more and more members. Too much reliance upon a group of faithful, dependable contributors who can be counted upon for ready co-operation simply results in gradual diminution of the group doing all the work.

Membership services must be pur- poseful and needful. Unless used by the membership they have little merit. .Conversely, it is membership's respon- sibility to indicate those services which are needed and appreciated. The association can contribute to free interchange of information within the industry. It can represent the industry on matters of legislative and publicrelations importance. It can help increase the efrective functioning of its members. But, in turn, it must rely upon the contribution and participation of its members.

If association dues represent the member's "rent paid for the place occupied in the industry," association services represent the return on the member's contribution of time, effort and abtention to assure a healthier, happier business climate in which to work.

Stroit Nqmed Bellvnood Chief

James Strait has been named the new president o{ The Bellwood Co. by the board of directors of U.S. Filter, the parent company. Bellwood is an Orange, Calif., door manufacturer that markets its products mainly in California, the Southwest and the Middle West.

He began his career in 1960 with the Strait Door & Plywood Corp. of El Monte, Calif. The Bellwood Co. and Strait Door are both owned by U.S. Filter Corp. of Newport Besch, Calif.

Bellwood grossed approximately $5r/2 million last year.

Holmes Elected RIS Chief

Newly elected Redwood Inspection Service president, Fred C. Holmes, succeeds Byron B. Miller, president of Arcata Redwood Co. Holmes is also president of Fred C. Holrms Lumber Co.

He graduated in 1941 from Oregon State University with a degree in Forestry. In 1949 he founded the company which bears his name. He has been active in RIS work for a number of years.

Other officers are, vp. Stanwood A. Murphy, president of the Pacific Lumber Co.; secretary George Thompson, RIS building standards manager; and treasurer Peter Johnson, California Redwood Association.

Throsher Morketing Plons

The Al Thrasher Lumber Co., a Masonite subsidiary, is developing a new marketing program, according to Tim Wood, sales manager.

The Calpella, Calif., company has been a leader in marketing unseasoned redwood uppers and common grades in the smaller sizes. With the addition of redwood production from Molalla Forest Products Corp., the product line of redwood has been expanded and production has been increased.

The increasing popularity of outdoor western-type living has led to ever increasing volumes of commons shipped East. Thrasher's abllity to ship difficult specifications within its size range (2a4, 2x6,4x4, 4x6) has made it an important part of the red' wood industry.

Production forecast for 1971 calls for the two firms to produce 120 mil' lion feet of redwood.

New Firm Doing Well

A new lumber distribution and brokerage firm opened its doors this April in San Rafael, Calif., and president and owner Donald J. Kelleher reports business has been good de' spite the year's difficulties.

The company specializes in pine, fir and redwood and offers weekly truck deliveries. A new office is being completed in the original storage building.

Kelleher is a native San Franciscan, and a graduate of the University of San Fiancisco. He began his lumber career with Western Pine Supply in 1961. From there he was with Hallinan Mackin where he started a distribution center.

Associated with the firm is Harry Lyon, salesman, formerly with Western Pine Supply Company.

ffUR Association has just received v the 1969 State Fund Workman's Compensation dividend. Although the overall accident experience by State Fund was reported to be poor, our dividend was sqrral to our average dividends over the past few years.

Following on the heels of the dividend check was the State Fund breakout of accident and injury statistics through the third quarter1970.

In reviewing this breakout, which is listed by firm, I was left with a vivid impression of the impact that injury claims have on the dividend return. As an example, one firm paid a total of $1,400 in annual premiums and had claims in excess of $9,0fi). firis loss is a loss to the entire association and reduces the dividend to each memb€r. The statistics indicated several firms with the same injury experience. I asked the LMA staff to review statistics for previous years and learned that several of these same firms have had a sustained high claim experience over a 9,6 year period.

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There can only be one conclusion drawn from this review. There are some firms in the association without the proper safety policies and procedures. Or, if they have them, no effort is made toward enforcement. Why ?

Dealers interested in productivity of employees which results in profits should be vitally interested in accident and injury reduction. The direct cost or that which is paid to the doctor, hospital or the individual is only a portion of the total loss. How much time is lost by other employees in taking an injured yard man to the hospital dr doetor? Who pays his salary nrhile he is incapacitated? Who pays for a replacement for the injured ? Who loses time preparing accident reports and the attendant administration? 'Who pays for the repair or replacement of equipment and machinery damaged or destroyed as a result of an accident? Add all of these costs to your bill because these are direct costs to you-not State Fund and the association.

Even more important is the anguish and pain to the individual and his family. What price tag do you place on that factor? A direct conelation to the quarterly accident statistics is the experience modification factor. If it is above 100y'o you are having problems. Remember, the experience modification factor encompasses the past three years. If you have one year of high injury rates it will affect your modification factor for the next three years. Again you pay.

The slogan Safety Is Eoergone's Business is only too true. If the owner relaxes his responsibility for safety you can be certain the manager will slack off on safety emphasis, the supervisors and foremen will in turn relax and the yardmau. will ignore good safety procedures. As stated by the federal government, the Domino Effect. Periodic, scheduled safety briefings, lectures and reviews are A must in any firn.