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By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

tf. HE 1973 Management Conference

I is now historv. and it will be categorized as the greatest conference of many a year. For complete coverage see page 16 ofthis issue.

The response of the members tb the new locationthe Palm Springs Spa Hotelas well as to the program, was literally over-whelming.

Some of the attendees could not be housed at the Spa as the room requirements were exceeded. The Wednesday night cocktail party was the best attended ever.

The opening speaker, Petro

Kulynych of Lowes, Inc., set the stage for the balance of the meeting, and it was great!

Already the discussion is revolving around 1974, and what can make it bigger and better.

1974 appears to be an exciting one for the building material dealer. In addition to high interest rates to a slow down in building, there are prospects of a propane and glue shortage to hamper plywood pfoduction, as well as the fuel allocation situation which will or could cause delivery problems in the retail and wholesale business.

But hope springs eternal from the human breast, and certainly most lumber and building material dealers are real, and it is growing every day. Should you or an employee become disabled, WBMA's new IMAGE plan of disability income protection will see that he receives a continuing monthly income at a time when he needs it most. ready to face these and any other situations with a positive attitude.

Erickson's Home lmprovement Center, Cannon Beach, Ore., is now in the process of remodeling and enlarging their existing store.

This enlargement will create an additional 1,000 sq. ft. of display area and will enable them to offer a more complete selection in each department.

The houseware and gift section will be expanded. A new bridal registry will also be offered to all future brides.

An enlarged Home Improvement display section is also planned. This will enable the homeowner to select his needs from displays such as kitchen cabinets, carpeting, ceiling tile, paneling and many others. Erickson's believe that with this expansion they can better serve their customers as a one-stop home improvement center.

Completion date is expected January, 1974, with an open house planned for early spring.

Plans are underway to develop business trips to Mexico, also Australia and New Zealand, and possibly Spain. There has been a great deal of interest shown in at least one such trip per year.

Some new locations for meetings in southern California will be sought. Meeting subjects so far discussed as possibilities are the fuel shortage, the train problem. a five vear plan for the association. contracts. is tht! Mechanics Lien dying? The subjects are unlimited, so look forward to an exciting year for LASC membersbusiness-wise and meeting-wise.