is upbeat

1;ORE positive attitudes regardlUIing business conditions in 1984 were expressed by the majority of dealers attending the annual meeting of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. Favorable financial conditions and a strengthened economy were cited as bolsters to improved industry business. Attendance was up slightly over last year.

William J. White, president of the Masonite Corp., told the dealers to look beyond their valued builder and contractor customers to the repair and remodeling markets which he forecast to be the real growth areas. He said that "no real growth has occurred in American new housing construction since 1946. " He noted that when business cycles are eliminated, statistics show that housing starts have averag- ed around the 1.5 million mark for the past 35 years. He envisions no expansion through the year 2000.

PAST PRES. (1) Jay & Martha O'Malley, Nancy & Bob Ramsey. (2) Al Newkirk, Herb Winward. (3) Jeane & Les Ley. (4) Frank Davis, Fred Caruso. (5) Gene & Kaytee Lively. (6) Don & Doris Hossack. (7) David Rogoway, Steve & Peggy Snavely, Jim Stewart. (8) Bonnie Champion, Bernice Newquist. (9) Louise McKlvenn, Ansel & Frances Hyland. (10) Mike & Teri 0'Malley. (11) Gordon Seiler, Joan Winward. (12) Ray Wells, Jim Stewart, Don Hossack, E. J. Johnson. (13) Sherry Gaylor, Wally Lynch. (14) E. J. & Sharon Johnson, Ray Wells. (15) Dean & Gene Drake.

"Your opportunities depend on where you do business; on how your market and community is growing; and on local demographics. It also depends on which customers you solicit and your specific mix of builders, remodelers, contractors and consumers. You must differentiate your operation from the competition to best serve your selected customer, " White counseled.

Congressman Robert Michel (R-Il.), minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, said gradual progress is being made in resolving the federal deficit, but that the real push bringing governmental expenses more in line with income will not take place until after next November's presidential election.

Special assistant to President Reagan, former California Congressman John Rousselot thanked the dealers for their support of the administration's efforts to reduce government involvement in business and personal matters. He stated that President Reagan "is steadfast in his determination to curtail the whirlwind growth of federal programs and expenses."

Nationally recognized transportation expert Wally Lynch, who has worked with NLBMDA in developing studies on delivery practices, was one of a number of authorities pre-

Rough Green Cuttings

Old Growth Douglas Fir: export clears, industrials, structural beams & timbers, rough green dimension and boards

Jensen Tumber Company

P.O. Box 29, Hyampom, Ca. 96046 (916) 62&5265

Bob Jensen, general manager Rosemary Jensen, sales manager senting seminars during the convention. Lynch also writes articles for this magazine on control of transportation costs. Other seminars and presentations included computer use, new product selection, advertising, passing on the family business, Washington legislative developments and the Mortgage Retirement Account.

Popular TV personality and author Art Linkletter was on hand to honor NLBMDA's Past Presidents with a well received talk. The

(Continued on next page) gulnlWlalpaalaLurrrbpl,

Hem-Fir Hemlock

Douglas Fir

GREEN or DRY o DIRECT MILL SHIPMENTS LCL o CARGO o RAIL o TRUCK & TRAILER o PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER

Yard & Olllcer: End of Alrport Rd.

P.O. Box 723, Uklah, Ca. 95482 Phone CORDES LANGLEY.

ROGER HOWARD:

(Continued from previous page) meetings were held at The Pointe Resort, Phoenix, Az., Oct. 8-12. Next year's meeting will be held in New Orleans, Oct. 3l-Nov. 4, concurrent with the 1984 World's Fair, at the Fairmont Hotel. In 1985, National will meet at the Westin Hotel, Seattle, Wa., November 17-21

William R. Morrow of Lawson, Mo., was elected president of the National at the 67th annual convention.

Owner of Morrow & Sons, he succeeds P.B. "Bud" Howe, Carver Lumber Co., Peoria, Il. Howe became chairman of the board of the association which represents some 10,000 lumber and building material retailers through 26 federated state and regional associations.

Others elected: first v.p., Patrick McCormick, McCormick Lumber and Fuel, Madison, Wi.; treasurer, Gerald A. Jewett, Jr., Jewett Lumber Co., Des Moines, Ia.; and secretary and executive v.p., John M. Martin, Washington, D.C. Regional vice presidents elected: Edgar Harman, William Morton, J. K. "Ken" Borders. and Merle Mensinger.

REDWOOD . CEDAR

DOUCLAS FIR . HEM-FIR

PINE COMMONS . PLYWOOD SIDINCS

CEDAR SHAKES & SHINCLES

TREATED STOCK

MASONITE BRAND

PLYWOOD SHEAT

Home Center Show

(Continued from page 65)

Among the new d-i-y products at the show: Sentry Safe's "one hour fire-test model which can be bolted to the floor. A complete boxed and prehung security vault door specifically for remodeling and d-i-y applications was from General Products. Weiser Lock introduced its "Weiserbolt," a lockset plus deadbolt that allows the spring-latch to extend to a one-inch deadbolt. S & D Industries, Inc., introduced a sliding door lock with keytype single or double cylinder mounts, both featuring "loop action" to prevent lift-out of the patio door.

Guardian Home Products showed a steel security storm door. Indal Aluminum Products offered a security door for sliding glass doors that claims holding power of half a ton.

Drip-irrigation was introduced for the home by Raindrip, Inc., with a do-it-yourself drip irrigation, fertilizer and filtering kit. "Drip Thinker," from Galcon, Inc., was a battery-powered control for automated drip-irrigation. For lowvolume irrigation systems, Misti

Maid, Inc., introduced "Twist To Lock" reusable, easy to lock and unlock nylon connectors. Another water-control product for d-i-yers was Gardena, Inc.'s high tech watering system utilizing interchangeable, noncorrosive. shock-resistant "click" couplings.

For every d-i-yer came two new allpurpose items: Eclectic Products' "Household Goop," which is intended to "protect, prolong, repair or replace worn leather and rubber." Flexible and ultraviolet resistant, it squirts directly from a tube and hardens overnight.

From Mansion Industries: "Foldhorse," a folding 6-lb. sawhorse utilizing a cable suspension system and spread-eagle design. One pair is said to handle a maximum load of 2,000 pounds. Billed as the world's first adjustable-height kitchen faucet, the "Riser," from Stanadyne,/Moen, lifts to an extra 9" above a sink top for filling vases, washing large pots, watering plants or filling other tall containers.

Finally, two items for fireplace lovers: Described as a radical change from the conventional fireplace grate, "Firenest" combines flexible chains and angle iron to create a durable as well as decorative unit. And for anyone with a chimney a do-ityourself chimney cover, from JoMoco Products, which offers the option of a built-on cover or a slip-in style which doesn't extend above the masonry.

Mortgage Money Plan

The National Association of Home Builders have joined with members of Congress to push for legislation that will encourage pension funds to invest in residential mortgages.

"Clearing away the regulatory underbrush surrounding the issue of pension fund investment in housing is not an easy task," said Harry Pryde, NAHB president. "But we are confident that the Residential Mortgage Investment Act of 1983 is a giant step in the right direction."

Garden Week Proposed

A congressional subcommittee has proposed the first week of June, 1984, as National Garden Week. It would honor gardening activities and the contributions made by the nation's gardeners.

Successful Gamble

(Continued from page 66) clusively, Martin feels that MFI "can supply any redwood need much more efficiently than other suppliers and give that competitive edge which is so necessary in this current market."

MFI has expanded its market area from northern and central California to cover the continental United States. Their customer base is primarily retail lumber yards and other wholesale lumber brokers. They also supply Alaska and Hawaii through container service. Some of their other services include piggyback and railcar loading for out of state shipments and on site milling facilities to expedite hard to get pattern items as well as resawing and resurfacing. They specialize in less-than-truckload deliveries for the central and northern California market. MFI stays abreast of all market conditions to ensure that no favorable mill offerings are passed by or overlooked.

MFI has a talented sales staff to perform these services. Robert "Bob" Haas has been with MFI since 1980 and is a great asset to the firm. He is involved with all of the major buying for inventory as well as dispatching and covering a sales territory of central and northern California. Bob has been in a position to note the growth of the firm. "In the beginning, I was dispatching l-3 trucks per day in

California; now I am dispatching almost full-time, anywhere from 10-18 trucks per day, many of them for out of state shipment."

Newly acquired John Blatchford rounds out the team. Formerly with Timber Realization Company in Calpella, Ca. John brings extensive mill experience with him. He handles all of the national accounts outside California and has an excellent rapport with accounts. He has been servicing many of them for years.

Martin and Malfatti compose the rest of the sales team. Managing the day to day operations for MFI, while an important function, is merely a part of their duties. They believe in taking an active part in all aspects of the business. They begin their day on the sales floor along with their sales staff and finish their day long after everyone has gone home. Sharing the same work philosophy as well as a strong, mutual friendship makes their working partnership stable and satisfying to both of them.

Both Gordy and Gary feel that controlled growth of the firm will allow MFI to expand its services and customer base without compromising their reputation for honesty and integrity. Customer satisfaction is their main goal and, large or small, all customers receive the same excellent service and attention, they say.

MFI plans to continue to be a major factor in the market place. Martin and Malfatti took a gamble and turned it into a sure bet. Even though they have made great strides they are not easing up. They are still beating the bushes making cold calls, tracking down leads, keeping their nose to the grindstone and not letting their past success eo to their heads.

"Of cource, if you really wont to save gqs, those snow removers don't use any at all."

SHIPB0ARD restaurant in Los Anoeles. Ca. harbor was the site o{ the Los Anqeles Hardwood Lumberman s Club s latesioatherino. It was strictly social, with no cludbusineis transacted. Club president (1) Clint Bower, Peggy & Rob Kincaid. (2) Gage McKinney,

Cutler,