LASG's annual conference

lA ONTINUING a long string of \, successful Management Conferences, the Lumber Association of Southern California held their 38th annual last month in Palm SPrings, as is tradition.

Following a welcoming recePtion, Nov. 9, the conference opened the next day with a display of exhibits in the ballroom of the Marquis Hotel.

Lead-off convention speaker was motivator Rick success as a progressive realization of a worthwhile goal or ideal. He urged the lumbermen and women to "give your people a purpose, a mission, a focus." He noted the importance of a positive environment and the elimination of negatives from the workplace.

At the president's luncheon following, new officers were announced. (For a list of fficers and directors, see below).

The honor of Lumberman of the Year was bestowed on Bill Cowling of Dixieline Lumber Co., San Diego. A popular selection, the award took note of his extensive contributions to both business and community activities. Al Newkirk, now retired from Chandler Lumber, was named president emeritus.

The second segment of Rick Barrera's presentation followed lunch. In it he demonstrated ways to identify personality types, describing the four types as: Relator, Thinker, Socializer and Director. He said good managers should work to identify these types so that their strengths can be directed in the most positive way. Barrera said studies indicate a genetic predisposition to personality.

The next morning, Friday, a panel discussion spoke on mistakes, luck and success. Leadoff panelist Milt Johnson, Home Lumber Co., suggested evaluating opportunities outside the narrow scope of the lumber business. He told how they purchased land for a lumber yard, but finally decided to sell it when they weighed an immediate payoffagainst

Story at a Glance

Discussions included motivation, people, mistakes and success. Bill Cowling named Lumberman of the Year. . Martyn Temple elected new president.

a 20 year return on investment as a lumber operation.

Bob Slettedahl, Lumbermen's, said it was a mistake to think any employee is indispensible. He counseled against moving forward without adequate planning and to avoid involvement in employee's lives. He said success was a process and that you must use objectives and goals to be a motivator for employees.

John Gaskin described some of the successes of Capital Lumber Co. as the "result of doing things we didn't know we couldn't do. Overlook some of the obstacles and view problems as opportunities," he said. Gaskin added that "the quality of your information has a direct bearing on your bottom line."

Wrap-up panelist Pete Speek, Fremont Forest Products, related mistakes his company has made as failure to purchase railroad land

Lasc Conference

(Continued from previous page) when it was cheap, an underresearched Phoenix venture and the inevitable credit losses. Stressing the importance of people, he reviewed systems Fremont uses to maximize their success, noting that the company is enjoying one of their best ever years. "Fremont is near optimum size, now it's a process of fine tuning," he concluded.

Following speaker that morning was Dr. Michael Carney, Residential Research Council of Southern California, who said that while home construction had recently picked up, most banks were forecasting fewer housing starts in 1989 with 1990 even worse. Carney noted that as 1988 is the seventh year ofsustained growth, recession forecasts were popular, but that there was no intrinsic reason for one to occur. He thinks some inflation is likely in 1989.

The panel discussion that con- cluded the business portion of the conference began with Chuck Weaver, Chandler Lumber, speaking on motivation, the panel topic. He noted that recognition, rapport and constructive criticism aided motivation, as did management sharing responsibilities. Consistent company goals are very helpful, Weaver said.

Mike Petter, Learned Lumber, after relating an unsuccessful venture into commercial fishing, stressed that his prime motivator is his family. Following that, he observed, are his work and lastly the goal of someday again owning his own company.

Kevin Breen, Snavely Forest Products, described three factors personally motivating to him: (l) pay tied to performance; (2) challenging environment, and (3) company leadership.

Final panelist Art Hanneman, a consultant to Terry Lumber Co., described motivation as the thing that causes certain behavior, whether through fear, a warm relationship or money. He noted the importance of motivating new employees by adequately training them from day one.

The balance of the conference was devoted to the annual dinner dance followed by golf and tennis on the last dav.

1989

OFFICERS: Martyn Temple, president; George Swartz, 1st vice president; Daryl Bond, 2nd vice president; Robert Slettedahl, treasurer; Bill Sullivan, secretary.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Daryl Bond, Phil Butterfreld, Richard E. Hawthorne, E.L. Newkirk, Robert Slettedahl, George Swartz, Martyn Temple.

DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Gordon Beach, Stanley Brown, Phil Butterfield, Ralph Cardwell, George Clough, William Cowling II, Ed Fountain, Jr., James Frodsham, Peter Ganahl, Richard E. Hawthorne, Charles Jenkins, Milton Johnson, Kingston McKee, Terry Mullin, Paul Orban, Jr., Frank Purcell, Peter V. Speek, Gordon Woolard.

NLBMDA DEALERS-DIREC-

TORS: George Champion, Charles Goeser, Wayne Gardner.

ARf,A DIRECTORS: Warren Lindsay, Eastside; Donald Olson, Allen Quimby, San Diego area; Ross Callaway, Upland/Ontario/?omona; Robert Slettedahl, Riverside; Russell Fritchey, San Gabriel; James Barr, Imperial Valley; Jerry Holdren, San Bernardino; Robert Ransom, North San Diego; Erik Jorgensborg, Westside; Charles O'Donnell, Santa Barbara/Ventura; Jerry Higman, Ted Schafer, Jr., Terry Wesseln, Orange County; Russell Mullin, Marc Myers, San Fernando Valley.

WHOLESALE DIRECTORS:

Creighton Anfinson, Jack Berutich, Daryl Bond, William Evenson, Mark Lofland, Ted Pollard, Jack Secoy, Blaine Smith, Bill Sullivan, Martyn Temple. Wayne Gardner, executive vice president.