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Seruing buitding products retailers and wholesale distrtbutors in 13 Western states-Since 1922

Seruing l3 Woatern State3' lncludlng Ala.ka {nd Hawali

(Sister publication Building Products Digest seves the East)

PUBLISHEB Alan Oakes (ajoakes@aol.com)

PUBLISHER EMERITUS David Cutler

EDITOR David Koenig (dkoenig@building-products.com)

ASSOCIATE EDITOH Karen Debats (kdebats@building-products.com)

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Dwight Cunan, Carla Waldemar, Roy Burleson

AD SALES MANAGER Chuck Casey (ccasey@building-products.c0m)

CIRCULATIoN Heather Kelly (hkelly@building-products.com)

ADi'INISTRATION DIRECTOR/SECRETARY Marie Oakes (mfpoakes@aol.com)

How to Advertise

Contacl our advertising offices tor rates:

WEST, MIDWEST, SOUTHEAST: Chuck Casey, Newport Beach, Ca.; (949) 852-1990; Fax 949852-0231 ; Emdl ccasey@building-products.com

NORTIIEAST: Paul Mummolo (N.J.); (732) 899' 8102; Fax 732-899-2758; Email mummolop@ comcast.net

How to Subscribe

Contact Heather at (949) 852n990

U.S.: 1 year (12 issues), $18; 2 years, $30; 3 years, $40

FOREIGN (Per year paid in advance in US funds): $45 for Canada and Mexico, $60 for all other countries; Air rates also available.

SINGLE COPIES: $4 + shipping; Back issues (when available), $5 + shipping www.building-products.com

Another year older and deeper in debt

Or so the song goes, although in my case it should be another 5 lbs. heavier. What is it about this industry that adds on to my waistline each and every year?

I must say that it is hard to imagine that the year is coming to an end. I think most would agree it is one we would like to quickly forget. Perhaps that is the wrong attitude.

No doubt for many, it has been a tough and sobering year. The excesses of what seems an eternity ago (two years back) faded fast. For among even the most senior of us, manY have not seen a market change so fast and so radically. For the newbies, it only highlights that nothing can be taken for granted. All success has to be earned each and every day. The good news is that it will get better. The bad news is that when is still not clear and there will continue to be casualties. However, as we approach the holiday season, I am reminded that holidays can be viewed on manY levels' One of the things they do best is mark the changes that take Place in Your life. While in business, it normally marks the end and start of a new year, for me the last couple of months have highlighted the fragility of life.

I have been traveling backwards and forwards to Europe and to mY home country, and I have had time to reflect on my family and childhood'

The memories of my upbringing, school, the unpublishable things I used to get up to, familY, and the Christmas and New Year holidaYs, the traditions, and the simplicity of life as it once was or appeared to be. Sometimes, I yearn for the good old days, yet I know in truth theY Probably were not so good.

But in childhood innocence nothing tasted so delicious like that Christmas lunch, or nothing seemed as much fun as on Christmas morning playing with those simple toys that didn't need a hundred page manual. I look at my grandkids, and I just think that they have missed out on the childhood I knew. They have to grow up so much faster today, and are in a time of non stop media blasts, video games, iPods, and cell phones. And, sadly, it has become a time of I wcutt it and I want it now-more so than I can ever remember. And, I have to say it is occuring the world over and the same attitude spills over into our business lives.

I have always lived bY the theorY that you reap what you sow, and that you earn what you are worth. I believe still in the corrlmon courtesies of life and bringing those same manners into how you conduct business. Many of the companies that I personally do business with thankfully still have those same ideals. In a tough year, I would like to thank the over 300 companies that have spent their advertising dollars with us which enable us to continue bringing You our publications.

I would have liked to invite all of you to join me at that Christmas lunch that I remember so vividlY, but as mY wife is asking where we would seat everybody, I would just like to say thank you for your loyalty and friendship, and wish you and Yours a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. I look forward to meeting vou on mv travels in 2008.