N-AWLA Kicks Off Sqles-Troining Progrom of Son Froncisco llleet

In a nerv "grass-roots" approach, the National-American Wholesale Lumber Association staged its first regional meeting in San Fraucisco at the Commercial Club on January 20. The all-day session was one of several regional meetings scheduled for every major marketing area throughout tl.re country in an effort to "Brir.rg the Association Out to the Members," thereby increasing the Associatiou's influence and value to members in all marketing areas of the nation.

The meeting, which also devoted considerable time to the outlining of National-American's new "Sales-Training Program," was chairmanned by Lew Godard locally ancl presided over by N-AWLA's J. Ward Allen, of Vancouver, B.C. For President Allen and the Association's nervly elected executive vice-president, J. J. Mulrooney of New York City, it had been a busy week, what with a day-long session in Kansas City on January 14, a similar meeting in Portland on January 16, and still another meeting to come in Chicago a few days following the San Francisco gettogether.

The meeting was officially called to order at 10 a.m. by

Chairman Godard, who briefly outlined the purpose bel-rind the Association's "New Look." Godard tl.ren turned over the number-one speaking position to N-AWLA's Allen.

N{r. Allen, who is fast becoming "well-traveled" in his new role, quoted General Motors' venerable Chas. Kettering by way of explaining the purpose and drive behind the Association when he told the group : "If you're still doing business the way you were doing it l0 years ago . you're probably doing it wrong !"

Included in N-A\ArLA's organization are several longrange programs, Allen noted, among them (1) A build-rrp in membership to 750 legitimate wholesale firms ; (2) To establish regional offices in every major marketing area iu the country; (3) Closer relationship with other segments of the industry; (4) Continnous activity to give all members a voice in the Association.

On the part of tl-re Association, Allen continuecl , N-AWLA must perform tangible services, it must be brought to the membersl-rip, it must have a core of dedicatecl members active in everv Dart of the nation. and it must have a cledicated staff that'will "think like a member."

N-AWLA's new Executive Vice-President Nlulroorrey. then took the "stand" to expand Allen's allproach. Nlrrlrooney, himself a rvholesaler in New York City for the past 22 years, accepted rrranagersl-rip of the Association following Sid Darling's retirement last December 3.

Mulrooney noted that besides the many intangible benefits of Association mernbership, inclucling the important exchange of ideas between members ancl itrclttstry prestige through government recognition, the tangible benefits included credit services, collection services, and transportation insurance. He also disclosed that at a recent meetir.rg it was decided to explore the possibilities of group insurance and pension programs.

Mulrooney then turned the meeting back to Lew Godard for a few words of tribute to such Association stalwarts and industry leaders as Bo Ahrens (continuous member since 1905), Chuck Clay and Jerry Bonnington. Chairmarr Lew then introduced sidekick Al Bell, rvho r.r'ill head National-American's new public relations committee, whicl-r