Western Retail Lumbermen's Association Conyention

rnHE emphasis was on success in an ever' r changing industry at the 62nd annual Western Retail Lumbermen's Association convention and building material exhibit held recently in Spokane, Wash.

The three-day exposition featured a factpacked program of speeches and discussion sessions generously mixed with social events where the emphasis was on fun.

R.y C. Blackstock, partner-owner of Blackstock Lumber Co., Seattle, was elected new president of WRLA, which is comprised of dealers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. Ansel E. Hyland, presi' dent of Eugene Planing Mill Co., Eugene, Ore., was named lst vice president and James C. Hayes, general rnanager of Boise Cascade's Central Region Merchandising Group, was selected 2nd vice president.

Blackstock is the third memher of his family to hold the position of president of WRLA. His father. the late Carl Blackstock. Sr., was president in 1935-36 and his uncle Herbert presided in 1948.

The convention was kicked-ofi with a breakfast session where television news analyst Bill Shadel spoke on ooPersonalities an Issue of 1965." Out-going president Stewart Orr opened the business session.

Paul R. Hollenbeck, executive vice presi' dent of West Coast Lum,ber Inspection Bu' reau, opened the business session the following day' with a discussion of 'oProven Management Control with Data Processing." He explained the profitable strides many retail dealers are taking by using data processing in pricing inventory control and other areas of financial management. Hollenbeck was assisted in his dem' onstration by repr'esentatives of IBM and National Cash Register.

The closing day of the convention was highlighted by "A Good Old Fashioned Sales Revivalo" by Dr. Herb True and Fred Klemp, a 2-hour session packed with practical sales ideas.

The social side of the convention featured cocktail parties, luncheons and several get-togethers for the conventioneers' ladies.

Running concurrently with the business sessions was an exhibit on tlle latest in new products and services for lumber and buildine material dealers. More than 100 exhirbitJrs displayed their wares at the Spokane'Coliseum. Shop-stopper was a col' lection of antique locks valued at $1 million, presented by the Schlage Lock Co.

WRLA members welcomed 2I dealers who traveled all the way from Montana to attend the convention. Included in the group were Lew Mack of Anaconda Build' ing Supplies, Missoula, president of the Mohtana Building Materials Association, and Mrs. Agnes Zipperian, executive secretary of the group. The Montana association held their annual convention March 28-30 in Great Falls.

Seven new members of the WRLA 40Year Club were presented plaques at the meeting. They are James and Xavier Baker of Baker Lumber Co.; Reginald Houghton, W. J. McCready Lumber Co.; Hal D. Morgatr, Morgan-Staley Lumber Co.; Kent Rubow, Capital Lumber Co.; Ruy F. Smith. W. J. Conrad Lumber Co., and Charles B. Young, Independent Lumber Co.

New directors of the association.named at the convention are Ralph Husom, Mad' ison Lumber & Mill Co., Spokane; Robert M. Slettedahl. Lumbermen's of Shelton, Wash.; Clayton C. Morse, l,amb-Morse Co., Astoria, Ore., and J. M. o'Mel" Bet' tig who was elected to a S'year term as head of the insurance and pension trusts committee.