EDITORIAL

The New Approoch

fYfHEN YOU CAN GO to a convention that's W fun. interesting and profitable, then you have yourself a bargain. And this is just what we got at the Lumber Merchants Association convention at the Mark Thomas Inn in Monterey.

Young Bob McBrien, the association's new executive vice president, teamed up with convention chairman Ham Knott, that hard working Fresno retailer, and dynamic Clair Hicks, association president, to revolutionize the convention program, and come up with a new format. To us this is the big story of the convention and one on which we would like to comment.

As we see it, annual conventions of almost any organization should:

(t) Provide a social atmosphere which is condu' cive for members to become better acquainted.

(2) Conduct a short business session to transact the association's business.

(3) Ofier membership participation in subjects of interest to the members.

We don't think that the so'called inspirational speakers, of the kind so well known to conven' tioneers, have any place on an industrial, distributor or dealer program.

So we give high marks to LMA for making a break with tradition. They used their own membership to provide the meat of the program' They chose them well, and without exception, they per{ormed well. We feel sure this type program was well received, as evidenced by the record attendance at both registration and the meetings. Why they even had a session {or suppliers and distributors on the subject "Vhat Can W'e Do To Help The Dealers?" This is most revolutionary. Who ever heard of a group of dealers asking another group for help? From this kind of forward thir*ine will come communication on a local level-meaningful, money making, welcome to all hands.

LMA has in one short meeting transformed its image to a progressive, imaginative and forceful group that is capable of leadership and profitable service to its membership. W'e trust these developments will not go unnoticed by the many who could benefit from association with this progressive group of retailers.

Charlie Dart, Fresno retailer, the newly elected president, is well qualified to carry on the pattem set at the 25th anniversary convention.

We wish him success and ofier our wholehearted cooperation.

Toke o Look

\f/E RECENTLY had the nonpleasure to see vY uguirl an all too frequent feature of too many retail yards.

It's the sort of thing that we think you will recognize. Hanging around the walls are the enticing invitations in glorious color of the manufacturers and associations to the public to go to their retailer {or remodeling tips.

So far, so good. But what the public sees is a store that looks like something out of Tobacco Road' A leftover set {rom The Munsters combined with all the eracious charm of the black hole of Calcutta.

In his Vagabond Editorials of this month tack Di,onne urses those who seek a sense of humor to look into a mirror. We urge the same, but for a different reason. We ask you to look around your place of business and see if you aren't trying to sell the concept and materials of remodeling from a location that looks as i{ you don't really believe in it yourself. We hope not.

o Dougfos Fir in sizes 24" x 24"

Plqner copocity for surfocing lo 24" x 24" o Re-Mfg. fqcilities for resowing lo 34" x 34" lf we cqn't find il . we'll moke it other attention- getting displays build in-store customer interest.