NRLDA Board of Directors

Meets in Washington

C. B. 9woot Proridont

A cornprehensive economic study of the retail lumber industry, aggressive promotion of the open-end mortgage, and ;r sharpened-up public relations program are among the important developments arising from the semi-annual rneeting of the board of directors of the National Retail Lurrrber Dealers Association held in Washington, D' C', early in May.

The attendance was excellent, and the directors showed a keen interest in every phase of the proceedings'

NRI-DA President C. B. Sweet in his opening and closing remarks to the board said he was highly gratified to find complete harmony and enthusiasm regarding the National's programs and objectives. He said he sensed also a growing recognition of the fact that the industry's problems in Washington - at the seat of government - are constantly increasing in scope and complexity and expressed thc personal opinion that the National is coping with those problems most effectively.

'

"Our three-day meeting has convinced me that the retail lumber dealers are thoroughly arvake to their problcms and alive to the potentials of their industry," he said.

"The tone of confidence which one finds among the dealers, accompanied by a determination that the industry must emphasize the overall importance of the function it performs betrveen producer and consumer, is most encouraging."

New developments and reports on accomplishment in the fields of, educatior.r, materials handling, research, legislation, and governmental relations also were covered in detail, together n'ith the proposal to prepare a product data book for dealers.

There was considerable discussion of the effect of the 4-rl per cent FHA interest rate on Section 8 loans, witl-r n-rany of the executive officers of the State and Regional Associations expressing the fear that the reduced rate may act as a deterrent to lorv-cost housing. It was agreed that the situation luould be watched closely, so that the National can advise Housing Administrator Foley and urge remedial action if banks and financing institutions demonstrate that the 4-rl per cent loans are not attractive to them.

The potentialities of the open-end nlorgage rvere explained and it rvas clecided that the National will participate actively in developing and promoting the plan as a means of encouraging a greatly increased volume of home modern- ization and repair work. As a first step ,various building industry groups are preparing to condtrct a thorough study of the legal aspects of the open-end mortgage, state by state, and to issue a brochure explaining in detail how the plan works, how to use it effectively, and how to sell it to home owners,

The National staff was instructed to proceed promply with plans for a study of building materiats and related products distribution practices, with emphasis upon the organization, services, and functions of the retail lumber industry.

Other aspects of distribution, such as manufacturer, wholesaler, jobber and other selling organizations servicing the dealers, the construction industry and the consumer to be developed cooperatively and through later studies.

The objective of the study is to provide a thorough and factual picture of the place and position of the lumber and building materials distributor in the building economy of America and to assist the organized irrdustry in improving its present position.

In recommending the study, H. R. Northup, the National's executive vice-president, said that the organized retail Iumber industry, over a period of years, has been woefully lacking in its ability to produce coordinated, correlated statistics as to the scope, operation and functions of the industry.

"fnstances where the availabilty of this type of information would have been most helpful occurred some years ago at the time so-called chain store legislation rvas being agitated," he explained. "Again in war time such statistics would have been tremendously helpful in dealing with OPA, the War Production Board, and the other agencies of government controlling distribution, sale and use of commodities. Today the National Security Resources Board, in planning the control of industry in the event of another war, 'could be more intelligently approached were more adequate statistics available.

"fn the field of economic research, the current agitation for the reduction of housing and all construction costs bids fair to put the government in the business of making economic studies of all industries involved in construction in an attempt to establish cost relationships from the completed house back to the forests, mines, and the fields. It is imperative that we have reliable facts and figures of

Macllonald & Harrington, Ltd.

Wholesole lumber - Direct Shlppers in Cqrlood Lots

Redwood - Douglas Fir - Ponderosa Pine

Also cnrailable out of loccl stocks, son Frcnrcisco Bcry Areo . Rock Wool-lnsulcrtion Bocrd-Asbestos Cement Bbord

Aluminum Gcrrage Doors tOS ANGEI.ESi 15 SAN FRANCEiCO II

PONTI.AITD 5

Petrole"- Bldg. I Drunm St. ptttock Bloclc PRoepect 3127

GArlield l-8392 BRocdwcy 3583

OUR SHIP TO sHOR.E TETEPHONE

Coop=n.ltoPGAN LurnsER Co'

Ancrlcon Bcnk Bldg., Portlond 5, Oregon

Phonc BEocon 2124 Teletype PD43

Purveyors of Foresl Producls to Gqliforniq Retqilers

FIR-SPRUCE-HE'VILOCK

CEDAR-PINE-PIYWOOD

PHONING YOUR IU'ITBER ORDERS TO CHA'IIBERIIN IS LIKE TATKING WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP. Direct telephonic communicqtions beiween our oftce qnd ship enobles us to immediqtely tronsmit looding or dischorging inslruclions lo vessel.

For qdditionol informolion, Phone, Wire or Write

Representing

Frost Hordwood Floors, Inc. in the Sqcromenlo qnd Sqn Jooquin Vol'leys

FROSTBRAND FTOORING

OAK_PECAN-BEECH

Calif onia Rc prc s entatio csWI.FRED t. COOPER ltR. CO. 234 E. Colorodo 5r. ?ASADENA I

'Phonc RYon 1.7631

SYcornoro 3'2c{ll

Russell Norvels, chairman of the Product Data Subconrmittee of the Joint l)ealer-Manufacturer Corrdinating Committee, told the board that a good deal of preliminary rvork haS been done on the proposal to issue a product <lata book for use on dealers' counters. The sulrcommittee met with a group of manufacturers immediately after the closc of the semi-annual meeting and voted to take steps tr.r determine how many manufacturers would be interested in providing suitable data in standard form for a product book. Methods of financing the project and of offering )he book to dealers also were discussed.

The Public Relations Committee reported that the National's public relations program has been restudied and that a new streamlined program had been adopted. Acting Chairman Robert A. Jones stated that the new program would be aimed specifically at promoting the National's major objectives and that it would employ every available means of (1) protecting the interests of dealers and of private enterprise in general, (2) enhancing the standing and prestige of the retail lumber industry, (3) increasing the denrand for nraterials, and (4) helping to maintain ancl strengthen Association effortNational, State and Regionalin the retail lumber industry.

Among the principal features of the public relations program are the issuance of a Public Relations Manual to aid individual dealers in improving and protecting their own public relations and tlre relations of the industry as a rvhole ; the issuance of a series of pamphlets, devoted to housing matters, taxation, and dealer service, which not only can be distributed to the public, but also will serve as the basis for speeches, radio talks, advertising copy, and news releases.

To supplement the publicity efforts of the National, a committee of Minute Men will be formed, with the aid of the executive offrcers of the State and Regional Associations. Press releases will be furnishel to the Minute Men for release to their own local newspapers, so as to throw the support of individual dealers behind the objectives of the industry. They also will receive speeches and other public relations material.

Mr. Northup summed up the objectives of the public relations program by stating that it would continuously tell the public about the high standards of the industry and the increasing services it is performing in the public in- terest and would use every available means of selling the industry's point of view to the public as a means of enlisting strong public support for the industry's viewpoints.

It was announced that NItLI)A rvill rvork with the National Association of Honte Builders and the National Association of Real Iistate lloards in promoting National Home Week next fall, and that the National will prepare a comptete plan suggesting how lumber dealers can tie directly into the program in each locality.

Clarence Thompson, chairman, reporting for the Lumber Dealers Research Council, said that a highly interesting and valuallle report on the space study being conducted by the Small Homes Council of the University of Illinois would be forthcoming soon.

Following the announcement that he had brought new honors to himself and his industry by virtue of his election to the board of directors of the Clrantber of Commerce of the U. S., past President Norman Mason appraised tlre rvork of the Iluilding Itesearch Advisory lJoard, stating that BRAB's research program was well under rvay and that it promised to llring tangible results for every lrranch of the building industry.

The Materials Handling Committee made a comprehensive report on the studies which it has under way. Chairman James F. Mack, presented a report on straddle trucks and W. B. Kennedy, Jr., analyzed the advantages of flat bed trucks. The committee also announced that it is ready to issue to dealers an 8-page study entitlecl, "Packaging Cuts Costs in Retail Lumber Handling."

The Iiducational Committee held an evening meeting during the 3-day session, with Chairman W. C. Bell presiding. After reviewing the encouraging progress of the 3-day courses, the committee decided to meet in Chicago during July to work out plans for increasing attendance at the courses during the next school year and to explore the desirability of conducting some forme of management training for executives of retail lumber companies.

Chairman Bell also told the board that the "Step Up Selling" films were being rvidely used, not only in the 30-day course, but also in district meetings around the country and by individual dealers and said the program had met with fine reception.

W. A. Barksdale, treasurer, reported that the National's finances are in sottnd shape and submitted a complete finan,cial statement.

NRLDA Secretary Edward II. Libbey explained the

Srrcighr or l|ked Cors PII|E r FIR I PLYWOOD

Our policy is to ship a breakdown ol items in cars to enable yards to keep their inventories in balance-at least as much 4s is tr ossible consistent uith quantity Prod.uction.

record-keeping requirements of the Wage-Hour f)ivision and announced that a revised edition of the booklet, "Status of the Retait l-umber I)ealer under the Fair Labor Standards Act," would be sent t<l nrembers as soon as complete information concerning the rulings under the new Act l;cconre available.

Joseph T. King, Nltl,I)A's legislative counscl, stated that thc lcgislativc picture in Washington is well in hand for tlrc nlonrent rvith the dcfeat of thc rniddle-income provisions of thc housing bill, but that day-to-day devclopmcnts rcquirc closc attcntion. IIe said also that the National Affairs Committee had provided valuable sul)port on nunlcr()rrs occasiorrs an<l rcconrnren<led that the membcrship of thc ('onrrnittcc be lrrought up to full strength.

Thc lroarrl rcitcratc<l its positions against continuation of rent control :rnd against tax exernption for co-operatives which conll)ctc s'ith privatc business. Inclividual directors :rlso stresscrl thc imllortancc of llutting ul) a strong fight ;rg;rinst subsi<lize<l public housing in irrdividual comnrtrnitics :rn<l <lcscrilre<l sonrc of thc rrrethorls rvhich have bccn usc<l succcssfully ilr crrlising llrrblic sul)l)()rt for the irr<lrrstry's llosition in thc nlitttcr.

'l'he cnthusiasnr nranifcste<l ir.r \\'ashington augurs rvcll f<lr a constrtrctive, interesting :rn<l u'ell-atten<le<l annual mecting in Houston, October l0-13, in the famous Shamrock I{otel.

'fhe board agreecl that the annual nreeting in l95l would be held in Chicago.

Nembcck-Tentler Engcaement

l\{rs. Ida Tentler of Van Nuys announces the engagernent of her daughter, Nadine, to l)ave Nemback. Jr. of San Fcrnando. T)ave has recenel)' been lnade rn:rnager of l{ammoncl Lunrbsr (l()ml)any's Nervhall vard, and is the youngest manager in the company.

E. O. Sanford, of Sanford-I-ussier, Inc., wholesale hardwood dealers, Los Angeles, is on a six weeks' business trip in the South, calling on hardrvood mills. He expects to be back around June 15.

Fernando Negri, owner and operator of ing Co., I-os Angeles, and his wife are on visit to Europe. They are now in Italy, spend most of the time, and will visit France before they return.