NRLDA Board o[ Directors Hold Semi-Annual Meeting

The rapidly growing interest in better merchandising on the part of retail lumber and building materials dealers and the expressed belief that the new administration in Washington i-* approcahing housing and other problems in a constructive manner highlighted the semi-annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, held May 3-8 in Washington, D.C.

Henry J. Munnerlyn, NRLDA's president, said that the association's current programs reflect the emphasis dealers are placing on intensive merchandising and pointed to the Dealer Operating Guide, the Dealer Training Manual, the Products Data Book, and the Management Workshops being conducted by various of the Federated Associations.

He also expressed high appreciation of the splendid report he has received from NRLDA's officers, directors, staff, and committee members.

Albert M. Cole, Housing and ,Home Finance Adminstrator, told the Board that the recent increase in FHA and VA intercst rates represents an important step to$'ard assuring that this year's housing production will continue at the high annual rate needed to meet housing needs.

Mr. Cole also stated that he is giving full consideration to the desirability of modifications in existing legislation in relation to minimum downpayments and maximum loans on FHA insured mortgages. He said he felt that, in the decision still to be made as to the future operations of FNMA and as to modification's in FHA's downpayments and maximum loan requirements, the necessity of c.ontinuing housing production at an annual rate of at least a million new units a year lvould be taken fully into account.

H. R. Northup, executive vice president of NRLDA, expressed the industry's confidence in Adminstrator Cole and said the industry faces the real responsiblity of helping him attain his objectives. He said NRLDA hopes that FHA will approve the open-ending of mortgages ll-hich it insures so as to make it easier for home owners to modernize their properties, and that the agency will ofier more attractive terms under Title I and permit a one-half per cent service charge on mortgages written in outlying areas.

The association's National Affairs Counsel, J. H. Else, reported that fine support is being received from members of the National Afiairs Committee and then reviewed the status of pending legislation of interest to dealers, including the freight absorption bill, the proposed authority for standby controls in the event of a grave national emergency, the proposal to hold up any further public housing construction until the subject has been studied by the administration, amendments to the Taft-Hartley Act, the desirability of reducing taxes at the earliest possible date, and various proposals in the field of housing.

A report of the treasurer, Fred R. Stair, showed that the association's finances are in a thoroughly sound condition and that funds are being wisely sPent.

The Board approved a resolution from its Lumber Stand- ards Committee, of u'hich Donald A. Campbell is chairman, leaffirming its approval of the general principle of substituting grade names for grade numbers and proposing suggested changes in certain of the designations

Phil Creden, chairman of the Public Relations Committee, reported that the Minute Man program, in which individual rlealers send new's releases to their local newspapers and radio stations, continues to bring excellent results. He said that NRLDA is embarked on a fundamentally sound public relations program which is sure to redound to the benefit of the industry as a whole. He added that helping members to do a better job of merchandising is one of the best possible moves toward better relations u'ith the public.

Everett B. Wilson, Public Relations Director, reported that the new Dealer Training lvlanual is getting an unusually good reception, more than 1000 dealers already having ordered in excess of 1500 copies. He said that forthcoming chapters of the Dealer Operaling Guide rvould be devoted to light construction methods, advertising techniques, accounting, and blueprint reading, and that future product sheets for the Guide rvould deal with masonry materials, metal products, plywood, asphalt products, asbestos products, and millwork.

IIe commended the decision of the Lumber Dealers Research Council to finance studies of materials handling and vard layout, the findings of rvhich rn'ould be incorporated in chapters of the Guide.

Results of the 1953 Public Relations Contest rrere announcd by Donald L. I{oore, editor of Southern Building Supplies a.nd a member of the Jurv of Editors which judged the contest. Nlr. I\Ioore stated that ferver entries had been received than in 1952 but that the quality was uniformly higher, showing that dealers are taking a keen interest in their public relations.

He said that au'ards had been made to 39 of the 86 entries and that the certificates rvould be sent to the Managing Officers of the Federated Associations who would present them to the dealers on an appropriate occasion.

Mr. Moore read the names of the following l0 dealers whose entries had been chosen for top national recognition:

John W. Fisher Lumber Company, Santa Monica, California; The A. W. Burritt Company, Bridgeport, Connecticut; Edward Hines Lumber Companv, Chicago, Illinois; Melvin Lumber Company, Norrvalk, Iowa; Davis Lumber Company, Hutchison, Kansas; Gloucester Coal and Supply Company, Gloucester, Massachusetts ; Hamar-Quandt Compa.ny, Houghton, Michigan; Stein Lumber Company, Fredericksburg, Texas; Potomac Supply Corporation, Kinsale, Virginia; C. Starkweather & Son, Incorporated, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

The educational program u'as reviewed by W. C. Bell, chairman of NRLDA's Educational Committee. who said that interest in the 30-Day Courses being conducted by the Retail Lumber Training Institutes is as great as ever and that the instructional materials are being improved steadily. He re' ported that nearly 6,000 dealer emplovees have attended 120 courses given at 20 colleges and universities since the program started.

Six reports were made on the various types of Management Workshops being conducted by the Federated Associations. 'l'he consensus was that each type of workshop has advantages and that NRLDA should continue to study the field with a view toward disseminating the experience with each type.

At a Management Conference held just prior to the opening of the Board meeting, the dealer directors enthusiastically approved the preparation of a Merchandising Calendar for retail lumbe.r and building materials dealers. It was suggested that the Calendar be issued first in preliminary form as a chapter of the Dealer Operating Guide and that an appropri:rte committee of NRLDA then be instructed to develop the idea further.

First Junior Logging Conf erence Held at Mendocino \(/oodlands Camp

Fort Bragg, May 4, 1953-The first junior logging conference in the entire nation was held at Mendocino Woodlands camp sixteen miles southeast of Fort Bragg April 29, 30, May 1 and 2.

Over 70 high school stuclents in forestry and lumbering attended the conference which was sponsored by the Redwood Region Conservation Council. In addition more than 25 adults were in attendance, either as instructors or visitors. Students attended from Fort Bragg, Ukiah, \\'illits and South Fork Union high schools.

DeWitt Nelson, California State Forester, and Waldron Hyatt, manager of the .Hammond Lumber Company redwood clivision, were featured speakers. Nelson said that the conierence was living proof that industry had faith in its young men. "llave faith in yourself," he tolcl the boys, "have faith in the outfit for which you are w'orking, and in the nation in which you are living." Hyatt told the students that there were many job.opportunities open to eager young men in the forest rndustry, and that the industry was always looking for promising men.

The c'onference program consisted of a full day field trip to surrounding commercial forests and logging operations, and a day and a half camp program of discussions of forest management problems and demonstrations of forestry and fire lrrotection tools.

The program was planned cooperatively by industry, region high schools, the State Division of Forestry, and the University of California agricultural extension service. Walker B. Tilley, Masonite Corporation forester, Ukiah, was general chairman. R. W. Matthews, Redwood Region Conservation Council President, welcomed the students on their first evening in camp.

During the field trip the students visited a high lead logging operation, state forest thinning plots, the Union Lumber Company Big River Tree Farm, Mathison lookout station near (Jomptche, and old-growth and second-growth logging areas of Masonite Corporation. The field trip was under the direction of John Sweeley, Masonite assistant forester.

The dealers present at the Conference also approved a prop,osal whereby dealers and building products manufacturers rvould be encouraged to coordinate their advertising on specified themes a certain number of times a year, the details to be vyorked out by the same committee which develops the X{erchandising Calendar.

A nationwide survey of business conditions conducted by members of the Executive Committee indicated that on the average dealers' sales volume is slightly higher than a year ago, profits are about the same, accounts receivable are slightly higher, collections are somewhat slower, and mortgage funds had been scarce for VA and Section 8, Title I FHA loans.

It was announced that the Executive Committee had approved Colorado Springs as the site of the annual Board meeting in 1955 and Boston in 1956. The 1954 meeting previously lrad been set for White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The camp program consisted of discussions of the following topics: Putting a Forest under Management; The Tree and Its Neighbors ; What Trees Should be Cut ? ; Harvesting the Trees We Grow; and Starting a New Crop. The program was directed by Rudy Grah, University of California extension forester. Speakers included Prof. Emanuel Fritz of the University, William Van Sicklen, Union Lumber Company, A. H. Merrill, llammond Lurnber Company, and Edward Burton, Willits forester.

In addition there was a two-hour discussion of fire protection problems and a display of State Division of Forestry fire equipment by Division personnel. During the evenings song fests u'ere led by Woodbridge Metcalf, University of California extension forester.

On the last day of the conference the students saw a demonstration of a tractor diesel power unit by the Berglund Tractor :rnd Equipment Company, Napa. Orman Oak, Union Lumber Company safety director, talked on woods safety.

' The climax of the conference came when a tree was topped and felled before the students' eyes by Union Lumber Company high climbers and Willits Redwood Products Company choppers. A dernonstration of power saws followed the felling exhibition.

Dr. John Zivnuska of the University of California and Dr. I-awrence E. Turner of Humboldt State College outlined to the students advanced study available on a college level in professional forestry and vocational forestry and lumbering.

"It is our hope to make this conference an annual affair," chairman Tilley announced at the close of the program. "This first meeting has been a very successful one with a full program and a lot of interest on the part of the students," he added. The next conference will be held in Humboldt County in cooperation with Humboldt State College, he said.

The conference was financed in part by a $5.00 registration fee for each student. The remainder of the expenses were paid tor by adult memberships of $10.00 apiece, and by the Redwood Region Conservation Council. George Dietterle, Mendocino County Schools secondary coordinator, served as camp director during the four-day meeting,

Official Timer

Nelson Jones, prominent lumberman of Northern and Southern California, officiated as official timer at the \{ay 23 Neuport Harbor Intercollegiate Rou'ing Regatta. The meet w'as sponsored b1' the South*'estern Rowing Associates of rvhich NIr. Jones is a director and the event attracted seafaring enthusiasts frorn all parts of the u'est coast.

Nelson Jones is past commodore of the San Francisco Yacht Club, a member of the Balboa Yacht Club and ou'ner of the fifty-foot luxury cruiser "11ras'',rrne." He has been prominent in Califomia Yachting Circles for the past t\{'o decades.

Moves Offices to Arccdic

John Rudbach and James S. Hudson. of the John -{. Rudbach \\-holesale Lunrber concern have estal>lished offices in -\rcadia. California, to offer a more complete service to the fast grou'ing area to the south and east of metropolitan Los -\ngeles and the southern counties. Their nes' offices are located at First street and Huntington Drite in -\rcadia. Ruth \{ills. secretarv office manager for the past six vears, remains s'ith the firm follorving the move frorn ll7 \\'est Ninth Street. Los Angeles. to the suburban area.

Olsen-Roos Nupticrls

Mr. Teil Olsen and Miss Carolyn Roos \\-ere married iil Beverly Hills. California, on May 2. Iliss Roos is the daughter and Mr. and I\{rs. Bo Christian Roos. of Beverh' Hills, and I\[r. Olsen is a member of the n'holesale lumber firm, the Olsen-Carpenter Lumlter Company. of Beverlv Hills.

George and Sally Clough, of the George Clough \\'holesale Lumber concern Los Angeles, \\'ent cruising last s'eek off the coast of Baja California u'ith their familv and r group of friends in their Yacht the 7 C's. George is fleet captain of the Santa Catalina Yacht Club and prorrrinent in sea-going activit_v 'round Nes'port and Balboa.