'Let's Put Hoo-Hoo to Work'

By Ross G. Kincoid, Mcnoging Direclor, Western Reroil Lumbermen's Assn., Seottle

(Editor's Note: Address before Seattle Hoo-Hoo Club No. 34, March 25, t959, meeting)

My first recognition of the true value of Hoo-Hoo came some twelve years ago when, with the assistance of Del Daley of Weyerhaeuser Sales Company of Tacoma, we organized, a club in the Yakima Valley. It was my lot to serve as the club's head ofifrcer for the first two years after receiving our charter. I was deeply impressed by the caliber of the dedicated men who spark Hoo-Hoo.

Ray Saberson and Ben Springer installed our officers. Ray, then with Weyerhaeuser, has since retired, except that he is more active than ever in working for the good of all through his Lumber Dealers Merchandising Institute. He knows so well that our industry is no better than the men who are in it and, through his service, he is doing so much to enrich their job opportunities and their lives with a realistic training program.

Then that pistol, Ben Springer, the mighty little international secretary, whose headquarters are in Milwaukee it has been my good fortune to spend some time with Ben in his office. There is a man who steadfastly lives for HooHoo-he is a real BOOSTER !

As I review the years of my affiliation with this organization, I wonder whv it is that we have so manv times failed to envision or taki advantage of the tremendous potential of Hoo-Hoo. the fraternal order of lumbermen.

In my present capacity, I have a better opportunity to gain a revealing perspective from a point of view I have never had before-local, state, regional and national ; and I can see a real opportunity for Hoo-Hoo to be of service to our great lumber industry in meeting some of -and we do have problems ! problems

Some wag has said that this industry is all arms and legs with no hea-d. While we cannot entirely accept this point of view, we sometimes present such an appearance to an outsider. Each element has its fun in taking digs at the others. Neither does it seem to change whether the market be lousy or good.

It is not news to state that the channels of distribution are somewhat muddied. They are made even more complex by the miracles of production. We now need some miracles of distribution-not only to cause the increasing supply to be consumed but to bring about this miracle without too much bloodshed. It is no secret that retailers, jobbers and manufacturers all feel that the other fellow is operating for the sake of expediency rather than for the long pull.

To illustrate my point, here is a story that is true according to the wholesaler who tells it: "I have a problem. I have two brothers. One is a contractor who buys from retailers. The other was just sentenced to death in the electric chair for murder. My mother died when I was three years old and I have two sisters who are no good and served time. My father sells narcotics. Now I have just met a girl who got out of the reformatory after serving a sentence for killing her mother. I love this girl very much and want to marry her. My problem is: should I tell this girl about my contractor brother who buys from retailers?"

You know that this could not be a true story. It is rather difficult these days to find a contractor who buys from retailers. In fact, one look at the price-structure of the average retail yard today would indicate that it's difficult to find a dealer selling at retail prices !

There is a great need for the various factors in this great industry to have a better understanding of the other fellow's problems. Empathy is the word that describes what we need-the ability to put one's self in the other fellow's shoes for a better understanding of his problem. Within the