Western tembers Gotherfor

NBXIDA Tolks in los Angeles

A representative gathering of Western members and guests assembled in the Ambassador hotel, Los Angeles, September 15, for a western regional meeting of wholesale distributors of building materials, scheduled by the National Building Material Distributors Assn., Chicago. Several top-flight leaders of the industry hammered home the facts in short talks and panels, with question-andanswer sessions after each subject lighting the fuse to animated discussion.

Ray Haley of Haley Wholesale, Santa Barbara, opened the morning session and served excellently to introduce the various subjects. NBMDA President Don Knecht, a human dynamo'of a distributor from Rapid City, South Dakota, got things off to a rousing start and brought on S. M. Van Kirk, general manager of the Association in Chicago.

In his short but pithy "Observations at the National Level," Van Kirk told how the NBMDA has grown from a starting membership of 28 houses in June of. 1952 to the more than 500 member firms it boasts today. He gave a working history of NBMDA efforts for its members.

segments of the industry. Paul was cut short by the Noon wliistle but the audience appreciated his every word, as usual.

President Knecht was to lead off the after-luncheon sessions with "Communications-The Key to Better Understanding.'' Scheduled to follow was a discussion on "Credits and Collections." The "Idea Trading Post" (to be a main feature of the NBMDAnnual this month, Nov. 16-18, in Chicago; see October I issue) concluded the day's programmed events. Its Round-table topics for discussion were: Sales Promotion, Salesmen's Compensation, Office Procedures, \Marehousing, Trucking, New Products, and Yardsticks of Performance.

A partial list of those attending the September 15 meeting in Los Angeles includes:

R. M. Singer, Jr., the energetic young manager of Diamond W Supply Co., Los Angeles, spoke briefly on "Newcomer's Approach to NBMDA." In the absence of the regularly scheduled speaker, W. B. Semco of Semco & Associates, Los Angeles, filled the breach on the topic, "New Concepts in Materials Handling," and instigated a particularly lively Q-and-A session that brought out many important ideas.

D. A. Pittman, Lumber Dealers Supply, Tucson, Ariz.; Ray Haley, Haley Wholesale, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Gordon Hayter, Reynolds Aluminum Supply, T-os .Ange,les; Gene Hively, Material Supply Co., Springfield, Ill.; Albert Pierre, PBM, Santa Rosa, Calif .; Ted L. Cranford, Cranford Wholesale Co., Colton, Calif.; Chas. G. Hardy, Hardy, Inc., Paramount, Calif.; Dave Glesby, Glesby Building Materials, Van Nuys, Calif.; Paul Sink, Mason Supplies, Los Angeles; Williah S. Bryant, Trico Building Suppliel, q"t Carlos. Calif.: Charles T. Mclver, Structural Materials Co., Montebello, Calif.; Jotrir L. Gerich, Modern Materials Co., Los Angeles; John O'Malley, Jr., Mallco Distributors, Phoenix, Ariz.;- Don Knecht, Building Material Distributors, Rapid City, S.D.; Ralph M. Singer, Jr., Diamond-W Supply Co., Los Angeles; J. Stark Sowers, Inland Lumber Co.,^dialto, Calif., aia ;. D. Scouller and Richard E. Freeman, So-Cal Building Materials Co., Los Angeles.

NBMDA Reodies Eighth Annuql

A record attendance is anticipated at the eighth annual convention of the National Building Material Distributors Association, who will meet at the Edgewater Beach hotel in Chicago, November 16-18, according to Don Knecht, president of NBMDA.

A Panel on "Commodity Products-The Wholesaler's Position," found Gene Hively, Springfield, Ill., leading off on Roofing; Dick Freeman, Los Angeles, moderatingl Albert Pierre, Santa Rosa, on Specialty ftems, and John O'Malley, Jr., Phoenix, on Rock '{ool, Hardboards and Insulati6n materials. These men, with experiences over a wide area, provided the most stimulating material of the meeting and started discussions from the floor that could well be soins yet in their vital interest.

A non"-sch-eduled but always welcome speaker was Paul Hollenbeck, Burbank, who was called up from the audience for a few of his very popular remarks. Mr. Hollenbeck promised the crowd that he is now completing an additional service to add to his many already valuable services to all

- Several innovations will be initiated during the threeday meeting, including a series of manufacturer-conference bo-oths, a seminar on -'The Specialty Products Wholesaler -Yardsticks artd Trends," and a panel discussion by manufacturers on "The Trend in Wholesaling"' Six committees will meet on Sunday, November 15, covering Advertising, Promotion and MerchandisingBusiness Procedures - Marketing Trends-Tax Equality-and Specialty Wholesalers.

Knecht stated that NBMDA would end 1959 with warehouse membership reaching a total of 525. This number, he estimated, wili account-for over $900 million in sales of building materials moving primarily to the retail lumber dealer.

Details of the convention can be secured by writing the executive offices of NBMDA at 22 West Monroe Street, Chicago 3, Illinois.