NRLDA Board Changes Association Name and Expands Educational Programs

Working ttovertime sessions." the Board of Directors of the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association approved a comprehensive merchandising program for dealers in the home and property improvement business, expanded the HAPI program to include a course on kitchen remodeling, went forward with a general education program for all dealers, and finally changed the name of the association to more accurately reflect the character of its members.

Other action taken by the Board, meeting in 'Chicago on October ISth and 19th, was the election of new officers for 1963. The following officers were elected unanimously: Leslie G. Everitt, president, Fort Collins, Colorado; William T. Spencer, first vice president, Gastonia, North Carolina; Robert Lloyd, second vice president, Mankato, Minnesota; Robert J. McCutchan, treasurer, Lebanon, Indiana; Thomas T. Sneddon, executive vice president, Washington, D.C.; H. R. Northup, senior vice president, W'ashington, D.C.; and Edward H. Libbey, secretary, Washington, D.C.

The new name for the association is the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. The name was suggested by a committee of dealers under the chairmanship of Paul V. DeVille, Canton, Ohio, a past-president of the Association. Mr. DeVille explained that the addition of the words "building material" was necessary because almost every dealer in the country now supplies practically all materials used in light construction and only a few continue to operate yards in the historic sense.

Setting the stage for the Board's long sessions, President William L. Johnson acknowledged that the lumber and building materials industry is faced with many problems, solutions to which could best be found through trade association action.

ooln our lumber and building materials industry, the various elements have many problems in common, and in the retail dealer segment individual dealers have common problems; and it seems to me our trade associations provide the most efiective means of finding sound, broad solutions which can be applied in individual businesses to the ,benefit of not only that individual, but to whole communities and areas, to the industry and to the public as well.

"During this year I have been privileged to sit in with groups of lumber dealers at several meetings of state and regional associations and to see this American System in action," Mr. Johnson said. ooEverywhere I have gone, and with the lumbermen I have visited, I have been impressed with the evident desire and determination to do a better job and to continually improve their service to the public," he added.

"I have observed that business problems vary in difierent localities and under different conditions and influences; but in every one of these meetings I saw in these businessmen a willingness to share their experiences and ideas with their competitors, and to receive as compensation the ideas of others which they might take home and put to work in their own business.

One of the major problems faced by the Board was the proposal of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association to simplify lumber grades and sizes. The Board heard a detailed explanation of the proposal from G. F. Prange, vice president, Technical Services, NLMA, following which Albert Boisfontaine. of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, and Evans Wyckofi, Seaboard Lumber Company, Seattle, stated their objections to the NLMA plan.

Broadly speaking, the controversy is one between regional factions which will eventually be resolved by the American Lumber Standards Committee, or the factions themselves. After long deliberation, the Board decided that the majority of retail lumber dealers have not yet been given enough information on the NLMA proposal to reach an intelligent decision. Therefore, the Board instructed C. T. Hubbell, chairman of the NRLDA Standards Committee, and the dealer repres€ntative on'the ALS Committee, to vote a "qualified no" when that committee considers the proposal on Novem,ber 8.

The Board then directed the NRLDA stafi to develop material outlining both sides of the argument for immediate dissemination to all members.

Paul R. Ely, chairman of the Market Development Committee, made a complete report on the development of the HAPI program and announced that in addition to the regular five-day HAPI course on remodeling for yard owners and managers, and the two-day course for salesmeno there would now be a three-day course on the specialized subject of kitchen remodeling. Like the other courses, the new training program on kitchen remodeling will be held in various parts of the country so that dealers in all areas will have an opportunity to attend themselves or send their employees at a minimum cost for travel.

E. F. Al Walsh outlined a broad HAPI merchandising program for 1963. The program, which he described as the most comprehensive ever ofiered in the retail building materials industry, contains some 2l difierent sales tools, ranging from a 350piece display kit prepared four times a year to group business meetings where dealers can gather and exchange ideas, compare sales promotion results, and discuss future sales eventso as outlined by Mr. Walsh.

The program will be ofiered through wholesalers, who will share the cost, rather than directly to dealers. The overall merchandising program will be a joint efiort on the part of manufacturers, wholesalers and dealers.

Mr. Ely also reported that while the Market Development Committee will continue with this development of the remodeling market, it will also work to stimulate dealer business in the new homes market.

In a progress report on the Association's work with Purdue University to establish an education program for dealers, President Johnson said the program was very near reality. A Founders group has been established to provide funds for the initial organization of the courses. Purdue Univer(Continu,ed on Page 22)

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Chemicol Brenkthrough in Fire Retordont Repoiled

A new chemical breakthrough has been achieved which makes it possible to render wood shingles and other materials fire resistant and which ig expected to result in new standards for fire ordinances as well as meet long-time demands of architectg building contractors and roofers.

Manufactured in Los Angeles by the Flame-X-Control Corp. the new product is a chemical emulsion which renders wood shingles and other materials fire retardant on a virtually permanent basis with only one spraying application.

"The major importance of Flame-X-Control is that it is now possible to prevent future fire disasters, such as last year's in Bel Air, California which resulted in 513 homes being destroyed at a loss of $24,000,000," Howard Sosbee, company general manager, points out.

The majority of the homes wiped out in this disaster as well as other recent hillside and forest fires were ignited, according to fire department officials, by flying brands, which would be harmless against treated roofs.

Developed by O. T. Hodnefield of Montroseo California, long regarded as the dean on the subject of fire retardant chemicals, the Flame-X material has undergone more than 20 years of extensive testing and research and passed all with flying colors. Typical of the reports was that by the Underwriters Laboratories which noted the o'efiectiveness of the treatment is verv defiinite and uniform".

"While the product has had successful commeicial, industrial and military application in the past, it was never produced in quantity to supply the great masses of home owners and residential building contractors, especially those seeking such a product for hillside and forest areas," Sosbee points out. "However, netv production methods now make it possible to mass produce the chemical with exacting quality control and make it available to all."

Durability of Flame-X was additionally confirmed in most recent tests conducted on shingles treated 17 years ago and exposed continuously to the harsh climate in the San Gorgonio Mountain area of Southern California. After these tests, including one using a blow torch, the shingles were found to be still fire resistant, it was noted by test officials.

In addition to its flame resistant qualities, the chemical is also water and insect repellent and preserves the natural appearance of wood shingles.

Sosbee noted that application cost for an average size home would be about $200, less than half the cost of short-lived painttype materials, and all Flame-X applications come with the manufacturer's lO-year guarantee.

'A variation of the formula has also been sprayed in areas to serve as a firebreak. In these tests, flames were unable to penetrate beyond the Flame-X lined fire-break. This will permit controlling the fire hazard of brush and grass without expensive clearing of hillsides and exposing homes to the equally dangerous hazard of mud slides.

The chemical is also efiective as an air drop in fighting fireg is less costly than the presently used borate, is not poisonous to the soil and does not corrode machinery,

Test results and other information are available from Flame-XControl offices 24M Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles 57, California, telephone DUnkirk l-I331.

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