Stimulating Sessions, Fun in the Sun Mark SCRLA's 6th and Most Successful Fall Conference

President WAYNE F. MUtllN, Executive Vice-President ORRIE W. HAMIITON.

More than 200 dealers and guests attended the sixth annual fall conference of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association at the El Mirador hotel in Palm SpringsonNovember 9-ll andproclaimed it a very beneficial and successful meeting.The huge attendance of members and guests was a far cry from the first SCRLA Conference just six years ago when there were barely enough present to form a panel discussion. The 1955 meeting was a tribute to the planning and fulfillment of the goals of the association's executives.

Particularly gratifying are the letters and phone calls reaching Executive Vice-President Orrie W. Hamilton since the conference, all stating it was the best they have attended and saying they got plenty of good ideas and sound suggestions from the meeting to put into effect at their own yards.

The well-deserved praise is shared by every person who took part in the programs and every dealer who entered into the discussions.

Besides being the most constructive and largest-attended of the annual SCRLA Conferences, every dealer and wife seemed to have a fine time renerving acquaintances, making new friends, and working and playing together.

President Wayne F.Mullinof the association presided at the conference. It got underway at 7 :30 a.m., November 9 with a directors breakfast in the Starlight Patio, while delegates breakfasted in the El Mirador room from 7:30-9:00. Registration started at 8 a.m. in the hotel lobby under the direction of Kathryn Murray and Shirley Carvalho of the SCRLA office in Los Angeles.

The first business session began at 9:30 in the patio conference room under Chairman Ben W. Bartels, Peoples Lumber Co., Ventura, who was 1954-55 president of the SCRLA. An invocation was given by Rev. James Blackstone of the Community Church in Palm Springs.

President Mullin Opens Conference

Wayne Mullin gave the president's report. This was followed by the Safety Progress reports by Dick Ross, Johnson & Higgins, and John Over, Argonaut Insurance Co. The first speaker was Paul Hollenbeck of tl-re Lumber Service Co., Burbank, whose talk entitled "Increasing Lumber Profits" was warmly received and appreciated. Ralph D. Hill, credit manag'er, Owens-Parks Lumber Co., Vernon, gained good response to his subject, "Credits and Collections." Thomas J. Fox, president of John W. Fisher Lumber Co., Santa Monica, concluded the first morning's session with a report on the recent NRLDA directors rneeting during the Exposition in Cleveland.

A buffet lunch was held around the El Mirador pool during the noon hour under chairmanship of Edward W. Mayer, manager of Ambrose Mill & Lumber Co., Santa

DON of

A water shorv was staged to the delight of the dealers. During the afternoon, ladies present had a gettogether card party on the terrace and a coffee-punch.

The first afternoon's business meeting was resumed at 2:30 lr'ith Vice-President Ralph N. Baker, Barr Lumber Co., Santa Ana, as chairman. Harry B. Sanders of Price Waterhouse & Co. gave an accountant's analysis of the association's 1954 cost survey.

Larrick Moderates Clinic

Herschell G. Larrick, Sr., president of Lumber & Builders Supply Co., Solana Beach, moderated the first of the panel discussions at the 1955 conference. The clinic rvas on Merchandising, Advertising, Accounting and Business Management. On the panel were Mr. Bartels, Al Carlson, coowner of the Chino Lumber Co., and Russell H. McCoy, secretary-manag'er, McCoy Lumber Co., Hemet. Many grand ideas were developed during this clinic and the discussions from the floor .ivere stimulating to every dealer present.

The annual banquet at 7 p.m., under chairmanship of Tom Fox, was held in the El Mirador room. This was made an important occasion by the presence of John R. Doscher, who has been loaned by Life magazine at full salary for one year to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to be executive director of "Operation Home Improvement" out of New York City.

"'56-the Year to Fix"

Mr. Doscher impressed every dealer there with his youth, enthusiasm and the plans in store that OHIwill give every dealer a secret sales weapon in the huge national improvement and remodeling program next year under the slogan, " '56-the Year to Fix." Young Doscher was to speak later in November in Los Angeles but his appearance at this Conference first was a feather in the caps of President Mullin and Vice-President Hamilton who met him at the NRLDA Exposition in October and snagged him for their meeting.

The second day's business session started at 9:30 a.m. rvith Chairman Rex Clark, general manager, Sun Lumber Co., San Pedro, presiding. A talk on "IJnemployment Insurance As Related to Operating Costs" was given by Frank Doepker, manager, Mullin Lumber Co., North Hollylvood.

Clinic on Store Layout

The second clinic of the conference, on Modern Store ancl Yard Layout and Merchandising, was the highlight of the session. Moderated by Andy Beckstrom, Jr., co-owner of the Arcadia Lumber Co., excellent ideas were forwarded and also illustrated by panel members Jay Gold, manager, Neiman-Reed Lumber & Plywood Co., Van Nuys; Kenneth G. Stalder, manager, Center Lumber Co., Riverside, and John D. Sullivan, vice-president, Western Lumber Co. of San Diego.

DEAIER DOINCS ot the Conference cre shown in the pictoriol monfogo.

TOP PANEI: Lothrop Leishmon ond Woyne Mullin; Bert McKee; Herschell lorrick, Jr. (lefi) ond Mr. lsrrick, 5r, fqther ond son deoler tecm.

SECOND PANET: Tom Fox; lon Reynolds; Mrc. Reynolds, Rosr Reynolds ond Mrs. Cook-oll of El Monte; Hol Drown; llrs. ond Woyne Mullin, CLI/l's Reed Porter, Mr. Leishmon.

THIRD PANEI: W. Sleworl Rusrell ond Wolter Spicer; the SCRIA's Koy Murroy; George Hinkle ond Al Wohl; Fronk Hcrringlon.

TOURTH PANEI: Deqlers ond wiver ot poolside luncheon; rhc WClA's Hol Simpson; Jim Nelson, John Ganahl and Fred Kronz in pool; Mrs. ond Orrie Homilton.

FIFfH PANEI: Bill Mormion; qnolher luncheon foble; Son Diego's Cowlings; Son Diego's John Sullivon; Ben Bortals, Jock Cline, Ed lloyer, Hql Brown or toble.

SIXTH PANE!: Andy Beckstrom, Jr.; Ail Milliken qnd the newlywed Russ Fritcheys; John Gonohl qnd Frederick Kronz; onolher luncheon porfy.

BOTTOM PANEL: Herschell lqrrick, Jr., on the El Mirodor lerroce; George Hinkle ond J. W. Firzpctrick; lhe desert-dressed Rolph Boker.

Any ideas that Southern California dealers were lagging behind the rest of the country in yard layout and merchandising were dispelled by the advanced thinking and splendid ideas shown in vivid color slides of their operations during the clinic.

Special features of this part of the program, as well as other highlights of the conference, will be reported individually in later issues.

WCLA's Simpson Tells Lumber Name Changes

Hal V. Simpson, executive vice-president of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, made an important appearance at SCRLA Conference to deliver the Final Report on New Lumber Grades. Speaking straightforr.vardly and interestingll, Mr. Simpson told the dealers much "inside stuff" on the change from lumber rlumbers to names. A copy of the official changes has been received by The CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT for release on Tanuary

Roster of Delegqles Aftending the 6th Annuql Conference

Ee-rnaT4 and Mmguerlte Anawalt, Anawalt Lumber & Materiali

F.rederick and Aliee llranz, Golden State LumbN Oo., Santa ]tlontca Co.r Pacolma

Ear rinit F,rances Anawalt, anawalt r,umber & Materral. co., Tujunga ttilullu"?fiothv Lake, carden crove Lumber .g oement co-

A. _Il_enry Arwedson, Mcooy Lumber Co., Ilemet

'wllbur and Jole Barr, Barr rrumber co., santa ana

Rallrh anil rrelen Baker, Barr rrumber co., santa Ana

HerBchell Larrlck, sr" Lumber & Bullders suDDlv co" solana Beach rrerschell Larrick' Jc, Lumber .t Bullalers suDDlv co., solana Beach

Jamea and Marguerlte Lawler' Patten-Bllnn Lumber Co" Los Angeles a. A. and Ruth Beals, Rt;ltoimb;ico.,-niiiio crt'ura glek and Bet_tf, Lea-rned' Learned-smlth r,umber co.' rrermosa Beaeh

Een and Mtldred garieis, People8 lJumber Co., I.entura

.{ndy and luary Beckstrom, Arcadla r,umber oo- Arcadia Lathrop and Marie Lelshman' crown cltv r'umber & Mlu co"

Becti anir Buti neckstrq6lrj;gfi;;il;;; b-o.', e.eraia orl"?Hruilt ,rhelma Mcooy, n[cooy Lumber co., rremer rr' F' arrd Ktt Bettt' Betts-sine r'umber oo' culver city rrarry and rna lllcciatrey, san Diego Lumber co., san DieS:o Frank \v. Bishap, tr.orest Lumber Co., Los Angeler rrai _ana o".oi[i'B;-;, woodhead r,n-n;i-cb.,-r]_os a_nsere. +,tl,i#"li$.Tr'":r#l"lf,.nT,"XH::i +Hil]r"igk"::."tli-.,.Tur" Stanley and Yvonne Brow[, Chanillec Lumber Co,, van-Urijs-- ote May, calfornia r,umber Merchant, Los Angelei Ilomer anil Dorothy Burnaby, Sun Lrrmber Oo.. Sa'n peitro ' ef ara iira.ces C"ifs"n, dtfi.b-f,i--tiib"-.,"Cdii" ndwaral 14! May Mayer, Ambrose I'Illl & Lumber Co., Santa Barbara sniriey-caiwalto,jS".ofitf.-ilt"1 L-u;b;i"-"i-.lr,o. AnseteB Btuv and Marserv Mereallth' st. Malo Lumber co- oceanside Dewiitr, sr. irio n'mmi cas;;;v, e-ttr.tr. l,rrirn.* co.,B"il Arthur and Patrlcla Mllllken, vlnev-Milliken Lumber co.' covina Ilex anil .Arleoe Ciaik' Sun f,--t6i Co., S"o FJii" 'fhomas and tr{argaret MlllB' 'I. W. MiUs Lumber Co., Gardena Jack and nlisha-Cidd, I'eoples Lun-nei-Co., So.t. e"of, Russell and Merced tr[uUtn' Burbrnk Lumber Co.' Burbank Cora Cook, OooX f,umtic C.i., pf fff".lJ pa;'ne and Chsrlo^tte ]llqffin, Mullln Lumber Co.' Los Angeles ]ql!!!"- aia qte4n cqonen rir-. e. coope" Lumber co., Loa rlnlrelea rlathrvn ryl Iray'_qo_. oaltf. Retall Lumber Assn-. r,os Anseles W!!!ir- Q. a4O tUa_ry f,outie C(N'ttn-s,-oi*-fJf,o-t"r bo., Sanbfeio James and lvlary Nelson' Buena Park Lumber Co.' Buena Park WtlUqm S. Jr. anat-Marttyl_A_._-Co*Iihi, Sixfe f,o-tC.-bo., S"oEi"S" qilton M. Nowlen, City Lumber & Supply Oo, San Dieso Frank and Jean l)oeBker,,tUutti!, Lrmi;'.)a0o.; 1\orfliEolijwma----- John ovef,' ArSonaut InBurance Exchange, Iros Angeles

John Doscher, Operatlon llome Inprovement,-New l.ork dttv Jack anal Anits Peterson, Olearwater Lumber Co.' Paramount

Olln anrt llazel Easterly, San Diego Lunber io., San nleso--' Reed Porter, Callfornia Lumber.llferchant, Los Angeles

Roy anit Ruth En-gatran_al,-W-llTing:ton Lumbqr'Co, Loi-Angelet Ross_and Eqla Reynolds, Reynoldr Lumber Co., El Monte

Asa md Marguerlte X'lektlng, e.. E. X'tcnung Lunber Co., L-ong-Beach lor Rey4olds' R,eynolds Lumber Co.' Ell Monte

Joe and Leona Ftltzpatrlek, Consolidated Lu;ber Co., \vlliiinit-on John n^lehardson' Richardson Mlll & Lumber Co.' Plco llhomgF and_Catherlne tr',ox,4'hn UI. Iltrher Lumber'Co- Sani?-ffibnfca George and Fay RodeckN, lllllliams Lumber Yord, Azusa Rursell and -P,eggv Frl,lchey, Palm Avenue Lumber Co., Alho;b;s -- Robert and Kathleen Rodecker, Wllliams Lumber Yard, Azusa gr_nest an! I{ay Ganahl, Ernert Ganahl Lumber Oo., Anahein Dlck Ro3B, Johrson & HiAa:lna, Los Angeles

John and Catherine Ganahl, Ernest Ganahl L|mber Co,, Anaheim R,trlph and Lela Russell' Oonaolidat€d Lumber Co{ wllmlngton

C. Dungan and Alleerl Gibaon, Gibson Lumbcr Co., Heinet Stewart Russell, Bussell Lumber Co, 'lvhlttler George ar.d lfelen Glbson, Glbson Lumbc Co. San Bernardino Clarenee anal Iiathryn Saltonstall, Rosemead Lumber Co., n,oBemead .!ay glil' Neifnal-3ss6 Lu-lqb_gf q Plywood Co., Van Nuyt Eoy L.-Sarrale{ur, Dlll Lumber Oo., Arllngton

Gerald and Chrts Gruber, Mullln Luniber Co., LoB Ang:el6s llmry D. Sanders, Prlce lvaterhouse & Co., Los Angeler

IIat V. anit Mrs. Mable Slmpson, West Coast Lumb&nents Assn., Pau-l anal rEthel lrall|nAby, Ilammond Lumber Co., Loa Atrgeles Portlanil, Orego[ Orrle arrd Louise llomllton' so. Calif. Retatl l,umber A'sjn--, Charlie ud Jean Smlth, Learneil-Sntth Lumber Co., Ilemosa Beach Los Argeles - paul and Joan snyder, il[ulun r,umber oo., studlo city

Rex and frene llall' .W. D. Ilotl Co., Dl Oajon' -

Frank and Jilanits Ilanlngton' Ur'ard & Ilarrlngton Lrmber Co., q/alter and Faf,/e -Splc'er, lvard & llarrlngton Lunbe-r Co,, Santa Ana santa Ana

Robert and June llarls' Lou'llbenlr aA llarrls, Loa Angelea

N9rt9n llatlrtN,ey' Oeeanslde Llmber Co.' Ocean3lde stephen anal Eillthe Hatlraway'_Oceanslde Lumber Co., Ocemside

Gal€ and Ywonie siacora, Ilfullin Lumlrer- co., sa4 Gabrlei

Kenneth G. Stalder, Center Lumber Co. Rivqislile

Phlt anil Mlldreil Silllwell, Ilammond Lumber Co., Los Angeles

Jamea Snlllvan, fvestern Lumber Co., San Diego

Mae R.-Ilexberg and catherlne Borchard, Ilcxberg Luiber Co., John sullivan, weitern Lumber Co., San Dtegi

LoB Angeles

Davld and !"i -g_Iy_ Il-lll, Burbalk rmb€r Co., Burbank

Al anil Htlita Wahf, Consoliilated Lumber Co., .wilmlngton

Gllmore anil Mlldreil lvarat, Iyarat & Ilarrlngton Lumbei Co., qeoTA_e_ qlif _Magy _Ilinkle, Consoltalateil Lumber Co., \trlllmlngton Santa Ana

Italph and pglty IIiU, Owela-Park€ Lnmber Co. Vernon

Paul -Ilollenbee\r Lunber Servlee Co.' Burbank

Jo]leph and Adele llorton,.Ilort-on & Foote, Loa AnSelea

Mayor and Mllatreit UIelseI, Sunlanil Lumber Co. El l}Ionte

Bili u/elsel, sunlanal Lumher Co., Noriatk

Eal-ono lromalfu-ghes' cartcr_Mlll &_Lumber Co., LoJAngetes s/alter and Norma wliser, w. T'. Lunber co., tr,Iortebello

Robert and virglnla James, ]l[acco Lumber co., paramout

Bob welch, rcuilatngl supply News, van Nuys

Frode arrd lrarrlet Kilstofte' Rossman lutu & tumber co., wllmington rloward ariil xattrte:en rteriman, lvestern iumber co., San Itlego

G. Earl l(lrcher, Century-Lumber Co., Long Eeach lfugh and Gertruile Wtit ott, W. n. Cooircr f,umter Co., f,oi e-ngefes

November 9-l l, t 955

1,7956, and publication will be made in the issue of that date.

Luncheon rvas again served around the pool, rvith C. Dungan Gibson, vice-president, Gibson Lumber Co., San Bernardino, as chairman. A fashion shorv rvas staged and enjoyed by men and rvomen both. During the seconcl afternoon, the ladies made a caravan to an Indio date-processing

Southern Cqlifornicl R.etoil lumber Associqtion CONFER.ENCE

plant or visited the Racquet Club, while the dealers resumed for business at a final sessiou.

I-athrop K. Leishman, president, Crown City Lumber & Mill Co., Pasadena, was chairman of the session, rvhich started with a report by Ralph Baker on association finances. Attorney Joseph K. Horton spoke on "Observations Relating to Anti-Trust Laws." Another stimulating