Don't Put tbe ,sban' in Association Are YOU Getting tbe Aduantages of the Member Dealers?

By Jack F. POMEROY, Executi ue V ice-President, Lumber Merchants Association of Nortbern California

One of the most unique aspects of the lumber and building.material industry today is its trade associations. Unique because these associations are as old as the industry itself, yet are newer than when they first began because all of them are constantly changing-adding new services, developing new promotions, growing with new members and becoming more and more proficient in serving the needs of the industry.

The very idea of the trade association is unique in that they are voluntarily-joined, non-profit, cooperative organizations of business competitors designed to assist their members and their industry in dealing with mutual business problems.

Although the trade association institution had its beginnings in the middle ages, in Europe and England with the formation of guilds of crafts and trades, there is no comparison now with business association activities in the United States and the practices of European groups.

Senator Karl Mundt in a recent article named trade associations "the keystone in the arch rve call the American Way of Life." He also lvent on to say, "Nothing would aid European recovery more than the development of a vigorous, effective trade association movement in the American tradition."

He said, "Where Europe has trade secrets, cartels and a moribund industrial machine, America has an amazing degree of free exchange of industrial information, a competitive system that insures ample goods at lorv cost, and an up-to-date, on-its-toes industrial economy. Trade Associations have made the difference."

How have they made this difference? By pooling and exchanging the knowledge, ideas and techniques in the industry. By being the common meeting ground .r'r'here all the members get to know one another better. By finding out what the industry thinks and feels and then expressing these thoughts as one voice.

The lumber merchant has two incentives for joining his industry's association. The first is a purely profit motive in that he is buying services and benefits for his orvn business that are, in most cases, unobtainable from any other source. He wants to keep up with what is going on in the trade; he wants his employes better trained and with a better understanding of the business; he wants ideas on merchandising, store layout, display, advertising, new products, improved safety, and better selling methods.

He rvants current information on legislation that tvill afiect his business, information on changes in state and federal laws under which he must operate, he .w'ants tax information, labor information, construction and financing information, information on wages and salaries, operating costs.

In short, he wants all the ideas and information he can get to us€ in the day-to-day operation of his business. His trade association is the source.

The second motive he has for being a member is the knowledge that a strong association representing the industry from which he makes his living is good for the in-

CAI.IFORNIA AS'OCIAIION MEMBERS AND OFFtCERS, shown ol the t955 NRIDA Exporition in Clcvelond, ore (left to llght): Orrie W. HAMltlON, exacufive vicc-prcsidont. the Southcrn Colifornic Rctail lumber Asrociotion; Joe KIRK, Klrk lumber E Building ]lctcriots Co., Scnto l/lcriq; fom FOX, John W. Fi:her Lun$cr Co., Sonto Monicc, ond Jock F. POilEROY, executivc yi6s.presidenf, fhe lumber Alcrchonts Associction of Northern Colifornia dustry. What is good for the industry is good for him. He also knows that his membership helps to make the association strong and vigorous. He knows that in these times he must be represented by a strong association in legislative matters at both the state and national levels.

It is most important that when an association deals with state or federal agencies and bureaus it must be backed up by a large percentage of the members of the industry it represents. The greater the percentage, the more effective the action. And individual dealers make up those percentage figures.

These, then, are the reasons a dealer puts his firm into association membership. But it is a two-rvay street. What does the association expect from the member? Association membership is giving as well as receiving.

The association expects the member to acquaint l-rimself with all the services it has to offer and to use as manv of them as he possibly can. It hopes that he rvill inform his employes of the company's membership and encourage them to join in as many of the activities as they can. The association hopes the informational material that is sent out r,vill be channeled by the dealer to"the person in his employ to v"hom it r.r'ould do the most good. It expects the member to respond promptly when asked to contact officials or legislators and to take part in the exchange of legitimate business information. It u'ants the member to take an active interest in all its meetings, conventions and activities.

The giving is of as great importance to a successful association as the receiving.

The lumber industry, here in the West, is fortunate in that the men who make up this industry knorv the value of associations and the work thev do.

All the associations in this industry-manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, represent the vast majority of the companies in each field and each association is ready and willing to work with the others in helping to solve mutual problems that will benefit the entire industry.

Members of one association benefit directly and indirectly from the work of the other groups.

It would pay to stop and think of the tremendous good that pours into the industry during the year from all its associations. The manufacturing associations with their quality brochures, pamphlets and books educating and informing the trade and the public on their product or their species; their grading bureaus and inspectors, their field men to help with technical problems; their promotion and pre-selling techniques; their quality control and public relations programs-to list just a few.

And the retail associations with th,eir employee training programs, management meetings, conventions, trade information and promotion-exchanging selling, merchandising and operating ideas. All these done by individual businessmen who have seen fit to join together into an association.

Those in the industry who have yet to join their association are missing something. They are missing not only help that could improve their individual businesses but they are missing the satisfaction of knowing they are a part of a group working for the betterment of all.

The great lack Dionne wrote in an editorial, "The man rvho fails to belong to his rightful lumber association is nothing more nor less than a slacker to his industry, because it is only through association work and activity that the things vital to the industry can be handled. and every man should do his share in the common cause."

Redwood Empire Glub Hosts Kids Dec. 2l

Steve Yaeger, president of Redwood Empire Hoo-Hoo Club 65, reports all in readiness for the club's big annual Christmas party for the youngsters at the Lytton Salvation Army lfome, near Healdsburg, Friday evening, December 2I, and a good turnout of members, rvives and guests u'ill be on hand to help the deserving youngsters celebrate Christmas and have a little fun.

Their policy is supporting the Lytton Home in every way possible, and the members of Club 65 are presenting the h,ome with a complete gym this year. The club is also donating two radios to the Lytton infirmary, as well as paint for the Home's new fence. Herb Latell, Sterling Lumber Company, Santa Rosa, is in charge of rounding up the necessary paint and supplies for the fence project, which was last year's gift to the Home from Club 65.

The annual Christmas party will conclude club activities under the present officers and board. Elections are scheduled for January.