ASSOCIATION

Lumber Association of Texas & Louisiana's outgoing president Bob Ashley, West End Lumber, Houston, Tx., passed the gavel to his successor, Robert Archer, Morton Lumber, Borger, Tx., during the group's recent convention in San Antonio, Tx. (see event photos, p. 40-4 I ).

Other new officers include lst v.p. Rufus Duncan, Higginbotham, Comanche, Tx.; 2nd v.p. Matt Mullin, Alamo Lumber, San Antonio; associate v.p. K.C. Cox, Weyerhaeuser, Houston; Louisiana v.p. Jon Cromwell, Riverside Lumber, New Orleans, La.; secretary John Jones, Cassity Jones Lumber, Longview, Tx., and sgt.-at-arms Frank Fazzio, Lumber Products. Metairie. La.

John Jones was also named Lumber Dealer of the Year, and Bob Crowley, Richardson Timbers, Dallas, Tx., was named associate member of the year.

Southern Building Material Association will gather July 29-Aug. I at the Wyndham Resort, Virginia Beach. Va.. for its annual summer conference.

Northeastern Retail Lumber Association affiliates have added several events to their summer schedules.

Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association's annual summer outing is May 2l-23 at the Wequassett Inn Resort & Golf Club. Chatham.

Western New York Lumber Dealers Association will hold its lst annual fishing trip June 4 at Buffalo Harbor, followed by golf June 29 at Bristol Harbor, Canandaigua.

Northeastern Young Lumber Execs will meet Aug. l9 at Fenway Park, Boston. Ma.. to watch the Red Sox vs. the Angels.

Illinois Lumber & Material Dealers Association set its annual Northern Illinois Whing Ding for July 14 at Tamarack Golf Course, Naperville.

Florida Building Material Association hosts an Aug. 5 regional meeting and lunch at Jeld-Wen Millwork Distribution, Coral Springs, Fl.

A range of webinars will be offered during the summer, including "Tools & Machine Safety" June 8, "Bloodborne Pathogens" July 6, and "Personal Protection Equipment" Aug. 10.

Southern Forest Products Association will host a midyear meeting May 26-27 at Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, La.

Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association has ended its support of SFPA's Southern Pine Council.

Hardwood Manufacturers Association elected new president Pembroke Jenkins, Turn Bull Lumber, Elizabethtown, N.C., at its recent conference in Tampa, Fl.

New lst v.p. is Jack Shannon, J.T. Shannon Lumber, Memphis, Tn.; 2nd v.p. Skipper Beal, Beal Lumber, Little

Mountain, S.C.; executive v.p. Linda Jovanovich, and directors Eric Porter, Abenaki Timber, Kingston, N.H.; Harry Rogers, Big River Cypress & Hardwoods, Blountstown, Fl.; Owen Strickler, Virginia-Carolina Forest Products, Lawrenceville, Va.; Rhonda Kendrick, Kendrick Forest Products, Edgewood, Ia., and Jack Little, Keiver-Willard Lumber. Newburvport, Ma.

Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association set July 8-9 for its midyear convention and show at Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino, Biloxi, Ms.

American Institute of Timber Construction elected Mike Lane, QB Corp., Salmon,Id., as president during its recent annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Other new officers are v.p. John Forman, Alamco Wood Products, Albert Lea, Mn.; treasurer Gary Burley, Unit Structures, Magnolia, Ar., and past president Ed Jones, Laminated Timbers, London, Ky.

New directors are Jim Griswold, Filler King, Homedale, Id., and Tom Shew, Boise Cascade, Emmett, Id.

Yard Arsonist Arrested

Authorities have arrested an l8-year-old man accused of setting afire a woodpile at Donora Lumber. Donora. Pa.

Cody Lee Rock was charged with arson and other offenses. He confessed to police that he set the April 7 blaze out of boredom.

Venerable Minnesota Chain Looking for New Owner

After more than 120 years in business, H.E. Westerman Lumber, Montgomery, Mn., is seeking a buyer for its last three locations.

The company got its start in 1889 and quickly grew to 12 locations. By 1972, however, that number was down to six yards. Just three-Montgomery, Lonsdale, and Belle Plaine-remain open today.

"There just isn't the traffic in these small towns that there used to be," said Don Westerman,64, who runs the company with his son, Greg. "People shop online and go to bigger communities."

It's no surprise that the downturn in housing has hurt the company.

"Vendors are not getting paid on time, and the builders are not able to pay us," he said.

Yet Westerman still hopes that a buyer will save the company. "It doesn't matter what the name is out front-our true asset is our staff."

Westlake Plants Garden Areas

Westlake Ace Hardware, Lenexa, Ks., which runs 88 stores in seven states, is hoping that new garden centers will bring in new customers.

"The decision to offer a professional garden center at certain locations was part of Westlake's strategy to offer more options to consumers in the categories they want most and that fit our business," said c.o.o. Rob Easley.

The full-service garden centers are built onto existing stores, with separate entrances and checkout areas. Inventory includes plants and garden supplies, as well as accessories, and employees are trained to answer lawn and garden questions.

The first eight garden centers opened last month in Overland Park, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Lawrence and Topeka, Ks.; Broken Arrow and Oklahoma City, Ok., and Omaha, Ne.

"The concept behind our garden centers is to provide a wide selection of superior-quality plants and garden supplies, along with the expert advice any gardener would need to complete a project," said Scott Drawbaugh, director of merchandising.

G-P Clears Hurdle to Buy Mills

Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., has received Canadian approval to acquire Grant Forest Products' OSB mills in Englehart and Earlton, Ont. Further approval is pending in U.S. bankruptcy court.

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Send ad to Fax 949-852-0231 or dkoenig@ building-products.com. For more info, call (949) 852-1990. Make checks payable to Cutler Publishing. Deadline: 1 8th of previous month.

Employment Opportunities In

THE U.S. AND CANADA: Our client is seeking to hire Senior Commodity and Specialty Forest Products Traders NOW. Selected candidates must have a track record in generating in excess of $200,000 in annual gross margins. Commissions range to 451a of the gross. Client's working capital line exceeds $200M. Excellent benefit and retirement package. For a confidential discussion, contact Carl Jansen at Search North America, (541) 593-2117, ematl carlj @searchna.com, www.searchna.com.

WE ARE LOOKING for aggressive sales representatives to grow with our company. We are a well-established (since 1922) and reputable family-owned wholesaler looking to expand into new markets. Work from your hometown and eam the best commissions in the business. Call Jim at (800) 64'1 6242 for more infbrmation. The McGinnis Lumber Company, Inc., Meridian. Ms.

WHOLESALE HARDWOODS. outside sales. Work from your region or relocate. Flooring, stair parts, specialties. Mail resume to P.O. Box I I l7l, Knoxville, Tn. 37939. Top commissions. Employee ownership.

Lumbertrader

We are a wholesale lumber company looking for an experienced trader. Any species. No restrictions on mills or customers. No relocation.607o split for trader. Call John at Lakeside Lumber at (623) 566-7100 or email lakesidelumber@cox.net.

G-P is also waiting for approval to buy Grants' U.S. mills, in Allendale and Clarendon, S.C.

"These are world-class facilities that fit strategically with our current wood products operations," said G-P president Mark Luetters.

Poliee Nab Burglary Suspect

One suspect has been arrested in connection with several robberies of industrial wiring from Cardin Lumber, Stevenson, Al., that caused $144,000 in damages and theft.

Jack Edward Thompson, 43, was charged with three burglary-related charges. Police expect to make additional arrests in the case.

We Buy And Sell Panel Strips

Plywood, OSB, particleboard and MDF by the truckloads. Lumber Source, Phone (800) 874I 953, Fax 888-576-8723, email LumberSource@ worldnet.att.net.