DATE Book

flstlngs are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations wtth sponsor before making plans to aftend.

Wallace Hardware - May 11-13, spring market, Convention Center, Gatlinburg, Tn.; (a23) 586-5650; www.wallace-hardware.com.

Construction Specifications Institute - May 11-14, annual convention, Philadelphia, Pa.; (301) 670-0604; www.csinet.org.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association - May 13, regional meeting, Boston, Ma.; (800) 527-8258; www.nawla.org.

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association - May 13-14, annual convention, Hyatt Regency, Boston, Ma.; (207) 829-6901; www.netma.0rg.

Do lt Best Corp. - May 15-17, spring market, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, ln.; (260) 248-5300; www,doitbest.com.

National Association of Home Builders - May 16.18, green building conference, Raleigh, N.C.; (800) 368-5242; www.nahb.com.

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association - May 16'19, annual convention, Wild Dunes Resort, lsle of Palms, S.C.; (703) 2641690; www.kcma.org.

Fforida Buifding Material Association -May 20-21, poker & golf tournaments, Arlington Ridge Golf Club, Leesburg, Fl.; (352) 3830366; www.fbma.org.

Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association - May 21, summer outing, Chatham, Ma.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.0rg.

Minneapolis Home Building & Remodeling Expo - May 21'23, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Mn.; (800) 3746463.

American Wood Protection Association - May 23.25, annual meeting, Hyatt Regency, Savannah, Ga.; (800) 356-1974; www.awpa.com.

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association - May 23'25, conference, Scottsdale, Az. ; (703) 435-2900; www. hpva.org.

Southern Forest Products Association - ltay 26-27, midyear meeting, Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, La.; (504) 4434464; www.sfpa.org.

Lumber Dealers Assn. of Connecticut - June 2, golf, Tunxis Plantation, Farmington, Ct.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

Westem New York Lumber Dealers Association - June 4, fishing, Buffalo Harbor, N.Y.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

Twin Cities Hoo-Hoo Club - June 7, golf tournament & picnic, Highland National Golf Course, St. Paul, Mn.; (612)490-8583.

National Hardwood Lumber Association - June 7.10, grading course, Yoder Lumber, Millersburg, Oh.; Hardwoods 101 course, Pickwick, Tn.; (901 ) 377-1 81 8; www.nhla.com.

New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association - June 10, golf, New London, N.H.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

Central New York Lumber Dealers Association - June 14, golf, Pompey Golf Club, Pompey, N.Y.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

National Lawn & Garden Show - June 15-17, Colorado Springs, Co,; (888) 316-0226; www.nlgshow.com.

Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Assn. - June 17, golf, Orchard Creek Golf Club, Altamont, N.Y.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

Forest Products Society -June 20-22, convention, Monona Madison, Wi. ; (608) 231 -1361 ; www.forestprod.org.

Builders Hardware Manufacturers Assn. - June 21.23, meeting, Chicago, ll.; (212) 297 -2109; www.buildershardware.com.

Long fsland Lumber Association - June 22, golf , Rock Hill Country Club, Manorville, N.Y.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

Northern New York Lumber Dealers Association - June 23, golf, Potsdam Golf & Country Club, Potsdam, N.Y.; (518) 286-1010; www.nrla.org.

3nt to 48tt

Airport Runway/Parking Lol

Golf Course Storm Drains lndustrial Waste Water Applications

Constructed Wetlands

Landfill Drainage

Sewer Sludge Compost Pipe 3" to 48"

Crumpler Plastic Pipe, lnc.

Post Office Box 2068

Roseboro, NC 28382

Phone: 91 0-525-4046

FAX 91 0,525-5801

For the Best Quality and Service Call

WEB SITE: www.cpp-ptPe.com

A Chicagoland hardware retailer is stamping a new green image for itself, while ensuring customers will flow into its store.

Weiss Ace Hardware, Glenview, Il., installed an inkjet cartridge refilling station for computer printers and kicked off the new service by staging a "Free Ink Week."

From April 8 to 14, the store invited customers to bring in their empty inkjet cartridges for a free refill. "After we installed Ink-O-Dem's Cartridge Refilling System, we wanted to give our customers an incentive to get started. Thus, Free Ink Week was born," said store manager Karen Kolod. "We are looking forward to serving our customers in yet another way that saves them money and is good for the environment."

The promotion allows consumers undecided about cartridge refilling to see for themselves what the process is like and how it affects their respective printers' performance.

A subsidiary of 20-year-old TonerHead Inc., Ink-ODem refills over 5 million cartridges annually and is specifically targeting Ace Hardware stores, among others. Its technology is reportedly compatible with 95Va of the integrated inkjet cartridges on the market.

Weiss's decision to install the machinery was prompted by a consumer shift to greener product choices, such as discovering ways to keep discarded products out of landfills.

It doesn't hurt that customers will end up paying about half as much for their inkjet cartridges.

I ncreasing Accountabi lity

(Continued from page 32) strategy to pursue? Management will only be able to commit to strategies after ownership has clearly articulated its vision and objectives for the business. Do the owners want fast growth? Slow growth and debt reduction? Diversification through acquisition? The strategies that management pursue should be driven by ownership's hopes and expectations for the business. In Ken's case, this would drive the roles he should be undertaking as sales manager, as well as his goals and, ultimately, his day-to-day behavior.

It's easy to blame individuals for lacking accountability and commitment to their jobs. A closer examination, however, often shows that management systems are not optimized. Accountability is not merely getting employees to do what you want them to do. It is a process of aligning each employee's daily behavior with the agreed-upon direction of the firm.

- Christopher Eckrich and Amy Schuman are principals of the FamiLy Business Consulting Group, Marietta, Ga.; (800) 5510633. They can be reached at eckrich@efamilybusiness.com and s c human@ efamily busine s s .c o m.

Reprinted with permission from The Famil,t Business Advisor, a copyrighted publication of F'amil2- Enterprisc Publishers. No portion ofthis article mq) be reproduced wilhout pernission of Fumilt Enterprise Publishers.