MLA Replaces Expo With State Meetings

Instead of a regional buying show, the Mid-America Lumbermens Association now will stage separate state meetings focused on education and networking.

The MLA board of directors elected to end the 113-year run of the MLA Expo in Kansas City, Mo., due to declining attendance. "Like all other associations, we've had to rethink the way markets are done," said Leroy Davenport, MLA regional mgr. for Arkansas and Oklahoma. "We've always promoted (the Expo) as a buying show; we can't do that anymore. Dealers seem to be doing most of their buying at the buying group and co-op shows."

Individual state meetings will encourage more local participation and, while featuring tabletop exhibits, will stress education and camaraderie over buying.

State meetings will be held March 8-9 in Little Rock, Ar., and April 2627 in Shawnee, Ok. Already-planned winter meetings in Missouri in January and in Kansas in late February will be expanded to state meetings.

The meetings are being organized by state committees, which will oversee all MlA-related business, legisla-