Housin g, lumber outlook on tap for WWPA annual meeting

THE warm Arizona sun will offer a |- welcome respite from the chilly sales markets for western lumber professionals as they head to Scottsdale, Az., in March for the 2008 Western Wood Products Association annual meeting

The March 8-11 event is the largest annual gathering of sawmill professionals in the region, bringing together western lumber c.e.o.s, senior executives, sales and marketing professionals, and quality control managers, as well as wholesalers, retailers, transportation representatives, and others doing business with sawmills. Scottsdale's DoubleTree Paradise Valley Resort will be the headquarters for the meeting.

One of the most anticipated events at the meeting is the association's updated forecast on lumber supply and demand. The forecast session, scheduled for Tuesday morning. March I l, will focus on the housing market. Lee McPheters, senior associate dean of Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business, will headline the session by reviewing the outlook for housing and construction, particularly in the Southwest.

WWPA economist Kevin Binam will update the WWPA forecast for lumber markets into 2009 and highlight the major sources of demand for western lumber.

Other events at the three-day meeting include business meetings, a golf tournament, many networking opportunities, and a spring training baseball game.

For suppliers and others doing business with western lumber mills, the WWPA Exchange Show offers a unique opportunity for companies to connect with mills. The Exchange Show will be held Monday evening, March 10, and features table-top displays for participating companies. A table top can be reserved for just $150, or $75 for WWPA Distributor and Service Associates.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available to promote products and services to westem lumber mills. A number of the meeting events on the schedule are available for sponsorship, with fees ranging from $1,500 to $3,000.

For further information on the WWPA Exchange Show and sponsorships, send an email request to info@wwpa.org.

Attendees can register online for the WWPA annual meeting and make reservations at the DoubleTree Paradise Valley Resort. For links to the registration pages, go to WWPA's website, www.wwpa.org.

Since spring is a busy time in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, making hotel reservations early is recommended. In addition to reserving a room via the web, you can call the DoubleTree Paradise Valley Resort directly at (48O\ 947-5400 to make reservations by phone. Make sure to tell the reservation operator you are attending the Western Wood Products Association annual meeting to secure special rates. Registration materials will be mailed in early January. A preliminary schedule is available on the WWPA website. To receive a meeting packet by mail, contact WWPA's Diana Sprague by phone, (503) 306349 I, or email, info@ wwpa.org.