Vol. 4, No. 3 – January 31, 2005

 

CAUSE OF HESSTON FIRE UNDETERMINED 

Six trucks were destroyed in the fire that was reported to authorities about 3 a.m. Wednesday, January 26, at Kropf Lumber in downtown Hesston, Kansas. A crane was brought in to tear down the metal building that housed lumber and the company’s fleet of delivery trucks. Fire in tightly stacked lumber proved difficult for firefighters to put out. The fire was contained to the large building, which was attached to the company’s main store. Preliminary estimates of damage costs are roughly $1 million. Kropf Lumber employs about 30 people. It has been in Hesston since 1948 and at its current location in the 400 block of Lancaster since the early 1960s. No one was hurt in the fire. 

Source: Chris Strunk, Newton Kansan, January 26; and Tim Huber, Newton Kansan, January 28. 

MLA EDUCATION PROGRAMS

You Can Still Get In! 

The Basic Materials Estimating School… This is a two-day school designed to teach participants the basic piece-by-piece estimating of building products usually sold in a full-service lumberyard/home center. Students learn the basics of blueprint reading, how to use the LT1 Guidebook for estimating that contains tables, checklists, construction illustrations and estimating reminders; and finally how to estimate a simple house plan piece-by-piece. 

Feb. 14-15 – Wichita, Kan.

Feb. 16-17 – Kansas City, Mo.

March 10-11 – Tulsa, Okla. 

Advanced Materials Estimating School… This advanced piece-by-piece estimating seminar is designed to assist the estimator or outside salesperson/estimator who already knows how to estimate but wants some shortcuts and instructions in multi-pitched roofs, including stick framing

and finding wall lengths, floor area, and more complicated house layouts. Students receive the estimating guidebook as part of the class.

 Feb. 18 – Kansas City, Mo. 

Managing Outside Yard Operations… This course is for yard foremen and key personnel supervising the efficient operation of the “outside yard.” Seminar topics include: protecting profit dollars in the yard, customer service in the yard, pre-emptive management and equipment maintenance.  

Feb. 17 – Columbia, Mo.

Feb. 24 – Oklahoma City, Okla. 

Member Pricing: 

Basic Estimating - $425 per person

Advanced Estimating - $300 per person

Yard Foreman Seminar - $310 per person 

Early Bird Discounts available – see registration form for details. 

Complete information and registration forms are available upon request from MLA at 800-747-6529. Or, simply reply to this email and we’ll send complete information today! 

INVITATION TO JOIN NLBMDA IN WASHINGTON 

Join forces with lumber and building material dealers from across the country as we come together to advance our industry’s issues with our members of Congress in Washington, DC. 

NLBMDA’s Legislative Conference, March 14-16, 2005, is a wonderful opportunity to meet and build relationships with the decision makers who consider legislation and regulations that impact your company and our industry. Regardless of whether you are a long-term attendee of this event or a first-time visitor, our lobbyists will help you set up meetings, provide “talking points” on our key issues and assist you to make this experience enjoyable, productive and memorable. 

In 2005, NLBMDA will be taking the proverbial “gloves off.” Dealers will be seeking sponsors for NLBMDA-backed legislation protecting dealers from frivolous lawsuits. It is a major undertaking, but one we can accomplish with your active involvement. Our goal is to have a dealer from each congressional district share our message with the decision makers on Capitol Hill. 

Family members are encouraged to attend. This conference is the perfect opportunity to have your spouse and children experience and participate in the political process and see all the educational and fun attractions in our nation’s capital. Children 18 and under attend free of charge. 

The deadline to secure your hotel room at the special rate of $199 is fast approaching.  The cutoff date is February 4^th.  For those of you who have not already done so, please make sure you call the hotel prior to the deadline.  

For more information, visit the NLBMDA web site at www.dealer.org. 

SENATE BILL 54 — KANSAS

Senate Bill 54 would impact certain wood shingles and shakes and would eliminate their use as a roofing material for single-family housing and duplexes in the State of Kansas. Senator Kay O’Connor (Olathe) introduced the bill as she has a constituent who requested it with the intent of having homes associations change their covenants to eliminate certain wood shingles from being used on residences based on fire code restrictions. This is not a new issue.   

Lynne Christensen of the Cedar Bureau in Vancouver B.C. knew about this issue from a State representative who wanted to pass a similar bill after a car ran into his house, causing a fire. He blamed the roof for the extent of damage and wanted to make the change in his homes association covenants at that time. Ms. Christensen commented, “If you start restricting roofs, then what is next? Decks, furniture, carpet?” 

Regional Manager Art Brown comments, “This argument in my opinion is the best I have heard about why this could be a very dangerous bill in setting a precedent. The dealers I’ve contacted don’t actively inventory wood shingles and shakes in any quantity. Siding and other items do come into play and that at least to me raises a legitimate concern. Fireworks may be driving this issue, but fireworks can land on decks also.” 

Members have informed MLA that this could be termed a “big brother” issue. Several members suggested any change should be included in building codes and the State should stay out of this issue altogether. Everyone’s preference would be for the market to dictate the use of building materials, not the State. In non-permitted areas, with no inspection process, enforcement would be difficult or non-existent.  

A hearing has been set in the Senate Government Organizations and Elections Committee for February 2. If you’d like to discuss this issue or know more, please contact Art Brown at 800-747-6529 (or cell phone 785-249-0306). 

Learn More Than You Thought Possible Over the Phone!
NLBMDA Training Without Travel Teleconferences 

Don't miss out on the most cost-effective training available to dealers on OSHA compliance. The next NLBMDA teleconference is scheduled for February 10, 2005 at 1 p.m. EST on “Safety for Installed Framing Packages.” The conference is conducted by a renowned expert on OSHA requirements for the building material industry and provides participants with a one-hour briefing, written materials, and a 30-minute Q&A session. All without leaving your facility.

 The registration form for the February 10th teleconference can be downloaded by going to http://www.dealer.org/html/education.html. 

For more information on the Training Without Travel Teleconference series and a listing of the monthly teleconferences scheduled in 2005 visit NLBMDA's new website at www.dealer.org or call 800-634-8645. 

The dates for these teleconferences have been set with registration forms to follow:

March 10, 2005 - How to Handle an OSHA Inspection
April 7, 2005 - What Needs to be in Your Written Safety Program  

Please note that the registration fee for members is $95. If you have any questions please contact

Thomas J. Cantwell “T.J.”, Director, Regulatory and Industry Affairs, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA), Phone: 202-547-2305; Fax: 202-547-7640; tj@dealer.org. 

2005 TEACHERS’ TOUR 

As we begin the 21st century, the challenge to educate tomorrow's citizens is greater than ever, especially since our society is more than 70 percent urban. This creates a huge disconnect between the sustainable consumption and production of resources. There are approximately 3 million teachers and 60 million students in grades K-12 across the US and Canada. These students are tomorrow's voters, consumers, and employees. Their future depends on understanding natural resource issues and options and making informed choices.  Education is the key. Teachers' Tour graduates are empowered with scientifically credible information that assists in teaching our next generation of voters and consumers about forest resources, and the choices they have to make. A working knowledge of the issues and options puts teachers in a position to make informed choices, and to help others make theirs. 

2005 Teachers' Tour Locations and Dates 

South Central ~ Hot Spring, Arkansas ~ June 15-18

Western Canadian ~ Vancouver, British Columbia ~ July 6-9

Lake States ~ Grand Rapids, Minnesota ~ July 20-23

Northeastern ~ Saranac Lake, New York ~ August 10-13 

The Temperate Forest Foundation has been involved in Teachers' Tours since 1994.  They have completed 34 successful tours across North America in the past 10 years, helping to facilitate informed choices by empowering educators with scientifically credible information. Teachers are sponsored by a local business, association, or agency, which pays a US$300 registration fee and round-trip travel expenses.  Each tour begins on a Wednesday afternoon and continues through Saturday morning, including two days full of visits to woods and mills. It all starts with a historic overview of the area, taking into account social, economic, and environmental perspectives. The first evening may be at a historic park or museum, where teachers enjoy the local food and culture. Teachers visit a variety of mills (lumber, engineered wood, solid wood, treated wood, paper, other consumer products), forests (private industrial, non-industrial private, public), and are taken on a variety of educational stops (museums, National and State parks, plantations, experimental forests, nurseries, learning centers, hatcheries, and more). After reviewing the tour and sharing some insights, the teachers head home with new friends, valuable information, and concepts they can bring into their classrooms. Lasting business-education partnerships often develop between the teachers and the local businesses that sponsored them. 

Sponsors are encouraged to recruit teachers from their local communities.  The Foundation also matches interested teachers with sponsors who pay their transportation and registration fee.  Emphasis is on urban teachers (science/social studies) in grades 3-8, but all K-12 teachers are accepted.  Learn more by clicking on "Teachers" from their homepage, www.forestinfo.org.  For additional information or to reserve slots, please contact Morgan at: morgan@forestinfo.org or 503-579-6762.   

MBMDA 2005 SHOW 

The Mid-South Building Material Dealers Association has announced their 2005 Show, scheduled for February 24-26 in Gulfport, Miss. MLA members are invited to attend as guests. If you’d like more information, contact MLA at 800-747-6529 or call MBMDA toll-free at 877-828-3315. 

LUMBER NEWS – QUICK GLIMPSES 

U.S. Home Improvement Spending Hits New High… The United States home improvement market has grown to nearly one-quarter trillion dollars, according to a new report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies’ Remodeling Futures Program. Fueled by the homeownership boom, as well as strong income growth among high-earning households, improvement spending has climbed steadily for a decade.  

“Households with incomes of $120,000 and up have been responsible for some 60 percent of the growth in spending since 1995,” explains Nicolas P. Retsinas, Joint Center director. “The most  popular types of projects are high-end improvements, such as major kitchen or bath remodels or room additions. Households spending at least $25,000 on improvements accounted for almost one-third of all remodeling expenditures in 2003.” 

Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies, quoted in NAWLA Bulletin 01-05, January 18, 2005 

Immigration to Create Continuing Demand in Housing Sector… A Reuters special report examines the impact of immigration on earnings at U.S. companies. Immigration patterns into the United States are changing, the report indicates, and companies can capitalize. “If you are forecasting into the next two decades, you are looking at an economy with tremendous opportunities in the realm of immigrant-related activity,” said Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, co-director of immigration studies at New York University. “Never have so many highly educated and highly skilled (people) come into the immigration flow.” 

Among the sectors that should experience a positive effect from the immigrant influx is homebuilding. Robert Justich, senior managing director at Bear Stearns Asset Management, attributed the current boom in housing demand to increased migration as well as to low interest rates. 

Source: LBM Daily, Jan. 21, 2005 

NLBMDA Sets Policy Priorities for 109^th Congress… This month, NLBMDA’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) – 24 dealers and state association executives from around the country who volunteer to help direct your association’s government affairs programs – met to discuss our legislative agenda for the 109^th Congress. As part of the agenda-setting process, the GAC reviewed feedback from the year-end issues survey. Survey respondents overwhelmingly cited legal reforms as their highest priority. Accordingly, the GAC set product liability reform as the association’s top priority. The committee will work to set an action plan in motion to advance a non-manufacturer product seller exemption from product liability. The top five priorities established by the GAC are: 

·         Product liability reform and other legal reforms including asbestos liability and class action reform.

·         Estate Tax Repeal

·         Softwood Lumber Trade

·         Transportation

·         Bankruptcy Reform 

Additionally, NLBMDA will continue to monitor the following issues: Association Health Plans, Forest Access, Labor and Environmental issues, and Housing Finance Reform. 

Source: NLBMDA Advocate, January 2005 

The Results Are In For Weyerhaeuser's Fourth Quarter… Weyerhaeuser experienced doubled earnings in 2004 even while falling short of expectations set for the timber industry giant. One reason for the lower-than-hoped-for results which many agreed upon was the weather: inclement elements hurt the bottom line.  

For instance, business was not as usual for the company's Kentucky box plant thanks to an ice storm that caused the roof to collapse. The Florida hurricane season was unusually vicious, pulling many logging crews to the state to help in salvaging felled timber. Another example was unusually wet weather throughout North America, but particularly in Canada and the Southern United States - forcing the company to expend greater amounts of money in higher energy costs and to work around unexpected downtime in an otherwise healthy market.

 Source: LBM Daily, Jan. 24, 2005 

Canada and U.S. to Return to Negotiations over Softwood in February… Canadian and U.S. forest company executives may be more willing to break the deadlock on softwood negotiations, according to a Canadian forest-industry spokesman and a senior U.S. official.  

A meeting of Canadian and U.S. forest company executives now is scheduled for the end of February in Chicago, said John Allan, president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council. The meeting was put on hold in December, when the U.S. Department of Commerce revised the countervailing duty rate to a significantly higher level than expected. “There's a lot of work to do before serious negotiations happen,” Allan said in an interview. “But I think people are looking at the mounting deposits and the potential for market downturns down the road and thinking it’s probably time to at least start talking to the Americans.” 

Source: LBM Daily, Jan. 26, 2005 

Back Talk 

U. S. Department of Labor statistics say that 20 percent of workplace illness and injuries are due to back injuries. 

Chances are you or some of your employees suffer from back pain. U. S. Department of Labor statistics say that 20 percent of workplace illness and injuries are due to back injuries. Employee back injuries are the most frequent cause of days away from work, and insurance claims costs amount to millions of dollars each year. 

While back problems may arise from acute injury or illness, many injuries develop over a long period and worsen as the body ages. Often, the cause is related to habits and behavior that can be changed to improve back health and prevent serious injuries. Increasing awareness of these factors can work wonders in decreasing the frequency of back injuries and illness. 

·         Posture – Good posture while standing, sitting, driving and sleeping can help align the spine and avoid undue stress on the back.

·         Lifting – Proper lifting techniques and awareness are especially important for employees whose jobs include heavy lifting.

·         Exercise – Strengthening muscles in the back, abdomen, and legs along with a regular exercise routine helps protect the back.

·         Healthy lifestyle – Managing stress, getting enough sleep and rest, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking helps maintain a healthy back.

 Federated’s BackTalk^sm program is available at no charge to policyholders to help you implement a back safety awareness program at your business. The kit includes posters, brochures, information and ideas to help you raise awareness among your employees and prevent back injuries. Call for your copy today.  

MLA is proud to endorse….

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” – John Quincy Adams