Vol. 4, No. 18 – August 29, 2005

PLAN NOW TO ATTEND 2005 FALL FLING 

The annual meeting will be held November 3-4 at Harrah’s North Kansas City Conference Center and Casino. The location itself is a reason to attend, but you’ll want to attend the timely and informative program planned for Friday, November 4, as well. 

You probably already know something about Greg Brooks and his expertise from reading the top publications in the building materials industry. Now, you’ll have the opportunity to meet him and hear him speak about what’s happening now in the supply chain, how it affects you and the opportunities that await. His topic will be “Point of Impact: The Coming Shake-Out in Construction Supply.”

 We’ll draw from over 50 years of research to trace the evolution of production home building and its impact on the channel, analyze case studies of successful dealers throughout North America, and examine the unprecedented threats and opportunities facing construction suppliers. 

Greg Brooks is president and CEO of the New Albany, Ind.-based Building Supply Channel, Inc., a training and development firm serving the building products industry.

 Brooks is a 36-year veteran of the construction supply business who spent over 20 years in the field, in all facets of operations, sales, and management. As a trainer, he has developed programs for organizations that include Huttig Building Products, Lumbermen’s Merchandising Corporation, Wickes Lumber, and the National Retail Hardware Association. 

He was a co-founder and editor of ProSales magazine in the 1990s, and is now chief editor of LBM Journal. Brooks is a member of the Steering Committee at the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies, and has conducted seminars and workshops on building product distribution trends for thousands of industry executives throughout North America.

 Watch for a complete agenda and registration form in the next edition of “News You Can Use.” (If you can’t wait, call or email Olivia for a registration form today!)  Don’t miss this outstanding opportunity to visit with fellow dealers in a relaxed, fun atmosphere and to hear one of the finest speakers in our industry today. We’ll look forward to seeing you in November! 

Visa Check/MasterMoney Class Action Lawsuit Settlement 

A member of another lumber association was approached by a company offering to assist in securing a portion of the Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation Settlement. The company wanted an agreement that would provide them with 33% for assisting with the claim. In general, merchants that accepted MasterCard or Visa-branded credit or debit cards as payment for goods or services at any time from October 25, 1992 to June 21, 2003 may be eligible to receive payment from the settlement. (For more background information see NGA notice attached.)

 T.J. Cantwell, NLBMDA, spoke with the National Grocers Association (NGA) involved in the class action litigation and determined that there is no need for merchants to enter into this agreement for the 33% fee. A claims administrator called the Garden City Group was officially appointed by the court to assist in the claims process without charging a fee. The Garden City Group is planning to send out a notice to all eligible merchants at the end of September with more information on what to expect in the claims process. Links to a more detailed action alert from NGA and the official website for Garden City Group is below.  

If approached by any company saying it can assist in the claims process for this settlement for a fee, instead contact the Garden City Group. The company requesting the fee is apparently not doing anything illegal but is misrepresenting the situation and causing confusion. NLBMDA will be mentioning this in an upcoming newsletter. 

http://www.nationalgrocers.org/Alerts/081005-ActionAlert-Settle.doc

http://www.inrevisacheckmastermoneyantitrustlitigation.com/ 

Source: NLBMDA – T.J. Cantwell, Director, Regulatory and Industry Affairs, August 24, 2005

 2nd Annual Risk Management Meeting in Vancouver, BC  

Looking for better resources to manage risk at your lumberyard? At a loss to find quality affordable information? Just wish you could meet someone else with the same problems and concerns you have?

Attending NLBMDA's 2nd Annual Risk Management Meeting Thursday, September 29, from 10:30 - 12:30 at the Industry Summit in Vancouver, BC will provide you with answers to these questions.

Learn new information from some of the best in the business and leave with a whole new group of contacts. Sessions will focus on issues such as designing and implementing a safety incentive program; negotiating terms and conditions with your customers; and selecting your broker and carrier. A speakers’ panel session will provide all participants with an opportunity to ask questions about risk management issues in general. Network with your peers and discuss the best ways to mitigate risks with others who understand your day-to-day issues. You will be sure to leave with some tips and ideas you can immediately implement in your operation.

For more information and a registration form go to www.dealer.org/html/riskmanagement.

 LUMBER NEWS – QUICK GLIMPSES 

 Source: NLBMDA Industry News, August 2005

 “Following consultations with provincial governments, and in light of the U.S. response to the August 10 decision of the NAFTA Extraordinary Challenge Committee, the government of Canada has decided to not proceed with the negotiations planned for next week,” Trade Minister Jim Peterson said in a statement.

 “We feel like the U.S. should honor the NAFTA ruling and give back the duties and immediately end the tariffs that have been placed on softwood lumber,” said Michael Strauss, a spokesman for the Washington-based National Association of Home Builders. Last week’s ruling “should have been the end of the line.”

 Source: LBM Daily, August 17, 2005

 “That’s a decision the Canadian government has to make,” Wilkins stated. “We want a negotiated settlement, we want to bring finality to the issue... What we don’t need is continued rhetoric to raise the emotional issues.” 

Meanwhile Ontario’s Premier Dalton McGuinty reported that the Canadian government will provide aid to Canada’s hard-hit timber industry, primarily in the form of incentive packages not unlike those presented to the automobile industry.

 Source: LBM Daily, August 19, 2005

The negotiations have yet to resume after Canada pulled back, despite being scheduled for resumption yesterday.  

“I don’t know whether they’ve talked yet or not,” International Trade Minister Jim Peterson explained. “As of yesterday they hadn’t but I understand it may take place sooner rather than later.”

 Source: LBM Daily, August 23, 2005 

IMPORTANT OKLAHOMA SESSIONS 

“In Search of the Perfect Credit Application” & “Perfecting Liens in Oklahoma” - 

September 19, 2005, Cherokee Casino, Tulsa 

"Lienapalooza" – Comes to Oklahoma City on October 11th

 NACM MidAmerica, in conjunction with NCS from Ohio, presents two exciting seminars in October at the Waterford Marriott in Oklahoma City. The morning of October 11^th learn about the Uniform Commercial Code’s security agreements, financing statements, Purchase Money Security Agreements (PMSA) and all the rules governing filing these forms of security agreements. The afternoon session is dedicated to Lien and Bond Claims where you will learn about the different types of liens and legal procedures AND the legal process of filing a bond claim. Go to www.nacmservices.com or call MLA at 800-747-6529 for more information.

 A “One-Stop” Insurance Resource

 The adage “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” may be smart advice, but not when it comes to integrating insurance coverage and risk management strategies for your business.  

What if an employee is injured in an accident in the course of business while driving a personal vehicle? Is it a workers compensation claim or a health insurance claim? When both coverages are placed with Federated, it’s not an issue.  

What happens if someone gets hurt in or around a vehicle on your premises? Will your business auto policy or your general liability policy provide coverage? If placed with separate insurance companies, will both companies deny the claim, each pointing to the other? Again, this is not an issue when Federated handles both coverages.

 Federated offers clients and prospects a program of complete insurance protection. An uncovered claim—whether a property loss, a lawsuit, death, or permanent disability—can be devastating to a family or business. Providing multiple lines of coverage is a proven method of avoiding coverage gaps and overlapping coverage, which often occur when several insurers are involved.

 Federated is one of few companies positioned to help business owners address their insurance needs in multiple areas. We offer important coverage in three major exposure areas: 

·         Life and disability income insurance

·         Group health insurance 

In addition to insurance protection, Federated also provides quality risk management services that are tailored to specific needs of business owners. Our Field Services department works closely with clients and prospects to help them develop habits and practices that can reduce losses and improve work site safety conditions.

 While Federated offers a comprehensive array of insurance products and services, there are times when clients and prospects have exposures that are outside of the products available from Federated. In these situations, our marketing representatives often have access to specialty insurance companies and brokers who can handle unique exposures in a number of areas.