Vol. 3, No. 21– October 11, 2004

 

MLA FALL FLING – NOV. 18-19, 2004

Presented by Federated Insurance 

Last year, we renewed the “Fall Fling” concept as the Annual meeting of MLA members. Thanks to members’ enthusiastic response, we are continuing this outstanding event. Both dealers and associate members appreciated the opportunity to mingle with one another, exchange ideas, laughter and sometimes a story or two. We have planned a casual yet informative and educational event that will be well worth your time. Please plan to participate in this exciting event.

 

Thursday, November 18 

10:00 a.m. – MLA Board Meeting, Chateau on the Lake, Branson, Mo.

4:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Member meet-and-greet reception

6:00 p.m. – Dinner or Show (on your own) – Order tickets in advance at www.bransonshows.com

 

Friday, November 19 

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast and Annual Meeting – This is your opportunity to meet leaders from the National Association, hear an update of MLA activities, install and recognize the new MLA Board of Directors, and hear about special association programs including new round-tables being organized now. 

9:00 a.m. – On the Bottom Line with Bill Sharp - This short program is brim full and spilling over with ideas you can take home and use to improve the bottom line of your P&L. Here’s what will happen:

·         You will get the results of the U.S. Lumberyard Cost of Doing Business survey of the “typical” U.S. yard.

·         You and others in the room will quickly brainstorm practical ways to improve a few key items on your financial statement by small amounts.

·         You will be staggered by the impact of these improvements on your BOTTOM LINE.  

This is not an accounting mumbo-jumbo program. If you understand the terms “sales, gross margin, inventory turns and collection days,” you won’t have any trouble staying up with the instructor. But, because of time restriction, you’ll need to buckle your seat belts. It’s lean meat only .. no time for soup or salad. 

Noon – Meeting adjourns – But … you can stay to enjoy beautiful Branson. Start your Christmas shopping, play golf (weather permitting) and enjoy the last of the fall foliage. Make it a great get-away for you and your family (or leave the kids at home)! 

Registration Information 

To attend, all you need to do is register. Complete the registration form and return by Friday, October 30. Let us know who is coming and we’ll do all the rest. 

This meeting is sponsored by Federated Insurance, your suppliers and your Association. This will be a fun get-together and a way to thank you for your support and membership. The cost to you is your time and your travel expense. We’ll cover all the meeting expenses. 

Cost: No charge for the meeting. 

To get a registration form, just contact the MLA Office at 800-747-6529. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

FCC STAY ISSUED 

The vote is official from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and a new six-month stay of the proposed fax regulations has been granted. Associations and businesses now have until July 1, 2005, before the rules are set to go into effect - time that will be used to obtain a legislative solution that restores the “established business relationship” provision so that legitimate, business-to-business and association-to-member fax communications can continue unimpeded. 

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee filed its report on S. 2603, which it passed July 22, meaning that the bill is now ready to move to the Senate floor for a full vote. The full House passed the companion bill, H.R. 4600, on July 20.

Despite the stay, it is still very important for members to contact their Senators to urge them to vote for S. 2603 when it goes to the Senate floor. As more information becomes available on this issue, MLA will update you accordingly. 

Source: American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Friday, October 1, 2004.

Hours of Service Controversy 

Congress voted to extend the current Hours of Service rules for one year, as part of the six-year highway bill reauthorization yesterday, September 30, 2004. 

The existing hours of service rules remain in effect until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) develops a new set of regulations for Hours of Service or September 30, 2005, whichever happens first. 

This Hours of Service ruling is part of a larger bill that extends funding for highway construction and transit spending, keeping it at $218 billion. 

Currently, the hours of service rule says a driver can operate a commercial motor vehicle for up to 11 hours with a total driving and on-duty time not to exceed 14 consecutive hours after having 10-hours off duty.  

FMCSA is to address these issues prior to September 30, 2005:

* The additional hour of on-duty time

* 34-hour restart

* Sleeper-berth exception

* Electronic on-board reorders 

The rules were unexpectedly rescinded on July 16, 2004 because a coalition of public safety groups declared that the FMCSA had failed to make sure the Hours of Service rules addressed driver health, as required by Congress. 

Source: The Safety Sentinal Express, published by Regulatory Consultants, Inc. If you have questions about this information or any other regulatory issue, contact Jenny Boeckman at 800-888-9596, ext. 213 

MLA 2004 Educational Symposium

For Retail Dealers and Associates

December 8-9, 2004

 Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisc. - Founded in 1910 by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service, the Forest Products Lab (FPL) serves the public as the nation’s leading wood research institute. On site, more than 250 scientists and support staff conduct research on expanded and diverse aspects of wood use. Some of their research includes pulp and paper products, housing and structural uses of wood, wood preservation, wood and fungi identification, and finishing and restoration of wood products. What an outstanding opportunity not only for you, but also for one or more of your best customers!  This is the preeminent location in the country for the study of mold in the construction process.  

The staff of the Forest Products Lab studies recycling, develops environmentally friendly technology, and understands ecosystem-based forest management.  These are all huge issues that are confronting our industry.  All participants will receive the publication Profile 2003:  Softwood Sawmills in the United States and Canada.  This book has listings for all softwood lumber mills in the United States and Canada: their capacity of production; the species they process; what they process (dimension, studs, etc.) and their locations.  For a lumber buyer, it is an incredible resource; and it is yours for participating in the tour.  We will end the day with a fabulous meal in Madison, and return to Chicago that evening.   

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange will conduct a six-hour workshop that provides the “nuts and bolts” of the world of commodity trading and, specifically, how lumber futures are traded.  The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME or “Merc”) is the nerve center for all commodities and futures trading.  Items as diverse as butter, foreign currencies, cotton, cattle, and of course, lumber are all traded at the CME.  A trip to the floor of the CME is included to give you a firsthand look at the way transactions are handled. One-on-one visits with lumber traders will be a popular highlight of this seminar. At the conclusion of the event, you will have a grasp of the skills necessary to utilize this most valuable tool in your own business.  

Hotel - The headquarters hotel for this event is the Hilton Garden Inn located at 10 East Grand Avenue in Downtown Chicago. Located a short distance from the “Magnificent Mile,” Chicago’s ESPN zone, DisneyQuest, the Hard Rock Café and a short cab ride (or complimentary shuttle from the front of the hotel) to the famous Navy Pier. The rate is $119 per night for single or double occupancy if you register by November 17. You must mention MLA when you make your reservation to obtain this special rate!   

For reservations, call 1-877-865-5298. You can learn more about the hotel by going to their web site: http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIDNGI 

The Agenda - This is a “mix or match” event.  You can participate in both programs, or pick and choose between either one. Additional activities you may want to take advantage of include:  

Dinner – Wednesday, December 7: On December 7, we have an 8:00 p.m. reservation at the world famous Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Chicago (www.lawrysonline.com). If you would like to be a part of the group dining at this world famous restaurant, indicate on the registration form. (The Hilton Garden Inn has a new Weber Grill restaurant located in the lobby area if you prefer.) 

Shopping – A short walk from the Magnificent Mile in December… no explanation required. 

December 8:  We must leave the hotel no later than 6:45 a.m. for the trip to the FPL in Madison.  It is approximately a two-hour trip. Bus transportation and lunch will be provided. After the tour, we will eat dinner in Madison and return to Chicago. We should be back in Chicago by approximately 10:00 p.m. 

December 9:  You are on your own to get to the CME.  It is a short cab ride to 30 S. Wacker Dr. We need to be there by no later than 8:30 a.m. An on-site luncheon will be provided, and the seminar will conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m. After that, you’re on your own. 

Travel Arrangements – All transportation arrangements to/from Chicago are the participants’ responsibility. Bus transportation will be provided to/from the Forest Products Lab on December 8. Unless otherwise indicated, all meals and incidentals are at your expense. Tours are provided at no charge. 

For more information or a registration form, please reply to this newsletter or call the Association office at 1-800-747-6529. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

Note these important dates and events on your calendar and make plans to attend. Details will be forthcoming: 

Building Material Auction – The Fall MLA auction is set for October 30-31 at Wyandotte County Fairgrounds, Kansas City, Kansas. If you have surplus building materials, returns, unclaimed special orders or used rental equipment robbing you of valuable warehouse and yard space, consider consigning these items to the auction. Material receiving dates will be October 26-28. Call 800-245-9690 for more information. 

Area Meetings – Dates are being set for area meetings throughout the MLA territory. These dates have been set in Arkansas. Information has been faxed to Arkansas dealers – if you need additional information, please contact Art Brown at MLA – 1-800-747-6529. 

November 9 - Little Rock

November 9 – Springdale

November 10 - Hot Springs

November 10 - El Dorado           

Educational Symposium – Plan to participate in the special trip to the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin and the Mercantile Exchange in Chicago. Special hotel arrangements have been made. It’s set for December 8-9, 2004. Contact Art Brown at 800-747-6529 with questions or simply reply to this newsletter and request a registration form. (Complete information appears in this newsletter.) 

2005 Education Programs – Dates are set for MLA’s most popular education programs. Mark your calendar and start planning for these sessions. Registration forms will be available this fall. 

Feb. 14-15 – Basic Estimating, Wichita, Kan. 

Feb. 16-17 – Basic Estimating, Kansas City, Mo. 

Feb. 17 – Yard Foreman School, Columbia, Mo. 

Feb. 18 – Advanced Estimating, Kansas City, Mo. 

Feb. 24 – Yard Foreman School, Oklahoma City, Okla. 

March 10-11 – Basic Estimating, Tulsa, Okla. 

If you need this training and none of these dates or locations is convenient, please notify Olivia at MLA to discuss the possibility of scheduling another session. We appreciate your input. 

NLBMDA Training without Travel – Call 800-634-8645 for more information or a registration form. As a member of MLA, you attend at member prices, without leaving your office. 

October 21 - OSHA Hazard Communication, 1:00 EDT.

November 4 - Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements and Safety Performance History Review of New Drivers, 1:00 EST.

November 17- Lockout/Tagout for Lumberyards
December 15- Forklift Training and Triennial Review

 

LUMBER NEWS – QUICK GLIMPSES 

NAFTA Softwood Battle Almost Over, with Canada Ready to be Declared the Winner… Ottawa has all but won the battle over softwood exports to the U.S.  

NAFTA ordered the reversal of an International Trade Commission ruling that Canadian softwood industry practices were unfair and threatened U.S. competitors, and Canada is poised to get back $3.6 billion in duties collected so far.  

Should the decision go in Canada's favor, this will positively impact multiple consumer sectors within the U.S. economy, most notably homebuilders and homebuyers. It is considered unlikely that a U.S. appeal would succeed. 

Source: LBM Daily, October 7, 2004 

Roadless Rule Changes Delayed … The Bush administration announced in July that it plans to change the Clinton-era rule that restricted nearly 60 million acres of national forest from road building and logging. However, the administration announced last week that it will be holding off on a final decision until after the general election on November 2. Public comments on the proposed changes have therefore been extended through November 15. 

Source: NLBMDA Regulatory News, September 2004. 

BLS Workplace Fatality Data Released… On September 22, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its report on the number of fatal work injuries recorded during 2003. A total of 5,559 workplace fatalities were recorded last year, a slight increase over 2002, but an unchanged rate of 4.0 fatalities per 100,000 workers. The complete report including a breakdown by industry, accident and state is available at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.  

Source: NLBMDA Regulatory News, September 2004. 

Coming in 2005! NLBMDA Delivery and Fleet Safety Program … In 2005, NLBMDA will provide a brand new resource to the LBM industry- the Delivery and Fleet Safety Program. The new video training program will cover different aspects of delivery and fleet safety focusing on a combination of OSHA and DOT compliance training for operating a fleet at lumberyards and jobsites. For more information on this new program or to be placed on a waiting list to secure the first program contact NLBMDA at 800-643-8645. 

Source: NLBMDA Risk Management Newsletter, September 2004.  

Hurricanes and Other Factors Cause Near-Record Prices… Hurricanes, a trade dispute and new construction are pushing near-record prices of lumber, plywood, and other building materials to even higher levels. 

The price for framing lumber, such as 2 by 4s and 2 by 10s used in home building, is up 40 percent from a year ago, when prices were already climbing, according to lumber industry publication Random Lengths. 

Higher lumber prices alone have added about $20,000 to the price of a new 2,300 square-foot ranch house, according to the Metropolitan Builders Association, a Waukesha, Wis.-based trade group that represents homebuilders. 

Source: NRLA Wired, October 2004, published by Northeastern Retail Lumber Association.

 PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! 

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. -- Aristotle 

Everyone has ‘days like that.’ Days that get out of control pretty quickly. I can go into the office with an agenda in mind only to find out that such and such happened and whoosh - we're off and running in the opposite direction. 

But not always! And that's the key. Overwhelm should be the exception and not the rule. If you find yourself harried at each and every turn, try these three simple steps and see if you can effect some change into your work habits: 

1.       Be on time. People who consistently run late think they portray an aura of Look at me! I'm such a busy person! But really come across as Hey - your time isn't as important as mine and see how disorganized I am? Harsh? Maybe, but true. Start 10 minutes sooner - no matter where you're going. 

2.       Don’t take that call. Why do people take calls only to tell the caller, I can't talk now - I'll have to call you back? It makes the caller feel less-than the person you are with and it makes the person you are with angry that you interrupted their time to take the call. VOICE MAIL - it's a great invention. 

3.       One thing at a time. Multi-tasking has been taken to a ridiculous level. At some point, shut the phone off, close the office door and concentrate on what you are doing. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish in one 15-minute stretch of uninterrupted time.  

Source: Success Tips Newsletter, Synthesis, Inc. October 2004 - Synthesis, Inc. is owned and operated by Barbara & Gary Rogoff. Since 1994 their motto has been to provide high-touch, detailed service with integrity and consistency.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 

“The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don't like to do.”  – E.M. Gray