Vol. 6, No. 24 – November 19, 2007

 

 

NLBMDA Contact Information

 

NLBMDA will officially move its offices on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007.  The new address is NLBMDA, 2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036.  The office number is 202-367-1169, and the fax number is 202-367-2169.  The toll free number remains the same. If you have any questions, please contact Interim President Russ Snyder at 202-367-1217.

 

IWPA Praises Compromise on Illegal Logging Legislation in House; Urges Senate to Follow Same Path

 

Washington, DC – The International Wood Products Association (IWPA) praised a compromise approach to combat illegal logging that provides forfeiture liability protection for small businesses that have practiced due diligence in their supply chain.  H.R. 1497, the Legal Timber Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), would target illegal logging by amending the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to extend protections to plants illegally harvested outside of the United States. 

 

“We are pleased that Chairman Rahall and the committee understood and appreciated the legal and technical concerns raised by small, family-owned businesses within the original bill’s language.” said Brent McClendon, IWPA Executive Vice President.  “The 745,000 businesses represented by our coalition partners are unified in the fight against illegal logging and welcome this amended legislation as it provides all U.S. consumers continued confidence that the wood products they use are legal.”

 

In a late development yesterday, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), sponsor of the Senate companion legislation to H.R. 1497, added his bill (S. 1930) as a proposed amendment to the $288 billion farm bill (as SA 3502).  As currently written, the amendment does not include the technical clarifications to H.R. 1497 that the House recognized and addressed.  Most notably, SA 3502 provides no protection for “innocent owners”; does not clarify the definition of “any foreign law” to reflect natural resources laws; does not correct the grossly unfair fines of $10,000 against exporters and importers who make even the simplest mistakes in filing required documentation; and does not solve the apparent discrepancy between the bill’s language as written and existing U.S. customs law.

 

“We hope the Senate will follow the leadership shown by Congressman Blumenauer and Chairman Rahall in the House and adopt similar compromise language.  We note that these changes were included in the House language after a fair and open hearing, and we look forward to the same opportunity to engage in a similar process in the Senate.”  McClendon continued, “We welcome the House and Senate joining together to help our coalition combat illegal logging and look forward to working on regulations that reflect the spirit of the compromise and intent of Congress.”

 

IWPA is joined in its efforts to encourage sound and fair legislation by the National Association of Home Builders, National Federation of Independent Business, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, American Home Furnishings Alliance, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association

 

Source: NLBMDA, November 8, 2007

 

 

LUMBER NEWS – QUICK GLIMPSES

 

Internet Tax Ban Extended… Just getting in under the wire, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Internet tax moratorium for another seven years, upholding the protections originally set forth by the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) in 1998.

 

The ban has been upheld in four-year increments since its inception, and was set to expire on November 1st. The moratorium had been widely debated and supported, but with the two parties seeking to extend the tax ban for vastly different timeframes. Democrats, like House Judiciary Committee Chairman Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), whose bill, (H.R 3678, the Internet Tax Freedom Act (IFTA) Amendment Act of 2007) the Senate was considering, had been pushing for a four-year extension of the ban. The White House, the Treasury Department, and Republicans were seeking a permanent moratorium.

 

Several states already had Internet taxes in place before the original passage of ITFA; these will continue to remain in tact. Beyond the tax moratorium, the bill narrows the definition of Internet access to exclude Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and other Internet telephone services.

 

The bill was sent to the President and signed into law.

 

Source: NACM E-News Weekly, Nov. 6, 2007

 

Consumer Product Safety Laws Face Major Changes… Congress is moving rapidly to overhaul consumer product safety laws in light of the numerous recalls of imported toys in recent months. Both House and Senate bills (H.R. 4040, S. 2045) will increase retailers’ responsibilities to identify upon request by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the manufacturer of any consumer product sold, ban the sale of recalled products, and increase civil penalties for violations.

 

Source: NLBMDA Advocate, November 7, 2007

 

Canfor and Cascades Closing Mills, But Domtar and Interfor Mills to Stay on Line… Canfor will be permanently closing its panel and fiber mill in New Westminster, BC, starting in January; meanwhile, Cascades also will indefinitely shut down a sawmill in Quebec. However, Domtar will remain open and operational, and two of Interfor's BC mills will reopen next week after being idled due to strikes.

 

Source: LBM Daily, November 12, 2007

 

Modest Recovery for Existing-Home Sales in 2008 as Credit Crunch Subsides… A modest recovery for existing-home sales is expected in 2008 as the impact of the credit crunch subsides, while pending home sales indicate near-term stability, according to the latest forecast released here today at the National Association of Realtors® Conference & Expo.

 

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the housing market will improve from a steady unleashing of pent-up demand, and from a wide abundance of safer mortgage products. “The level of pent-up demand reaching the market next year is a bit uncertain, and it is possible for even higher home sales activity than we’re forecasting if buyers regain their confidence about the long-term benefits of homeownership. Over the near term, home sales are likely to be fairly flat as the lingering impact of the credit crunch filters through the system through the end of the year.”

 

Source: National Association of Realtors, November 13, 2007

 

Truckers Say Rising Fuel Costs May Spell Trouble for the Industry… The high cost of diesel fuel is having a disproportionately large impact on independent trucking contractors who are struggling to make it work, particularly those in the forest products industry. However, it is not only the truckers, but all sectors of Maine's wood products industries that are suffering. Tom Cushman is president of Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, an association of 83 state logging companies, many of whom also truck their products.

 

Source: LBM Daily, November 15, 2007

 

WHY THEY CALL IN SICK

 

A new survey from CCH, (the 2007 Unscheduled Absence Survey) a legal research and analyst firm for Human Resources, finds that two-thirds of American workers who call in sick last minute do so for reasons other than sickness. These reasons include family issues (22%), personal needs (18%), entitlement mentality (13%), and stress/burnout (13%). The most frequent days people call in sick are on Monday and Friday, followed by holidays such as Christmas and three day weekend holidays. Remember that your people are often juggling work with their family obligations. We need to stop thinking in terms of a tug-of-war for their time and instead, think of how we can partner with them and be family supportive. Remember people take care of first what hurts them the most or matters to them the most! Think in terms of helping them to get what they need, and letting them help you to get what your organization needs. Think win-win for both.

 

Although illness verification and discipline can help in lowering absenteeism, it can backfire if employees think they must come to work when sick, spreading illness, and being unproductive. Educate your people about the dangers of coming to work when they are sick, and encourage them to stay home until well.

 

Supporting their life style needs (not weird stuff) includes telecommuting when possible, flex-scheduling, compressed work weeks, Employee Assistance Programs, allowing time off for family health and school problems, and possible help with day care. Paid leave banks/paid time off (a single bank of hours to be used as needed) are one of the most effective absence control programs.

 

Absenteeism is often tied into employee morale, stress, and burnout. The more unhappy your people are, the more unscheduled days they will take off.  As always, stay close to your people and keep your finger on the pulse of their morale. Remember that what Senior and Boomer generations come to work for is much different than what Gen X and Y come to work for. Why they may take off is often very different as well. What worked 20 years ago to prevent absenteeism may not work today.

 

Source: Bob Losyk, MEd., M.B.A., C.S.P. is a Certified Speaking Professional, master trainer, author, and President & CEO of Innovative Training Solutions, a Greensboro, NC consulting firm.  For more information on Bob’s keynotes, seminars, best practices facilitation, panel discussion leader, and products, please visit his websites at www.boblosyk.com and www.getagriponstress.com or call 1-800-995-0344.

 

Get paid for risk management

 

In these competitive times, successful entrepreneurs look for every legitimate edge as they operate their businesses. Many Federated Insurance clients have indicated that they wish to be rewarded for the good results of their aggressive safety and risk management practices. Business owners have indicated they desire "up-front" premium savings in return for their willingness to assume more risk.

 

Federated's response is the Self-Insured Retention Plan (SIR), introduced over eight years ago. Some clients, particularly larger businesses, have benefited from this innovative risk management strategy which more directly ties premium payments to claims payments. Changes in the plan since its introduction have made it more practical and appealing for medium-sized businesses as well.

 

The SIR plan allows your business to retain more of the insurance risks while offering the opportunity to receive significant up-front premium savings. If your proactive business practices are helping you prevent or reduce claims, you may be ready to take advantage of the SIR plan.

 

How it works

	You Pay	Federated Pays
Premium	√
Deductible	√
Losses	√ Up to retention amount	√ Over retention amount
Independent Adjusters		√
Attorney fees & subrogation costs	√  Up to retention amount	√  Over retention amount

 

The SIR allows you to self-insure your first tier of losses subject to an annual "retention" (dollar amount) of claims and legal costs. Federated can work with you to set the retention amount you are comfortable with, (typically ranging from $15,000 to $200,000).

 

Amounts over the selected retention and deductible amounts are insured by Federated up to the limits of the policies included in the plan. You are still protected for catastrophic losses, and if claims are less than your retention amount, you again benefit from the plan. This may help you purchase other needed coverage or invest in risk management improvements, which helps you continue to control claims.

 

Personal Assistance

 

You are not on your own to manage the risks included under the SIR Plan. A Risk Consultant will assist you with on-site identification of risk management needs, help you determine the most appropriate techniques, help with implementation of programs and procedures, and monitor their results.

 

The SIR program truly rewards qualifying businesses that are successful in managing risks and preventing losses. Risk management practices have proven to help reduce claims and improve claims histories. The Self-Insured Retention Plan may be the right opportunity for you to get rewarded for your risk management efforts.

  

This article provided courtesy of Federated Mutual Insurance Company, your association’s recommended insurer.

MLA is proud to endorse….

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” – Epicurus