News

The annual September meeting of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA) was held September 13 &14 in North Conway, New Hampshire.   The Red Jacket Mountain View Resort located in picturesque Mount Washington Valley served as host for the 132 members and guests that participated in the two day event.   The schedule of activities began with a day of golf at the Wentworth Golf Club, where 20 foursomes hit the links in near perfect New England weather.   A reception and dinner preceded an awards presentation and NELMA Lifetime Member induction ceremony, honoring Jim Outram for his service and dedication to the forest industry and to NELMA in his Marketing Committee Chairmanship role for more than 20 years.   Mr. Outram’s lengthy list of accomplishments and highlights of his overall career were presented by Jim Robbins of Robbins Lumber Co.

The golfing awards were presented by Matt Duprey of Hancock Lumber and NELMA Chairman, Jeff Desjardins of Moose River Lumber, as follows: Longest Drive-Men: Jamie Place (Eastern Forest Products); Longest Drive-Women: Rose LaBarron; Putting Contest: Daniel Ratliff (Madison Lumber Mill); Low Gross Score Team Winner: Paul Lennon (LUA), Chris Jacobson (LUA), Chris Brochu and Jason Brochu (Pleasant River Lumber); Low Net Score Team Winner: Tom Jenkins (T. Jenkins Forest Products), Jeff Desjardins (Moose River Lumber), Doug Chaisson (J.D. Irving), and Phil Ruck (C.E.S.); and the Crying Towel Award went to: Fredrik Broen (Coalition for Fair Lumber), Paul Jannke (Forest Economic Advisors), and Michael and Hilda Record (Record Lumber).

The second day’s events began with a presentation by Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Advisors, titled, “North American Economic Outlook: Improvement Is Most Likely, But The Risks Of A Double Dip Have Increased”, which included information on the current state of the economy and future scenarios and their impact on the lumber industry.   Mr. Jannke’s presentation was followed by the meeting of NELMA’s Board of Directors, where a number of association and industry issues and updates were on the agenda. Information provided at the meeting included NELMA’s legal actions on stamp counterfeiting and grademark infringements, the current status of NELMA’s Inspection Programs, the 2010 Financial Report through July, and the proposed 2011 Association budget, which was approved with additions.   Three industry issue updates were presented: The status of the Softwood Lumber Agreement by Zoltan van Heyningen of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports; The wood truss industry’s questioning of current North American lumber design values; Environmental permitting issues for the lumber industry by Phil Ruck P.E. of CES Inc.; and the estimated timetable for implementation of the Lumber Check-Off Program.

NELMA would like to express its sincere appreciation to the generosity of this year’s event sponsors: Seaboard International, Hancock Lumber, J.D. Irving, Acadia/Wieczorek Insurance, Eastern Insurance Group, Eastern Forest Products, Lowell Lumber, T. Jenkins Forest Products, USNR, Western Lumber, Sandy Neck Traders, P. DiPrizio Lumber, Timber Trading Group, DiPrizio Pine Sales, Pleasant River Lumber, and Diorio Forest Products.

The next NELMA meeting event will be the 2011 Annual Spring Convention, to be held April 28 & 29 at the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.