News

The annual fall meeting of the Board of Directors of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA) was held September 19 at the Jordan Grand Resort – Sunday River, in Newry, Maine.   Looking to gain insight and direction during these challenging times, the meeting opened with a presentation by Paul Jannke, Vice-President of Resource Information Systems Inc. (RISI) on the 2009 Economic Outlook and Market Forecast. Following the prognostication, an update on the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA ’06) was provided by Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports.

The business session of the meeting began with a review of Association activities, events and Committee actions that had been conducted since the Board’s Spring meeting in April. This included a review of an ongoing federal trademark infringement case regarding the NELMA logo, an inspection services program report, an update on the environmental review of log watering at lumber mills, and progress of the NELMA-supported Pine Weevil research project. Also, the current financial reports were reviewed by NELMA Treasurer, Randy Caron, and the 2009 proposed Marketing program for the Association by Committee Chairman, Matt Duprey.

NELMA Committees that have met since the April meeting include Grading, Marketing, and Advisory. The Board reviewed and discussed action requests that resulted from each of the Committees and approved the following motions: (1) To modify the NELMA Grading Policy’s Pre-Warning Condition and (2) To accept the nomination of B. Manning as the at-large member of the Advisory Committee. Board Chairman, Tom Jenkins, also announced the formation of a task group to review the overall dues structure of the Association.   Following a review of the proposed 2009 NELMA budget and program, the Board approved the bottom line total as presented.

The day prior to the Board of Director’s meeting was devoted to the annual fall NELMA golf scramble at the world-renowned Sunday River Golf Club, recognized as a Top-10 Best New Course in the World when it opened in 2005 by Travel & Leisure magazine. Seventy-five members and guests took to the links, enjoying the perfect pre-fall weather and sensational views of the surrounding Mahoosuc Mountain Range. The evening Chairman’s reception and dinner included a review of the fun-filled competition, recognizing the team of Jack Bowen, Russell Coulter, Matt Duprey, and Kevin Hynes, all from Hancock Lumber, as “Low Gross” winner with a score of 65. For Net scores, First Place went to the foursome of Bob Bronkie (The Unstable Farm), Dante Diorio (Diorio Forest Products), Rich Quitadamo (L.R. McCoy Co.), and Rob Wieczorek (Wieczorek Insurance). Second place winners: John Benjamin (Robbins Lumber), Chuck Gaede (Durgin & Crowell Lumber), John Kruger (Seaboard International Forest Products), and Claude Parent (Universal Forest Products). And Third Place was won by the team of Doug Chaisson (J.D. Irving), Dan Holt (Eastern Forest Products), B. Manning (Durgin & Crowell Lumber), and Jamie Place (Eastern Forest Products).

On behalf of the members and guests that participated in this year’s event, NELMA would like to thank the generosity of the sponsors of the 2008 Golf Scramble. And, mark your calendars for the 2009 NELMA Convention, to be held April 2-4 at the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.

First Place NET Score (left to right): Rich Quitadamo, Dante Diorio, Bob Bronkie, Rob Wieczorek not pictured

Second Place NET Score (left to right): Claude Parent, John Benjamin, Chuck Gaede, John Kruger not pictured

Third Place NET Score (left to right): Doug Chaisson, Dan Holt, B. Manning, and Jamie Place