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MINUTES
November 11, 2010
National AWI Convention Report
 Vice
president of NJAWI George Reitz was attending the
National AWI Convention, and representing
NJ chapter. At the
meeting he reported to the board and to the members
regarding the outcome of that conference.
George also accepted, in behalf of our chapter,
a distinguished chapter award from National AWI.
Congratulations to all of us!
Observations and perceptions
Generally the AWI National Conference
in Denver this year was full of anticipation.
Wondering what news was going to be brought in from
the rest of the country. Wondering if the news being
brought together would be an affirmation of what you
already know or a confirmation of things to come.
first: Alan Beaulieu, economist and
keynote speaker, spoke of his prognostications from
last year and his predictions for the up coming
years. Some of the major items to watch for change
in the direction of our economy are:
-
Employment (not just unemployment
but who remains employed and in what sectors).
-
Business to business ratio and
the 12/12 rate of change
-
Bond prices
-
Purchasing Managers Index (12
month leading indicator)
-
Stock Price Index
-
Retail Sales (excluding auto)
-
Housing Starts
The general feeling is 2011 being
relatively flat with a pick up in business from 2012
through 2017, then perhaps another recession. Job
creation through demand, and not more tax incentives
for equipment purchases, is needed. Once sales start
generating, then new hires start and then the need
for new equipment. Creation of jobs, not more bale
outs, is required for businesses to be successful.
Cost of Doing Business Survey (CODBS)
I also attended a workshop relating
to the Cost of Doing Business (CODB) and came out
with some astonishing realizations. Of the
participating companies 25% are in the top and or
upper percentile. 50% of the companies that
participated are in the average percentile, making
approximately 4% profit. The real sad story is 25%
of our industry is in the bottom percentile which
means we are loosing money and or are bankrupt and
don't know it yet.
Understanding what makes a company in
the top 25% percentile is the key. The basic
framework is strategy and not just a couple of good
projects back to back and or a lucky bid. The corner
stone of the 25% percentile companies share the same
philosophy,. That philosophy is as follows:
TO BE CONTINUED...............
Review of National Hardwood Lumber Association
Grades
NHLA Grading Seminar.
Speaker:
Calvin D. Huntzinger
Senior Forest Products Consultant,
Mann and Parker Lumber Company, Inc.
More than a century after
origination, the
NHLA
standards and rules that were once developed to ease
regional trade, are now employed worldwide for the
same reason. While the NHLA past is rich in history
and tradition, the present
NHLA
is a modern trade association providing its members
the means to succeed in a competitive global economy
now and in the future.
Come prepared for a review of National Hardwood
Lumber Association grades.
The seminar will
cover the following:
-
Survey questionnaire... yes it's
a quiz
-
Review and outline of NHLA grades
and rules
-
Tallies
-
Squaring units
-
Imports and the "half foot"
-
Job specs and reality
-
Species names
-
Proprietary grades
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