MLA Logo
Volume 12, No. 25
December 16, 2013
Lumber Industry News Express
You're receiving this online newsletter because you've subscribed through the MLA website (www.TheMLA.com) or you're an Association member. We'll send a new issue every two weeks to let you know what's happening in the industry, at your MLA, and in the world that affects your business. We welcome your opinions and ideas. If you have information you'd like to share with other members, we'd be happy to include it in our next issue. We welcome both personal and industry-related news - members would love to hear your news and views - so don't hesitate to email us with information.
Winter Meetings Just Around the Corner 
Missouri - Join other Missouri lumber dealers in Columbia on January 10 for a brief but informative meeting. Updates provided on Missouri legislation for 2014, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and MLA activities and events. See more information and registration form here.

 MLA Logo

Kansas - The annual Winter Meeting is set for January 23-24 in Wichita. This is always a great time with fellow dealers and Associate members. More information coming soon!

 

Arkansas - Our own Alan Clark, Arkansas State Senator and MLA Board Member, will host members at the Capitol. Get an insider's view of the inner-workings at your State Capitol and find out what you need to know about your state legislature and your MLA. New date: February 6 - more information to come!

 

In another state? Don't let that keep you from the closest MLA meeting - registration is open to any and all MLA members. Get to know your fellow dealers and be better informed. We'll see you at a 2014 winter meeting!

Holiday Hours 

The entire staff of your Mid-America Lumbermens Association wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We're taking a few extra days to enjoy the holidays with our family and friends, and we hope you can do the same.

 

The office will close at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 20, and will re-open on December 26. The office will again close at noon, December 31, and we'll be back to regular hours on January 2, 2013.

NLBMDA Dealer Networking Breakfast   
NLBMDA Logo Join fellow LBM dealers from across the country for this first-ever networking event at the 2014 International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas! The breakfast will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at the LVH Hotel (next door to the Convention Center) from 7:00 to 8:45 a.m.

The Dealer Breakfast will be a terrific way to kick off your activities at IBS and learn the latest on issues impacting the lumber and building material industry. Plus, attendees will get the latest housing forecast from NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. For more information on the breakfast and to register, click here.
Members Save 20% = MLA Credit Card Program
We guarantee you a savings - plus receive a true Transparent Statement at month-end for quick and easy reconciliation along with experienced personal service 24/7.
 

Call Sam or Robert for more information

800-747-6529

Powered by:  
 

TriSource Solutions LLC is a registered MSP/ISO for Merrick Bank Corp., Woodbury, NY 11797  

Need Envelopes or Other Supplies?
MLA is your one-stop source for letterhead, envelopes, forms, and ad specialty items (such as yardsticks, aprons and pencils).

Contact De at 800-747-6529 to see how much you can save.
Other Articles of Interest 

OSHA Fines Illinois Roofing Contractor $158,000

Employees Must Be Trained to Use Fire Extinguishers

New EMV Chip Could Mean Credit-Card Terminal Retirement

Time for Continuing Education?

Budget Deal Aims to Avert Another Shutdown

NLBMDA Legislative Conference: March 31-April 2 

Industry Dashboard for December 16, 2013 

 

OSHA_Fines_Illinois_ContractorOSHA Fines Illinois Roofing Contractor $158,000...    

Affordable Roofing and Exteriors Inc. in Trenton, Ill., has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for five safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $158,015. Read more.

Source: Craig Webb, Remodeling Editor, December 3, 2013

 

Employees_Must_Be_Trained_on_Fire_ExtinguishersEmployees Must Be Trained to Use Fire Extinguishers... You may have fire extinguishers around your workplace, used to control or extinguish fires that are small or have just begun. But did you know that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prohibits employees from using this tool unless they've had training? Read more.

Source: Home Channel News, December 4, 2013

 

New_EMV_ChipNew EMV Chip Could Mean Credit-Card Terminal Retirement...If you have been accepting credit cards for years now, you will probably need to replace your machine soon, if you haven't already. Read more.

Source: TriSource, December 5, 2013

 

Time_for_Continuing_EdTime for Continuing Education? State Fair Community College has partnered with the Mid-America Lumbermens Association to provide on-campus and online training in Building Materials Merchandising to MLA members and their employees. As the building material industry moves toward normalcy, this may be the time to invest in your employees' education. Whether pursuing a degree or brushing up on skills, the State Fair program is designed for our industry. Read more.

 

Budget_DealBudget Deal Aims to Avert Another Shutdown...Congressional negotiators reached a bipartisan budget compromise on Tuesday that would prevent another government shutdown, if approved by the House and Senate. Read moreSource: CNN, December 10, 2013

 

NLBMDA_Leg_ConNLBMDA Leg Con: March 31-April 2...Registration is now open for NLBMDA's Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference, which will take place from March 31-April 2, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in Arlington, Va. Complete information and registration here.

Source: NLBMDA, December 12, 2013

 

Industry_DashboardIndustry Dashboard for December 16, 2013...Monthly retail sales showed promising momentum, though not enough for hardware stores to outpace their 2012 performance. See the charts.

Source: Home Channel News, December 16, 2013

Connect to Federated's Shield Network 

At Federated, our most valuable resource is our people. We believe in personal service and a firm handshake. When you need assistance, we respond with a sense of urgency and a strong desire to help.

 

Federated wants clients to consider their marketing representative as their Number 1 Federated resource. An exciting tool we have available to help us serve you even better is something called Federated's Shield Network.

 

Federated's Shield Network is a one-stop cyber shop for risk management tools and materials. It's available 24/7-any day, any time, during any shift-and comes with state-of-the-art sort, search, and filter functions, so you are able to find what you need when you need it. The network contains more than 430 forms, brochures, signs, and multi-media items. Services include the ability to download, e-mail, edit, and save files to your computer or request them for delivery. Read more.


Federated_Logo_Horiz  

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

The Last Word

"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."

 

~George Bernard Shaw 

In This Issue
MLA Winter Meetings
Holiday Hours
NLBMDA Dealer Networking Breakfast
MLA Credit Card Program
Need Envelopes or Other Supplies?
Other Articles of Interest
Connect to Federated's Shield Network
Our Sponsors
Save the Date!
Do You Know a Retired Lumber Dealer? 
MLA provides membership to retired dealers at the nominal price of $10 per year. MLA sends the newsletter to Retired Members, and keeps them in the know.
Is OSHA a Mystery to You?
Take the mystery out of OSHA compliance. Call Robert Uhler, MLA Regional Manager, for a safety tune-up in 2013 - 800-747-6529.
Quick Links

Contact Us
Our Sponsors
Blish Mize

Westfall GMC
GSWP-Yellawood
 
Save the Date!
Jan. 5 - NLBMDA Networking Breakfast

Jan. 9-10
Missouri Winter Meeting - Columbia

Jan. 23-24
Kansas Winter Meeting - Wichita

Feb. 6 - New Date!
Arkansas Winter Meeting - Little Rock

March 31-April 2
NLBMDA Legislative Conference
Go to the MLA Web Site
for more information.
MLA Logo
These Suppliers Support Your Industry Association!   
Please support them!

All Season Bldg. Supply
Allied Building Stores, Inc.
American Wholesale Corp.
Basys Processing
Blish-Mize Company
Bluelinx Corporation
BlueTarp Financial
Boise Cascade
BuilderLink, LLC
Builders Material Company
Cargotec USA - St. Louis
CCM Countertop & Cabinet Mfg.
Cedar Creek Wholesale, Inc.
Central States Insulation Wholesale, Inc.  
Central States Mfg., Inc.
Continental Divide Fence
Delden Mfg. Co., Inc.
Denver Southwest
DMSi
Do it Best Corporation - New member!
East Side Lumberyard Supply
Federated Insurance
Forest Products Supply Co.
Frontier Forest Products, Inc.
Great Southern Wood Preserving
Hardman Wholesale Company
Hixson Lumber Sales - New member!
Huttig Building Products
iLevel
Jack Morgan Construction
Lee Wayne
Lumberyard Supply
McCray Lumber Millwork
Mid-Am Building Supply
Midwest Low-E Insulation
Modern Equip. Co., Inc. (MECO)
Monarch Cement Company
Moulding & Millwork Inc.- Midwest
Neff Packaging Systems

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual
PrimeSource Building Products
PWD, Inc.
Roberts & Dybdahl, Inc.
Rollex Corp
Schutte Lumber Company

Service Partners dba Denver SouthWest

Shelter Distribution
Tamko Building Products
Tax Favored Benefits
Tennison Brothers, Inc.
Thomas Nielsen Wholesale
Timber Products, Inc.
Treeline Forest Products
USP Structural Connectors
Warrior Building Products
Westfall GMC Truck Center
Weyerhaeuser Co.


MLA Logo 
 
About Us

Mid-America Lumbermens Association (MLA) serves independent lumber and building material retailers in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. We offer a variety of services and products to our members, as well as events throughout the year to provide educational and networking opportunities. 

  

We're proud to be affiliated with the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA), which gives us a connection to the industry at large and provides representation in Washington, D.C. on federal legislation and regulatory issues.
*****
Go to the
for more information.