The below freezing temperatures didn’t seem to deter too many people from attending the Northwestern Building Products Expo. The classrooms were full and the exhibit hall was busy despite the inclement weather. Who said were not a tough crowd? On Monday evening, the cabana rooms were full of activity as suppliers opened their doors for hospitality and the Silent Auction for Habitat for Humanity raised over $2,000. Craig Webb’s presentation “State of the Industry and National Trends” was well attended on Tuesday morning as everyone was eager to hear his opinions and find out when we might see an end to the current market conditions.

Wisconsin dealers and exhibitors braved the snow to participate in the 118^th WRLA Annual Convention held February 6^th & 7^th at the Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells.

Attendees got together to renew friendships and dealers and their builders took advantage of the free training at the building codes and green building seminars. An award was presented to Tracy Tonnes of Nelson-Young Lumber Company, Edgerton, Wisconsin who associate members of the WRLA voted as the 2007 Outstanding Lumber Dealer of the Year. An award was presented to Mark Kasper of Amerhart Ltd, Green Bay, Wisconsin, who member dealers of the WRLA voted the 2007 Outstanding Associate/Supplier Company of the Year.

During the annual membership meeting, members elected to the WRLA Board Dave Balduzzi, Balduzzi Midway Lumber Co Inc, Onalaska, Wisconsin as District III Director; and Jim Madden, Richardson Lumber Co, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin had his term as District II Director extended until 2010.

While it wasn’t sixty degrees and sunny, everyone was pleased that we didn’t have a repeat of last year’s blizzard at the Iowa Lumber Convention. The move to the Sheraton West Des Moines proved to be the right decision with its easy access from the highway and plenty of parking, as was evidenced by the busy exhibit hall. There was also a great turnout for the reception and silent auction and the room was full for General Membership Meeting & Breakfast on Friday morning. Gene Schoeberl, who recently retired from Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber Company after 50 years in the lumber industry, received the Lumber Dealer of Year Award and Tom Schill from Building Products, Inc. was honored as the Marketing Representative of the Year.

The Nebraska Lumber Dealers Convention was again held at The Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln – building on the success from last year. The educational seminars, in particular the “Green Building – Nebraska Certified Home” presentation, were well attended and the Ballroom and Atrium were full with suppliers on hand to talk to the dealers who were there from across the state.

At the Exhibitor Reception, awards were presented to Bob Mead, Mead Lumber Company – York as the Lumber Dealer of the Year, Jeff Gorden, Guardain Building Products, as Marketing Representative of the Year and Steve Sprenger accepted the award for Sprenger Midwest as Supplier Company of the Year. For the booth awards, Mid-America Cedar won for the single booth; Thermo-Tech for the double booth; and Bayer Built Woodwork for multiple booths.