2009 Annual Meeting

October 10-13

The Roosevelt

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September 11, 2009

Southern Pine Works for Ramps

The cover story in a recent issue of Shelter magazine focuses on using decking and railing materials to build ramps for commercial and residential properties. Thanks to the efforts of SFPA and Southern Pine Council public relations consultant Kim Drew, pressure-treated Southern Pine is well represented in the discussion. Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets, is quoted in the article as is Huck DeVenzio of SFPA Associate member company Arch Wood Protection in Atlanta. Huck tells the magazine’s readers, “Wood makes a good choice and treated wood is the sensible choice because you don’t have to worry about it rotting or collapsing.”

In addition, a sidebar titled “Southern Pine Ramp to the Rescue” highlights a project in which the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans teamed with a group of volunteers to build a ramp for an elderly stroke victim. SFPA contributed technical expertise, and SFPA Affiliate member Elder Wood Preserving Company of Mansura, La., donated the pressure-treated Southern Pine used in the project. Eric Gee, SFPA’s director of EXPO and forest resources, is quoted in the sidebar. Click here for the story and sidebars.

Shelter is read by about 30,000 distributors, dealers and retailers. For more information, contact Richard Wallace, SFPA’s vice president of communications, at 504/443-4464, ext. 236, or by e-mail at rwallace@sfpa.org.

Recession Could be Over

Government agencies are reporting signs that the worst recession since the Great Depression is over and the economy may even be growing this quarter. According to a report issued this week by the Federal Reserve (see the “Beige Book”), businesses in all but one of the Fed’s 12 regions indicated economic activity was “stable,” showed “signs of stabilization” or had “firmed” (see story). Trade activity in July and slowing employee layoffs provide additional evidence the economy is improving (click here for that story). Statistics on housing permits and starts for August will be released next week.

Longtime SFPA Employee Retiring

After spending her career in the Southern Pine industry, SFPA Executive Administrative Assistant Dianne Breaux will retire Oct. 30. Dianne’s work with the industry began in 1960 when she signed on as a secretary with the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, which was located in New Orleans at the time. She moved over to the Southern Pine Association (now SFPA) when SPIB relocated to Pensacola, Fla., in 1969. She left SPA at the end of 1971 to devote time to raising her daughter and then returned in early 1985. During her time with SFPA, Dianne has served as a secretary in the Forest Resources Department, an administrative assistant for EXPO and since 2004, as executive administrative assistant to SFPA’s president. When asked what she has enjoyed most about her time in the industry, Dianne said, “I treasure the friendships made through the years and especially enjoyed working on our meetings. SFPA has been a large part of my life.”

“Please join me in commending Dianne for her many years of service,” SFPA President Digges Morgan said. “She has handled many duties with the association and EXPO, and we will miss the great work she has contributed.”

In retirement, Dianne says she will spend more time with friends and her two grandchildren, as well as doing some volunteer work.

SFPA on the Road

SFPA staff members frequently take to the roads and airways to tell Southern Pine’s story to builders, designers, building inspectors and other key segments of the building industry. Here’s a look at some upcoming events.

• Cathy Kaake, senior director of engineered and framing markets, will promote raised floor foundations at the Louisiana Civil Engineering Conference and Show Sept. 23-24 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, La.

• Russell Richardson, director of industrial markets, will deliver an introductory presentation titled “Why Wood?” at the LSU AgCenter’s 2009 Green Building Conference Sept. 29 at the Ione E. Burden Conference Center in Baton Rouge, La. Russell will also promote raised floors at the Sunbelt Builders Show Oct. 29-31 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas.

• Ned DeJarnette, director of international markets, will promote Southern Pine Council members’ lumber products at EXPO CIHAC 2009 Oct. 14-17 at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City, Mexico, and at the Bahamas Home and Builders Trade Show Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

• Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets, will promote pressure-treated Southern Pine for outdoor decking and also communicate the environmental benefits of using real wood at the Remodeling Show and DeckExpo Oct. 28-30 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The two shows are being held together for the first time this year.

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