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January 8, 2010

Special Message from SFPA President Digges Morgan

Welcome to 2010. Your SFPA staff is back in the office and fully focused on how our association can best help you succeed as the economy continues its slow trek toward recovery this year. I won’t belabor a point that we’re all fully aware of … 2009 was rough. Instead, I want to focus on what we are grateful for and what our association’s board of directors and staff are doing to position SFPA to serve our industry in the future.

In the gratitude column, I want to recognize and commend all of SFPA’s Active, Affiliate and Associate member companies who maintained their commitment to SFPA despite a tough economy. The following SFPA Active members carry much of the responsibility for the association’s activities in terms of financial and volunteer leadership support: Anthony Forest Products, Anthony Timberlands Inc., Conner Industries Inc., Deltic Timber Corporation, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Harrigan Lumber Company Inc., Hood Industries Inc., Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Company, McShan Lumber Company Inc., Ray White Lumber Company, Scotch Lumber Company, Swift Lumber Inc., Temple-Inland Inc., Toney Lumber Company, Trout River Lumber LLC, Westervelt Lumber, West Fraser Inc. and Weyerhaeuser. Also vital to SFPA’s success are our Affiliate and Associate members. Please visit the membership roster pages on our Web site to see who they are.

We also want to recognize the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association for their commitment and contribution to the Southern Pine Council for 2010. This marks the 23rd year SFPA and SLMA have worked closely together under the SPC banner to promote our members’ products in domestic and international markets. Building on common ground and promoting a spirit of cooperation will provide a solid foundation for the industry as we meet the challenges of the coming decade.

To prepare for what lies ahead, SFPA will conduct a strategic planning meeting in late February. Our Board of Directors will evaluate present programs and services and, more importantly, determine what structure we need to have in place to accept the many opportunities that will come our way in the future. We’ll report the outcome later.

For 95 years, SFPA has provided “Service” to the Southern Pine industry. As we close the books on a very challenging decade, we want to wish all of our members, cooperating associations and the industry a very happy and prosperous 2010. Your work along with continued cooperation between allied wood associations will help secure a strong place for Southern Pine products in national and global markets as our economy continues to improve this year and beyond.

Calls to Wood Products Help Desk Down in 2009

The Wood Products Help Desk handled 1,052 inquiries about Southern Pine last year, down 18% from 1,286 inquiries in 2008. Product support specialist Merritt Kline reported the most interest was in roof and floor systems (26.1% of all inquiries), followed by outdoor decks and landscaping (16%) and permanent wood foundations (10.6%). Other call topics included raised floor systems and porches (9.7%), interior flooring and patterns (5.2%), wall systems (3.9%), treated framing (3.2%), transportation 2.4% and marine construction (2.3%). The largest percentage of the calls came from DIYers (20%) and builders (15.9%), followed by engineers (11%), other (11%), homeowners (9.1%), dealers (9.1%) and architects (7.9%). 

The Help Desk is a cooperative activity supported by the Southern Pine Council and APA. The service is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time.  To reach the desk, dial 253/620-7400, e-mail help@southernpine.com or call 504/443-4464 (ext. 2).

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.

·       Digges Morgan, president; Richard Wallace, vice president of communications; and Russell Richardson, director of industrial markets, will promote Southern Pine products at the 2010 International Builders’ Show to be hosted by the National Association of Home Builders Jan. 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.

·       Ned DeJarnette, director of international markets, will help promote Southern Pine at Expo Mobiliario Jan. 20-23 in Mexico City, Mexico.

·       Russell Richardson, director of industrial markets, will represent the Southern Pine Council at the Mid South Building Material Dealers Association’s 2010 Trade Show and Meetings Feb. 4-6 at the Imperial Palace Resort in Biloxi, Miss., and at the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association’s Annual Leadership Conference Feb. 20-23 at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

·       Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets, will make presentations about “Raised Floor Living” communities at Wood Solutions Fairs to be held Feb. 16 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta and Feb. 18 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.

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