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Vol. 15, No. 6, March 21, 2016 
MLA LINE
Lumber Industry News Express
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Our Sponsors


Blish Mize



Westfall GMC

GSWP-Yellawood
MLA Associate Members

All Season Bldg. Supply
Allied Building Stores, Inc.
American Wholesale Corp.
Blish-Mize Company
Bluelinx Corporation
BlueTarp Financial Inc.
Boise Cascade
Boral Light Building Products
BPI - Lbr & Engineered Wood
Builders Material Company
CCM Countertop & Cabinet  
Central Woodwork Inc.
Continental Divide Fence
Dealers Choice Distribution
Delden Mfg. Co., Inc.
Discovery-Based Retail
DMSi Software
Do It Best Corp
East Side Lumberyard Supply  
Epicor Software
Federated Insurance
Forest Products Supply Co.
Frontier Forest Products, Inc.
Georgia Pacific Wood Prod.
Great Southern Wood Pres.
Guardian Building Products
Hardman Wholesale Co.
Hawkeye Bldg Dist., Ltd
Hiab USA, Inc.
Hixson Lumber Sales
Huttig Building Products
Jack Morgan Construction
James Hardie Bldg Products
Klauer Manufacturing Co.
Lumberyard Supply
MAX USA Corp.
Metal Sales Mfg. Corp.
Mid-Am Building Supply, Inc.  
Modern Equip. Co., Inc. (MECO Omaha)
Monarch Cement Company
Pennsylvania & Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. 
PrimeSource Building Products
PWD, Inc.
Rollex Corp
Schutte Lumber Company
Simpson Strong-tie Co Inc
Tamko Building Products, Inc.
Tax Favored Benefits
Tennison Brothers, Inc.
The Empire Company LLC
Timber Products, Inc.
Treeline Forest Products LLC
USP Structural Connectors
Warrior Building Products
Western Builders Supply, Inc.
Westfall GMC Truck Center
Weyerhaeuser Co.
Wingate Sales Solutions, Inc.

Please patronize these companies that support your Association! 
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The Last Word

"Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games."
 
-- Babe Ruth  
Here's your bi-weekly lumber industry newsletter. We hope you find this quick, responsive format helpful and entertaining. Anytime you have news or views to share with fellow dealers, please don't hesitate to contact us by replying to this newsletter.
Scholarships Available Now
One of the primary drivers behind MLA's annual activities is members' interest in providing scholarships to young people from the industry - the children of members and their employees. Annually thousands of dollars are paid toward college tuition from the proceeds of golf tournaments and other activities.
 
Scholarship applications are available now on the MLA website at www.TheMLA.com. Scholarship deadline is Friday,
April 1st, so act now. Encourage someone you know to complete an application.
Risk Management Academy
April 27, 2016
 
Federated Insurance is presenting a seminar you won't want to miss. Learn to help prevent the losses chipping away at your bottom line.
 
You don't have to be a Federated client to attend and benefit from their risk management experts.
Employee Benefits Corner
Eight Ways Companies Screw Up Their 401(k) Plans
There are a staggering number of administrative responsibilities inherent to offering a 401(k) plan. However, administrative blunders can be costly, through a variety of penalties such as fines or, at their worst, plan disqualification, which creates a taxable event for all plan participants. Read more.
Source: Investment News, March 17, 2016

Time to Consider the MLA MEP for your Employees? 
MLA has offered a "group" MLA 401(k) plan for members for over a year. It is saving participating dealers on their fees and offering a great benefit to reward their loyal employees. If you haven't taken a serious look at this program, now would be a good time. Find out why smart dealers are making the move to the MLA program. Call the MLA Hotline at 800-747-6529, or

Industry Update 

The Peasants are Revolting...
Dig in and you'll find plenty of common ground between Sanders and Trump. On health care, both believe every American should have it and the way to make it affordable is to get the government involved. On free trade, both believe the only effect has been to send all the good jobs overseas and dammit, it has to stop. Read more. 
Source: Greg Brooks, LBM Executive, March 15, 2016

Blish-Mize Marks 145 th Anniversary...
At its Spring Buying Market held this past weekend at the Overland Park Convention Center, in Overland Park, Kansas, Blish-Mize Company celebrated its 145th anniversary in business by providing market specials and educational and networking opportunities to more than 360 retailer accounts in attendance.
Source: Hardware Retailing, March 21, 2016
 
Reminder: Employers Must Post Injury, Illness Summaries Now Through April ... Employers have an obligation to post a copy of OSHA's Form 300A in a common area where notices to employees are usually posted each year between Feb. 1 and April 30. The Form 300A summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged in 2015. Companies with 10 or fewer employers and those in certain low-hazard industries are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping and posting requirements. However, certain previously exempt industries are now covered as of Jan. 1, 2015.  Source: NLBMDA Workplace Safety Newsletter, March 14, 2016
 
Building Permit Delays Should Prompt Proactive Credit Checks... Delays in building permits from local municipalities are tying up new construction projects countrywide and leading some builders to the brink of bankruptcy as they try to cover payroll, interest and other costs. Read more.
Source: NACM's eNews Weekly Update, March 17, 2016
Cyber-Crime is Scary and Expensive
 
Business owners today understand the tremendous benefits of using the Internet, computers, and technology in their everyday operations. Unfortunately, all that technology can open the door to some very serious cyber threats. Every business that is "plugged in" is a target for criminals to steal, spy, and cause major disruption. Read more .
 
This article provided courtesy of Federated Mutual Insurance Company, your association's recommended insurer.