F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 1 9

Lake States Lumber

Association

Address: 1353 W. Hwy US 2

Suite 2 Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Website:

www.lsla.com

Email: lsla@lsla.com

Phone:

920-884-0409

Fax: 920-455-7705

LSLA Calendar of Events

Hardwood Federation Update

Winter Meeting Sponsors

Upcoming MI Trainings

The Michigan Report

The Wisconsin Report

WI Cabinet Secretary Profiles

Winter Meeting Auction Donors

LSLA Education Update

GLTPA Spring Celebration

Got Member News?

Advertising in The Log

Where is David Bradley?

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2019 Winter Meeting in Review We just completed our 2019 Winter Meeting. The Wednesday evening “Welcome Reception” sponsored by Granite Valley Forest Products was well attended and enjoyed by all. We would like to thank all of the speakers. The members found your topics very beneficial, which will help us pro-fessionally grow our businesses. To all the attendees, we want to say “Thank You”! We hope each of you found the meeting very enjoyable and informative. Our annual auction was also a great success. We had overwhelming and heartwarming response from many kind and generous individuals and companies when they were asked for donations. All those who donated items for the auction are listed in this issue of The Log. To each individual and business listed here in this issue, including our 2019 Winter Meeting Sponsors, we want to say “THANK YOU” for making our meeting a success. It would not have happened without your generosity. As you look over the list, we ask that you remember these businesses and individuals who have donated to support Lake States Lumber Association and The Hard-wood Federation and may we support them in return. Sincerely, 2019 LSLA Winter Meeting Planning Committee (Larry Krueger, Dave Schroeder, Brady Francois, Jim Maltese, Rob Paradise, Jake Divine)

From the President

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Lake States Lumber Association, Inc. . . Providing Leadership and Education to assure

the sustainability of our forest resources

1353 W. Hwy US 2, Ste 2 Phone: 920-884-0409 Crystal Falls, MI 49920 Email: lsla@lsla.com

2018 LAKE STATES LUMBER ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brady Francois ........................................ President

Rob Paradise ................................. Vice President

Pete Johnson .......................................... Secretary

Margaret Minerick ................................ Treasurer

Larry Krueger ............................................. Director

Dennis Gustafson ..................................... Director

Butch Fisher................................................ Director

Jennifer Lu .................................................. Director

2018 LSLA EDUCATION, INC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tim Kassis ................................................. President

Al Quinney ...........................Secretary/Treasurer

Travis Allen ............................................... Director

Scott Shaver .............................................. Director

2018 LSLA BOARD OF DIREC-

Back Row (left to right): Jim Maltese (Stella-Jones Corp.),

Larry Krueger (Krueger Lumber), Pete Johnson (Granite Val-

ley Forest Products), Steve Peters (Rockland Flooring), Dennis “Gus” Gustafson (Besse Forest Products).

Front Row (left to right): Fred “Butch” Fisher (AJD Forest

Products, Brady Francois (Snowbelt Hardwoods), Margaret

Minerick (Sagola Hardwoods), Jennifer Lu (WI DATCP), Rob

Paradise (Devereaux Sawmill). Photo courtesy of Zach Miller,

The Log is published bi-monthly by the Lake States Lumber Association, Inc. For address corrections or to contribute news articles, opinion pages, classified ads, or advertising, contact us at:

LSLA CALENDAR

OF EVENTS

May 14th-17th Lumber Inspection & Sawing, Edging &

Trimming Courses Graying, MI

July 24th & 25th Annual Golf Outing

Brown Deer, WI

Check LSLA’s website at WWW.LSLA.COM

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HARDWOOD FEDERATION UPDATE

A comprehensive new economic impact study has concluded that the U.S. hardwood forest products industry helps to employ over 1.8 million people and contributes $348 billion to the U.S. economy.

The new study was released by twelve hardwood and hardwood product associations that are among the members of the Hardwood Federation, the industry’s federal policy advocate in Washington, D.C. Hard-wood producers and manufacturers, including sawmills, lumberyards, flooring companies, kitchen cabinet manufacturers and railway ties, directly sup-port more than 685,000 jobs in 25,000 facilities gen-erating $35 billion in annual income. Related indus-tries, including transportation, retail, forest ownership and logging support more than 1.1 million jobs and add $212 billion to the economy. For every $1 mil-lion in output of hardwood products, 5.3 jobs are cre-ated.

“The hardwood industry is an economic driver in small towns and rural America,” said Dana Lee Cole, Executive Director of the Hardwood Federation. “Hardwood companies are often a top employer in their communities, and support significant numbers of spin off jobs locally. Wood and wood products are literally the building blocks of this country and the industry takes pride in their history and the environ-mentally sustainable products they produce. This re-port shines a bright light on the importance and value of an industry too often overlooked.”

The report will be used by the various national, state, and local hardwood related organizations to educate Trump Administration representatives, members of Congress, Governors, state legislators, and other key stakeholders about the positive economic benefits of the industry and how policy makers can help support and sustain hardwood businesses. The industry will gather in Washington D.C. in September to communi-cate directly with Congress about the report’s findings and to share personal experiences about their compa-nies and employees. The full study may be found at www.hardwoodfederation.com.

The hardwood industry economic impact study was conducted by Agribusiness Consulting and financially supported by the following organizations: The Amer-ican Hardwood Export Council, the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., the Decorative Hard-

woods Association, the Hardwood Federation, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, the Indiana Hardwood Lumberman’s Association, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, the Lake States Lumber Association, the Maple Flooring Manufac-turers Association, the National Hardwood Lumber Association, the National Wood Flooring Associa-tion, the Railway Tie Association and the Wood Component Manufacturers Association. Additional support was provided by the Hardwood Market Re-port and the Pennsylvania Lumbermen’s Mutual In-surance Company.

### The Hardwood Federation is an umbrella organiza-tion that serves as the voice in Washington, D.C. for the United States hardwood industry representing 27 national, regional, state, and local trade associa-tions that serve hardwood businesses across the country. The Federation monitors legislative issues that will impact our industry and lobbies Congress, the Administration and U.S. agencies and depart-ments on behalf of U.S. hardwood businesses.

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2019 WINTER MEETING SPONSORS We want to thank the following sponsors of the Winter Meeting. Their generosity made the Winter Meeting possible.

WELCOME RECEPTION SPONSOR Granite Valley Forest Products Marathon City, WI

LAKE SUPERIOR SPONSOR Northern Hardwoods South Range, MI

LAKE ONTARIO Florence Hardwoods Florence, WI

AGENCY SPONSORS WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection Madison, WI

WI Dept. of Natural Resources Madison, WI

LANYARDS SPONSOR Napoleon Hardwoods Napoleon, IN

In 2019 LSLA Education will be working with the MI-DNR to offer a variety of training workshops for the lumber industry. Below is a list of upcoming events coming in 2019.

If you are interested in attending an LSLA hosted course please contact lsla@lsla.com or call 920.884.0409.

If you are interested in attending the non-LSLA training events you can check out the MI-DNR website at www.michigan.gov/forestproducts for updates, or contact Brenda Haskill at haskillb@michigan.gov or 989.732.3541 x 5043 or David Neuman at neumannd@michigan.gov or 517.284.5887.

For more information about the trainings in Michigan and other information regarding the Michigan lumber industry please check out the bi-annual newsletter for the Forest Resource Division of MI-DNR. You can find the newsletter at www.michigan.gov/forestproducts.

Log Grading & Scaling Where: Northern Hardwoods, South Range, MI Tentative Date: April 3rd

Hardwood Lumber Grading Short Course Hosted by LSLA with support from MI DNR Where: Grayling, MI When: May 14th-16th

Sawing, Edging & Trimming Workshop Hosted by LSLA with support from MI DNR Where: Grayling, MI When: May 17th

UPCOMING TRAINING IN MICHIGAN

Business Management & Marketing for Sawmills Where: Likely in Gaylord When: Summer 2019, Date TBD

Railroad Tie Workshop Where: Upper Peninsula When: Mid Summer 2019, Date TBD

Log Scaling & Grading Where: Southern Lower Peninsula When: Late Summer, Date TBD

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Auto Insurance at the Top of List.

Newly elected House Speaker Lee CHATFIELD (R-Levering) called no-fault auto insurance "the singlelargest issue holding back our state" as he made re-marks on the opening day of the 100th Legislaturein January. Meanwhile, Senate Majority LeaderMike SHIRKEY (R-Clarklake) erased any doubt, ifany existed about the Senate's top priority for the2019-20 session. The day after saying "we have theobligation to reform auto insurance," the new leadersaid lowering car insurance rates topped his caucus'initial to-do list.

Michigan DEQ

On a Monday, Gov. Gretchen WHITMER signed an executive order (EO) that re-named and re-organized the Michigan Department of Environmen-tal Quality. The new EGLE, Department of Envi-ronment Great Lakes and Energy, included many changes including elimination of several oversight boards established through legislation signed into law last summer. (Sen. Casperson Sponsored) Two days later, on Wednesday, HCR 1 that would over-ride the EO was introduced on the House floor, moved out of the Government Operations Commit-tee, and passed on the House floor all within three hours, 58-51. Currently the legislation is in the Senate Committee on Oversite and more than likely will be taken up and passed shortly after the Gover-nor's State of the State address.

Former Leaders Support 47-Cent Gas Tax Boost For Roads

Michigan should gradually raise its gas tax 47 cents a gallon to 73.3 cents by 2028 to fill an estimated $2.6 billion funding gap between what the state's roads need and the money going into the roads, for-mer legislative leaders said last week. Inflationary increases in Michigan's 26.3-cents-a-gallon gas tax starting in 2022 will raise the tax to roughly 30.2 cents a gallon in 10 years -- presuming a 2 percent inflationary increase. But former Republican Senate Majority Leader Ken SIKKEMA and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Bob EMERSON said this modest increase and the additional $1.2 billion set aside by lawmakers for roads as part of the 2015

roads package isn't enough.

Whitmer's Road Funding Pro-posal Coming In Budget Presentation

Gov. Gretchen WHITMER Press Secretary Tiffany BROWN announced that the Governor will not dis-cuss specific budget-related reforms until her Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget presentation in March, meaning any detailed road funding talk won't make the State of the State speech.

AG Withdraws Michigan From Clean Air Act Legal Battles

Attorney General Dana NESSEL removed Michigan from two lawsuits challenging the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency's (EPA) right to regulate various air pollutants at coal plants and from two challenging exposure to mercury and other toxic substances. The withdrawal "is appropriate because there is no direct claim made against Michigan" and withdrawing would not prejudice the other states, the AG's office noted in its court filings in U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

THE MICHIGAN REPORT By Scott Everett, LSLA Michigan Legislative Consultant

Need more issues of The Log? Send extra copies

to other people or divisions within your

company for only $50/year. It’s the best

way to ensure everyone is up on LSLA

news. Contact us at 920-884-0409 or

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The Wisconsin Report

2019-20 Wisconsin Legislative Session in Full Swing The 2019-2020 legislative session is well under way with a new polit-ical landscape for the first time in over eight years. Democrat Governor Tony Evers is looking to define himself and his administration through the 2019-21 biennial budget bill, which he will introduce before a joint session of the legislature on Thursday, February 28. Messaging in advance of the budget address from the Governor’s office indicate the budget will include: $100 million to replace lead pipes; a plan to reduce water pollution; increase ac-cess to dental care for low-income residents; a plan to increase the state’s $7.25 minimum wage; a rollback on the manufacturing & agriculture tax credit and likely a gas tax increase (up to .10 cents) for transportation funding. Additionally, we expect to see a tax cut for the middle-class which will compete with the middle-class tax cut, which legislative Republicans sent to his desk this week. Meanwhile, Senate and Assembly leaders are prepared to work from the base (or current 2017-19) budget numbers, which isn’t unprecedented, but will signal they reject the Governor’s pro-posal. One thing we can expect is a drawn-out process with disagreements on big ticket items such as transportation funding and middle-class tax cuts. Stay tuned!

Purchasing Year Round

9/4 Basswood, #2A & Better, green 4/4 Basswood, #1C & Better, green

Springs Wood Products, Grayling, MI 989-348-2871 ext. 13

Blinds & Shutters

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Wisconsin Dept of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson Craig Thompson was appointed by Governor Evers to serve as Secretary of WisDOT in January 2019. WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, with 3,400 employees and a biennial budget of more than $6 billion. The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, and harbors. In addition, the department includes the Division of Motor Vehicles, which serves about 50,000 customers each week, and the Division of State Patrol that enforces laws and assists motorists throughout the state. Previously Craig was the executive director of the Transportation Development Association (TDA) of Wisconsin. He has more than 25 years of experience working with Wisconsin businesses, communi-ties, legislators and units of government. Prior to leading TDA, he served as the legislative director for the Wisconsin Counties Association, managing legislative initiatives at the state and federal lev-els. Craig is a native of Racine and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He lives in Madi-son with his wife and two teenagers.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole

Secretary Cole had been a member of the Natural Resources Board since 2007, first appointed by Gov-ernor Jim Doyle and then re-appointed for another six-year term by Governor Scott Walker in 2013. Secretary Cole served as NRB chair from 2013-14, where he put an emphasis on making board meet-ings open for citizens to see online. Previously, Secretary Cole worked in a government setting as a parks superintendent for the city of St. Louis and a resource forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation. He also served as opera-tions chief for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works and earlier the city forester. Most recently, Secretary Cole was the commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services. Secretary Cole was a proud member of Future Farmers of America in high school. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in forest management. Secre-tary Cole supports traditional conservation activities and environmental protection as well as connect-ing nontraditional audiences with opportunities to get outdoors. Raised on 15 acres in southwestern Michigan, Secretary Cole hunts ducks, geese and pheasants, and enjoys hiking the state park system with his wife, Laura.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Brad Pfaff

Brad Pfaff was selected as the secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) by Governor Tony Evers. Pfaff has spent most of his career work-ing on behalf of Wisconsin farmers and rural residents at the local, state and federal level. Pfaff grew up on his family’s dairy farm in La Crosse County. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and his master’s degree from George Mason University. Prior to his appointment, Pfaff was the deputy chief of staff to U.S. Representative Ron Kind. He has also served as the executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, overseeing the implementation of federal crop assistance programs, the Conservation Reserve Pro-gram, and federal farm loan programs. Previously, Pfaff was a staff member for U.S. Senator Herb Kohl and served on the La Crosse County Board. Pfaff and his family live in Onalaska.

KEY WISCONSIN CABINET SECRETARY PROFILES

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2019 Winter Meeting Auction Donors

Listed below are the businesses and individuals who donated items to our auction. As you look over the list, we ask that you remember these businesses and individuals who donated to support Lake States Lumber Association. May we sup-port them in return.

AmericInn - Minocqua, WI Breeze Dried, Inc. - Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada Chula Vista Resort - Wisconsin Dells, WI Dave Schroeder, GMC Hardwoods - Jefferson, WI Dick Krawze, Pine River Lumber Company - Long Lake, WI Dreamweaver Lure Co. - Ludington, MI Estwing Manufacturing - Rockford, IL Fleet Farm - Appleton, WI Great Lakes Timber Professionals - Rhinelander, WI Green Bay Packers - Green Bay, WI Hardwood Market Report -Memphis, TN Heidel House Resort & Spa - Green Lake, WI Ho-Chunk Gaming - Black River Falls, WI Jennifer Lu - Madison, WI Jim Maltese, Stella Jones Corp. - Bangor, WI Kalahari Resort - Wisconsin Dells, WI Kendrick Forest Products - Edgewood, IA Kloes Custom Furniture - Seymour, WI Krueger Lumber - Valders, WI Kwik Trip - LaCrosse, WI Lakeshore Chinooks - Mequon, WI Leo Meeks, Aacer Flooring - Peshtigo, WI Logger’s Shopper - Upson, WI Lumbermen’s Equipment Digest - Columbia, TN Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club - Milwaukee, WI Northern Capital Insurance Group - St. Germain, WI Radisson Hotel & Conference Center - Green Bay, WI Red Lion Paper Valley Hotel - Appleton, WI Renewable Resource Solutions - Crystal Falls, MI Rob Paradise, Devereaux Sawmill, Inc. - Pewamo, MI Rockland Flooring/Quality One - Hastings, MN Scott Everett - Lansing MI

Scott Shaver, R&R Insurance - Waukesha, WI Snowbelt Hardwoods - Hurley, WI Star Spangled D-Signs - Hartford, WI Stella-Jones Corp. - Bangor, WI Stone Arch Brewpub, Inc. - Appleton, WI The Waters of Minocqua - Minocqua, WI Timber Ridge Golf Course - Minocqua, WI Wagner Meters - Rogue River, OR Watson Ace Hardware - Lake Mills, WI Weekly Hardwood Review Magazine - Charlotte, NC Wild Ridge Golf Course- Eau Claire, WI Wisconsin Timber Rattlers - Appleton, WI Wolverine Hardwoods - Allegan, MI Woodies International, LTD - Hebron, KY Contributing toward the Legacy Load of Lumber Action Floors - Mercer, WI G&G Lumber - Florence, WI Krueger Lumber - Valders, WI Lindemann Hauling - Elroy, WI McDonough Manufacturing - Eau Claire, WI Menzner Lumber - Marathon, WI MLC Transportation - Marathon, WI Quality Hardwoods Inc. - Sunfield, MI Rockland Flooring - Red Wing, MN Sagola Hardwoods - Sagola, MI SII Dry Kilns - Lexington, NC Snowbelt Hardwoods - Hurley, WI Tigerton Lumber - Tigerton, WI TMX Shipping Co., Inc. - Morehead City, NC U-C Coatings - Buffalo, NY W-D Flooring- Laona, WI

Our congratulations go out to Phil Kersten Jr who was the winner of the IPad at this year’s LSLA winter meet-ing. The Education group profited $720.00 from our raffle this year and we sincerely appreciate the support that we re-ceive from our membership. At the winter meeting we were able to help support several groups that provide educational services to students throughout the Lake States region. We will also be putting together several seminars in 2019. 1. LSLA Safety Course and OSHA Violations: NTC in Antigo, Wisconsin – May 3rd

2. Lumber Inspection Short Course: Grayling, Michigan – May 14-16th 3. Sawing, Edging, Trimming: Grayling, Michigan – May 17th 4. Lumber Inspection Short Course: Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin – June 3rd-5th 5. Planer Setup and Operators Seminar: Antigo, Wisconsin – Fall 2019

Our board wishes to thank all the companies that send attendees and provide their locations to support education.

LSLA Education Update

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ADVERTISING IN THE LOG Looking for a way to give your company more expo-sure to your fellow LSLA members? Consider adver-tising in The Log! Advertising rates are very reason-able, as you can see below: 1/8 Page Ad (3 ½ W X 2 ¼ H) - $45/issue 1/4 Page Ad (3 ½ W X 4 ½ H) - $90/issue 1/2 Page Ad (7 W X 4 ½ H) - $180/issue Contact us at LSLA@LSLA.com to let us know you’d like to advertise with us.

GLTPA

SPRING CELEBRATION

The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association is hosting its annual membership meeting on April 12th from 7:30am-4pm at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Green Bay, WI. There will be exhibitors, speakers and plenty of opportunities for networking. For more information and to pre-register you can visit www.gltpa.org/gltpa/Spring_Celebration.asp

If you are a member of LSLA and your company has news to share, we have the space for it! You can make an announcement in the Log about significant personnel changes, new products, business expan-sion or relocation, or any other notable develop-ments with your business. Send us the information or press release, along with any photos you may want to accompany the article, and we’ll do our best to include it in The Log. It’s a great way to let your fellow LSLA members know what’s happening. Contact us at lsla@lsla.com or (920) 884-0409.

GOT MEMBER NEWS?

LSLA members are welcome to submit articles that are of interest to our membership. Contact our office at LSLA@LSLA.COM if you are interested in submitting an article or if you have member news of general interest to our industry.

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David Bradley takes a break on a snowy landing near Phlox, Wisconsin.

WHERE IS DAVID BRADLEY?

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mailing it to: LSLA

1353 W Hwy US 2 Suite #2 Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Name: Company: Address: Phone: Fax: Email: ❑ Enclosed is payment for Dues: $500 annually, or $250 semi-annually ❑ Please invoice me.

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F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 1 9