E. R. Plunkett was elected NELMA’s first President and J. J Farrell as Vice-President at that first meeting of the new organization.  Since affiliation with the Code Authority was generally legally required, the Association started off with a membership of some 2,500 manufacturers and a budget of more than $100,000 annually.  The dues rate was set at $0.25 per thousand board feet and total footage represented in the Association membership was approximately 37 million per month.

 

The Empire State Forest Products Association offered temporary office space, and Secretary A.B. Recknagel of that organization was appointed acting Secretary of NELMA.  Edward W. Treen was appointed Secretary-Treasurer on September 23, 1933 and the Association was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on December 15 of that year. 

 

The primary objective of the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Code Authority was to uphold prices and to help build up and maintain the economy.  This required the Association to conduct interesting and diverse set of duties including the employment of foresters to see to it that the provisions of Article 10 of the Code pertaining to forestry were enforced in addition to field men that checked wages, hours, and production.  The minimum wage was set at $0.25, the normal work week was 55 1/2 hours, and the best stumpage could be had for $5 per thousand board feet.

 

 

On May 27, 1935 the National Industrial Recovery Act was declared unconstitutional and on that date the Lumber Code Authority expired; and there was no longer a reason for the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association to exist as a Code Authority agency.  However, many of the members of the Association could foresee the necessity for a trade organization to represent the Northeastern lumber industry.  As a result, NELMA was overhauled as a voluntary membership Association with a staff consisting of a Secretary-Treasurer and an office assistant.  The dues were set at $0.10 per thousand.

 

NELMA endured several lean years following the change and it would be several years before it could fully establish its identity as a trade organization that could work solely as a membership spokesman group to handle issues important to the lumber industry.  The monstrous hurricane of 1938 provided such an opportunity for the Association to prove its real worth by getting the lumbermen together to take group action to cope with the disaster.

 

These early tests of unity and strength proved the desirability of NELMA to its membership as a vehicle to act a group to resolve formidable problems that continually confront the industry.  The evolution of the organization from its birth to its establishment as a leading organization for the growing lumber industry in the Northeast in the 1930’s is now a matter of record.  A history that built the foundation for a strong Association who proudly represents its membership today!