NELMA Archives - Page 5 of 15

NELMA’s Exhibit Outreach Ramps Up

Posted on October 30, 2015 by

The Association’s exhibit hits the road beginning in November at a number of significant events attended by important targeted audiences identified within NELMA’s Marketing Program. Here’s a preview of where we will be:

NAWLA’s Trader’s Market 2015
November 4-6, 2015
Hilton Anatole – Dallas, Texas

Look for NELMA at Booth #416 at this major industry event. The Traders Market has held a unique position among lumber and building material tradeshows since it began in 1996 as the only one that is focused almost exclusively on the lumber supply chain. Exhibitors are almost always manufacturers of lumber and lumber-related products, not machinery or other equipment providers.

ABX 2015
November 17-19, 2015
Convention Center – Boston, Massachusetts

ABX (Architecture Boston Expo) is the leading building industry event in the Northeast and draws more than 5,000 architects and design professionals for its 3-day event. NELMA’s exhibit will be in Booth #535.

IBS 2016
January 19-21, 2016
Convention Center – Las Vegas, Nevada

For the first time ever, NELMA will be an exhibit participant at the International Builders’ Show (IBS)! Thanks to the financial support of the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB), 4 lumber associations including NELMA will share space #15293, a 20’x30’ space under the banner of “Wood, Naturally”. The Southern Forest Products Association, the Western Wood Products Association, and the Western Wood Preservers Institute will join NELMA in promoting all things wood to the more than 50,000 building industry participants expected at this annual event.

NELMA Partners with Connected Health To Benefit Member Employers

Posted on September 30, 2015 by

As announced to the NELMA membership last week, the Association is excited to officially announce our partnership with Connected Health, the developer of an advanced online platform that will assist employers when analyzing and determining health care options for their employees. The Smart Choices™ Marketplace provides employees with valuable resources and tools to navigate today’s complex world of securing health care options. For employers, particularly those with less than 50 employees, the Marketplace provides companies with an alternative to any current health plan offerings while easing the burden of administrative requirements mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

Here are just a few of the benefits for you as an employer and your employees:

For Employers with fewer than 50 employees:

Eliminate the costs, complexity and administrative burden associated with sponsoring a group health plan without sending your employees to the not-so-friendly federal/state online exchange.
Employees in most cases will obtain a more affordable plan via the Smart Choices™ Marketplace; if you offer a group plan your employees are not currently eligible for subsidies or premium credits.
Purchasing power without retaining risk.

For Your Employees:

The Smart Choices™ Marketplace is a secure online shopping site where your employees can shop for individual health insurance. They can even shop and apply for plans that allow them to use a premium tax-credit, if they are eligible.
One size does not fit all. The Marketplace works with the top insurance carriers in the country allowing each person to choose the best plan for them.
Personalized recommendations take the guess work out of selecting health coverage. Employees can narrow down their personal choices according to their unique needs and budget.

For Employers with more than 50 employees:

Larger employers may consider offering the Marketplace to non-eligible employees and upon termination as an option for insurance in conjunction with COBRA. In most cases your employees will save money and obtain a comparable plan.

The Smart Choices™ Marketplace is available to you for your employees at no cost upon sign-up.

For more details, check out the “How It Works” and “FAQ” tabs under the Marketplace’s website at http://nelma.chgenie.com And to speak with someone directly for more information on the program and how it may meet your specific company’s needs, contact Ken LeGendre @ (617) 351-7459 , or by email at ken.legendre@willis.com.

Kennebunkport Hosts NELMA’s Fall Meeting

Posted on September 30, 2015 by

NELMA’s Fall Golf Tournament and Board of Directors Meeting was held September 24 & 25 in Kennebunkport, Maine. A total of 121 Association members and guests attended all or part of the planned activities. Activities began with NELMA’s Annual Golf Tournament where 75 golfers participated in a scramble-style format. Founded in 1901 and located within the historic Kennebunk Beach area, the Webhannet Golf Club hosted this year’s tournament in picture-perfect New England fall weather. The evening’s Chairman’s Reception and Dinner at the Nonantum Resort followed the day of golf.

To view assorted photos from the Golf Tournament, click here

Day Two activities began with pre-Board of Directors Meeting presentations, with the first introducing the new partnership between NELMA and Connected Health, an online platform that will provide Association members with health insurance options for their employees and help companies meet the requirements of the Affordable Health Care Act. Ken LeGendre of Willis Company and Jessica Stacy of Connected Health provided details regarding this new program. Next on the agenda, the semi-annual economic forecast, presented by Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Advisors (FEA), titled “Softwood Lumber Markets Stumbled in 2015. What Happened to the Recovery and Can We Expect it to get Back on Track in 2016?”

The Fall event concluded with the Board of Directors meeting, where updates and status reports on NELMA’s Inspection Programs, the Association’s financial reports, and the Norway Spruce lumber testing project were provided. Additional discussions were held regarding the proposed 2016 NELMA budget (approved as presented) and a full review of the current Association Spring/Fall meeting structure. Two updates were provided prior to meeting adjournment; Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition gave an update regarding the quickly approaching expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement, followed by Alden Robbins, the Northeastern representative to the Softwood Lumber Board, who presented information on SLB’s ongoing programs and activities.

NELMA would like to thank the Fall Meeting Sponsors whose support and generosity help make this event a success: Eagle Level (Seaboard International and Irving Forest Products), Birdie Level (Hancock Lumber), Golf Cart Sponsor (USNR), Crying Towel Sponsor (Eastern Insurance), Sponsor of the Golf Balls (Durgin & Crowell), Individual Hole Sponsors (Connected Health, Diorio Forest Products, Madison Lumber Mill, Pennsylvania & Indiana Lumbermens’ Insurance, Timber Trading, and Woodbrowser), Golf Prize Sponsors (Green Light Forest Products, P. DiPrizio Lumber, Robbins Lumber, and Softwood Buyer), Putting Contest Sponsors (Davis & Towle Insurance Group and Sandy Neck Traders), and PubNELMA (H.E. Smith and DiPrizio Pine Sales).

NELMA’s 2016 Annual Convention will be held April 28 * 29 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston.

Up Close: Eastern White Pine in BPD

Posted on September 30, 2015 by

Eastern White Pine and NELMA are prominently on display within the current issue of Building Products Digest. Since 2004, the magazine has provided the Association with a special section in September to highlight various programs and activities of interest to their readership. The monthly Digest reaches approximately 16,000 dealers and distributors in 37 Midwest, Northeast and Southeast states, an area that mimics the marketing reach of the species.

This year’s edition, titled “Up Close: Eastern White Pine”, contains 10 full pages of editorial and member advertising. Four areas of interest for this important targeted readership are featured this year, and include:

Honored Design – a recap of NELMA’s design and award program for student architects across the country and the 2015 winning design.
Grader Academy – introduces the newest learning module for Eastern White Pine, Series 300, in addition to the Academy’s one-year success story.
Introducing the Adventures of Skip & Wane – a roll-out of this unique marketing tool and only forest products industry comic strip series.
21st Century Marketing, Social Media – an emphasis on NELMA’s approach to using social media outlets to further the marketing message. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are featured.

To view the full special section beginning on page 38, go here to Building Product Digest’s online reader.

NELMA would like to thank the member advertisers that made this special feature possible for the 12th year in a row, in addition to a thank you to President & Publisher of the Digest, Patrick Adams, for providing this continued marketing opportunity for the Association.

New Mobile Access Features at nelma.org

Posted on August 31, 2015 by

This month, NELMA is pleased to make available a broader accessibility to member-specific information. While all of NELMA’s information has been viewable online via a desktop/laptop computer for years, we have extended access to the “Members Area” on any smartphone or tablet device through a revision of the NELMA Mobile website version. Information exclusive for members posted to this area includes past NELMA Convention presentations, FEA Economic Forecast presentations, Marketing Program Updates, and Forest Industry Reports of Interest plus more. Members may continue to use their standard login information to enjoy this mobile-friendly enhancement. Of course, the vast library of NELMA information is still available via the desktop and mobile site without a login.

In addition to the mobile member login, NELMA has brought back the “Board Feet Converter” by popular demand. This simplified version converts lumber and timber sizes, and quantity to board feet. A handy tool for many that use lumber and need an easy-to-use converter to board feet online. Take a look!

Stay tuned for additional enhancement of NELMA’s overall online presence in the future!

The Adventures of Skip & Wane – No. 3

Posted on August 31, 2015 by

In this third installment, Wane is obviously losing patience with his brother Skip’s happy-go-lucky personality!

This single-panel issue utilizes the same graphics used at NELMA’s Annual Convention in April for on-site activities that surrounded the introduction of the series.

To view the entire series, go to the Skip & Wane homepage.