Inside This Issue

Executive Director’s Message Page 216th Annual Ross Gilp Jr. Fun Shoot Page 3 IHLA News Page 4 IHLA News Page 5

IHLA Convention Page 6 IHLA Convention Page 7 Hardwood Federation Page 8 Legislative News Page 9

Volume 17, Number 3 Fall Issue

Hit the 2013 Starting Gate with IHLA Convention - February 5 - 7, 2013

IHLA hosts the industry’s big-gest and best regional con-vention and trade show by a long shot, and odds are that you’ll WIN big and PLACE a lot of sales or-ders, but only if you SHOW up in Indianapo-lis on Febru-ary 5-7, 2013. “Run for the Roses”

Run for the Roses

will be IHLA’s 115th annual convention, and you don’t last 115 years at anything unless you are doing it right and the class of the field.

Keynote speaker Gerry Dick, host of the weekly TV show “Inside INdiana Business” will officially kick the convention off at the Wednesday morning breakfast, but most attendees will already have gotten started with the welcome reception on Tuesday evening. The recep-tion is attended by several legislators and dignitaries and is a great way to get the meeting started off right.

As always, there will be packed exhibit hall, and timely seminars to attend, as well as plenty of time for networking and seeing ALL of your customers and prospects in one convenient, affordable setting.

IHLA Convention February 5-7, 2013

As if that weren’t enough, a lucky attendee will win $10,000 in our grand prize giveaway, this year done in the most exciting way you can imagine. Ten final-ists will hold tickets to a televised horse race, and each will have one of the horses entered in the race.

Watch your mailbox in the coming weeks for your official Convention Registration Brochure!

Thank you to our title sponsor - Indiana Lumbermens Mutual

Insurance Company

Leadership Sets IHLA’s Course for 2013The IHLA Executive Committee, along with the stand-ing committee chairpersons, spent a long Friday in October setting the course for the association in 2013. The leadership then took the goals set forth into consid-eration when creating the association’s budget for the coming year.

With everything on the table, and no pre-conceived as-sumptions, the group began by analyzing the areas of importance facing the industry today, and broke them down into those objectives which IHLA could directly affect. From there, each task was assigned to a commit-tee and given a target date for completion. Any cost to complete was then factored into the budget process.

The meeting was led by IHLA First Vice-President Matthew Smith, who is in line to be elected President in 2013.

Continued on page 4

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Dear Mitch – Goodbye and Hello By Ray Moistner, Executive DirectorHard News

Publishedby the

Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association

1849 Broad Ripple AvenueIndianapolis, IN 46220 Phone (317) 875-3660Fax (317) 875-3661

www.ihla.org

PresidentMichael Powers

1st Vice President Matthew Smith

2nd Vice President Mark Williamson

Financial Chairman Rick Zorman

Forestry Council President Paul Myers

Immediate Past President Jeff Manges

Board of Directors

Josh BrennanAngie Capper

Chip CookLenny FarleeBrett Franklin Kris FrazierScott Heidler Liz Jackson Doug Keele

Kevin Mershimer Percy Mossbarger

LeeRoy PattonJohn RoweRich Solano Andy Weas

EditorRay Moistner

Office ManagerDenice Helmbrecht

(317) 875-3660info@ihla.org

CommunicationsDirector

Ashley Tandy(317) 875-3656

Governor, thanks for creating Indiana’s first-ever Department of Agriculture, and for putting it under the purview of Lt. Governor Skillman. Her roots in 4-H gave her the right passion for the job, and her upbringing in the heart of hard-wood country gave her an understanding of the importance of hardwoods to rural economies. From your leadership, the new department adopted BioCrossroads’ study and recommendations for Indi-ana agriculture as its first strategic plan, making it impossible to ignore their find-ings that hardwoods are the largest seg-ment of Indiana agriculture, bigger than corn and soybeans combined, in terms of jobs, wages, and economic impact.

Thanks for promoting hardwoods in speeches across Indiana, and in trade missions around the world. Thanks for including hardwoods in every single one of those trade missions, and for rolling out the Premium Indiana Forest Prod-ucts brand in a Tokyo furniture show-room. It felt like we were making history.

Thanks for your courageous political leadership, willingness to appoint ad-ministrative leaders with proven records of aptitude, and empowering them to make Indiana a fiscal role model and a place where government supports busi-ness, not punishes it. Thanks for appoint-ing leaders like Kyle Hupfer and Rob Carter at the DNR, and for your unwav-ering support of our forward-thinking and trail-blazing state forester, Jack Seif-ert. Thanks for Andy Miller, Anne Ha-zlett and Joe Kelsay at the Indiana De-partment of Agriculture, and for seeing the wisdom to let Lt. Governor Skillman hire Mike Seidl as the first-ever Direc-tor of Economic Development in Hard-woods at a time when you were reduc-ing the size of government and restoring Indiana’s financial health. None of the people I just mentioned were appointed as political payback – all of them had been successful in related fields of work. More importantly, you empowered these people to act in the best interest of all

Dear Governor Daniels,

On behalf of the 36,000 Hoosiers who are employed in Indiana’s hardwood indus-try – thanks! On behalf of an additional 86,000 whose jobs are generated in eco-nomic sectors supporting or supported by the hardwood industry – thanks!

Those working men and women gen-erated $53 million annually in state and local payroll taxes, while mak-ing Indiana a leading producer of wood office furniture, manufactured homes, kitchen cabinets, caskets, and hardwood-plywood products.

When you met us just eight short years ago, we as an industry were struggling for a way to be recognized as an im-portant economic driver of the state. We were ready to commit about 10% of our association’s reserves to com-mission a study by the Hudson Institute to compile statistics and help promote our economic significance to the state. We couldn’t get the state’s de facto ag-ricultural leadership to recognize us as a part of agriculture – I guess be-cause our crop takes too long to grow.

Few Hoosiers knew the size, scope and economic impact of our industry, and most of them were shocked to learn we even had a forest products indus-try in Indiana. But you, and a little bit of good timing, changed all that (and we promise that your efforts on our behalf will not have been in vain).

How lucky for us that the research in-stitute relocated its headquarters from Indiana to New Jersey right before you first took office. It caused our Board to withdraw our commitment to Hudson and look for a partner who was closer to home. We tried, but couldn’t find the right replacement – that is until a call came out of the blue by a new organization, commissioned by busi-ness and government to study Indiana’s life sciences industry. They came to be known as BioCrossroads, and they continue their important mission today. Continued on page ten

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16th Annual Ross Gilp Jr. Fun Shoot

THANK YOU TO WOOD-MIZER PRODUCTS

FOR HOSTING THE 2012 LUMBER GRADING

SHORT COURSE!

16th Annual Ross Gilp Jr. Fun Shoot Benefits Riley Hospital for Children

On behalf of IHLA, we want to offer a big thank you to ev-eryone who s u p p o r t e d the 16th A n n u a l IHLA Ross

Gilp Jr. Fun Shoot, benefiting Indiana Log-A-Load for Kids and Ri-ley Hospital for Children. Our new venue, Terre Haute Sporting Clays, did a great job hosting this fun event. The weather was chilly but a good time was had by all! Garmong Construction Services (Dan Zuerner, Paul Wright, John Moore, Pete Varda and Ed Starr) won the $500 top team prize and generously donated their prize money back to Riley Hospital. Congratulations to our other individual top shooters Debbie Emrick and Dan Zuerner, who also donated back their win-nings. Peyton Utterback was our top youth shooter! Jon Siebrase and Bill Utterback took first and second in the still board competition.

Our contribution to Riley Hospital from the Fun Shoot this year will be $4,900. Mark your calendar for the 17th Annual Fun Shoot for Riley Hospital next year on October 5, 2013.

Thank You Sponsors!!

Title SponsorMacBeath Hardwood Company

Station SponsorsBlue Ox Logging (in memory of Lowell Miller)

Cole Hardwood, Inc.Halstead Forestry

Loggers, Inc. MBAH Insurance

Pingleton Sawmill, Inc.Society of Wood Heads Only

West Side Tractor Sales Company

Still board SponsorsCole Hardwood -

(in memory of Rick Enstrom Jr.) Specialty Hardwoods of Indiana

Raffle PrizesIndiana Hardwood Specialists

First Place - Garmong Construction Services

The Lumber Grading Short Course was held Septem-ber 25 - 28th at Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. The class was taught by Barry Kibbey, NHLA Inspector, and had over 20 participants. Stay tuned for next year’s dates!

IHLA News

4

Leadership Sets IHLA’s Course - cont’d. from front page

“We went into it with a clean slate and no pre-con-ceived outcome, but by letting the issues drive the process we think we’re focused on the right areas for our members,” said Smith. “We want our members to give us feedback though, because it’s their organiza-tion and we can always change course if necessary.”

One area identified early on was the need to pro-mote the environmental and aesthetic benefits of hardwoods to architects and designers, along with necessary technical information about its applica-tions. The planning committee identified a num-ber of strategies to accomplish this, and assigned the responsibility to the Commerce Committee.

The Legislative Committee will be tasked with keeping the association’s profile high with a new administra-tion, and building on the momentum that the industry gained over the last eight years after being identified as the state’s leading agricultural industry. During that time, the industry’s economic impact was identified and promoted overseas, and the state created a new position for Director of Economic Development in Hardwoods.

The legislative committee will also be challenged to grow the IHLA-PAC and meet what is expect-ed to be another 25 or so new faces in the Gen-eral Assembly, while protecting proper manage-ment of public forest assets and maintaining an adequate timber supply to meet the public demand.

The heaviest workload was laid in the lap of the Edu-cation Committee, as a number of needs were identi-fied. They will be looking to address a number of goals related to promoting and training the industry’s future workforce, starting with promoting careers in the in-dustry to high school and vocational school students, and helping prepare tools and curriculum for technical positions that will eventually need to be filled. Grow-ing the IHLA “Green Team” into a model of grassroots support for getting our messages into local schools will be a key initiative for the committee in 2013, and the process got off to a good start in 2012. Arbor Day programs were held in 40 communities, and career posters are being provided to every high school and vocational school in the state, with a direct link to a website full of information on careers in hardwoods.

The membership committee has already hit the ground running, looking to identify and target spe-

cific prospects for membership recruitment, as well as developing a mentor program to make sure new members get the most for their dues investment.

Also, IHLA’s Insurance Agency, just 18 months old, continues to grow, offering members a chance to shop the market place for the best values in property, casu-alty, workers compensation, fleet and other insurance lines, with the industry’s most experienced agent at the helm. This guarantees that part of your premium gets re-invested right back into your business, while still offering the Safety Group dividend program that has returned money to members six of the last nine years.

You can find a complete look at IHLA’s 2013 Strategic Plan Summary on our website.

IHLA Welcomes New Members: Lonza Wood Protection Valencia, Pennsylvania

San Benito Shutter Co., Inc.

Hollister, California

Seitzinger Forestry, LLC Indianapolis, Indiana

Trueblood Logging

Salem, Indiana

Visit our Convention Web Page for ALL convention

news, including registrant, sponsorship and exhibitor

information.

IHLA News

If you want to be part of IHLA’s grassroots net-work, and help us communicate with your local school district, then it’s as easy as just saying “yes.”

There’s no cost to join, you won’t be bombarded with email or propaganda. All we ask is that you serve as the liaison between your association and your local schools. You might be asked to arrange for the delivery of an Arbor Day kit to your local third grade teacher, or drop a “Careers in Hardwoods” poster off at the high school guidance counselor’s office, or make the school aware of the IHLA scholarship for students who might pursue a career in the hardwood industry.

As one single organization, there’s no way we can com-municate with every school district in the state, but we likely have members or partners in all of those areas, and one-by-one we can tell the positive story that our industry has to tell – that we are the real “green” indus-

IHLA’s Green Team Needs You

Let IHLA’s insurance agency find the best solutions for your business insurance needs. We have the industry’s most experienced agent and support staff. They will work diligently until they find the best deal for you. Best of all, the portion of the premium that used to go to an agent, now get re-invested the industry in the form of association programs and services.

We offer the IHLA Safety Group programs which return dividends to our members, often equaling several years of membership dues.

FOR FREE QUOTES call: Gary Henselmeier or Ellie Schrader at 317-422-1002

or Toll Free at 877-287-7840

2 IHLA Insurance Agency 2

try; that we are great stewards of our forest resourc-es, and that trees are our world’s only renewable re-source, from which so many of life’s necessities come.

Joining is simple. Email your name to raym@ihla.org, and put Green Team in the subject line. Let us know you’d like to be a Green Team member, and what school system you want to represent. We’ll take it from there.

This is a way to make a difference for our in-dustry, but it takes everyone pulling togeth-er to make it work. Help us tell our story.

Want great exposure for your business? Advertise on our Member Directory Web Page!

2013 IHLA Convention

6

Selling the Decision Makers

In recent years, hardwood demand has been driven less by secondary manufacturers and housing markets, and more by the project managers and design profes-sionals. These architects and designers are moving to-ward LEED and other initiatives that promote other, less sustainable resources over hardwoods, and our industry has a job to do in educating them to the en-vironmental and aesthetic superiority of North Ameri-can hardwoods. This session will feature the very best panel of speakers who have dedicated themselves to educating that particular audience to our message.

Industry Hot Topics

This session will address the most important and im-pacting issues facing the hardwood industry at the time of the convention. Whether it is a national issue that affects the entire industry, a technological advance, or a specific new law or regulation, you can be cer-tain you will leave with everything you need to know and up-to-date information. Environmental regula-tions, health care, new association services, hot export markets, and much more will be included in this ses-sion, as well as time for questions from the audience.

Hardwood Markets Outlook for 2013 By the time of this session, there will likely be much less political and economic uncertainty, both at home and abroad. David Caldwell, Assistant Editor of the Hardwood Market Report, will give real-time infor-mation that you can use to plan the year that lies ahead. David will compare current market trends to historical data, provide market analyses for each specific industry segment, and provide the relevant data on sawmill pro-duction, and more importantly, expected demand. For 91 years, the Hardwood Market Report has been the in-dustry’s trusted source of reliable business intelligence.

Loss Control Strategies

Don’t let your relationship with your insurance com-pany begin and end with your premium payment. In-diana Lumbermen’s Mutual, IHLA’s endorsed prop-erty/casualty carrier, offers hands-on services that will help you manage your losses, keep costs low, and hopefully result in a dividend from our exclu-sive Safety Group, available only to IHLA members.

Convention Seminars Will Help Your Odds in 2013In this session, Greg Pianko, Loss Control Manager, will give you practical tips on: controlling workers compensation costs; formalizing a Return to Work policy; preventing and reacting to fires; good house-keeping practices, and reducing the risk of electri-cal fires. You can also get advice on forms and pro-cedures, expediting claims, and financial services.

2013 IHLA Convention & Exposition Sponsors

(As of 10/27/12)

Title Sponsor Indiana Lumbermens Mutual

Insurance Company

Triple CrownCole Hardwood, Inc.

Superfecta

Frank Miller Lumber Co., Inc. Holmes & Co., Inc.

Pike Lumber Company, Inc.

TrifectaAffinity Mutual Insurance Co.

Buchan Sawmill, Inc.

Exacta Domtar Paper Company LLC Frick Lumber Company, Inc.

Honeyville Metal, Inc. Midwest Hardwood Corp.U-C Coatings Corporation

Win, Place or Show

West Side Tractor Sales Co.

There are many sponsorship opportunites available! Please visit our Convention

Page for more details!!

A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc.B & B Machinery Co., Inc.Biomass Engineering & Equipment Blue Book ServicesBrewco Inc.Bridgewell Resources LLCCargo Services, Inc.Cleereman Industries, Inc.Corley Mfg. Co.Custom Development GroupeLIMBSForestry Systems Inc.Franklin Adhesives & PolymersFroedge Machine & Supply Co. Inc.Fumigation Service & SupplyHMC CorporationHoneyville Metal Inc.Indiana Division of Forestry Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co.Independent Dispatch Inc.The Indiana Rail Road CompanyIndustrial Adhesives of IndianaIndustrial Carbide Saw & ToolIndustrial Vision Systems - VisionTallyISISISK Biocides, Inc.Laidig Systems IncLonza Wood ProtectionLumbermen’s Underwriting AllianceMcDonough ManufacturingMessersmith Manufacturing, Inc.Mill-Quality Equipment & DesignsNova Dry Kiln, LLCPendu Mfg. Inc.Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co.ProLift Industrial EquipmentPurdue UniversityRudd Equipment CompanySII Dry Kilns

2013 Convention & Exposition Exhibitors

As of 10/27/12

2013 Convention &

Exposition Exhibitors (cont’d.)

Stone Belt Freight LinesStringer Industries, Inc.TMX Shipping Co.TS ManufacturingU-C Coatings CorporationUSDA-APHIS-PPQUSNRVecoplan Midwest, LLCVeneer Services Vollmer of AmericaWeas EngineeringWEIMA America, Inc.Wood-Mizer BladesWood-Mizer Industrial Products

IHLA Convention Exhibitors

7

Reserve your exhibit space NOW for the

Visit www.ihla.org to sign up!

2013 IHLA

CONVENTION

& EXPOSITION

“Run for the Roses”February 5-7, 2013

Hardwood FederationL a m e D u c k S e s s i o n , O n e t o Watch for the Hardwood Industry By Dana Lee Co le , Execu t i ve D i rec to rH a rd w o o d F e d e r a t i o n , Wa s h i n g t o n , D C

Many consider the current Congress to be the least effective in decades thanks to partisan battles and the looming elections. Congress has been “kicking the can down the road” on several important issues all year - but no matter what, they’re going to have a busy lame duck session as soon as these elections are behind us. Just which issues they tackle, how they take them on, and what the outcomes will be will largely depend on results of the November elections.

The Bush-era tax cuts expire at the end of the year, and drastic involuntary spending reductions will take effect on January 1 if Congress is unable to compromise. Also at risk is Estate Tax relief, and rates could shoot back up to their 2001 levels.

We’ll also be watching the Farm Bill which expired earlier this year and is operating under a temporary extension. The House and Senate are miles apart in their versions of the bill, and if they fail to reach an agreement here, farm programs will revert to a 1949 statute that would have devastating consequences.

One of the hold-ups involves biomass. The Senate wants mandatory spending of almost $1 billion for renewable energy programs that promote biomass. The House isn’t there yet, but the Federation con-tinues to work on this aspect of the House bill, and at the very least is lining up support and rec-ognition for wood products to be included in USDA’s voluntary biobased labeling program.

Other issues could pop up during the lame duck ses-sion, such as green building, funding for the Lacey Act, and the Clean Water Act with regards to for-est roads. Again, just what Congress will tackle during November and December will largely de-pend on who wins the White House and what the make-up of the House and Senate will be.

The Hardwood Federation will contin-ue to monitor Congress as always, and we’ll update you again after the election.

Hardwood Federation Fly-In a Great SuccessThe Hardwood Federation has a consistent pres-ence on Capitol Hill that is vital to protecting our industry’s interests. One of the most effec-tive tools we use is our annual Fly-in, where Mem-bers of Congress and their staff get to meet with our industry representatives who are out on the front lines every day. The impact of someone taking time away from their businesses and their families to come to Washington is never lost on our elected officials.

This year more than 40 industry representatives conducted more than 50 scheduled, and several informal, meetings over the two days of the Fly-in. Priority issues discussed included the Lac-ey Act, improving wood’s recognition in green building programs, repealing the Estate Tax, passing a pro-wood Farm Bill, and improving management of our federal forests among others.

As always, we held social events and fundrais-ers for Republicans and Democrats - 41 combined Members of Congress attended our evening Re-publican reception and Democratic break-fast. All told, HFPAC disbursed $82,500 to friends of the industry running for reelection.

We were also fortunate to hear as a group directly from Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representa-tive Cory Gardner (R-CO), both strong advocates for our industry and both leaders in their own parties.

Click here to see a brief video recording during the Fly-in to hear why political involve-ment is so important, and keep your eye out for the soon to be released dates for Fly-in 2013.

HFPAC Needs You If you have not yet contributed this year to the Hard-wood Federation Political Action Committee, or if you simply feel like giving more, there is still time! HFPAC fundraising is in full gear with the 2012 Election quickly approaching. HFPAC will be dispersing funds right up to the Elections, but will also be accepting more contributions after-wards in order to reach our 2012 goal and have funds available for the start of the 2013-2014 cycle. To get involved, visit the website and fill out a Pri-or Approval Form or contact Cary Moon at 202-463-5186 or cary.moon@hardwoodfederation.com.

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Legislative NewsKey HF Races to Watch in the Fast Approaching Elections

All over the country friends of the hardwood in-dustry are running for re-election. HF took some time to spotlight a few of the most competitive to keep an eye on as November 6 approaches: Joe Donnelly (D-IN)

Serving Indiana`s 2nd District since 2007, Rep. Joe Donnelly has represented the Hardwood Lumber In-dustry in North-Central Indiana. He was the original sponsor of the pro-hardwood resolution which passed in the House. In May the Congressman ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. He is facing Indiana State Treasurer, Richard Mourdock in the upcoming election. Rep. Donnelly has made clear that he will focus on closing tax loopholes for corporations, cutting taxes on job creators, investing in American energy production, and cutting spending to balance the national budget if elected. Rep. Donnelly led State Treasurer Mourdock 40% to 38% in the How-ey/DePauw Indiana Battleground Poll, conducted by a bipartisan polling team for Howey Politics Indiana, a political newsletter. The Cook Political Report has rated this race a Toss-Up and it will be one to keep your eye on through Nov. 6. The Congressman currently represents 24 Hardwood Facilities in his 2nd District. Charlie Bass (R-NH, 1)

Representing New Hampshire’s 1st District from 1995 to 2007 and from 2007 to present, Congress-man Charlie Bass has represented his 31 Hardwood Lumber Facilities in a positive and effective manner. The Representative has followed the footsteps of his father, Perkins, who also represented New Hampshire`s 1st District. The Congressman is a gradu-ate of Dartmouth College and serves on the Com-mittee on Energy and Commerce. Rep. Bass largely supports environmental protection regulations and al-ternative energy resources. The Congressman has ex-pressed his wishes to seek re-election this upcoming term. The latest poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center shows Ann McLane Kuster with 43%, Bass with 40% and 3% for other

candidates. 11% remain undecided. The Cook Report reports this race a Democratic Lean and Larry Saba-to’s Crystal Ball has it labeled as Toss-up. This is a race that is certain to come down to the very last day. Mike McIntyre (D-NC, 7)

Congressman Mike McIntyre has represented North Carolina`s 7th District since 1997. The 15 Hardwood Lumber Facilities that he represents have been pro-tected greatly since he assumed office. Representative McIntyre is a graduate of the University of North Caro-lina at Chapel Hill. Viewed as one of the most socially conservative Democrats in Congress, McIntyre is con-sidered a great influence in southeastern North Caro-lina. The congressman currently sits on the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Armed Services and the Commission on Security and cooperation in Eu-rope. The Congressman is running for re-election this upcoming term, but redistricting in the Tar Heel State has put him at a distinct disadvantage. A poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that 44% of voters favor Rep. McIntyre, while 40% support David Rou-zer, a Johnston County Republican. About 15% were undecided. The Cook Report has this race a Toss-up, with a slight advantage to Rep. McIntyre in their latest report, and the Sabato Crystal Ball reports the same. Reid Ribble (R-WI, 8)

Congressman Ribble has been representing the 163 Hardwood Facilities in his District appropriately since he assumed office in 2011. During his first tour as a U.S. Representative, Congressman Ribble has been one of the staunchest supporters of the hardwood industry. The Wisconsin Representative is a third genera-tion resident from Neenah. Rep. Ribble is run-ning for re-election in the newly redrawn 8th dis-trict. Congressman Ribble will face off against Democrat Jamie Wall; a poll conducted by Norm-ington Petts has found that Rep. Ribble is favored by 47% and Wall by 43%. Both the Cook Report and the Crystal Ball have this race as Likely Republican.

9

Executive Director’s MessageDear Mitch – Goodbye and Hello - cont’d. from page two

Hoosiers, and recognized the state’s 4.7 million acres of forests as a renewable asset, not a museum piece.

Thanks for signing Indiana’s Right to Practice For-estry Act, giving those private landowners (who sup-ply 90% of our industry’s raw material) the right to do as THEY see fit with their forests, and protecting the value of their timber investment by prohibiting lo-cal ordinances which are clearly anti-forestry in na-ture, and shielding them from nuisance suits. Thanks for upholding the state’s statutory responsibility to manage our state forests for multiple-use, which in-cludes the right to harvest trees for the health of the forest and to supply the public with their products.

Thanks for standing up for the environmental superior-ity of hardwoods, by supporting IHLA’s and the legisla-ture’s efforts to stop LEED from becoming a mandate in our public buildings, and for trusting us when we told you that LEED is wrong to ignore advantages of using hardwoods over materials like bamboo when it (LEED)

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is purporting to be “green.” Your executive order which encourages the use of hardwoods in public proj-ects sends a loud message that you do indeed “get it.”

Governor, there’s a lot more to thank you for, but I’ve got to get busy writing a letter of introduction to the new president of Purdue University. Word has it that he’s go-ing to be a great leader for that institution, but I wonder if he knows all of the great things Purdue and IHLA have done together over the years. They’ve had one of the na-tion’s top forestry programs since 1905, and we’ve part-nered on some of the most significant research, education and technology programs in the world, including a hard-wood genetics center, log scanning, student placement, advanced manufacturing, commercial web sites, and reams of valuable research. I’ll save that for another letter.

I wish that new president of Purdue were about to become President of something else, but I will close by thanking him sincerely for his tireless efforts on behalf of Indi-ana, including its now-famous forest products industry.