Hardwood Matters - National Hardwood Lumber Association

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010HARDWOOD MATTERSTHE VOICE OF THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRYNEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW MARKETSTHE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE REVIVALOF AMERICAN CHESTNUTSTRONG ROOTS. GLOBAL REACH.WWW.NHLA.COM

DEPARTMENTS18 Policy Watch19 Global Talk20 Rules Corner21 Tally Sheet22 Education Spotlight28 Where in the World is NHLA14READER SERVICES4 Inspector TrainingSchool Message5 Executive Director'sMessage6 Inside NHLA24 Calendar26 Job Board10IN THIS ISSUE...10 NEW TECHNOLOGY,NEW MARKETSBy Tracy PowellCONTENTS14 THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGYIN THE REVIVAL OFAMERICAN CHESTNUTBy Scott MerkleWWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 1

HARDWOOD MATTERSTHE VOICE OF THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRYJanuary/February 2010 ▪ Issue 98National Hardwood Lumber AssociationPO Box 34518 ▪ Memphis, TN 38184-0518901-377-1818 ▪ 901-382-6419 (fax)info@nhla.com ▪ www.nhla.comTHE MISSION OF NHLATo serve NHLA Members in the North American hardwoodlumber industry by: maintaining order, structure, rules, andethics in the changing hardwood marketplace; providingmember services unique to the hardwood lumber industry;driving collaboration across the hardwood industry topromote demand for North American hardwood lumberand advocate the interest of the hardwood communityin public/private policy issues; and building positiverelationships within the global hardwood community.The views of contributions do not necessarily reflect the positions of NHLA. All advertisements for HardwoodMatters are accepted and published with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency areauthorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency willdefend, indemnify and hold any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarisms,copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of suchadvertisement. NHLA neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods andservices advertised in Hardwood Matters. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in partwithout written permission is prohibited.ADVERTISER INDEX17 Forestry Systems, Inc8 Laidig Systems, Inc.9 Lumbermen's UnderwritingAlliance7 Pendu Manufacturing, Inc.Cover Photo Courtesy of Jartek23 Pennsylvania Lumbermens MutualInsurance Companyifc Pike Lumber Co.3 U•C Coatings CorporationEXECUTIVE COMMITTEETed RossiAmerican Hardwood IndustriesPresidentDave B. RedmondHighland Hardwood Sales, Inc.First Vice PresidentJames W. HowardAtlanta Hardwood Corp.Past President 2006–2008Orn E. Gudmundsson, Sr.Northland Corp.Past NHLA President 2004–2006Mark A. Barford, CAEExecutive DirectorNHLA STAFFMark A. Barford, CAEExecutive Directorm.barford@nhla.comLauren MillingtonDirector of Marketing& Communicationsl.millington@nhla.comRenee HornsbyEditor/Communications Directorr.hornsby@nhla.comHolly WeirGraphic Designerh.weir@nhla.com■ ■ ■Crystal OldhamDirector of EducationDenise StewartDirector of FinanceThomas WalthousenDirector of Industry RelationsLisa BrowneConvention DirectorRich HascherInspector Training School InstructorMark HorneChief InspectorWayne TomasTechnical Services DirectorMISSION LEADERSNancy ArendWeyerhaeuser HardwoodsIndustry Advocacy & PromotionChuck BiceSweeney HardwoodsUnique ServicesChip DickinsonAnderson-Tully Lumber Co.StructureRick EksteinWeston Forest GroupMembership & MarketingPem JenkinsTurn Bull Lumber CompanyRulesCOMMITTEE CHAIRSRoy CummingsCummings Lumber Co.Forest ResourcesLarry EvansIndustrial Timber & LumberInspector Training SchoolOrn Gudmundsson, Jr.Northland CorporationFinanceSkip HolmesThomas & Proetz Lumber Co.Continuing EducationSally JohnsonBatey, Ltd.Inspection ServicesBob MitchellMitchell Forest Products, Inc.MembershipGreg PatenaudePéladeau Lumber, Inc.MarketingJack ShannonJ.T. Shannon Lumber Company, Inc.Hardwood PromotionJoe SnyderFitzpatrick & Weller, Inc.RulesKevin TrussellTimber Mountain HardwoodsConvention2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

CONTRIBUTORSDeb Hawkinson, Executive Director,joined Hardwood Federation to oversee theorganization’s day-to-day operations and theoverall public policy goals for the HardwoodFederation and HFPAC. Previouslyshe spent 15 years in the WeyerhaeuserCompany’s Federal and International Affairsoffice and served as Director of Operationsand Director of Issues Management for theAmerican Forest and Paper Association.Her experience has been in the alignmentof business and public policy goals, andpolitical involvement efforts includinggrassroots and PAC objectives.Scott Merkle received his B.S. in Biologyfrom the College of William and Maryand his M.S. and Ph.D. in Forestry fromVirginia Tech, working in the area of forestgenetics and tree improvement. He joinedthe University of Georgia (UGA) Facultyin 1987 and is currently a Professor in theUGA Warnell School of Forestry and NaturalResources. Merkle’s lab has developed in vitropropagation systems for over a dozen foresttree species and hybrids. Research interestsinclude using forest tree tissue culture forbiomass energy, germplasm conservation,species restoration, genetic engineering,artificial seeds and phytoremediation.Tracy Powell is an award-winning writerand editor, contributing to several trade andconsumer magazines over the years. A graduateof Indiana University’s school of Journalismand a member of the Society of ProfessionalJournalists, he has worked on staff with twoIndiana-based newspapers and two magazines.He currently serves as managing editor for bothAutomobile Quarterly and Valeo Magazine.The author lives in Charlestown, Ind., wherehis independent publishing company PowellHouse Publishing & Communications(www.powellhousepub.com) is located. He canbe reached at tracy@powellhousepub.com.WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 3

INSPECTOR TRAININGSCHOOL MESSAGEAN ESSENTIAL INSTITUTIONOF THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRYFor 60 years, the NHLA Inspector Training School has served the industry by providingtrained lumber inspectors. This tradition has not been abandoned. The 161st Class began the14-week program on January 11 in Memphis. Having talked with many graduates who areamong today’s industry leaders, it is clear that the NHLA Inspector Training School providedthem with the confidence necessary to succeed in an industry filled with countless variables.Confidence is a personal attribute that is acquired through sacrifice, commitment,knowledge, discipline and practice. As Committee Chairperson for the Inspector TrainingSchool, I have heard some say that the current curriculum is outdated and no longerrelevant. Contrary to what some might think, I believe the program is as relevant today as ithas been in years past. Those who complete the program leave with the skills and confidencenecessary for success. Recent exit interviews have confirmed that the curriculum and the14-weeks to complete the program are appropriate and well worth the personal sacrifice.The NHLA Rules are the foundation of the hardwood industry and the cornerstone ofNHLA. Hardwood lumber is produced, sold, traded and consumed based on a commonunderstanding of uniform Grading Rules. There is no better way to communicate theGrading Rules than through one consistent program, taught in a facility specificallydesigned for its intended purpose, and that is time-tested.The curriculum for the School has been criticized because students are still required tomemorize and recite the Rules Book, verbatim. There must be a clear understanding ofthe Rules before they can be applied accurately. Memorizing the Rules requires discipline.There are no short cuts. The discipline required to learn the Rules provides credibility to theprogram and helps students prepare for life’s relentless challenges.Retaining what one learns requires practice. The School curriculum includes a considerableamount of time devoted to practice. Employers expect that the employees they send and/orgraduates they hire have a sound understanding of the Rules and be able to apply the Rulesimmediately upon returning from the School or upon beginning employment. Withoutconsiderable practice, the employers would be disappointed.The NHLA Inspector Training School is an essential institution of the hardwood industry. Iam committed to the School’s future success. Under the direction of Crystal Oldham, withthe skillful instruction by Rich Hascher, help from committee persons, and continued supportfrom the NHLA membership, the School is positioning itself for the future. It is the School’sgoal to obtain accreditation by the ACCSC by the end of 2010. This accreditation will allowthe program to equally compete with other post-secondary educational institutions by makingit possible for prospective students to be eligible for Title IV funding. Efforts will continueto be made to promote the Inspector Training School through alignment with the Veteran’sAdministration, guidance counselors and other post secondary schools. The School and itsCommittee are looking at ways to improve what is already a very good program. Plans areunderway to create a Student Learning Resource Center and add a green chain in the board runI encourage others to take aday to experience tomorrow’sfuture industry leaders.area. For the third consecutive year, the 10-weeksummer program will be taken on the road, thisyear in Michigan. Industry guests are welcomedand encouraged to visit and participate in theSchool’s guest speaker program. I want to thankthose who have already participated in thisprogram and I encourage others to take a day toexperience tomorrow’s future industry leaders.I am confident you, too, will understand theimportance of sustaining this asset.Sincerely,Larry EvansIndustrial Timber & Lumber Corp.www.itlcorp.com4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'SMESSAGEA PEEK AT THE TEENSDespite having been around this industry for more than 35 years, I am not too old toremember my teenage years. The time when we all had the excitement of not knowingexactly what was ahead, but we’re sure that whatever it was, we could handle. Those were theyears of wild adventures and bold actions that were high risk and occasionally high reward.So here we are back in the “teen decade,” the 2010–2019 years, and how should thebeloved hardwood industry look upon these years ahead? Like a teenager, we can look uponthese years with anticipation and wonderment, with hopes of high success. But as clearthinking businessmen, a review of the realities might help us actually succeed. So here is mytake on reality of the teen years which lie ahead.Supply & Demand: Good news, supply has dropped to the point where demand cannotbe met for the short term and hardwood lumber is becoming more valuable. Bad news,without increased end-user demand, the empty pipeline will be filled in short order. Withthe ultimate consumer price for our products not increasing anytime soon, the economicformula is not in place for a sustained recovery just yet.Housing: Despite the risk of repeating myself from past columns, I will re-emphasizethe importance of housing to our industry. Simply put, without new homes, there is nogrowth in the current markets for hardwood lumber. Flooring, cabinets, moldings and tosome extent furniture are in strongest demand when they are put into new houses. The teenyears will eventually be inviting for new homebuilding once all the pain from the currentrecession is past, but the harsh reality is it could take years yet.Energy: I recently read where loggers are finding a nice profit in sending their timber towood fired boilers and some are just cutting it up and selling it for firewood. With newfederal legislation and the proposed regulatory action as a result of the global warming scare,demand for wood supplied energy will only increase. We may see forests cleared to makeway for ethanol production. Competition for logs is going to get tough.Environmentalism: Still there, but mostly forgotten by an industry where environmentalactivism was considered one of our biggest threats. Since the industry is now cutting 50percent less hardwood forest today than we did at the start of the last decade, we haven’tnoticed just how much more of the timber base has been eroded by environmental actions.Case in point, do you know how much timber is cut from the National Forests? Most likelyyou don’t know and don’t care. The answer is not much.Exports: Considered the panacea for the highly competitive domestic market, exportsrepresent a growing percentage of production, but no longer with the higher returns. Theworld market is, in a word, competitive. Many countries subsidize their export operationsand rely on a continued raw material market to exist, which will severely limit ouropportunities to increase profit margins.In review, there may be risks and the rewards may be hard to find but after 2009, thisindustry is now made up of tough survivors who will likely prosper through the teenThere are markets yetdiscovered... and thosemarkets will make theyears ahead the best theindustry has seen.years. There are markets yet discovered, I amconfident of that, and those markets will makethe years ahead the best the industry has seen.Sincerely,Mark Barford, CAE, Executive DirectorNational Hardwood Lumber Associationwww.nhla.comWWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 5

INSIDE NHLAWHY NORTH AMERICAN HARDWOODSBROCHURE IS NOW AVAILABLESome months ago, NHLA revised its missionstatement to specifically include “promotion” as akey element. While communication was already partof NHLA activities, the new emphasis relates to thepromotion of hardwood product. In response tothis new type of promotional effort NHLA recentlycompleted a new publication entitled, Why NorthAmerican Hardwoods.NHLA created the Why North American Hardwoodsbrochure to assist its members in answering questionsregarding the unique environmental aspects ofhardwoods and their natural sustainability. Thepublication gives detailed information about thelegality of hardwood forests, hardwood tree inventory,growth rates, Carbon sequestration and a list ofhardwood facts. Produced in collaboration withthe American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC),this publication is designed for the domestic andinternational markets. The brochure is now availableto all NHLA members.Please contact Paula Walls at NHLA headquarters torequest additional copies for distribution. She can bereached by email at p.walls@nhla.com or phone at901-399-7563.DOLLARS AND SENSE OF GOING GREENExecutive Director Mark Barford recently moderated the panel “Forest and WoodCertification Update” as part of the Dollars and Sense of Going Green Seminar.“The speakers brought forth the successes and challenges of certification, andsome step by step suggestions of what to do,” Barford reported. “They spoke ofthe importance of sending an environmental message that can be supported byfacts not just feel good words, and noted that the beauty of the story of wood isthat the facts are in our favor – with hardwoods being naturally sustainable, legaland abundant.” Barford also noted that it is important for wood suppliers tomake it easy for purchasers to use wood and to provide them a message they canuse when talking to the final consumer.Several end users attended the seminar and felt they had a better understandingof the message of using locally grown hardwoods in their building specifications.CRYSTAL OLDHAM NAMED2009 “WOMAN IN WOOD”The Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis hasnamed Crystal Oldham, Executive Directorof the Hardwood Forest Foundationand NHLA Director of Education as therecipient of the 2009 “Woman in Wood”Award. She was presented the award onNovember 13, 2009 as part of the Club’sAnnual Ladies Luncheon.STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETSIn early January, the NHLA Strategic Planning Chairman Rick Ekstein convened a meeting with the stated purpose oftranslating the new NHLA mission statement into the goals, programs and services of the Association. After a detailed analysisof the Association’s current offerings and programs, the various leaders and committees left the meeting with a task list that willultimately bring the Association one step closer to accomplishing our mission.“The measurement of success of the meeting will be how well the leaders and staff follow up on the direction and goals agreedupon,” summarized Ekstein. Executive Director Mark Barford notes, “The primary point of agreement is that NHLA needs tocontinue with its vision of total member satisfaction by strengthening the visibility and marketability of the unique functionsand services of the Association. These unique functions and services include; lumber grading rules, inspection services,educational programs, Hardwood Matters magazine and the NHLA Annual Convention. A full report of their efforts will bereviewed at the Spring Board meeting scheduled for April 22–24 in Florida.6 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

INSIDE NHLANHLA BYLAWS CHANGES APPROVEDThe following four amendments to the NHLA Bylaws havebeen approved by the Board of Managers and successfully passedwith a two-thirds favorable vote by the Active Members.NHLA MEETS WITH APHIS AND OTHERS IN D.C.Executive Director Mark Barford spent several days in Washington D.C.this December working closely with the Hardwood Federation – theindustry’s advocacy group. Included in the itinerary was a high levelmeeting with representatives from the Animal and Plant HealthInspection Service (APHIS) which is currently charged with providingcertificates for wood that is exported around the world. APHIS recentlyincreased their fees for such services and NHLA has a program in placethat they feel will be able to eventually replace the need for the issuanceof individual certificates.“Although the meeting was amicable and all felt there may be a place forthe NHLA Kiln Dried Certification at some point in the future, whenthat could actually begin depends on the acceptance of the program fromother countries,” Barford reported.NHLA also met with Al Goetzl of the US International TradeCommission, Brent McClendon of the International Wood ProductsAssociation, and Michael Luzier, president of the National Association ofHome Builders Research Center.Barford noted, “This initial meeting with the research center wasfascinating as they undertake to validate any and all claims made tobuilders from suppliers in a neutral scientific way. We are exploringwith them a way to provide them with the positive facts and figuresand allow us to make ‘green’ claims about the hardwood lumber andproducts they may use.”Amendment to: Article VII, Section 1.The officers of this Association shall be the President and theFirst Vice President.Amendment to: Article VIII, Section 5.If a vacancy occurs in the Directory for any reason, the Presidentof the Association shall appoint an eligible replacement for thedeparting director who shall serve until the next Annual Meetingof the Association. Such person shall be eligible to serve for twoconsecutive three year terms thereafter if elected.Amendment to: Article IX, Section 1.The President, the Vice-President, five Mission Leaders,Directors and Directors-at-Large constitute the Boardof Managers.Amendment to: Article X, Section 1.The President, the First Vice-president and the mostimmediate and available past President and five MissionLeaders shall constitute the Executive Committee. In theevent the membership of the Executive Committee fallsbelow eight, the President shall appoint, subject to theapproval of the Board of Managers, a sufficient numberof directors to constitute a total membership of eight onthe Executive Committee. Five members of the ExecutiveCommittee shall constitute a quorum.WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 7

INSIDE NHLAIN MEMORIAM:RODNEY GORDONMr. Rodney Gordon, Age 75 of Morehead,Kentucky passed away December 26, 2009.Rodney was retired from the United StatesArmy after 24 years of service, 19 of whichwere with the Special Forces and 5 Years atMorehead State University, where he taughtMilitary Science. He worked 14 years forNHLA as a National Lumber Inspector. Heis survived by his wife Erika S. Gordon, hisson Doug Hopson (wife Lesa) of Clearfield,his sister, Lyndell Gordon of Frankfort andtwo grandchildren. Funeral services wereheld on December 29, 2009 in the chapelof the Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home.Full military rites were conducted at thegraveside by Morehead American LegionPost No. 126. Contributions are suggestedto a favorite charity.NHLA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERSActive Member With Annual Sales Between $5M to $20M■ TJ Ellis Enterprises, Inc. | Lima, OhioActive Member With Annual Sales Less than $1.5M■ Artex Home Fashion, Inc. | North Potomac, Maryland■ Whitesville Wood Products | Whitesville, New YorkActive Member Branch■ Downes & Reader Hardwood Co., Inc. | Greensboro, North Carolina■ Golden State Flooring | Dublin, California■ Golden State Flooring | Sacramento, California■ Golden State Flooring | Santa Fe Springs, California■ Golden State Flooring | San Carlos, California■ Golden State Flooring | San Diego, California■ Golden State Flooring | San Jose, California■ J.E. Higgins Lumber Company | Clovis, California■ J.E. Higgins/Pella Window | Monterey, California■ Pella Window and Door Company | Beaverton, Oregon■ Sobel Design Building | San Francisco, CaliforniaActive Member With Annual Sales Greater than $20M■ Tianrun International Co. Ltd. | Shenzhen, GuandongSustaining Member■ Timber Products Inspection, Inc. | Conyers, Georgia■ Greenstone Inc. of Delaware | Jersey City, New JerseyAssociate Member■ C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. | Nazareth, Pennsylvania+ one location■ Jiu Sheng Wood US | Yorktown, VirginiaAssociate Member Branch■ Zhe Jiang Jiu Sheng Wood Co. Ltd. | Huzgiu, Zhejiang, ChinaHardwood Research Organization Member■ WV Hardwood Alliance Zone | Elkins, West VirginiaQuarter Ending December 20098 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

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NEW TECHNOLOGY,NEW MARKETS10 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

Photos Courtesy of JartekBy Tracy PowellNew technology has always been the drivingforce of the hardwood industry. Completebusiness models have been built around newinnovations, equipment and processes, oftencreating new companies that service onceimpenetrablemarkets. This is as true today asit was, for example, when composite woodflooring came into play.The Exotic MarketWhen it comes to staking a claim in new markets,particularly the exotic-wood market, necessityis indeed the mother of invention. Exotic woodshave become increasingly more popular asconsumers opt for products that match theirtaste and lifestyle with refinement and elegance.These products are used in flooring, stairs,custom molding and furniture, and are amongthe world’s most treasured and stunning woods.The supply chain is rife with issues, however,including illegal logging practices. The woodsare imported, originating in South and CentralAmerica, parts of Australia, the Far Eastand Africa, where infractions of numerousenvironmental laws frequently take place to growand harvest the materials. Consumer awarenessof the huge carbon footprint created by theproduction and shipment of these exotic woodsmay be at an all-time high, yet it is unlikely thedemand for the exotic wood “look” will fall.Now a solution to this problem has reachedAmerican shores, a technology calledthermal modification. Thermal modificationis a chemical-free process by which wood isheated at high temperatures in an oxygenfreeenvironment, causing lignin (the complexpolymer in cell walls that provides rigidityand strength) to flow and hemicelluloseto decompose, producing water-insolublepolymers. This, in turn, increases dimensionalstability, giving the hardwood properties whichare similar to those of exotics.In a strict business sense, using domesticallygrown and processed supply is a logical move.For years, woodworkers have experiencedthe decline in availability of certain exotichardwoods such as teak and rosewood. In thepast, these declines have been cyclical, usuallydependent on political decisions in Third Worldcountries, but for some species the supply hasbeen erratic. Moving forward, these declinesmay become long term as the Lacey Act andother laws are implemented to combat illegallogging around the world. The appeal of a“homegrown” and steady supply, comparedwith the traditional economic models ofexportation, is therefore commonsense. Insteadof importing from China, India, Sri Lankaor South America, it is now feasible to usedomestic hardwoods to meet the demand forexotic supply – and at quite a savings.Thermally modified woodis more dimensionallystable. That is first andforemost the greatestimprovement to wood.Considering the mega trends are showingthat people like wider planks and darkercolors usually associated with exotics, whichis precisely what thermally modified woodoffers, this technology is of high interest.Thermal heat modification is effective in itsuse with North American hardwood species.Thanks to the technology’s ability to increasewood properties such as dimensional stability,durability, color design and equilibriummoisture content, new market opportunitiesare presented by allowing manufacturers to usecheaper materials for exotic-wood applications.“Thermally modified wood is moredimensionally stable. That is first and foremostthe greatest improvement to wood,” saidDallin Brooks, business manager for Vancouver,Canada-based TekmaHeat/Jartek, a thermalmodification equipment producer. “For flooring,you always have to worry about cupping,warping, shrinking and swelling. And thermallymodified wood has 30 to 50 percent lowerequilibrium moisture content; it does not shrinkand swell as much and it does not cup.”WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 11

Thermal modification also changes a wood’s color,another benefit that further replicates the look ofexotic wood. The process darkens the plank’s naturalcolor by heating the hemicelluloses – essentially thesugar in the wood – to initiate chemical changes inthe wood. Clinton, South Carolina-based AndersonHardwood Floors markets its Exotic Impressions lineas a product that “allows flooring retailers to offerAnderson’s environmentally friendly exotic hardwoodflooring, which uses the unique manufacturing process totransform common, sustainable and renewable domestichardwood species into exotic ‘look-a-likes’ withoutcontributing to tropical deforestation issues.”Thanks to the technology’s ability toincrease wood properties... new marketopportunities are presented by allowingmanufacturers to use cheaper materialsfor exotic-wood applications.Long known for its pioneering work with five-plyconstruction that alternates the grain structureof separate wood plies in its products, in 2009Anderson introduced its new line of flooring. “Youwill see Anderson grow our green products with theintroduction of additional collections utilizing ourexclusive PermaColor natural coloring process thatproduces through-color in wood without the useof stains, solvents or chemicals,” John Woolsey, vicepresident of marketing and merchandising, said in aninterview at the flooring tradeshow Surfaces.As examples of what can be produced, the companyrolled out a wide-width plank available in names likeAfromosia Brown, Santos Red, Jatoba Sunrise, Shades ofIpe, Teak Effect, Mango Maple, and Tigerwood Birch.Much like baking a cake, the wood’s sugar browns andhardens during thermal modification, the hemicellulosecooks, or crystallizes. That is what not only changesthe color but removes the food source for any fungiin the wood, making the wood resistant to fungi andmold. Biodegradation requires the presence of oxygenand water in the cell wall. In turn, enzymes metabolizeavailable oxygen and water, causing the cell walls todecompose. The modified wood is rot resistant notrot proof, it is, after all, still wood and susceptible tobiodegradation, albeit dramatically reduced.Testament to these attributes can be found in Europe,where the process has been used for the last 10 years fordecking, siding and exterior trim applications. “Thermalmodification in North America is very new, and atthis time we’re not seeing it being used for outdoorapplications on a large scale,” Brooks said. “However, inEurope they are. In fact, a number of North Americanmanufacturers send ash over to Europe where it isthermally modified and used for decking.”Chuck Ramsbacher, CEO of Palisade, Minn.-basedSuperior Thermowood of Brainerd Inc., liked whathe saw when he was introduced to the technology,so much so that he came out of retirement to helprun Thermowood.“In parts of the country that has large variation inweather change, such as the northern tier of the countrythat may go from 90ºF in the summer to -30ºF in thewinter, paneling and flooring expands and contracts,”Ramsbacher said. “There’s never enough moisture takenout of the product in the normal drying process. Whatthermal modification does is it lessens the product’sability to shrink or to expand. That makes it greatfor most all applications – flooring, siding, decking,anywhere that wood can contract or expand.”Thermowood sent approximately 250,000 board feetof modified red oak to California to be used in the LasVegas CityCenter for flooring. The CityCenter projectwas honored by the Forest Stewardship Council-U.S. asthe best commercial project of 2009 in the Designing &Building with FSC Awards. The awards recognize entitiesthat are committed to using sustainable-harvestedwood and creating a marketplace that promotesenvironmentally appropriate, socially beneficial andeconomically viable forest management.With time and the public’s education of the process andthe product, thermally modified wood is poised to makegreat inroads.“We are negating the need for importing these exoticwoods, and coming in at a price much lower than thoseimported species,” Ramsbacher said. “The market willcontinue to grow, especially when the economy turnsaround and the housing market comes back.”12 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

New Outdoor ApplicationsAnother technology with tremendous promise is theuse of stabilizing oil in the treatment of yellow poplar,or tulipwood, a versatile and abundant U.S. hardwood.This treatment has shown in studies to potentiallyprovide new markets in outdoor hardwoodapplications by protecting the product from decay.Success in the past has come with the use of yellowpoplar in above-ground exterior applications, butonly for old-growth products, which are commonlyresistant to decay and destroying insects. But newgrowthyellow poplar rots quickly, necessitating apreservative treatment if it is to be used. PurdueUniversity and Mississippi State University researchnotes that if the species can be successfully treatedwith a preservative it could be used as a substitutefor the more valuable western red cedar.Preserving new-growth yellow poplar is complicatedby its substantial sapwood, which is not resistantto decay or insects and which is so absorptive thatcontrolling preservative uptake is difficult. This, inturn, leads to weight gain and instability. Stabilityis of prime importance as treatment must beundertaken on pre-machined components.As part of an ongoing research program, treatmentspecialists Osmose has introduced its StabilizingOil, a blend of vegetable and mineral oil that, whenapplied hot and under pressure, penetrates deepinto the wood, resulting in a low-cost treatmentsolution. This oil-based finish penetrates the woodto 3 to 5 mm giving the timber a long-lastingresistance to water penetration and mold.An ongoing research program by the AmericanHardwood Export Council (AHEC) has found thattulipwood may have more natural durability thanfirst thought, but when left untreated, issues arisewith stability and weight gain. It was found thatPhoto Courtesy of AHECtulipwood treats well with low levels of organicsolvent, which solves the problem of excessiveweight gain. When combined with a biocide, thewood is protected against decay and deteriorationfrom exposure to external weathering. Osmoseis confident that the application is effective; thecompany provides a 30-year warranty on the biocideif correct treatment schedules are followed.AHEC European Director David Venables notes thatwhat caught AHEC’s attention was the fact that theoil is the medium to deliver the biocide, effectivelycombining treatment and finish into one process,a benefit from both a cost and environmentalstandpoint. In addition, weight gain is minimal,resulting in improved stability. The work is expectedto create opportunities for American yellowpoplar for external applications, capitalizing on itsadaptability, flexibility and cost effectiveness.“The stabilizing oil is actually an evolution ofa product we’ve had commercialized for a fewyears for a use on softwoods, the Osmose Royalebrand,” said Gordon Ewbank, commercial directorfor Osmose in the United Kingdom. “The oil-basedsystem was originally developed for cladding for theScandinavian market, where the elements are fairlyharsh. The system is very effective at giving bothprotection against weathering and moisture ingress.”Color pigments can be added to the Royale oil togive an attractive pre-finished look. This featurewas appreciated by furniture designer PhilipKoomen, who created a combination of furnitureand sculpture in his “Wave and Splash” seatinginstallation at the 2009 Guardian Hay Festival inEngland. Koomen used Osmose oil-treated yellowpoplar as part of the ongoing research program.“Many architects and designers specify uniformityof color in timber,” Koomen said in a press release.“For me the color variance of tulipwood adds to itsappeal, particularly for a sizeable project like this.”Whether the emerging innovations in the industryare comprised of inspired research or breakingtechnology, one thing is sure: the hardwood industry– as well as the environment and end user – willglean many long-lasting benefits. Such advances,both groundbreaking and subtle, that furtherenhance hardwoods’ properties will continue toopen markets both near and far.WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 13

Photo Courtesy of the Forest History SocietyTHE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGYIN THE REVIVAL OFAMERICAN CHESTNUT14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

By Scott MerkleAt the end of 19th century, American chestnut was one of the most important forest trees in the United States. Thefast-growing tree was a dominant species on the ridges and benches of the Southern Appalachians, reaching up to 100feet in height and 6 feet in diameter, and accounted for one in four trees in the region. A devastating fungal diseasevirtually destroyed chestnut as a canopy species early in the past century, but now scientific research and technologyare poised to help return the tree to our eastern forests. While forest restoration is the primary goal of these researchprograms, the same technologies being employed for restoration also undoubtedly will return the tree as a majorproducer of valuable timber as well as other products.Past Uses and Economic ImportanceUntil the 1900s, the utility of chestnut was unrivaled by any hardwood in North America. In colonial times, chestnutwas the tree of choice for construction of log houses and through the 19th century, it continued to be widely used forbarns, sheds and other structures. The wood was straight-grained, easy to split and since it was lighter than oak, easier towork with hand tools. Due to its high tannin content, the heartwood of mature trees was extremely durable. Thus it washighly prized for utility poles, railroad crosstiesand other uses where wood had to be in directIf American chestnut was availableto be grown by landowners today,not only would its past traditionaluses make it a top commercialhardwood, but it would also likelyfind large-scale application for morecontemporary applications...contact with soil. Large amounts of chestnutwood were manufactured into lumber for avariety of products, including furniture, caskets,interior trim and millwork. Chestnut bark andheartwood also supplied large amounts oftannin for the leather industry. Finally, Americanchestnut trees produced an abundance ofnutritious nuts almost every season, not onlysupplying wildlife with a reliable food source,but also providing Southern Appalachiancommunities with a nut crop that could beconsumed or sold for income.American chestnut and all the benefits associated with it began to disappear following the accidental introduction ofthe chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, on Asian chestnut stock in the late 1800s. All attempts to controlthe spread of this disease or to find or produce a resistant variety of the American chestnut failed. In less than 45years, the blight spread throughout the natural range of the American chestnut, killing almost every mature tree in theregion. Now the once dominant species exists mainly as an understory shrub, undergoing cycles of growth, infection,death, and resprouting from stumps.What If Chestnut Was Back?If American chestnut was available to be grown by landowners today, not only would its past traditional uses make ita top commercial hardwood, but it would also likely find large-scale application for more contemporary applications,including biomass energy and as an alternative to pressure-treated lumber. Before the blight destroyed naturalpopulations of the tree, it was famous for its fast growth and its aggressive coppicing ability, but because the tree wasvirtually eliminated from our eastern forests by 1950, it was never grown under plantation conditions. A recent study,however, indicated that American chestnut significantly outperformed northern red oak and black walnut when grownin a blight-free plantation setting in Wisconsin (Jacobs and Severeid 2004). It has been estimated that chestnut couldprovide 30-cm saw logs in just over 30 years, faster than any other high-quality North American hardwood tree.Hardwood trees are expected to make substantial contributions as feedstock for the biomass energy industry,depending on the energy product (i.e. cellulosic ethanol, pellets and biodiesel). While the hardwood trees mostcommonly mentioned with regard to biomass energy plantations are hybrid poplars and willows, they may not beWWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 15

the most suitable trees to grow in the Southeastern United Statesin general or the Southern Appalachians in particular, where theclimatic extremes (e.g. drought) that characterize the region maylimit their productivity. American chestnut, which is already adaptedto the soils and climate of the region, may make an attractivealternative for short-rotation energy plantations on the underutilizedupland sites of the Southern Appalachians.One particular niche that American chestnut timber could fill, ifit were available, is as a “green” alternative to pressure-treatedlumber for outdoor uses, such as decks and playground structures.As previously mentioned, American chestnut was famous for itsdecay resistance when placed in ground contact, compared to otherhardwoods. Since the 1970s, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) byfar has been the most popular chemical preservative for wood, butdue to human health concerns, pressure treated wood containingCCA is no longer being produced for use in most residential settingsin the U.S. In some European countries, European chestnut timber isalready gaining popularity for these purposes.Genetics and Biotechnology Brighten Prospects forGrowing American Chestnut TreesWhile early attempts to combat chestnut blight were unsuccessful,more recent approaches offer the promise of restoration for thetree. The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) initiated a breedingprogram in the 1980s that involves hybridizing American chestnutwith blight-resistant Chinese chestnut, followed by backcrossing toAmerican chestnut, to move the blight-resistance genes from theChinese species into the American background. TACF is now beginningto produce blight-resistant seedlings with American chestnut growthand form, although numbers remain low and testing for durable blightresistance will take years.Using a different approach,The American ChestnutCooperators Foundation(ACCF) has crossed nativeAmerican chestnuts inwhich they have identifiedlow levels of blightresistance, to produceprogeny that showenhanced blight resistance.As an alternative and complement to these breeding programs, thetools of biotechnology have also been brought to bear on chestnutrestoration. In 2001, the NSF-funded Fagaceae Genome Project wasinitiated for genetic mapping of American and Chinese chestnuts.The goals of the project include the isolation, identification andcharacterization of blight resistance genes in Chinese chestnut. Morerecently, a Forest Health Initiative (FHI) was created with the goal ofadvancing the role of biotechnology in addressing some of today’smost pressing forest health challenges in the U.S. The developmentof genomic resources to facilitate DNA sequence-informed breedingand transgenic trees is a component of the FHI effort, and as itsfirst test species for restoration, FHI has chosen American chestnut.Genes to be tested could include resistance genes of Chinesechestnut origin as well as genes from other sources.Scientists at the University of Georgia (UGA) and the State Universityof New York – Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) haveworked for several years to develop in vitro (tissue culture) and genetransfer systems to aid with American chestnut restoration. Theseresearch programs make use of an in vitro propagation system knownas somatic embryogenesis (SE), which produces clonal, seedling-likeplants called somatic seedlings.Briefly, immature nuts are collected from surviving mature chestnuttrees, the seeds are dissected from them and placed on a tissueculture medium, which causes the seed embryo to start “cloning”itself. By continuing to culture the multiplying embryos by movingthem to fresh medium, thousands of copies of the original seedembryo can be produced and germinated to make populations ofgenetically-identical somatic seedlings that can be planted likeregular seedlings. Thus, if the original seed embryo was blightresistant,all the somatic seedlings derived from it will also beblight-resistant. To obtain the original blight-resistant seed embryo,SE is combined with either the conventional breeding programs ofTACF of the ACCF or with transgenic approaches. The combinationof these technologies will eventually result in the ability to masspropagate the best blight-resistant American chestnut genotypes.While SE will likely have some role in the restoration of Americanchestnut, its power for mass propagation may ultimately be muchmore applicable for multiplying elite chestnut “varieties” selected forfast growth for timber or for nut production. Thus, once genotypesare identified with the most desirable commercial qualities, thesetrees can be propagated as varieties by SE for deployment inplantations. Also, since American chestnut embryogenic culturescan be routinely cryostored in liquid nitrogen and recovered, theycan be held for the years it will take to identify the best varietiesin field tests. Working with TACF and the ACCF breeders, scientistsat UGA hope to begin to build the capacity to generate varieties ofboth hybrid backcross chestnuts and pure American chestnuts ona scale that will enable wide-spread planting of chestnuts by smalllandowners and others in the original native range of the tree. Also,the availability of the chestnut culture system has already facilitatedthe development of gene transfer systems for the tree and SUNY-ESFand UGA scientists have already produced some transgenic trees withcandidate anti-blight genes that will be screened for blight resistanceas part of the FHI over the next few years. While approval for releaseby USDA, EPA and FDA will probably take some time, Americanchestnuts engineered with blight-resistance genes may also ultimatelycontribute to the widespread return of American chestnuts as a topcommercial hardwood species in the Eastern United States.16 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

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POLICY WATCHNEW YEAR, NEW LOOK FOR HFPACBy Deb Hawkinson, Executive Director of the Hardwood FederationNow that the New Year has arrived and the 2010 elections are fast approaching, HFPAC (Hardwood Federation Political Action Committee) ispoised to further strengthen the hardwood industry’s advocacy voice on Capitol Hill. Achieving record participation levels in 2009, HardwoodFederation Executive Director Deb Hawkinson sees 2010 as a major opportunity for the industry to elect pro-hardwood candidates to federal office.Our industry’s federal PAC has created a new website, www.HFPAC.com. This will be a great resource for everyone in the industry to becomeactively engaged in the 2010 elections. The website will make it easier than ever to participate in HFPAC, educate yourself on federal issues andprograms impacting your business, and stay up-to-date on the ever evolving political climate as the November elections approach.HFPAC wants to send a message to the entire industry: the 2010 elections can have a beneficial impact on our hardwood businesses, but only ifeach industry member is actively involved over the next year. The decisions made on Capitol Hill each day have a direct impact on this industry, andcommitted participants are the greatest tool we have in championing for our cause. HFPAC hopes that you will continue to be a part of the solutionand remain engaged in our efforts in Washington, DC. If you are not involved with the HFPAC, please contact the Hardwood Federation to learnabout the opportunity to participate in the industry’s federal political action committee. We would also like to thank all 2009 HFPAC contributors.www.HFPAC.com | www.HardwoodFederation.com2009 HFPAC DONORS (*HF and/or HFPAC Board of Directors)$5,000 Per YearVictor BarringerCarmen CalzacortaMilton ColeDon Finkell, Jr.*Joseph Gonyea, IIIJim Howard*Jeff MeyerTed Rossi*Jack Shannon, Jr.*Brad Thompson*Galen Weaber*$2,500 – $4,999 Per YearJohn BesseGreg BesseChuck BiceGordon ConnorRoy Cummings, Jr.Harry DemorestJamey French*$1,000 – $2,499 Per YearNancy Arend*Mark BarfordJohn BrownDuncan CampbellRon CarlssonJack ClarkWayne Cotton*Wendell Cramer*Arnold CurtisCharles Dickinson, Jr.Walter FieldsBen Forester*James HamerDonna Harman*Deb HawkinsonHenry HewittPem JenkinsRon JonesJ. Jones, Jr.Arthur KlipschJonathan Long*Martha MathiasNorman MurrayStan PetzoldtNeil Poland*Steve SieversTom Talbot*Grace TerpstraMarijo Wood$365 – $999 Per YearChris BingamanTerry Brennan*Henry ChristJohn Clark*Scott CummingsJay CummingsRoy Cummings, IIIPaul DavisThomas DerlethRobert HaggardStephen HamerRichard HoldenClifford Howlett, Jr.John JonesLarry KnoxAnna McCannLynne MillerGary MillerTerry MillerPaul MillerMike PartonAndrew PrayJohn SmithScott WatsonOtherHeather BartlettRobert BernklauCarson BowlerStefanie BrownDan CorulloNancy ChafinMark CifranickLarry CressGeorge Curtin, IIIRichard DegenRussell DiGiallorenzoDana FitzpatrickGeorge FreemanReid FreemanMichael HanlonP.J. HartBrian HawkinsonScott HisleTom InmanEdward Irby, Jr.Kirk JohansenR. Steven JonesLinda JovanovichDavid KayRobert KeiverJeffrey LiskPhilip MenznerJill MeyerKevin MullanyRobert Owens*Eric PorterMichael Powers*David PrezynaJoe Pryor, IIJames ReaderRoderick ReaderDave Redmond*Jay Reese*Ang SchrammTom SheetsRichard SolanoKathleen SolbergPeter SolbergLynn SpriggDouglas ToothmanMichael Vaughan, Jr.Michael Vaughan, Sr.Mark Vollinger*Thomas WeaverRichard WilkersonEdward Woods18 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

GLOBAL TALKCHINA ESTABLISHES FORESTRY EQUITY EXCHANGEAccording to information from the China Beijing Equity Exchange(CBEX), China inaugurated a national forestry equity exchangein Beijing this past November. The exchange, established after theapproval of the State Council, or China's cabinet, marks a significantstep in China's reform of the forestry system. It is also part of theChinese government's effort to respond to global climate change andfacilitate the sustainable development of forestry resources.The exchange serves as the platform to trade forestry rights andresources nationwide. By introducing a trading mechanism that istransparent, equitable and fair, the exchange will contribute to theorderly circulation of forestry rights and help protect the legitimateinterests of traders. The exchange will also help modernize China'sweak forestry industry by attracting in more capital.INDONESIA TO RAISE FOREST LEVIESThe Forestry Ministry of Indonesia will raise forest levies in a bid to addRp 30 trillion (US$3.24 billion) from the state budget to finance itsforest restoration programs over the next 10 years.“We’ll increase the forest levies as planned. We understand the forestryindustry is in a slump, so we’ll proceed after getting their input so thatthe raise will not impose too high a burden on them,” Forestry MinisterZulkifli Hasan said.The levies, which are categorized as non-state budget revenue, include the socalledreforestation levy, license to fell and use trees from forests (IUPHHK),production forest license fees, forest resource fees (PSDH), and stumpagecompensation, which will be applied next year. He noted, however, that theincrease would be designed to promote the forest restoration campaign andat the same time encourage the public to not fell trees from natural forestsirresponsibly, while allowing the forest industry to grow.Forestry industry representatives have criticized the plan, sayingthey were currently facing a slump, with many companies close tobankruptcy, due to the ongoing global economic crisis and shrinkinginternational market share because of tighter competition, especiallyfrom China and Malaysia.JAMAICA UNVEILS FURNITURE ANDWOODEN PRODUCTS INCUBATOR PROJECTEyeing the market for imported furnishings, which hasbeen valued at US$74 million (J$6.6 billion), the Bureauof Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has unveiled its Furniture andWooden Products Incubator Project (JWPIP) to address thecritical issue of quality and quantity produced domestically.Jamaica's furniture makers, mostly small players, havestruggled to build capacity, and have consistently been unableto grow production to meet demand – most furniture used byhotel properties and sold by retailers is imported."Our raw materials for wood products are the same priceas that used abroad. By applying standards, we can matchimported products. If we could just get one-quarter of theUS$74 million market for imported furnishings, that wouldrepresent an awful lot of jobs," according to the bureau’ssenior technical director, Gladstone Rose.The incubator, which includes a design center, has beenlocated at Portmore HEART Trust/NTA academy inSt. Catherine to train and retrain furniture manufacturers.The BSJ has set aside J$25 million for the project, whichwill include training for furniture manufacturers and thecreation of centers of design and production in whichmanufacturers are expected to forge partnerships with eachother to handle large contracts.Noel Osborne, executive director of the BSJ, said that, asconditions currently stand, if 10 different manufacturerswere asked to produce an item, the output for each wouldbe different.The bureau says out of the JWPIP, it hopes to produce"a constant supply of innovative yet standardized designsand prototypes which will ensure durability, quality andconsistency in the supply of furniture and wooden productsneeded in the marketplace."WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 19

RULES CORNERRULES CHANGES FOR 2011By Mark Horne, Chief InspectorThe votes for the rules change proposals have been tallied. The NHLABylaws state: "A rules change shall be adopted by the Association uponsuch change receiving a favorable vote on a two-thirds majority of thevotes properly cast by the Active Members of the Association."There were six rules change proposals on the ballot, with thedeadline for voting being November 19, 2009. The final countrevealed the following results:■ Proposal #1: Change the rules for the "97% Rule" – did not pass■ Proposal #2: Change the rules for all 1' surface measures for theStandard Grade of #1 Common – passed■ Proposal #3: Clarify how tapered lumber is to be tallied bylength and width – passed■ Proposal #4: Change the wording in the definition of a Cuttingregarding surfaced lumber – did not pass■ Proposal #5: Add compromise Walnut rules proposal to existing6' & 7' FIF & Better Walnut rules – did not pass■ Proposal #6: Change Import Grading rules – passedVariation in ThicknessLately, I have received many calls asking how much variation inthickness the rules permit for rough lumber. To find the answer, youmust go to the rule for Miscut Lumber found on page 7, rule 9, ofthe 2007 NHLA rules book: “Rough lumber shall be measured forthickness at the thinnest cutting used in establishing the grade.”Then later in the same rule, it states: “If there is a greater variationin thickness on the entire board than shown in the following table,the board shall be classed miscut.”Then you consult the chart in the Miscut Lumber Rule, anddepending on the thickness of the rough lumber, the tolerableamount of variation in thickness is listed.This rule applies to green, air-dried, and kiln-dried rough lumber,but don’t forget to check the grading rules for the individual speciesfor any exceptions to these rules. The Miscut Lumber Rule also doesnot apply to surfaced lumber.Hope this helps!Chief Inspector, Mark Horne can be reached by email at m.horne@nhla.comor by phone at 901-399-7568.These rules do not become effective until January 1, 2011 and aswe get into late summer or early fall next year NHLA will furtherremind everyone of the coming changes. If you have any questions,please feel free to contact me.20 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

TALLY SHEETCOWLS TO SHUT DOWN MANUFACTURINGDIVISION IN 2010Citing diminished customer demand for custom sawn lumber, W. D.Cowls, Inc., will close its sawmill, one of its four divisions, effective inJanuary 2010. Future focus of the 9th generation family business will beon W. D. Cowls’ timberland & real estate management divisions; andon Cowls Building Supply’s retail lumberyard and design showroom.“It’s a sad day for my brother and me to have to end our family lumbermanufacturing legacy,” said Cinda Jones, a well known advocate forshopping local. “The fact is that we can sell our logs for nearly as much aswe can sell our lumber and timbers. As a timberland manager, being inthe sawmill business in Amherst just doesn’t make sense for us anymore.”“On the upside,” says Jones, “family businesses have to innovate andchange over time to survive and thrive, and we’re excited about our future.This is not a story about a business closing. It’s about a business evolving.”I.D. WOOD APPLICATION FOR IPHONE AND IPODI.D. Wood is a pocket guide to woods from around the worldwith full screen samples and detailed information for over 50different woods.The standalone application will work with or without an Internetconnection so that the samples and information are always atyour fingertips. From the basic to the exotic, I.D. Wood turns amobile device into a virtual guidebook allowing a user to quicklybrowse by Wood Samples, Species Names or Other Names toaide in quick identification. Categories allow for quickly findingwoods of a particular use, durability or sustainable status. Futureupdates of the application will include new types of wood. Theapplication download is $2.99 available at itunes.apple.com.JOE HYRKA NAMED LUMBERMAN OF THE YEARNHLA member, Joe Hyrka of Atlanta Hardwood Corp. hasbeen awarded the 2009 J.S.P. Wilson Award from the Lumbermen’sClub of Memphis. The award is given to the outstandingLumbermen of the Year for personal integrity, leadership and serviceto the industry in memory of those lumbermen who strove toenhance the image of the Club and the industry it represents.ATLANTA HARDWOOD CORPORATIONACQUIRES CRAIG LUMBER CORPORATIONCraig Lumber was founded in Liverpool, England in the 1960s andhas been an industry leader in quality tropical imports. Operations inthe US were established in Collierville, TN in 1977. Craig Lumberdirectly imports more than 30 species of exotic lumber, specializing inWest African and South American hardwoods. The company ships todistributors throughout the United States and Canada. The new entitywill be known as AHC Craig Imports. Industry veteran, CharlesCraig, will remain with the company as vice president of AHC CraigImports. For more information, please visit www.hardwoodweb.comor contact the Craig sales group: Charlie Craig, Nathan Hascher orTom Hibdon at 901-853-4317 or 800-351-9736.NEW U.S. COALITION FOR WOOD PRODUCTSINDUSTRY LAUNCHESA new national coalition has been formed under the AmericanWood Council (AWC) which will provide an organizationalstructure for wood products companies and associations towork together on building codes and standards, green buildingpolicy issues and federal and state government regulationsaffecting manufacturers.This new coalition will ensure that wood productsmanufacturers have a broadly-supported, unified and powerfulvoice at the table, so that we can secure a strong future for thewood products industry in the face of an onslaught of upcomingchallenges,” said AF&PA vice president Robert Glowinski. “Ifwe’re going to make sure we still have an environment in whichwe can operate successfully, we need the strength of a combinedeffort. The AWC provides a structure to do that, from ourindustry’s smallest operation to the largest multi-national.” Formore information, visit www.awc.org/americanwoodcouncil.WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 21

EDUCATIONSPOTLIGHTNHLA GRADUATES THE 160TH CLASSCommencement exercises for the 160th Class of the NHLA Inspector TrainingSchool were held December 11, 2009.Graduates were:■ Jason Bailey of New Lisbon, Wisconsin – White City Lumber■ Jerrod Free of Horn Lake, Mississippi – J.T. Shannon Lumber CompanyRecipient of the John Thomson Award for Highest Overall Average■ Matthew Gray of Birmingham, Alabama – Bibb HardwoodRecipient of the Howard Hanlon Award for Second Highest Overall Average■ Don Kuehl of Harrison, Michigan – Billsby Lumber CompanyRecipient of the South Central Lumbermen’s Award for Best Attitude/Citizenship■ Dimitri Kulp of Boscobel, WisconsinRecipient of the Willard Scholarship Award for Self-Sufficiency, Attitude and Effort■ Christopher Largent of Erin, Tennessee – Ralph Largent Sawmill, Inc.Recipient of the J.P. Hamer Award for Most Improved Student■ Jason Letts of Neosho, Missouri – Missouri Walnut, LLC■ D. Wince Lynn of Tellico Plains, Tennessee – Lynn Lumber CompanyRecipient of the Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis Leadership Award■ Coy Parker of Huntsville, Arkansas – Parker Wood Products■ David Pfister of Waynesville, North Carolina – Oaks UnlimitedRecipient of the Westside Hardwood Club Award for Highest Board Run AverageThe 161st Class is currently underway. To learn more about the 2010 SummerProgram (162nd Class) please contact Crystal Oldham, Director of Education atc.oldham@nhla.com or 901-507-0312.Back row, left to right: David Pfister, Coy Parker, Wince Lynn, Jason Letts, Don Kuehland Christopher Largent Front row, left to right: Dimitri Kulp, Jason Bailey, RichHascher – Instructor, Matthew Gray and Jerrod FreeINSPECTOR TRAINING SCHOOLNEEDS LUMBERTo best meet the current demands of theindustry and keep the School supplied withup-to-date tools, the School is requestingreplacement lumber. School Instructor, RichHascher has compiled a list of donation lumber.If you have any questions or would like todonate please contact Rich at 901-399-7571or r.hascher@nhla.com.Donations of lumber are requested as follows:Thickness:■ 4/4 or less■ Kiln dried or air dried■ Rough or surfacedLengths:■ Lengths 12’ and shorterSpecies:■ Hard Maple – #2 White, Sap, Unselect,Some with heavy mineral■ Red Oak, White Oak – mixed and showingmineral■ Poplar – any grades, but seeking mineral22 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

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CALENDAREDUCATION & TRAININGInspector Training SchoolMemphis, TN | January 6 –April 9NHLA HeadquartersInstructor: Rich Hascher | Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.comWHERE IN THE WORLD IS NHLA?SurfacesLas Vegas, NV | February 1– 4Attending: Tom Walthousen,Director of Industry RelationsLas Vegas MarketLas Vegas, NV | February 1–5Attending: Leah Covington,Marketing DirectorHardwood Federation PACAnnual MeetingWashington, D.C. | February 9 –10Participating: Mark Barford, CAE,Executive DirectorPenn-York Lumbermen’s ClubMonthly MeetingEllicottville, NY | February 22Participating: Mark Barford, CAE,Executive DirectorNHLA PR SeminarsMelbourne, Australia and Auckland,New Zealand | February 22–27Canadian Hardwood Bureau MeetingMontreal, Canada | February 24–25Speaking: Mark Barford, CAE, ExecutiveDirectorMIFF 2010 – Malaysia InternationalFurniture FairKuala Lumpur, Malaysia | March 2–6Participating: Bob Sabistina,International Consultant2010 HMA NationalConference & ExpoTampa, FL | March 10–12Participating: Mark Barford, CAE,Executive DirectorWMF 2010Beijing, China | March 10–13Attending: Bob Sabistina,International ConsultantDOMOTEX Asia/CHINA Floor 2010Shanghai, China | March 23–25Attending: Bob Sabistina,International ConsultantInterzum Guangzhou – ChinaInternational WoodworkingMachinery & Raw Materials FairGuangzhou, China | March 27–30Participating: Bob Sabistina,International ConsultantNHLA Spring Board MeetingBoca Raton, FL | April 22 –242010 NHLA Annual Convention& Exhibit ShowcaseVancouver, BC, Canada | October 13–16Grading SeminarNew Delhi, India | January 18Instructor: Bob Sabistina | Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.comGrading SeminarJodaphor, India | January 21Instructor: Bob Sabistina | Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.com4-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseFranklin, PA | February 22–25Venango County FairgroundsKeystone Community Education CouncilInstructor: Barry Kibbey | Contact: Lance Hummer814-677-4427 | lhummer@csonline.net3-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseSidney, MI | March 29–April 1Montcalm Community CollegeInstructor: Barry Kibbey | Contact: Susan Hatto989-328-1254 | 989-328-2950 (fax)susanh@montcalm.eduLeadership, Management andDevelopmentMemphis, TN | Session 1: April 11–14Washington, D.C. | Session 2: May 10–13Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.com4-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseConnellsville, PA | April 12–15Connellsville Area Career CenterInstructor: Barry Kibbey | Contact: Albert Kaanan724-626-0236 | 724-626-8736 (fax)akanaan@casdfalcons.org24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

CALENDAR3-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseWarren, PA | May 3–5Warren Forest Higher Education CouncilInstructor: Barry Kibbey | Contact: Donna Smith814-723-3222 | 814-723-3340 (fax)dsmith@hi-ed.org3-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseShanghai, China | May 27–29(Covering Eastern China Market)Shanghai Furen Timber Wholesale MarketInstructor: Bob Sabistina | Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.com4-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseMillersburg, OH | June 7–10Yoder Lumber Company/Ohio Forestry AssociationInstructor: Barry Kibbey | Contact: John Dorka614-497-9580 | 614-497-9581 (fax)john@ohioforest.orgHardwoods 101Memphis and Pickwick Lake, TN | June 7–10Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.com3-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseBeijing, China | September 16–18(Covering Northern China Market)Beijing Dongba Timber Wholesale MarketInstructor: Bob Sabistina | Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.com3-Day Lumber Grading Short CourseGuangzhou, China | December 9–11(Covering Southern China Market)Guangzhou Yuzhu Timber Wholesale MarketInstructor: Bob Sabistina | Contact: Crystal Oldham901-507-0312 | c.oldham@nhla.comINDUSTRY EVENTSThe Canadian HomeFurnishings Market (TCHFM)Toronto, Canada | January 9–12DomotexHannover, Germany | January 16–192010 International BuildersShow & NextbuildLas Vegas, NV | January 19–222010 New York SAF Annual MeetingEast Syracuse, NY | January 27–292010 Kentucky/Tennessee SAFWinter MeetingLexington, KY | January 27–29EcobuildLondon, UK | March 2–4IndiaWood 2010Bangalore, India | March 4–8Wood Tech Show 2010Portland, OR | March 9–11interWOOD 2010Athens, Greece | March 18–21NAWLA Annual Conference &Regional MeetingNew Orleans, LA | March 24–26Dubai Wood ShowDubai, UAE | March 30–April 1Spring High Point MarketHigh Point, NC | April 17–22SmallWood 2010: Bridges,Business and BiomassHot Springs, AR | April 20–22Interzum MoscowMoscow, Russia | May 11–15GreenbuildAbu Dhabi, UAE | May 24–26AIA National ConventionMiami, FL | June 10–12Forest Products Society 64thInternational ConventionMadison, WI | June 20–22International Woodworking Fair(IWF) 2010Atlanta, GA | August 25 –282010 SAF National ConventionAlbuquerque, NM | October 27–31NAWLA Traders MarketChicago, IL | November 4–6WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 25

JOB BOARDLumber InspectorGraham Lumber Company in Selmer, Tennessee is seeking a LumberInspector to inspect, evaluate, and grade green lumber off of thechain to its highest value according to NHLA grading rules and toensure a quality product in a safe and productive manner.Interested candidates should contact:Keith Snider, General Manager | Graham Lumber Companyksnider@ahwood.com | 731-645-9169 | 731-645-9924 (fax)860 Hwy 142 | Selmer TN, 38375SawyerGraham Lumber Company is seeking a Sawyer. The position requiresone to efficiently derive the highest value from the raw material andproduce the most, good lumber possible without wasting fiber byproperly positioning and feeding logs through the headrig in a safeand productive manner. Interested candidates should contact:Keith Snider, General Manager | Graham Lumber Companyksnider@ahwood.com | 731-645-9169 | 731-645-9924 (fax)860 Hwy 142 | Selmer TN, 38375Sawmill ManagerPike Lumber Company is seeking a Sawmill Manager for a new state-ofthe-artsawmill in Milan, Indiana. Candidates should be experienced inhardwood band sawmilling, scanning technologies and supervision. Theposition is available immediately, as the sawmill manager needs to be onsiteduring the spring 2010 construction process. Pike Lumber Company isa 105 year-old company. Visit us online at www.pikelumber.com.Interested persons should contact:Samantha Howard | Pike Lumber Companyshoward@pikelumber.com | 574-893-4511PO Box 247 | Akron, Indiana 46910Hardwood Lumber Outside Sales RepresentativeHartzell Hardwoods is seeking an outside sales representative.The ideal candidate will be responsible for domestic and someinternational sales. Experience in selling walnut and oak lumber isrequired. Experienced candidate with an active customer base witha willingness to travel is preferred. Relocation preferred but notrequired. Bachelor's degree in sales and marketing or related field orequivalent in experience is a must.Hartzell Hardwoods Inc.1025 South Roosevelt Avenue | PO Box 919 | Piqua, OH 45356937-615-1926 | 937-615-1927 (fax)tgerlach@hartzellindustries.com | www.hartzellhardwoods.comLumber InspectorBauman Sawmill located in Ontario, Canada is seeking a LumberInspector that is a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School.Two years of experience is preferred but all applicants will beconsidered. Salary is negotiable. Contact:Bruce Steinacker, Manager | Bauman Sawmillbruce@baumansawmill.com | 519-698-2741Wallenstein, Ontario, Canada N0B 2S0Lumber InspectorMidwest Walnut Company is seeking a Lumber Inspector for greenand kiln dried lumber. Candidates should contact:Larry Mether | Midwest Walnut Companylarrym@midwestwalnut.com | 712-325-91911914 Tostevin Street | Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503www.midwestwalnut.comLumber Inspector and Sawyers NeededTri State Timber Company is currently looking to fill three jobopenings – Lumber Inspector, Sawyer (Circular Saw) and Sawyer(Band Saw). Candidates for lumber inspector should be experiencedor a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School. Candidates forSawyer (Circular Saw) should be able to operate a circular saw andcandidates for Sawyer (Band Saw) should be able to operate a BrewcoBand B1600 re-saw. All salaries are negotiable.Tri State Timber CompanyRR 1 Box 147 | Arbela, MO 63432 | 660-341-4921Hardwood Lumber GraderLindsay Hardwoods, LLC is seeking a hardwood lumber grader withtwo years experience grading green lumber and a thorough knowledgeof NHLA rules. Applicant must be able to grade and tally greenlumber on a greenchain and be able to upgrade for remanufacture.Candidates should also be hardworking, flexible, and a team playerwith leadership potential. Salary is based on experience $14 to $18/hr.Lindsay Hardwoods, Inc.PO Box 343 | Farmville, VA 23901434-392-8615 | 434-392-8615 (fax) | lindsayhardwoods@embarqmail.comLumber InspectorAtlanta Hardwoods Corporation is seeking a full time (40 hours perweek) lumber inspector. Full benefits are included and the salary isnegotiable. Interested individuals should contact Hal Mitchell byphone at 404-792-2290.Atlanta Hardwoods CorporationMableton, GA 30126 | 404-792-229026 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

JOB BOARDSawyerGrade hardwood sawmill in central Virginia seeks an experiencedsawyer to operate modern bandmill. Applicants should have threeyears sawing experience, knowledge of optimized computer assistedsawing, and knowledge of hardwood grading rules. Possession ofstrong maintenance skills is a plus. Salary range is $12 to $14 per hourand based on experience.Lindsay Hardwoods, Inc.PO Box 343 | Farmville, VA 23901434-392-8615 | 434-392-8615 (fax) | lindsayhardwoods@embarqmail.comSaw FilerLindsay Hardwoods is seeking an experienced filer to file saws for singleline bandmill. Two years experience is required and salary is negotiable.Lindsay Hardwoods, Inc.PO Box 343 | Farmville, VA 23901434-392-8615 | 434-392-8615 (fax) | lindsayhardwoods@embarqmail.comLumber GraderMissouri Walnut LLC, one of the largest walnut producers in the U.S.has an opening for an experienced lumber grader to inspect greenand dry lumber. Salary is based on experience. The company offers acomprehensive benefit package including 401K, health, dental, vision,STD and life insurance.Missouri Walnut LLC11417 Oak Road | Neosho, MO 64850417-455-0972 | 417-455-0255 (fax)tcrane@missouriwalnut.com | www.missouriwalnut.comSawyer for Circle SawHardwood Products Inc. has an immediate opening for an experiencedsawyer. Applicants must know lumber grades and be a motivator for aproduction-driven operation. Salary is commensurate with experience.Hardwood Products Inc.1106 Lincoln | PO Box 186 | St. Paul, KS 66771620-449-2249 | 620-449-2247 (fax)hardwoodprod@terraworld.net | www.hardwoodproducts.airweb.netLumber InspectorRolenco Inc. is seeking a Lumber Inspector to inspect and retrievethe highest value of rough green lumber produced at the sawmill.A minimum of 2 years experience in a production environment isrequired. NHLA graduate is preferred.Rolenco Inc. | 13 Drowns Mill Road | Newport VT, 05855802-334-7944 | 802-334-5293 (fax) | rolenco1@wildblue.netLumber InspectorHartzell Hardwoods Inc. in Piqua, Ohio is seeking a lumber inspectorwith a minimum of two years experience in grading hardwood lumber.Candidate must be capable of learning to grade on an automatedlumber system and work at a fast pace. Basic math and reading skillsare required as well as good organization and communication skills.NHLA Inspector Training School graduates preferred. Salary range is$12.50 –$18.00 per hour.Hartzell Hardwoods Inc.1025 South Roosevelt Avenue | PO Box 919 | Piqua, OH 45356937-615-1926 | 937-615-1927 (fax)tgerlach@hartzellindustries.com | www.hartzellhardwoods.comLumber InspectorAHC Clarksville seeks an Inspector for green and KD lumber and tosupervise the grading line. Preference given to NHLA Inspector Schoolgraduate but would consider in-house trained. Two or more yearsexperience is also preferred. Company benefits include insurance, paidvacation, holidays, 401-K, and dental insurance.AHC – Clarksville, TN310 Dover Rd | Clarksville, TN 37042931-472-0389 | 931-472-0391 (fax)jruss@hardwoodweb.com | www.hardwoodweb.comCurrent job openings are posted by members at www.nhla.com.For more information, visit www.nhla.com or contact Crystal Oldhamat 901-507-0312 or email at c.oldham@nhla.com.Entry Level Lumber GraderRutland Lumber in Collins, Mississippi is seeking an entry levellumber grader. Candidate must be a graduate of the NHLAInspector Training School.Rutland Lumber, Inc.PO Box 2349 | Collins, MS 39428 | 601-765-8892WWW.NHLA.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS 27

WHERE IN THE WORLDIS NHLANHLA CONTINUES ADVANCED LUMBERGRADING COURSES IN CHINANHLA recently completed its second Three-Day Advanced Lumber Grading Course held December 3-5 at the DongGuan Xing Ye Marketin Guangdong province. The sold out seminar attracted attendees from Dongguan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Qingdao as well as theUnited States including some of the top companies dealing with North American hardwood.The class was again taught by former NHLA Chief Inspector and Inspector Training School Director, Bob Sabistina. Twenty-three passingattendees (out of 25) received NHLA certificates during a graduation ceremony. Compared with the first class in Shanghai, the numberof Chinese wood distributors in attendance surpassed that of NHLA member representatives. This class also welcomed for the first time astudent from the Chinese furniture manufacturing industry representing Lacquer Craft Co., Ltd, the largest furniture manufacturer in China.DongGuan XingYe Market gave strong support to this activity by promoting the event through China timber websites and offering thetraining venue. Cathleen Xu from Mayfield served as interpreter for the class, while Shenzhen Tianrun provided the lumber and the venuefor the hands-on practice.Due to the success of the 2009 classes and the increased interest from Chinese users and traders, NHLA plans to continue to offer lumbergrading seminars in 2010. The classes will be held in Eastern China (Shanghai), Southern China (Guangzhou) and Northern China(Beijing) respectively – please see calendar on page 24. In order to ensure the quality of education, each class is limited to 25 students.Interested students are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible. For more information, please contact Crystal Oldham, Director of Educationat 901-507-0312 or c.oldham@nhla.com. Chinese inquiries can phone 021-65216751 or email nhla_china@yahoo.cn for more information.28 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 HARDWOOD MATTERS WWW.NHLA.COM

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl celebrates 51 years of memories thisJanuary and for more than 35 years the Lumbermen’s Club ofMemphis has presented the winning team’s coach with the Coach’sTrophy pictured here. Unlike the official AutoZone Liberty BowlTrophy which is cast in black bronze, this trophy is made of walnutrecycled from the lumber shed of the NHLA Inspector TrainingSchool. For years, the walnut lumber was used by students of theSchool as they learned the NHLA grading rules until it was givento craftsman Ronnie Jorgensen, native Memphian and member ofthe Lumbermen’s Club who used it create this beautiful trophy.Over the years, Ronnie’s trophies have been received by some ofthe most recognized names in college football including; BillyBrewer, Bear Bryant, Vince Dooley, Tom Osborne, Joe Paterno,Steve Spurrier, Jim Young and many more.HOW DOE S THISTROPHYRELATE TO YOU?