Why Knot Be Prepared By Using The NHLA?
Hard times help us appreciate the good times. As a Boy Scout leader, I always told my scouts, “You can do hard things.” And then I pushed them to their limits to prove it. After tons of preparation, we often made them hike long distances, even late into the night. (No scout leader has ever gotten a good night’s rest camping next to a car.) I would tell them they were almost there for several hours and keep walking for miles. Today, I find myself offering the same encouragement to our industry: Keep working. We can do hard things.
One year, we climbed Mt. St. Helens (8,363 feet), then hiked the 70 miles over to Mt. Adams (12,276 feet) and climbed it—all in a week. Several times, the young men were exhausted and done. I literally had to pick them up off the ground and carry their backpacks myself. But with a little help and encouragement, they kept going. On the mountain, I taught them how to take a rest step so they could lock their legs and relieve their muscles.
Looking back on it, they all said it was not fun to do, but a lot of fun to talk about. They shared their experiences helping each other out when someone was too tired or had too much weight. Sometimes, they didn’t realize they needed food or water until someone shared the perfect snack or drink to revive them. They loved the cool things they got to see from the tops of the mountains and appreciated the hike between them. The hardwood industry has been through a long, difficult stretch of its own.
We could use that same willingness to help one another.
When you see the charts depicting hardwood production, you see how much our industry has contracted. Rebuilding production and demand will take more than waiting for conditions to improve. We can do hard things. It is not going to be easy, but there is work we can do now. I hope you trust the NHLA board and staff to help guide those efforts.
The NHLA has the tools and experience to help. We provide support for your production, advocacy, and promotion. The NHLA National Inspectors can help you address grading questions, improve production, and get more out of your lumber. The NHLA convention and membership team can connect you with potential customers and give you opportunities to catch up with friends over a few good drinks. The marketing and National Hardwood Academy (NHA) teams can teach your staff and customers the steps involved in grading or using hardwood. NHLA advocacy efforts will also help us with government procurement.
NHLA tools are there for you to take advantage of. If you don’t, you may be making a hard job harder. I think of one of the young men who was jumping off rocks and running around in circles. We kept telling him to conserve his energy. He didn’t listen and eventually found himself exhausted before we were even halfway through the first day. Still, with help, he made it to the top along with every other boy.
We all know the Scout motto is “Be Prepared,” and that is what Scout leaders spend all year doing: getting their scouts ready for the big hikes and climbs. NHLA is developing more tools to help you prepare for the challenges ahead, so take advantage of our programs. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Why knot be prepared by using the NHLA?
Why Knot Be Prepared By Using The NHLA?
