Can a Hardwood mill maximize yield and cut a mill-run? I see it as a fundamental business choice; to maximize your yield you must engage in quality control, including inhouse grading, and trust others to do what you cannot do effectively.
The same is true for Hardwood associations. If Hardwood associations want to maximize their membership benefits (yield) we must engage in quality control (grade our operations) and trust others to do what we cannot do effectively.
Yes, associations are different and represent you in diverse ways. Each of you and each of us has a niche that we fill and no one niche is less valuable than another. But even if the species, location, and products are different; we have one common message that we control. Hardwood, Hardwood, Hardwood…
NHLA is focused on quality grading rules, education, and networking but that does not mean that we can ignore the rest of the Hardwood industry’s needs for product-specific promotion. I spent my first week on the job meeting first with NHLA employees to grade our operations and then meeting online with allied associations. Getting to know them, beyond just a name and a face. Finding out what they do and what they are good at and then offering the NHLA to help them and thanking them for helping us provide quality services.
Look at what the Pennsylvania associations just did. They got the NHLA Inspector Training School out of Memphis and to Clearfield, PA for 8 weeks. AHUG, PFPA, NTHA, KWPA, and PFA along with Pennsylvania Hardwood Development Council got a grant, surveyed local companies for attendees, and arranged for NHLA to come to them. Saving money for all our members and each of our associations while making effective use of government funds. Thanks to their hard work in their niche area and cooperation for the good of the industry NHLA was able to educate students that we would not normally reach.
Furthermore, the Hardwood Federation has a niche voice in Washington, DC, a high-quality voice that can get the attention of the Farm Bill authors, the department of Agriculture, and the Forest Service. Helping the NHLA and our members broaden the voice and reach of the Hardwood industry.
Another notable example is The Real American Hardwood Coalition (RAHC). It has been around since 2020, working for the good of the entire industry. Again, NHLA is working with our allied associations and funding a united message that promotes Hardwood. The new consumer-focused website www.realamericanhardwood.com launched in August. If you have not seen it, please go visit the site and even more importantly help fund it by joining the associations contributing to it.
By joining NHLA and other Hardwood associations you help fund education and outreach for the entire Hardwood industry. We also appreciate sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who help spread the message further and help keep quality high. We also need to acquire grants and university research partnerships to help fund our activities because it is a universal issue impacting everyone. NHLA staff, board, and committees work hard to ensure the association, along with the collaborations and cooperation we participate in, benefits everyone. We can’t engage in quality control without consideration of species or products and have a maximized yield.
Did you know that NHLA contributes 10 percent of members’ dues to the Hardwood Federation and another 5 percent to the RAHC? How do we justify such an act? Because we cannot do it as effectively. Hardwood mills are starting to focus more on maximizing their yield and so too are the industry associations. Quality output from NHLA and allied association collaborations control costs and expand everyone’s value. We are good stewards of your hard-earned money. Is your business focused on value? Why Knot maximize yield by joining the NHLA and allied associations.
