Logging representatives from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Maine, Idaho, California, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, South Carolina, Arkansas, Washington, and Louisiana met in historic Natchitoches Louisiana for the American Loggers Council Summer Board of Directors meeting sponsored by International Trucks. The ALC is represented in Louisiana by the Louisiana Loggers Association, the Louisiana Loggers Council, and the Southern Loggers Cooperative. The meeting in Louisiana was precipitated by an invitation from Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser.
Lt. Governor Nungesser along with the help of Larry Roussell and the Louisiana Seafood & Promotion Board, arranged for the donation of seafood from the Louisiana Seafood Association. Also speaking at the dinner was US Congressman Mike Johnson and Louisiana Logger and State Representative, Jack McFarland.
The group toured the largest plywood mill in North America owned by RoyOMartin. RoyOMartin is a family-owned business operating numerous mills and employing 1,200 people. RoyOMartin is not a typical corporate interest. Their focus is on stability, employees, and community. As an example, they provide financial assistance for post-secondary (college) education for all their employees’ and their children; they operate a medical clinic for their employees; they have a pharmacy for their employees. From a stability perspective they are committed to continuous operations even during market cycles and the pandemic. They recognize particularly that logging operations cannot be turned on and off like a light switch. Along with the mill tour, RoyOMartin President & COO, Scott Poole attended the ALC dinner and spoke to the group about the values of the company and their appreciation of the logging industry. In an effort to facilitate more efficient wood deliveries truckers are provided an app which tracks “turnaround time” which averages 23 minutes, and the truckers can also monitor onsite cameras to see truck traffic waiting to come into the mill so that they can minimize their wait time.
The group then toured one of the Southern Loggers Cooperative fuel stations located adjacent to the RoyOMartin mill where logging and trucking members can receive fuel at a discounted rate. A $100 lifetime membership fee to join the Southern Loggers Cooperative is one of the best investments that a logger can make!
RoyOMartin and Walsh Timber Company, co-sponsored Saturday’s lunch for ALC board members at Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant, the women’s plantation tour, and lunch at Cane River Commissary.
The event was a success primarily due to the work and coordination of the ALC Louisiana representatives that arranged much of the logistics and activities. The logging representatives that attended conducted extensive American Loggers Council business, networked, and enjoyed a taste of Louisiana. The ALC is looking forward to welcoming everyone to beautiful Branson, Missouri for the 2022 Annual meeting “Tomorrows Timber Industry”.