Page 6 - Nov-Dec 2017 - Reporter - web

Message from the CHAIR

farewell but not goodbye

KEN FORBES y two-year term as your Chair of the Board involvement with the Canadian Retail Business
Orillia Trim & Door Ltd, Mhas come to an end. It has been a great Supply Council. This national organization, now
Severn, ON honour to have had the opportunity to serve the the Building Material Council of Canada (BMCC)
LBMAO; this has truly been the highlight of my is the future voice of our industry in Ottawa; and
long involvement with the association. During is poised to become an important partner of the
that time, your board has made a number of LBMAO and our sister associations across the
changes to ensure our association is in a better country. I feel so strongly about the need for the
position to move forward into the next 100 years. BMCC, I have offered to continue working with
When I was first approached, I was reluctant; the board.
my biggest concern was my ability to affect real I would like to thank the staff for a job
and positive change during my tenure as Chair. well done in organizing our 100th anniversary
On the other side of the coin, the association’s celebration, almost two years in the making. It
100th anniversary was going to was an awesome event, very well attended, and
"...the Building happen during my term and that was I’m sure all who attended had a great time. The
something I was excited to be a part Commemorative Book is a must for anyone in the
Material Council of - I was all in. industry. If you have not received one, copies are
of Canada (BMCC) It’s no secret that we have been available at the office.
forced to reinvent ourselves more Congratulations to Greg Drouillard for being
is the future voice than once as our industry has chosen as the 2017 Industry Achievement Award
of our industry in changed and evolved over the years, winner. An honour truly deserved by a truly
but more so in the past eight to ten genuine man.
Ottawa... years with the growth of the buying What can I possibly say about the staff? How
I feel so strongly groups and duplication of services. about a huge thank you from the bottom of my
This culminated in the loss of the heart. You have made the past two years so easy,
about the need trade show. We, as a board, have by keeping me informed and headed in the right
for the BMCC, I worked hard to find ways to reduce direction. While you have had to hound me for
costs while maintaining the high these articles, I have grown to enjoy the process.
have offered to level of services we continue to Once again, thank you for your support and
continue working offer our membership. Our training friendship.
continues to be in high demand, In closing, I must thank the entire Board for
with the board." which includes in-class and online their support and trust over the past two years.
options. The LBMAO Reporter It has been a pleasure serving with all of you.
Magazine (which is produced in-house) is a great Best of luck to Ron Schell, the incoming Chair; I
resource, available in hard copy or online. The hope your term will be as enjoyable as mine.
golf, curling, snowmobile ride and the charity
bike and car rally are all great social networking
opportunities that grow every year.
This past spring, we moved our office
around the corner into a smaller space to help
in reducing the overall cost of the day-to-day
operations. Dave, Joanne and Carolyn did a great
job organizing the move, making it seamless in
the eyes of our members. Congrats.
One of the highlights of my term has been the

6 LBMAO Reporter - November-December 2017 www.lbmao.on.ca