Penn–York Lumberman’s Club Members,   What a year!  Let me begin by thanking you for being part of the Penn-York Club.  With all the ups and downs we have experienced in the lumber market this year, our meetings have been an excellent chance to see many of you.  At Penn-York meetings we have been able to have good networking opportunities and also keep in touch on market challenges.  We appreciate and value your participation and hope you can make many of our meetings in 2008.   Our industry may be in the middle of another phase of re-adjustment due to the real estate collapse - the phrase “sub prime” is not a phrase that will soon be forgotten among many lumbermen!  Having said that, North American Hardwoods are still some of the best quality and sustainably harvested wood fiber resources in the world. We know there will be always be a need, both domestically and abroad for our products at some level.   Through the support of our dues paying members, and the outstanding performance of the clubs investments, your Penn–York Lumberman’s Club continues to provide significant financial support to industry friendly organizations that will help insure that our best interests will be served through these uncertain times. While many of us are pre-occupied with keeping inflated inventories moving out of bulging dry sheds, the organizations we donate to, both at the state and federal level, are working hard to address environmental issues, helping to write industry friendly provisions into the farm bill, combating illegal logging, energy legislation, and so on.   Please remember also, that The Penn–York Lumberman’s Club awards scholarship money to worthy applicants from the Pennsylvania – New York region to attend both the NHLA grading school in Memphis, and its affiliate branch at the West Virginia Wood Technology Center in Elkins, West Virginia. If you know of an aspiring individual in need of an opportunity to further his/her careers in our industry, please contact Tom, Jay or myself, or you can download an application form from the Club website at www.pennyork.org.   I would like to thank this past years meeting sponsors for another great job of providing the golf, sporting clays, and speakers that make our meetings such a great way to socialize with others in the industry, share ideas, and maybe even trade a little lumber.   The 2008 meeting schedule is set except for the November meeting. If anyone is interested in filling this spot, we would like to hear from you, or if anyone would like to alternate sponsorship of a particular meeting month with a current host company in the future, please contact Tom, Jay or myself.   Please process your 2008 dues invoice promptly, as these things are easily forgotten. If you know someone who attends meetings that is not a member, please encourage them to do the same.  Membership applications are available at the check-in tables of the meetings or can be downloaded from the Penn–York website as well.   On behalf of the officers, we thank you for your continued support, and best wishes for a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.                                      Randy Flament                                Jay Reese                                     Tom Johel                                    President                                         Vice President                              Sec. /Treas.                                    8/4-486-9513                                     814-694-2311                               716-833-9366