A few years back, we published the following piece, which I received via e-mail.  You've probably received it yourself.  It has been attributed to Charles Schulz, who created the "Peanuts" comic strip.  Officials at the Charles M. Schulz Museum say it is not his work.  Regardless of it's origins, it is still an interesting piece to remind us of what is and isn't important:
 
Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
 
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
 
Alright, here's another quiz to try:
List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
Name three people who have taught you something worthwhile.
Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
Think of three people you enjoy spending time with.
Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?
 
The lesson:  The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.
 
We did some sales training recently and I was struck by a gem that the trainer gave us. He said, "If you want to enjoy yourself for an hour - take a nap, for a day - play golf or fish, for a week - take a trip, for a year - win the lottery, but if you want to enjoy yourself for your life - serve others."
 
The moral is, don't forget to stop and take inventory of what you have in your life, who you spend your time with, and what you do with what you have available.   Mid year is a good time to revisit your own personal balance sheet.  As a company approaching our 30th anniversary (July 14, 2008), we are checking ours to see how we measure up as a company, a supplier, and an employer.  Thank you for your business.  We are committed to being the company you choose and the company you keep!
 
 
 
Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. ~ William Faulkner

Usually we talk lumber and plywood pricing, but this year the market has been rather dull and boring to report on. However, there are two product lines that are certainly far from dull and boring; roofing and nails.
 
Nail prices are skyrocketing. Demand for steel rod in China, the Pacific Rim and now India is driving prices to record levels. Since the beginning of 2008, hot dipped galvanized prices have increased 48%. Steel scrap is at an all time high - over $600 a ton, compared to $290 a ton last year at this time.

There is also some uncertainty over the Anti-Dumping Tariffs imposed in January. For example, Bostich's tariff is 19.12% on imported nails. This could change in the next couple months-direction unknown.
 
All asphalt roofing manufacturers (hurting from the record oil prices)have announced a series of price increases through the summer. If these increases go through and hold we could see prices 25% higher than last year's levels on some products.
 
FSC Update-As you know, Shepley Wood Products holds an FSC Chain-of-Custody certificate and therefore can provide you with a multitude of FSC products. We are keeping some FSC products here in Hyannis such as fir plywood, Bodyguard trim, and Sureply underlayment and soon we will have some spruce framing. As the demand continues to grow we will add to our FSC stock. We also continue to supply many FSC products on a special order basis. We have ordered pine, decking, wood shingles and trim products. Please call with any FSC requests.

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA proposes more than $100,000 in fines against Fall River, Mass., contractor for fall hazards at Newport, R.I., worksite

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Fall River, Mass., contracting company with a history of not providing required fall protection for its employees faces $109,000 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for fall hazards at a Newport, R.I., residential construction site.

The company was cited for seven alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of safety standards on a worksite following an OSHA inspection begun June 19, 2007, in response to a report of employees working in unsafe conditions.

"The sizable fines proposed in this case reflect the fact that this employer has been cited repeatedly in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for not providing this basic, common-sense and legally required safeguard," said Patrick Griffin, OSHA's area director in Providence.

OSHA's inspection found employees exposed to falls of up to 12 feet from an unguarded roof, and up to 27 feet from an unguarded and unsecured pump jack scaffold and an unsecured ladder. According to Griffin, falls are the leading cause of death in construction work. The inspection also determined that the scaffold's supporting poles were not properly secured and plumbed and that employees working beneath the scaffold lacked protective headgear.

"There's no excuse for not protecting employees against the number-one killer in construction work," said Griffin. "Employees at this and other jobsites who lack required fall protection are just one step away from death or disabling injuries."

OSHA has cited this company for a total of 17 fall and scaffolding violations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts since 1995. Most recently, it was cited in 2005 and 2006 for fall hazards at worksites in Cranston and Newport, R.I., and in 2003 and 2005 at worksites in New Bedford and North Dartmouth, Mass.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. A repeat citation is issued when an employer has previously been cited for a substantially similar hazard and that citation has become final. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
  
Dick Hughes has been an OSHA Safety Training Consultant since 1978 and has authored four safety related books. He is the owner of Excellence in Safety, located in Waquoit, MA. Dick hosts regular OSHA certification and training courses at Shepley and is available for private consultation.
 

Dick Hughes
Excellence In Safety
P.O. Box 3416
Waquoit, MA 02536
Web: excel-in-safety.com
capesafetyguy@aol.com
1-508-548-0866 cell: 1-617-653-4950

AZEKŪ Deck with Procell™ Technology, the #1 brand of stain resistant decking, is a superior decking option.  Refining and redefining the very notion of building a deck.  Engineered with Procell™ Technology, AZEK Deck virtually eliminates the shortfalls associated with wood and composite decking.  So you can forget the stain problems common with other leading decking products.
 
AZEK Deck is the fastest growing brand of decking on the market.  AZEK Deck is built to withstand a houseful of spills and objects, so homeowners can actually live on their AZEK Deck.  Spilled wine, fruit punch, even hamburger grease are no match for AZEK Deck's stain resistance.  Since AZEK Deck is scratch resistant,  you won't have to worry about scuffs during installation and your AZEK Deck will continue to look great for years to come.

PVC is non-toxic. It is a safe material and a socially valuable resource that has been used for more than half a century. It is also the world's most contested and thoroughly tested plastic. It meets all international standards for safety and health for both the products and applications for which it is used.
 
PVC has long life cycles/sustainability, high durability which saves hours of annual maintenance and conserves energy. It does not rot or corrode like other materials.  PVC does not require cleaning with harsh chemicals or painting for protection; which ultimately limits VOC emission (Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals emitted into the atmosphere as gases from certain solids or liquids). Paints & lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies and wood preservatives are top contributors to VOC's emitted. 
 
Most wood products require paint and additional maintenance every 4-6 years.  This type of maintenance is not only harmful to the environment but can also be quite costly. Many people falsely believe that painting wood will stop decay.  In fact, painting wood that has already begun to decay can trap moisture and expedite further decay.
 
Now more than ever, consumers are demanding durable, low maintenance products that look as good as traditional materials. In order for a product to be sustainable it should be economical, an environmentally sensible choice and responsible to the community as a whole.  
 
I feel that AZEK Deck with Procell Technology is the best of the composite decking products. Also, I have never had a call back to a job for this decking. With this product we finally have an option to sell instead of wood. Please give me a call if you want to learn more about products from AZEK. 
 
   Jason Fish left his family's painting business and began his career at Shepley Wood Products in 1988. Jason put to use his painting experience in the Paint Production Facility for 10 years. He then moved to inside sales and is now the outside salesman for the Lower Cape Territory.
 
Jason's team includes Kelly Fennell and Pete Iodice.
 
You can reach them at 508-862-6220.