I've commented before on this page about the generally positive human dynamics that continuously shape our global corrugated box and folding carton industry. I've also stated what I believe to be a very important role the trade press plays in serving the business it covers: To offer an industry forum for the exchange of ideas.

So, in continuing with this forum-mode of thinking, I'd like to share with you today a couple samples of the letters we receive here at BCI:

Edwin Mozley, Executive Vice-President, Pacific Coast Paper Box Manufacturers' Association, Los Angeles, California, writes:

On behalf of the officers and members of this regional trade association, please extend our sincere appreciation to Senior Associate Editor Christine Lyall for her article, "Hot on the Trail of Success" in your April 1999 issue of BCI.

I've been managing the PCA for more than 30 years and I believe Christine's article is one of the very best tributes to the value of trade associations I have ever read.

Our organization was founded in 1911 and has represented the independent folding carton and rigid paper box converter and their suppliers with an annual convention each year (except for a few war years). Most of the boxmakers running their businesses today have been attending our conventions since they were small children. We've always invited members, spouses and their children to each convention.

Each year, they've developed these childhood friendships that grew over the years. Now that they are running their companies, they remain good friends while maintaining a strong competitive spirit in the marketplace.

Mark Sonderen was president of our Association in 1993. Last June, Mark was slated to be Convention Chairman for the 1998 Convention. The day our Convention started in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho was the date of Sonderen Packaging's major fire.

A majority of our members immediately contacted Mark with their offers of assistance. And, as Christine reported, many of their offers bore fruit in assisting recovery at Sonderen Packaging. Without doubt, the value of those long-term relationships through attendance at our conventions was a major factor.

Whenever a potential member asks what's the value of membership in our trade association, I always invite them to attend one of our annual conventions as a guest. I know that they will discover the value of involving their family in the spirit of our Pacific Coast Paper Box Manufacturers' Association.

In an e-mail that Rodney Crawford, Inland Paperboard and Packaging, wrote to BCI Managing Editor Kristin Reynolds, he, too, gave us much-appreciated feedback:

Dear Ms. Reynolds,

Having returned from San Diego and having just finished a week of vacation, I returned to work and promptly had a dozen people ask me if I had read the April issue of Boxboard Containers. Imagine my surprise when I found your excellent article on the CTI User's Forum.

I was thrilled and more than a little embarrassed to find my picture in your magazine, especially considering the company in which I was placed. Let's see...an IS manager for one of England's largest producers, the professor who developed what may possibly be the most significant breakthrough ever in corrugator scheduling and lastly, a production scheduler! Tough company to keep up with. Regardless, I enjoyed your article and am now in the middle of your cover story. Thank you for my 15 minutes of fame, whether I deserved them or not. Have a fantastic day."

Thank you, Mr. Mozley and Mr. Crawford, for participating-and for reading BCI! We hope to hear from more of you in the future.