This was the message from club president Mike Cater and chairman Peter Lapage at its annual dinner in London last week marking the club’s 60th anniversary.
Mr Lapage told the audience of 160 at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel in London that the Club today was "in rude health" and continuing to perform a valuable function in the plywood trade; as a forum for business networking and for disseminating key information, with expert speakers addressing its meetings on subjects ranging from fire retardent materials to marketing.
"The club still has an attraction and value for all levels of the trade; young and old, experienced and those starting out," he said. "It’s one of the few forums where we can all come together, cement business relationships and discuss issues; with recent topics including CE marking, sustainability cerification, and of course most recently the EU Timber Regulation. If developments such as these are all fully understood and embraced we can have a united industry in a stronger position to take on our true rivals [in the market]."
The key to the success of the club, however, he stressed, was continued involvement and participation of as many traders as possible.
"The more that attend, the more successful we can be," he said.
Mr Cater reiterated the message.
"What we have in this club is very valuable and unique, we are independent, with no trade affiliation," he said. "But we do need now to look to the younger element, get them to understand our traditions and persuade them to come forward and get involved. If we can do that, I’m sure this club will continue well into the future."
Former chairman of the Plywood Club Ken Edwards also spoke on his career in the industry and the dinner raised…. for….
