Dale Sparber, Secretary/Treasurer of the Intermountain Saw Filer's Educational Association sends this report of their annual meeting last fall.
   Our convention started Friday night with our Hospitality night hosted by the vendors. The theme was western, and what a good time we all had!  Most of the people who attended dressed western and some even wore holsters with cap guns. We even had a few good old draws amongst the vendors and their guests. The vendors have chosen a '50's theme for next year's Casino Night so everyone should dress as if they were back in the 1950's.
   The program this year was an excellent one developed by our Vice-President, Dan Baldwin. Good Job, Dan.
   The officers for this year are as follows: President, Dan Baldwin; Vice-President, Matt Tulleners; Secretary/Treasurer, Dale Sparber; Sergeant at Arms, Don Haydon; Director Past President, Joe Smith. New Directors with two year terms are Joe Hancock and Clark Huffman.
    The Association would like to thank all the officers who have served in the past, as they are the ones who have made this association a huge success every year.

Lake States

   The 30th annual meeting of the Lake States Saw Filer's Association was held September 19 in Big Rapids, Michigan.
   Tours of Hanchett Manufacturing and Simonds Industries were held Friday afternoon with a manufacturer's display Friday evening.
   On Saturday, our business meeting and speaker program was the order of the day. Representatives of Pacific/Hoe, Simonds, Barker, Oleson Saw, I.K.S. and Armstrong presented topics pertaining to coolants, vari-pitch band saw maintenance and performance, interactive maintenance program discussion and saw deviation controls.
   Gary Baker was elected new President. Gary files for Park Falls Hardwoods in Park Falls, Wisconsin.
   The 1999 meeting will be held in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on September 24th.

   The Southern Saw Filer's Educational Association annual convention and seminar was held at the Holiday Inn Holidome in Monroe, Louisiana, April 17th and 18th.
   Hospitality Room, Casino Night, Ladies Bingo and the Saturday Banquet were the popular highlights. In addition, the first annual S.S.E.A. Golf Tournament was held Friday morning at the Chenault Golf Course in Monroe. Winners received gift certificates at the pro shop.
   The educational program featured a presentation on welding by James Ellis and Jimmy King of Potlatch. Bill Peacock of Harrigan Lumber spoke on band mill wheel grinding and David Brassel of I.K.S. discussed round saw hammering.
   Other topics presented included the following: Filing room safety by Jim Collins; grinding variable pitch band saws by Mike Reick of Vollmer; monitoring band saw performance by Russell Barrett of Simonds. The afternoon schedule included discussions on grinding wheels by Dick Stand of Pacific Grinding Wheels; curve sawing by Ron McGehee of McGehee Machine Company and small saw care by Mike Halderman of Systematic.
   Officers were elected as follows: Don Till, President; James King, First Vice-President; Bill Townsend, Second Vice-President; Lee Stockton, Secretary/Treasurer.

Midwest

   The Midwest Saw Filer's 12th annual meeting was held in Indianapolis on October 4th. Secretary Ralph Manting sends this report: After a Friday evening social hour and manufacturer's display the evening was spent informally. Our speakers program consisted of experts in the industry discussing topics including vari-pitch band saws, coolant selection, maintenance procedures and scheduling. Simonds, Armstrong,  Pacific/Hoe, Barber Inc., Oleson Saw Technology and I.K.S. were participants.
   Marv Ubelhor of Phil Eteinne Hardwoods was elected to serve as President.