The New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association (NHRLA) and the Retail Lumber Dealers Association of Maine (RLDAM) gathered at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa, in Portland, Maine, on September 6-8, for their Annual Celebration weekend.
The weekend began with each board of directors holding separate meetings on Friday afternoon. Attendees then enjoyed an hour-long cocktail reception on board Casco Bay Lines’ Bay Mist cruising around Casco Bay en route to Peaks Island. Once on the island, a fierce cornhole competition broke out between states, which wrapped up just as the sun was setting over Portland and a lobster bake was being served.
Attendees had several different activities to choose from on Saturday, including a Schooner Cruise, golf at Nonesuch River Golf Club, and an afternoon Scavenger Hunt around Portland’s Old Port.
Later that evening, attendees from both states convened for a rooftop cocktail reception capturing yet another dazzling sunset. From there it was over to the Mariner’s Church Banquet Hall for the celebration of each states’ award recipients. On the NHRLA side, Brad Benson, Benson Lumber & Hardware, honored his longtime friend Mike Kelly, Coastal Forest Products, as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and Chris Marshall, Hamshaw Lumber, celebrated Lumber Person of the Year Kenneth Hamshaw, Hamshaw Lumber. On the Maine side, Clarence Keller, Rankin’s, paid tribute to his longtime colleague and Lumber Person of the Year, Lisa Burgess, Rankin’s.
Lumber Person of the Year Ken Hamshaw with his family.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Mike Kelly with his family.
Lumber Person of the Year Lisa Burgess with her family.
Border War Trophy Returns to Maine
RLDAM reclaimed the ME-NH Border War Trophy in the 12th annual version of the “friendly” competition between the states. This year’s competition was solely based on a round-robin style cornhole tournament. Although NH performed much better in this year’s competition as compared to 2022, Maine was able to shake off their scrappy neighbors to triumph in the third and final round. The overall series, which began in 2012 with a pool tournament pitting state vs. state, is now tied up at six to six. New Hampshire will look to take back the trophy next year on their home turf at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside on September 12-14.
