FAQ

What is the EBMDA?
Eastern Building Material Dealers Association (EBMDA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1892 to represent independent building material dealers and their associates in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. EBMDA was established to foster, protect, and promote the welfare and best interest of its members.

Who are your members?
Our members are independent or employee owned retail lumber and building material dealers. Annual sales of these organizations vary between $1,000,000 to more than $100,000,000.

Who are associate members?
Our associate members are our suppliers of building materials or businesses that supply services to our dealers and support our industry.

If I join EBMDA will I be a member of a national association?
Yes. EBMDA is one of 20 federated regional associations that form the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA). Membership in NLBMDA is included in EBMDA dues.

What do I get for my paid membership in EBMDA?
Member services include education, retirement services, business insurance, monitoring of state and federal legislation critical to members, networking opportunities for peer-to-peer discussion of business problems and solutions, and a wide variety of products and services offered by endorsed vendors. You are entitled to participate in all the discounted services EBMDA provides, and to attend any social function or board meeting sponsored by the association. You receive the bi-monthly newsletter and access to all members and staff. You not only become a member of Eastern Building Materials Dealers Association but also become a member of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association and have access to all national programs.

What is the Insurance & Risk Management Committee?
The purpose of the Insurance & Risk Management Committee is to provide risk management, insurance agency services, and compliance testing activities for the industry, controlled by the membership of EBMDA. The major function of the Committee is to collectively obtain such services on a more efficient basis than individual dealer efforts. For instance, our property casualty dividend program has been paying dividends on a regular basis for years. In most cases if you are enrolled in the program the dividend will more than pay EBMDA dues.

What is ERT?
ERT is an acronym for Eastern Retirement Trust, a subsidiary of EBMDA. The purpose of ERT is to provide a cooperative effort in the creation of master or prototype retirement plans for adoption by members of the building material industry. Trusteeship and plan administration services are offered to provide a common investment strategy and administrative services to encourage the creation of retirement plans for the benefit of the employees within the membership of EBMDA and/or the NLBMDA.

EBMDA has a foundation. What is that all about?
The Eastern Building Material Dealers Education Foundation (EBMDEF) was created to provide the industry with a tax-deductible funding basis for the accumulation of funds to promote educational awareness of the industry as it relates to the proper use of building materials, sustainable forest resources, and the professional management of building material retailing in general. Under the direction of the EBMDEF Board, and in conjunction with the educational efforts of EBMDA, activities are planned to accomplish this goal.

What is ESMS?
Eastern States Management Services Inc. (ESMS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of EBMDA created for the operation of EBMDA and its subsidiaries. ESMS Board of Directors is responsible for the office operations of EBMDA, including finances and staff.

How often does a board member have to go to a meeting?
The EBMDA board meets 3 times a year to conduct business. Committees and subsidiaries meet as needed. Many subsidiary meetings are conducted via conference call when appropriate.

Where are board meetings held?
Board meetings are held in various parts of the region we serve. This practice gives board members an opportunity to visit the various communities our member's serve.

Are spouses welcome at meetings?
EBMDA encourages board members to bring their spouses to board meetings. There are usually planned activities for spouses while members are meeting and evening events for members and spouses.

Can I attend a board meeting if I am not a member?
Sure! All meetings of EBMDA and its subsidiaries are open to dealers whether they are members or not. If you are contemplating joining the association you would be more than welcome to attend a meeting to meet our volunteer board members and staff. All we ask is that you contact our staff for arrangements.