NEWS ABOUT MUELLER CO. EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES DECEMBER 1987

Plant Manager's CornerIt's December already. It seems like yesterday that it was the.4trt of,duly,

and some had given up hope (again) that the Cleveland Indians were going tohave a good year. The month of December, the holiday season, and the end ofthe year seems to come around all too fast. But it does come, and it is a timeto reflect about the past year. Also, it is a time when we look to the future —to the year that lies ahead.

1987 was a year of ups and downs, some good things happened and somenot so good. On the good side our orders, after a slow start surged beyondeveryone's expectations. The plant went into high gear and we maintained ex-cellent customer service. This is an area that we at the Decatur Plant can beproud. We also met for the second time in a row some very aggressive cost reduc-tion goals, with continuing improvement in foundry scrap, productivity, reducedspending for materials we need to manufacture our product, reductions in energyusage and MRO spending. Many people were called back from layoff and weare happy to have them back.

On the bad side, pricing pressures continued in the marketplace reducingprofit margins on many products we make and sell at Decatur. We failed to meetour scrap and rework goals in the Machine Shop, and we experienced three morelost time accidents this year than the previous year. Our 1988 plans call for "fixes"to improve those things we can do something about and an aggressive searchfor ways to offset our pricing problems.

Overall, however, 1987 was a good year. Another year of progress for ourDecatur Plant with cost reductions and customer service the high points. Also,our capital program began to bear fruit in 1987 and will assist us to lower ourcost and maintain product quality. The best example I can think of is the newCMC machine recently installed in Department 70. It's a beauty.

Now let's consider the future. 1988 will be another year of challenge. Hous-ing starts are projected to be slightly down from this year. Pricing is expectedto remain very competitive. It looks like prices for steel scrap and brass ingotwill be higherthan we had budgeted. Illinois Power has announced their inten-tion to significantly raise our power rates. These factors are challenges —challenges we intend to overcome. We have to. Based on our past performance,I am confident that we will meet our 1988 budget commitments in spite of theseproblems and this time next year we will be able to say — we've done it again!

Thanks to each of you for your contribution during the past year. I wish-y you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Seat Belt Awareness Program PresentedAll Decatur Mueller Co. employees were in-

vited to participate in a seat belt awareness pro-gram. There were two instructors from EasternIllinois University presenting the program to ouremployees during the first week of November.The purpose of the program was to stress theimportance of wearing seat belts at all timeswhile driving. The instructors presented the factsabout how seat belts work and how many livesare saved each year as a result of seat belt use.Each individual was given the opportunity to ridethe "Convincer", which is a device that will allowthe rider to feel the effect of a crash at less than10 miles per hour while wearing a seat belt. Thisprogram was deemed to be a success as severalnon-seat belt users have since started wearingtheir seat belts.

Pictured left to right are Bob White, JimWeatherford and Bill Riner.

A.I.W. Food BasketPlant Manager, Bill Riner, representing

Mueller Co. Manufacturing, presents a check toJim Weatherford and Bob White, Local 838 Com-mitteemen for the annual food basket drive heldin December, 1987.

The donation goes along with the gate col-lection done by the Union employees forpreparation of food baskets given out during theChristmas holidays to laid off employees andtheir families.

United Way CampaignMueller Co., Decatur Water and Gas Divi-

sion, and Local #838 kicked off the 1987 UnitedWay Campaign on October 12, 1987. The drivewas a great success thanks to all the employees,solicitors, chairmen, and Mueller Co. who con-tributed to the campaign.

The total pledge for the plant and officeemployees is $51,379.64 with 73% of Mueller Co.employees participating. The average gift was$90.45 per year.

Many thanks to all who contributed to the1987 campaign.

Advisory CommitteeMrs. Betty Wheatley, Benefit Coordinator,

will be serving on the advisory committee for theSchool of Business at the Decatur Area Voca-tional Center.

The Committee will input information to theDecatur Area Vocational Center Staff on prepar-ing high school students to go to the entry leveljobs after graduation. They will also emphasizeways of attracting qualified, interested studentsinto the vocational field during their high schoolcareer.

Leo Chase in the "Convincer"

an rlOLIDcTVS

Vorld ChampionshipThe Royal Raiders Drill Team attended the

<ll America's Youth on Parade National/Worldnampionship held July 21 - 25 at the Notreame University in South Bend, Indiana,embers of the team included Dawn and Joysay, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. David Seay.avid works in the Ground Key Division as aound key body machine operator.

To capture the National - World Drill Teamnampionship the "Royal Raiders" performedfive minute systematic military drill. Com-3titors were from Canada, England, and thenited States.

Congratulations goes to the drill team.

[id Kare ProgramDecatur Memorial Hospital Kid Kare Pro-

•am provides basic day care services for all illnildren who can't attend their normal day care• school setting while parents are"St"work,ours and any other information desired, pleaseall 877-8121, extension 5470 or contact theueller Co. Personnel Office for a brochure.

festivals and SpecialCventsecember 6 - February 28Dur World in Miniature Exhibit"irks Museum, Gorin Hallillikin University

ecember 6 - 31Slow of Christmas"eWitt County Museumlinton, Illinois

inuary 9h Annual Winter Carnivalinow sculptures & games)orthbrook, Illinois

anuary 30 - 31entral Illinois Jazz Festivalecatur Holiday Inn

jbruary 1 • 7reater Woodfield Winter Carnival III;haumberg, Illinois

Jbruary 3 - 7hicago Boat Sports and RV ShowcCormick Place - Chicago

jbruary 26 - 289nter Illinois Sport and Tackle Showecatur Civic Center

Hsney WorldPlanning a vacation to Florida or California

is holiday season or next year? Discount cardse available to Disneyland, Disney World, ande Epcot Center from the Mueller Co. Person-sl Office.

Left to Right; Chuck LeMons, Ben Browning and Terry McCoy

Employees Receive Training CertificationChuck LeMons, Benny Browning, and Terry

McCoy recently received certificates for com-pleting the Operators Training School for the"Cincinnati 1412 CNC Turning Center Machine".The machine will be set up for operation in theSpecialty Department during the first week ofDecember and is the first step in modernizingsome of the machines in the SpecialtyDepartment.

The Cincinnati CNC will have two turretswhich will cut simultaneously, and has "live tool-ing" in one turret that can perform milling, drill-ing, or tapping operations. It will also run bar

Who's NewKeenan Marquez, born August 29, 1987 to

Jimmie and Betty Adams. Jimmie is a keymachine operator in the Ground Key Division.Keenan has an uncle, Larry Adams in the BrassFoundry.

Anna Elizabeth, born October 6, 1987 toRonald and Nancy Hotwick. Ron works as a ship-ping and receiving clerk in the Foundry. Annawas welcomed home by brothers Nathan andJason.

Stacey Marie, born October 11, 1987 toRobert and Susan Durham. Bob works as a semiautomatic chuck operator in the Ground KeyDivision. Stacey was welcomed home by brotherChristopher.

Robert Michael, born October 27, 1987 toMichael and Lisa Steen. Mike worked in theBrass Foundry as a ladle'man and recentlyentered the military service and is presently ona military leave from Mueller Co.

Wedding BellsKarl Dean Petrowsky and Roberta Lynn

Risem were married Octobers, 1987. Karl worksin the Specialty Department as a #3 turret rodlathe operator. Congratulations to Karl, Rober-ta, and step son Nathan from the Mueller Co. andtheir employees.

stock, castings, and do forging with a bar feedattachment.

These capabilities will help assure con-tinued quality, help reduce tooling cost, andreplace obsolete equipment now in thedepartment.

Pictured Karen Penn (left) and Tammy Miller(right)

National Drunk AndDrugged DrivingAwareness Week

The Decatur Mental Health Center incooperation with the Illinois Department ofTransportation salutes the Mueller Co. for theiractive participation in the National Drunk andDrugged Driving Awareness Week: December 13- 19, 1987.

The Mueller Co. Wellness Committeejoined the life saving holiday campaign by con-tributing bumper stickers that state "IDesignated Drivers". What is a designateddriver? The person in a group who agrees to re-main sober and drive the others safely to theirdestination. These bumper stickers will bedistributed at the local alcohol - servingestablishments and as handouts at the librariesin Macon County. Our thanks to the Mueller Co.Wellness Committee for showing us how tocelebrate with care. First a friend ... then a host. . . be the LIFE of the party.

Mueller Children'sChristmas Party

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The Mueller Co. Children's Christmas Partywas held December 5, 1987 at the GriswoldCenter Millikin University. Employees and theirfamilies were welcomed by Mr. William Riner -Plant Manager.

Mr. John Shirley presented a fantasticmarionettes show and a balloon barrage, "Leonand Luba" presented foot juggling along withcomedy juggling, and the GaVcia's Familypresented a dog show and a comedy trapeze actfor an exciting show.

The show was well received and enjoyed bythe 1500 people attending. A warm welcome bySanta Glaus was shared by the children.

Supervisors, retirees, exempt, non-exemptpersonnel and their families helped sack thetreats given to the children. A special thanksgoes to the following people for helping makethe party a great success:

Herb Ashmore, James Boose, Gary Bouc,Marcie Brooks, Dave Butkus, Ira Cox, BeckyDamery, Lynn Edwards, John Fawcett, CarlFloren, Jodi Groenewoud, Kathy Groenewoud,Robyn Groenewoud, Joyce Holub, Larry Holub,Johnny Hunt, Dennis Keithley, Nancy Kircher!Bill Lawyer, Trisha LeMons, Dodie Luker, TerryMcCoy, Christy McEldowney, Bob Minks, JohnMoffett, Bob Oyler, Bill Riner, Bob Seider, ArchieSefton, Gerry Stanley, Kevin Stanley, LarryStoltz, Larry Warfield, Charles Winters, ChrisWinters, Jack Winters, Loren Winters.

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Service AwardsDct., Nov., Dec.

5 YEARSGary Rusiecki

10 YEARSRicky TaylorWilliam L. JohnsonLloyd ReedRon GulleyIsaac CurryJerry HallPaul SchrishuhnDixie BergfieldJanice Wright

Robert Fulk35 Years

15 YEARSLarry DietzRussell WicklineJoe SiskFred StroyeckEugene WhiteDavid TaylorJames WallaceRuth CarrigerFrank FykeDavid SaloggaDavid Dawson

20 YEARSDonn CrossDwaine Mescher

Gerald MaHaffey35 Years

Robert Foster35 Years

Paul Tolbert35 Years

Wendell McRoberts35 Years

Robert Hunt35 Years

Leroy Lawson30 Years

Larry Donaldson30 Years

Mueller Lodge PhotoIdentification

Thanks goes to the retirees who called inand identified the employees in the picturepublished in the last newsletter.

Following is the identification of theemployees taken at the Mueller Lodge.

Standing left to right: Bill Ferry, AdolphMueller, Rick Roarick, George White, J.W. Wells,Chuck Coventry, Unknown, Frank Mueller,Everett Mueller, Charlie Cochran, Robert MuellerSr.

Kneeling left to right: Billie Simpson, BillieMason, Burt Jackson.

Y103 - BobBrady Winner

Mrs. Cindy Baker, wife of Harvey Baker, wasthe winner of a 1988 Dodge Shadow in the Y103- Bob Brady - Dairy Queen contest on Saturday,November 14, 1987.,

Harvey works in the Ground Key Division asa single parts tester and is very proud of the newcar and his wife.

Robert Boehm(40+ Years)

Arlen Burton25 Years

Martin Endrizzi25 Years

J.D. Giles25 Years

Robert Oyler25 Years

Mueller Co.DECATUR ILL 62525

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