PAGE TWO
Timtoiie NEWS
JULY 25, 1954
New Employees Receive Welcome And Valuable
Informxition Thru Induction Training Program
Each Monday afternoon in the Conference Room all new employees hired during the preceding week
are given two hours of induction training consisting of lectures and concluded with the movie entitled,
“The Building of A Tire.” What these newcomers hear and see at these sessions stand them—and the
Company—in good stead as they embark on new jobs in new surroundings.
MR. IPOCK talks to a group of new employees at a recent
Induction Training Class in the Conference Room.
Teamwork
Norwegian Cadets
To Visit Plant
THIS plant will play host to a
group of Norwegian cadets who
are scheduled to visit this plant
Tuesday, August 3, under the cadet
exchange program operated by the
Civil Air Patrol. The visiting
group will include a retired Nor-
weigan general, an active Nor
wegian Air Force captain, plus
several staff officers from the
cap’s Wing Headquarters in
Charlotte.
The group will have lunch at
the Girls’ Club as guests of Gen
eral Manager Harold Mercer. Fol
lowing this they will be taken on
a guided tour of the plant. Plant
Officer Charlie Ferguson (major
in CAP) is in charge of arrange
ments for this visit.
According to Mr. Ferguson, a
careful itinerary has been pre
pared for the Norwegian visitors
to include as many Noi’th Caro
lina points of interest as can be
seen in the short time they will
be in the state. This plant is one
of two industrial establishments
in the state in their itinerary.
Governor Umstead
Names Johnson To
Advisory Committee
Recreation Director Ralph John
son has been appointed by Gover
nor William Umstead to the North
Carolina Recreation Commission
Advisory Committee. This is one
of a series of honors received by
Mr. Johnson of state-wide signifi
cance. Last year he served as
president of the Industrial Divis
ion of the North Carolina Recrea
tion Society. He currently serves
as vice-president of the NCRS and
holds the society’s title “Mr, In
dustrial Recreation” for 1954,
Employees May Charter
Busses To WNC Dramas
Anyone interested in forming
groups to attend one or more of
Westein North Carolina’s out
door dramas ai'e invited to contact
Recreation Director Ralph Johnson,
If enough people are interested,
busses will be chartered for each
such drama attended. Among the
dramas being presented this
summer are “Unto These Hills”—
Cherokee; “Thundierbird”^—Ashe
ville; and “Horn in the West”—
Boone,
Miss G e r 1 e n e Chapman and
Frank Helms, doffer, were united
in marriage on June 26th, at Salem
Baptist parsonage, Mr, and Mrs.
Helms honeymooned in Florida
and Western North Carolina. They
are making their home with Mrs.
Helms’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. H,
L, Chapman, Lincolnton, N, C,
MISS LOUISE TAYLOR was
married May 16th to Francis
Wofford of Shelby, N, C. Mrs,
Wofford’s parents are Mr. and
Mrs. Hubert Taylor of the
Twisting and Weaving Depart
ments, respectively. Prior to her
marriage, Mrs. Wofford was a
telephone operator in York, S. C.
MR. and Mrs. George Plyer
were married at Loray Baptist
Church on May 4, 1954. The
bride is the former Vivian Ratch-
ford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Ratchford. The groom is
a plumber’s helper in the Shop.
The couple are at home at 108
South Dalton Street.
Here it is that the new worker 0
is officially welcomed into the
large and friendly Firestone fami
ly of workers. He is given a brief
history of the Company including
a rapid description of the present
size and scope of Company opera
tions. Then after hearing from
various members of the Industrial
Relations and Quality Control
staffs he sees the movie mentioned
above. The genius of Walt Disney
is used in the movie to portray in
dramatic technicolor the way tires
are built; and, incidentally, show
the new worker how his efforts
will contribute to the tire making
process.
i):
THE Induction Training Pro
gram is conducted by Industrial
Relations Director T. B. Ipock, Jr.,
with assistance from Safety Di
rector L. B. McAbee, Quality Con
trol Supervisor R. B. Hull, and oc
casionally others. Each staff mem
ber present discusses one or more
of the subjects on the training
agenda which includes: Group in
surance, safety, recreation, vaca
tion pay. Workmen’s Compensa
tion, unemployment compensation,
servicemen’s program, suggestion
system, house organ, and quality
control.
After each of these subjects is
presented, the floor is thrown open
for questions during which time
new employees are encouraged to
freely ask questions pertaining to
any aspect of their new association
with the Company,
No survey of anyone or any
group is needed to prove the value
of this sort of training for new
employees. In one form or another.
It has been approved by most large
and progressive industrial firms.
Should additional endorsement,
however, be needed the reaction of
employees who receive such train
ing might well serve. Here is what
three new employees at this plant
think about it:
“The Industrial Training Class
answered a lot of questions I had
in mind about the plant and its
employee policies,” says Roy Sey
mour, 17, a new sweeper in the
Shop, Mr. Seymour, who started to
work on his first job here last
month, especially liked the movie
on tire building.
Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, a new
third shift winder tender, says
that the induction training she
received here is a sure indication
to her that the Company is gen
uinely interested in its employees.
“You naturally look forward to
working for a company that is
just as anxious for you to be a
success on the job as you are your
self.” Mrs. Harris lives in Dallas,
N. C,, and has two high school-age
daughters.
Arthur Bird, waste baler in the
Warehouse, says the Training Pro
gram showed him how his job fits
in with the over-all operations of
the Company, “I know v/hat to
expect from the Company and I
know what they expect from me,’'
he adds, Mr, Bird, who lives at 519
North Oakland St,, believes that
a new employee who has a pretty
good idea of the requirements of
his job will have a much better
chance at succeeding on that job.
Sports Shorts
The National Sports Festival
Committee has awarded Firestone
Textiles its Certificate of Merit
for participation in National Sports
Festival Week May 10 through
May 15, Recreation Director Ralph
Johnson was chairman of the local
Festival committee.
Three Firestone Little Leaguers,
Buford Turner, M, C, Huffstetler,
and Bunny Jordan, start with the
A, L, Suddeth All-Stars in district
competition August 2nd, The Sud
deth players are making a strong
bid for the state championship,
their third in four years if they
win this one. Coaches for the All-
Stars are Ralph Johnson of Fire
stone and Sam Fowler of the
Optimist Boys Club.
The Firestone Girls Softball
team is battling for top place in
their league with the first place
Smyre team. A defeat over Smyre
July 28 will give Firestone first
place and will boost the latter’s
win-loss record to 5-2.
Firestone’s m.en softballers in
vade Shelby July 28 for the Shelby
Boys Club sponsored Mid-Western
Softball Tournament. The team,
currently in third place in City
League competition, is managed by
Jack Guffey of the Spinning De
partment.
Members of the Firestone Pony
League baseball team were enter
tained at Camp Firestone for the
week end starting Saturday, July
24. Chaperons for the trip were
Recreation Director and Mrs.
Ralph Johnson, Miss Sue Van
Dyke, Charlie Ferguson, and
George Lewis.
Loray Girls Choir Is
2nd Year State Winner
The Loray Girls Choir, under
the direction of Jimmy Moss (Time
Study), was declared a state win
ner in Baptist Choir competition
at Fruitland Baptist Assembly
Grounds, June 26, This is the sec
ond annual consecutive win for the
Loray Choir under Mr. Moss’ di
rection.
(Continued From Page 1)
Y. M. C. A., Red Cross or any
other civic and social projects, you
are not only contributing to the
welfare of the community, but you
are also building good will for
yourself and for Firestone.
In a certain sense, “All Business
is Selling,” or at least it holds
great opportunity for a larger
volume of business and a need for
more workers. If this “Sales Point
of View” is accepted by every
member of our organization, there
is no doubt that we will be suc
cessful in our efforts for a larger
volume business.
We have a great organization
of workers, a great line of quality
products and a wonderful oppoi’'
tunity. Let’s coordinate and unite
them into a strong, winning team
for more business and more jobs!
Canadian Trip
(Continued From Page 1)
stops were made in New York
Washington.
Cooking and tent pitching duties
were distributed among the group
each day. “The girls (all senior
scouts) really got to put theu’
Girl Scout training to work,” sayS
Miss Van Dyke who ali’eady
planning an even longer motoi
tour for next summer.
Employees Report Property
Damage After Storm July 1'^
LIGHTENING and wind damage
were reported from several honie-^
in Gaston County following ^
thunderstorm here July 15-
Firestone families experience^
damage as follows:
Lightening struck Mrs.
Rosdahl’s home on Bethany ^
starting a fire which she
guished. Her mother, Mrs. Ne ^
Stowe (Girls’ Club) who lives ne^^
door, was not aware—due to
severity of the storm—-that
daughter’s home had been s^ru
H. F. Sparrow of the Shop^^^^
ports that wind blew the
from his barn located at bis
on Union Road. The barn,
Mr, Sparrow says will have
completely rebuilt, housed a
of 15 milk cows.
FIRESTONE NEWS
Volume III, No. 12, July 25, 1954
Published by The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
Firestone Textiles Division
Gastonia, North Carolina
Department of Public Relations
Editor R. H. Hood
Department Reporters
CARDING—Edna Harris, Jim Ballew, Jessie Westmoreland.
SPINNING—Ray Thomas, Mary Turner, Maude Johnson.
SPOOLING—Nell Bolick, Helen Reel, Rosalee Burger,
TWISTING—Hazel Foy, Annie Cosey, Dean Haun, Carrie Johnson,
Lorene Owensby, Dorothy Baber, Kathleen Clark,
SALES YARN TWISTING—Bonnie Dockery,
SYC WEAVING—Vivian Bumgardner, Lucille Davis, Sara Davis,
Nina Milton, Juanita McDonald,
CORD WEAVING—Roy Davis, Irene Burroughs, Mary Johnson,
QUALITY CONTROL—Dealva Jacobs, Leila Rape, Catherine Isham,
Louella Queen,
WINDING—Mazelle Lewis, Dorcas Atkinson, Ann Stevenson, Chris
tine Stroupe,
CLOTH ROOM—Margie Waldrop,
SHOP—Rosa Francum,
WAREHOUSE—George Harper, Albert Meeks,
PLASTIC DIP—Frances Huffman, Helen Guffey,
MAIN OFFICE—Mozelle Brockman,
SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE—Sue Van Dyke,
PERSONNEL OFFICE—Barbara Abernathy,