A weath
er e d row
boat left
moored at a
N e b o land
ing reflects
the slow-
down of ac-
tivity on
Lake James
in winter.
At N e b o-
.'Bridgewater
is 1 o c a t e d
Camp Fire
stone, com
pany-operat
ed employee
recreation
retreat
which is in
season every
May through
October.
MR. CALL:
On Promoting Safety
Working safely and influencing others for safety
may very well make you the arm of Divine Providence.
Because when you discharge the duties of your job
within the framework of safety-awareness, you guard
yourself against injury. But more, you promote the
safety of others within range of your influence.
And most of the time, you Saving people from injury
never know just how far-
reaching that influence is.
These were some of the
thoughts which James B.
Call shared with people who
attended the Gastonia plant’s
monthly safety meeting in
December.
The president of Firestone
Textiles Company further
observed:
“We live and work safely
for our own good—and that
of our families and others
Within our sphere of action.
even death, is so often de
pendent upon someone’s con
cern and action on behalf
of others. It is a ‘my brother’s
keeper’ principle at work.
“Just think of all the peo
ple who didn’t get hurt dur
ing 1969. Further consider
that if it were possible for
those people to know who
anonymously promoted their
welfare, they’d be expressing
appreciation to a lot of peo
ple. And you’d be saying
many a personal ‘thank you’
also.”
Division Personnel
Manager Named
Alvin V. Riley became di
vision personnel manager of
Firestone Textiles Company,
Jan. 1. Riley, who had been
manager of industrial rela
tions here since 1961, con
tinues in Gastonia, headquar
ters of the division.
Division President James B.
Call said that Riley’s appoint-
fnent involves personnel man
agement at all three units of
the division — Gastonia, Ben-
iiettsville, S. C., and Bowling
Green, Ky.
Riley came from Camden,
S. C. to Gastonia, joining Fire
stone here in 1939. He first
forked in carding production,
advancing to shift supervisor in
that department.
IN 1953 he was transferred to
quality control as a shift super-
''^isor. He remained in that job
^ntil he was appointed plant
Safety director in 1956.
Three years later he was made
Manager of employee relations,
becoming manager of industrial
delations in 1961.
Riley is currently a member
the board of directors of Gas
ton County YMCA, on the board
of directors of Schiele Museum
Natural History; is a charter
Member of the Industrial Man
agement Club, and a member of
Alvin
Riley
Division
Personnel
Manager
the board of deacons of Loray
Baptist Church.
In 1965 he was awarded the
Silver Beaver, highest honor for
volunteer adult leadership in
Boy Scouts.
Riley is a past president of
Gaston Personnel Association,
the Blue Ridge Safety Council;
has served as chairman of the
safety committee of Gaston
Chamber of Commerce, and was
for six years a member of the
Governor’s Traffic Safety Coun
cil.
Too, he has been a member of
the Gastonia Zoning and Plan
ning Commission, and is a past
member of the advisory board
of the local Salvation Army unit.
As a leader in the United
Fund, he has served in many
capacities, including United Ap
peal campaign chairman of an
industrial division, and chair
man of publicity and promotion.
Mr. and Mrs. Riley live at
1907 Union Road, Gastonia. They
have a son, Van, of Winston-
Salem; and a daughter, Mrs.
Neil Marlowe of Hickory.
Ti
JANUARY • 1970
Bloodmobile
The Red Cross Reg
ional Bloodmobile will
make the first of its
two yearly stops at
Firestone on February
24. The blood collec
tion will be made at
the Firestone plant
recreation center.
Red Cross Bloodmo
bile visits at Firestone
and the plant com
munity of West Gas
tonia are in February
or early March, and
August every year.
Ralph Johnson, em
ployee relations man
ager, is coordinator of
the blood - donor pro
gram at Firestone.
Eight Donors
Honored
Donors with a total of 15
gallons of blood contributed
through the Red Cross, were
recognized at a luncheon
meeting in December. John
V. Darwin, plant manager,
presented “generosity”
awards to the most recent
group of 1, 2 and 3-gallon
donors.
They are (3 gallons): Tracy
Whitener, weaving-TC;
Hansford Wilkes, weaving-
TC; (2 gallons): Charles
Hamrick, fabric treating;
H. G. Hall, technical serv
ices; Harold Robinson, Ware
house; and (1 gallon): Ralph
B. Franklin, twisting-TC;
Glenn Henry Bell, twisting-
TC; Bobby Ray Queen, shop.
As part of the recognition
for being generous blood
donors, the company pre
sents each person a sterling
pencil upon reaching the 1-
gallon record; a sterling pen
for 2 gallons, and a leather
billfold for 3 gallons.
MIW
GASTONIA
NORTH CAROLINA
1970 GOAL: At Least
1 Idea For Every Person
For the 1968-1969 period just ended, the Suggestion Sys
tem at the Gastonia plant received and processed 524 ideas
submitted by people who work here. Of this number, 76 were
approved, paid for, and put into effect. These suggestions are
at work, benefiting the company and the people who are
at work here.
Goal of the current period
which ends in laie 1970: At least
one suggestion from every per
son. on the job at Gastonia's
Firestone plant.
Ralph Johnson, employee re
lations manager and secretary of
the plant Suggestion program,
has outlined a “thought starter”
list, as a general guide to “sug
gestion production”.
“Ideas are all around you,’’
says Mr. Johnson. “All you have
to do is recognize them, think
them through, and let the Sug
gestion Board study their merit.”
A SUGGESTION is a proposal
to improve something in a spe
cific way. It is an idea that will
benefit the company and the
people who are a part of it. Here
is the “thought starter” check
list:
Your ideas may outline ways
to:
Improve—Methods, Quality of
Product, Housekeeping, Working
Conditions, Accounting Proced
ures, Office Work, Protection of
Company, Property, Safety.
Combine — Operations,
Methods.
Revise—New Equipment, New
Fixtures, New Methods.
Increase — Production, Co
operation of People on the Job.
Propose — New Methods, Im
proved Working Environment.
Reduce—Costs of Production
and Other Areas of Doing Busi
ness, Waste, Fire Hazards, Acci
dent Hazards, Maintenance.
Eliminate — Breakage, Dupli
cation.
Conserve — Time, Materials,
Equipment.
Promote—Employee Welfare.
Substitute — Less Costly Ma
terials, Less-Costly Tools and
Equipment.
“Be alert to these things and
add more of your own,” says
Johnson. “There is always room
for improvement. Look especial
ly at your own job. Is each step
necessary? Is there an easier
way? Are standards high
enough? Can you improve the
quality of your work?”
E&H Bonds: 5 Per Cent Interest
Increase from 4.25 per cent to 5 per cent interest rate on
Series E and H U.S. Savings Bonds was effective as of Dec. 1.
At the same time, maturity time for E Bonds was shortened
from 7 years to 5 years and 10 months (H Bonds continue to
mature at 10 years).
The new 5 per cent interest rate applies to all outstand
ing Series E and H Bonds sold on or after June 1, 1969, if
held to maturity. The higher rate also applies to older Bonds.
Beginning with the first semiannual interest period, start
ing on or after June 1, 1969, the 5 per cent rate on E and H
Bonds will apply when held to maturity or extended maturity.
"Freedom Shares" (U.S. Savings Notes), sold in combina
tion with E Bonds since May 1, 1967, will be removed from
sale June 30, 1970.
seot
belts
Mmm
• Excuses for not wearing
safety belts? Lacerations, broken
limbs, bruises, injurious jolts—
even death? Vehicle seat belts-
harness permanent safety re
minders were installed last
month at all major exits of
Firestone Gastonia and Ben-
nett3ville employee parking
areas.
The arresting red-and-white
enameled metal markers are
among many approaches the
company takes in its continuing
program of off-job safety pro
motion.
This photo was made during
an afternoon shift change at one
of the Gastonia Millon Street
parking areas where the "Seat
Belts Fastened?" reminders are
at work. Inset is closeup of sign
in background.