Page 2
AMCO NEWS, April
1981
A Chat With
The Chairman
Since 1904, Adams-Millis has seen ups and downs brought on by wars,
depressions and recessions, changes in the market place and many other
external factors.
As we enter our eightieth year, I am proud to say that we have not only
survived, we have thrived. Adams-Millis is a solid company and we’re
still growing as well.
We have learned many lessons during the hard times that have helped
us be more prosperous and productive during the good times. We have
had to change our products to meet the demands of our customers. We
have had to change our equipment and operations to take advantage of
new technology. We are constantly looking at these lessons, learning
from them and planning for the future.
Two things, however, have stood us in good stead for the past eighty
years. They are our people and our tradition of providing quality products
and service to our customer.
Our employees are the most important asset we have. Without you and
your support and efforts in our behalf, we could never have maintained
Adams-Millis’ reputation with our customers, our suppliers and the com
munity. Our employees have been the key element in our growth over the
years. We are grateful for your commitment to our goals.
Our tradition of providing the best product at the best price has earned
us a place as a national leader in the hosiery industry. Our customers
have come to expect quality products and that is what they deserve.
A good reputation is just as important in business as it is in our personal
life. We have all worked hard to maintain our reputation and we must
continue to adhere to that goal.
As part of our reputation, I have talked a great deal about our purpose -
hosiery company in America. This purpose is in Adams-
Milhs best interest as a company and in the best interest of all our
employees.
As Adams-Millis grows and prospers, we can offer you more career
growth opportunities.
Adams-Millis had a good year in 1983. We saw demand for our products
rise. That demand created more work for all of us. We certainly ap
preciate your willingness to work hard, and in many instances longer
hours, to help us get the job done.
I see continued growth in 1984 too. The purchase of Silver Knit offers us
new market opportunities and a chance to expand. We have also made
many changes that we feel will be beneficial to the company. There have
been changes in management and we’ve consolidated our sales opera
tions into one division.
All of the things we’ve done have prepared us for a bigger and brighter
future. We have the best employees in the industry. Our machinery
plants and equipment are in good condition. We have a top management
team. We’re financially sound. All of these elements give Adams-Millis a
winning combination for 1984.
We have an eighty year history that we can be proud of. I’m sure that
with your help we will have an even more exciting future.
The President’s
Corner
While watching the recent NCAA basketball playoffs on television I
couldn’t help but think of the need for teamwork to be successful. The
winning teams were those whose members worked together. Successful
companies have this same sort of team work. Adams-Millis Corporation
is no exception and if we are to continue to be successful in this our 80th
year, we must maintain the concept of team play.
Adams-Millis’ team has many members, with widely diversified
duties, but everyone has to perform his function at the right time and in
the right way, so that we can reach our team objective, which is to remain
the best hosiery company in the industry. Every single employee of
Adams-Millis Corporation, no matter what his position, is a member of a
team and this team is banking on you.
Our individual eKorts are contagious. We have all noticed someone in
sports who is hustling and giving 100%, and it seems to inspire the whole
team. Then again, another one who is obviously doing less than his best,
and we see the whole team drag and become unsure and less efficient
In our jobs here we are so dependent on each other that there is the
same kind of momentum at Adams-Millis. We must all, every employee,
begin to bank on each other, believe in each other, depend on each other
stand by each other, and see each other through. That is cooperation. It is
necessary that all of us no matter what our job, no matter what plant, no
matter what shift, work together to be successful.
In closing I want to tell this little story. There were three stonecutters
working inside an enclosure, and back of them was a cathedral, about
three-fourths completed. A stranger came along and said to the first man.
My friend, what are you doing?” “Me? I am working for eight dollars a
-fiTi: 7"®'^ what are you doing?”
^ ^ squaring this stone. See? 1 have to make it ab
solutely straight, and you see that little niche right there? The fellow
working down there is cutting a niche just like this, only the other way.
His fits into mine. If we get them just right, they lock together tight, and
solid as if they were one stone.” Finally, the stranger
y““’ "^y friend?” “Me? What am 1
g?Sf! STTgrand'^"'
people, working toward only the pay
insnTre'^aPh ‘^n’t living. We should in every poskle way
into thP npJt 7n comrades to do his own job right so that it will fit
Lnd hP Si ”7 " strong. The more interest
we will bp run ^ m individual jobs, the better citizens
pleasure in thp inTih T* greatest incentive and our keenest
man on the sfaff th ^ together—share and share alike—the
the iob of hniiHi 7 ranks; and that is
leadershin mlp 7^ 7 S ^ great company that has the
ing our 80th anniverfary. ^ ‘'^n accomplish dur-
Employee Benefit Plan Improved
Effective January 1, 1984, two
improvements were made to the
Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.
The changes, at no additional
cost to the employees, are as
follows:
most common semi-private room
charge with no limitation.
1. The hospital room and
board maximum has been in
creased from $100 per day to the
AMCO NEWS
April 1984
Vol. 40, No. 1
AMCO NEWS is edited and pro
duced quarterly by Adams-Millis
Corporation, 225 North Elm
Street, High Point, North
Carolina. Contributions, com
ments and suggestions are
always welcome by your produc
tion staff.
Jackie Barnard, Editor
2. For accident claims on
ly, the present $150 deductible
has been reduced to a $25 deducti
ble if treatment is obtained
within 72 hours following the acci
dent. The $25 deductible applied
toward the accident claim will
also apply toward the $150 calen
dar year deductible.
In his announcement letter,
J.H. Millis, Sr., Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Of
ficer of the Corporation, explain
ed that the improvements were
made possible because of the ex
cellent experience of the Plan
during 1983.
The changes were designed to
address the major questions
about coverages which were rais
ed during the year by employees.
Those questions were prompted
by the change to a comprehen
sive health care plan that became
effective January 1, 1983.
The change to a comprehensive
plan was initiated to help control
rising costs the Plan had been ex
periencing for several years
Health care costs had been in
creasing at a rate of approx
imately 20 percent a year.
The Employee Welfare
Benefit Plan is a self-funded Plan
with contributions made by the
employees and the Company fun
ding a significant portion of the
cost.
Adams-Millis Corporation
takes great pride in continuing to
offer a health care plan which
provides employees and their
families financial security during
illness at minimal cost to
employees.
Retirees
The following employees have
gently retired from Adams-
Millis:
Mary Chapman
Plant 7, High Point
Helen M. Nelson
Plant 4, Kernersville
Virginia Wood
Plant 1, High Point
Dorothy Nelson
Plant 3, Kernersville
Leva Mabe
Plant 3, Kernersville
Pearl McCuiston
Plant 3, Kernersville
Opal Groce
Plant 4, Kernersville
Daphne Hensley
Administrative Office
High Point
Alta Crews
Plant 3, Kernersville
Daisy Brown
Plant 6, Hickory
Dot Mabe
Plant 3, Kernersville