Team Newsletter - November 13, 2011

TRAINING COMMITTEE UPDATE

By Tom Richwine

The training committee meets every other Tuesday at 8:30 am. I am the training committee chairman and the other members of the committee are Jeff Doss, Daniel Bosted, Brian Naylor, Lydia Armstrong and Lora Spenser.

Our committee goal for 2011 was to work with the safety committee to get a training tracker for each operation so we are able to see who has been trained on the items that have been deemed necessary. That tracker has been completed and has been updated by each manager.

We are now working on putting together the company's 2012 training schedule. Each member of the committee has been charged with coming up with training topics that they think are fitting for their operations. We also would like to get input from each of you to help us pick training topics that you would like to see. Some of the training we are exploring are business related and some are focused on personal growth. If you have any suggestions for the training committee, please send them to tom.richwine@repowell.net

Tom Richwine is the Human Resource/Compliance Manager for Powell Christensen. He has worked for Powell Christensen Inc twenty one years. He and his wife Donna, who also works for Powell Christensen, Inc , live in Pasco and keep very busy with their grandchildren.

Wooden-Ism's

by Gary Hedges

Back in February I made a life changing decision to leave 9 years of most everything I had known professionally in search of a new position that would afford me more rewarding times in life, specifically family. During this brief 10 week search for a new beginning to my professional career I had the opportunity to travel via plane for interviews to several different states. As you can imagine I had plenty of time to prepare, as well as keep my mind fresh by reading various books. One of the books I came across was a book written by John Wooden called "Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the court".

Mr. Wooden, if you are unfamiliar with the name, was a legendary college basketball coach and Hall of Famer for the UCLA Bruins. After he retired from coaching he became a teacher of life, sharing his philosophies about how he achieved his success as a young professional. He passed away at age 99 on June 4th, 2010.

As I traveled via air to interviews and sat in many airports I had an opportunity to pull out some excerpts from Mr. Wooden's book that I thought I would share with all of you. I keep these excerpts in my notepad on my phone at all times and periodically reference them, so I don't forget Mr. Wooden's simple, yet effective reminders. In some way or another I believe they are applicable to everyone and can help to remind us of the important things in life, not only at work, but also at home. Enjoy!

John Wooden's Nine Promises:
1.I promise to talk health, happiness, and prosperity.
2.I promise to make all my friends know there is something in them that is special and that I value.
3.I promise to think of only the best, work for only the best, and to expect the best in myself and others (MY FAVORITE!!).
4.I promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
5.I promise to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
6.I promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.
7.I promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and to give every person I meet a smile.
8.I promise to give so much time to improving myself that I have no time left to criticize others.
9.I promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on me.

John Wooden Maxim's:
1.If you do not have the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over?
2.Don't let yesterday take up too much of today.
3.Make sure the team members know they're working WITH you...not FOR you.
4."What" is right...is more important than "who" is right.
5.As long as you try your best, you are never a failure. That is, unless you blame others.
6.Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.
7.Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Character is what you really are; reputation is merely what you are perceived to be.
8.Never make excuses. Your friends don't need them and your foes won't believe them.
9.The time to make friends is before you need them.
10.MAKE EACH DAY YOUR MASTERPIECE!

John Wooden on "Unhappiness Today":
"The primary cause of unhappiness for most people is simply wanting too much: expecting too much materially, chasing the dollar, overemphasizing the material things. When they don't arrive, unhappiness does."

John Wooden on "Discipline and Criticism":
"Discipline's purpose is to help, to prevent, to improve, rather than to punish."

"Criticism is not meant to punish, but rather to correct something that is preventing better results"

"The only goal of both is to improve...I must keep that in mind and use TACT to the best of my ability."

John Wooden on "Self Control":
"Dwelling in the past prevents doing something in the present.

"Complaining, whining, and making excuses just keeps you out of the present.

"Self control keeps you in the present. Strive to maintain self control.

Gary started with RE Powell Distributing in 2011 as the Plant Manager in Yakima. He and his wife, Jessica live in Selah and are active in there children's school. They enjoy traveling, bowling and Pizza!

Company Happenings

Donnie Wolfe, an employee of General Transport, passed away in September. Donnie was a friend to many of us, so we were not surprised when several employees came forward and asked how they could help Donnie's wife and children. Thanks to many of you, our company was able to raise $4,000 for the Wolfe Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Wolfe's during this challenging time.