Tomorrow Magazine Fall 2002 - UAW-Chrysler.com

LOOKING AHEAD AT THE UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER 

FALL 2002 

www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org 

SO HOT 

IT’S COOL 

EVERYONE, EVEN JAY LENO, 

WANTS CONNER AVE.’S 

LATEST RIDE 

Happy Trails for City Kids 

PAGE 20 

Preparing for Global Leadership 

PAGE 16

Side by Side 

Supporting Youth and Our Future 

DaimlerChrysler Senior Vice 

President John Franciosi (left) and 

UAW Vice President Nate Gooden 

CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH IS ONE OF THE MOST 

valuable by-products of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 

partnership. In many ways, we demonstrate our shared 

conviction that young people are our most precious 

resource — and it’s our responsibility to help them realize 

their dreams. 

We congratulate UAW-represented and non-bargaining 

unit DaimlerChrysler employees who support youth 

in their communities. Many of them do so by serving as 

volunteers in DaimlerChrysler’s World of Work Program 

or the National Training Center’s Youth Program. 

While their contributions are significant, this is 

not the time to rest on our laurels. Greater efforts are 

needed to help kids reach their potential. Our schools would benefit from expanded 

alliances with UAW-DaimlerChrysler facilities to bring classroom and workplace closer 

together. Many of our locations already have formed educational partnerships, and some 

of them have become benchmark school-to-work initiatives. 

Teachers welcome support from employees who provide positive role models by working 

as mentors and tutors. Even by volunteering an hour a week, a mentor can make a difference 

in a student’s life, especially one who is at risk of failure due to lack of financial 

resources or nurturing at home. 

Seeking to get more locations and individual employees involved as youth advocates, 

we have created a new joint program that’s being implemented this fall. It’s called 

Youth — Focus on the Future (see page 8). The program represents a renewed commitment 

by UAW-DaimlerChrysler to support young people. We urge local union leaders 

and management at all locations to join this effort. 

And we encourage more employees to offer their time and talent, following in the footsteps 

of people like Lenny Spates, a UAW Local 1435 member at Toledo Machining. 

As noted in this issue, Lenny mentors in an after-school program at the UAW- 

DaimlerChrysler Ohio Regional Family Training Center. Like most employees who get 

involved, Lenny gets back as much as he gives, as measured by personal satisfaction. 

Standing up for youth is the right thing to do. It’s also in our best interest. Partnering 

with schools through Youth — Focus on the Future gives us an opportunity to help prepare 

students for challenging, well-paying manufacturing jobs — and that includes jobs 

at DaimlerChrysler. It’s no secret that many kids graduate poorly equipped for jobs in an 

auto industry where higher skills are required to keep pace with changing technology. 

We can help meet our own workforce needs down the road by addressing that issue 

through greater employee involvement with youth today. As Detroit Axle’s Speed 

Miller says (see page 20 to learn about his contributions): “Kids are our future.” Amen 

to that, Speed! 

UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER 

NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER 

2211 East Jefferson Avenue 

Detroit, MI 48207 

313.567.3300 

Fax: 313.567.4971 

E-mail: rrussell@ucntc.org 


JOINT ACTIVITIES BOARD 

NATE GOODEN 

VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR 

DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEPARTMENT 

UAW, CO-CHAIRMAN 

JOHN S. FRANCIOSI 

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EMPLOYEE 

RELATIONS DAIMLERCHRYSLER 

CO-CHAIRMAN 

DAVE MCALLISTER 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO 

VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR 

DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEPARTMENT UAW 

KEN MCCARTER 

VICE PRESIDENT, UNION RELATIONS AND 

SECURITY OPERATIONS DAIMLERCHRYSLER 

JAMES DAVIS 

CO-DIRECTOR UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER 


FRANK L. SLAUGHTER 

CO-DIRECTOR UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER 


RON RUSSELL 

COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR 

BOB ERICKSON 

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST 

TANISHA PEREZ 

STAFF WRITER 

MICHAEL BULLER 

EDITOR 

KAREN ENGLISH 

SENIOR EDITOR 

JENNIFER DOLL 

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR 

SUSAN CASSIDY 

COPY EDITOR 

KRISTIN BRADETICH 

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR 

CATHERINE KORN 

PRODUCTION MANAGER 

KEVIN CAVANAUGH 

ACCOUNT MANAGER 

Nate Gooden 

John Franciosi 

This magazine is printed by a union 

printer on union-made recycled paper. 

2 www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org

LOOKING AHEAD AT THE UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER 

Volume 6 • Number 4 


Features 

Fall 2002 

10 

14 

16 

Vrooom! 

COVER 

STORY 

Conner Avenue rolls out the most powerful Viper ever — the 2003 

SRT-10 convertible. And perfection is the name of the game for these 

dedicated workers. 

By Nancy Shepherdson 

Hit the Ground Running 

It’s all about teamwork. DaimlerChrysler comes on strong at the 

2002 Corporate Cup Regional Relays. 

By S. C. Biemesderfer 

Reaching Out 

After a whirlwind three-country tour of manufacturing plants and union 

facilities, participants in the 2002 Global Youth Solidarity Project return 

with strong union loyalty and an enhanced global perspective. 

By Molly Rose Teuke 

5 

14 

Departments 

2 Side by Side 

Supporting youth and our future 

4 Backfire 

Your feedback 

5 Nuts & Bolts 

Check out our minivan roundup, 

quiz yourself and more 

7 Sign Up 

Employee Participation program, 

Youth — Focus on the Future, 

Dependent Care and more 

cover 

2003 Viper 

page 10 

cover photo 

courtesy 

DaimlerChrysler 

Off the Clock 

19 Our People 

A century of satisfaction, horsing 

around, bearing up under pressure 

and a driving force 

22 Surf City 

Protect your computer from viruses 

24 Lifelong Learning 

Revisit your friendly neighborhood 

library 

25 Your Money Matters 

When to break the rules 

26 For Your Health 

Uncovering some fitness fakes 

27 From the Archives 

The Roaring ’20s 

19 

27 

Tomorrow (ISSN: 1096-1429) is published quarterly with two special issues in spring and fall for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Training Center by Pohly & Partners, Inc., 

27 Melcher Street, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02210, 800.383.0888. Periodicals postage rates paid at Boston, Mass. and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address 

changes to Tomorrow, 2211 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48207. © 2002 by UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Training Center. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or 

in part of any text, photograph or illustration without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Backfire 

FEEDBACK 

Clarification on Emergency Backup 

Child Care Program 

A profile of an emergency backup 

child care program on page 8 of 

the Summer 2002 issue incorrectly 

reported that services offered through 

a Toledo-based child care provider are 

available 24 hours a day, 7 days a 

week. The program, open to UAW- 

DaimlerChrysler workers, is available 

Monday through Friday from 5:30 

a.m. to 1 a.m. for in-home child care. 

Sponsored by the UAW-Daimler- 

Chrysler National Training Center, 

the program is designed to provide inhome 

child care when emergency circumstances 

arise and regular child 

care is unavailable. 

UAW-represented workers are eligible 

for up to 80 hours a year or 160 

hours a year if both parents are 

UAW-DaimlerChrysler workers. The 

NTC subsidizes 80 percent of these 

child care expenses with the parent 

paying only 20 percent. 

For more information, please contact 

The Gathering Place, which operates 

the program, at 419.691.6313. 

Safety First 

I was reading your magazine the other 

day (Summer 2002 edition) and was 

shocked by the picture printed on page 

17 showing V.L.White pointing a laser 

scanner at the camera. Your photographer, 

Gary Norman, is extremely lucky 

to be able to use his eyes after that. 

These are not toys or props to be used 

for a picture, and they can very easily 

blind a person for life if shined into 

the eyes. Our safety department has 

told the workers here at Jeep that this 

is not something that is to be used like 

a toy and anyone caught shining this 

in the face of another worker will be 

punished, up to and including being 

fired. This device has more power 

than a laser pen because of the larger 

power supply, and any optometrist or 

ophthalmologist would go ballistic if 

they heard this was being done. 

OSHA would fine the company that 

allowed this with a very large fine if 

they knew about it. 

We have been constantly told that 

the UAW is striving for worker safety, 

and to see this kind of picture in our 

magazine undermines all we have tried 

to do, not to mention what it could do 

if some non-union member saw this 

and wanted to make an issue of it. In 

the future, please tell your photographers 

that our tools are just that — 

tools. They are not to be used as props 

just so a photographer can get a 

“good” picture, because some can hurt 

or maim people for life, and that is not 

justifiable for any reason. 

Other than this, your magazine is 

one of the best I have seen. I have family 

that work at both GM and Ford, 

and this magazine beats their magazines 

hands down. 

Daniel E. Gray 

UAW Local 12 

Toledo Jeep Assembly 

Editor’s Note: 

Thank you, Daniel, for your letter. We 

know that safety in the workplace is 

of tremendous importance, and we 

strive always to portray workers in 

proper safety gear, working in a safe 

manner. We did not realize the danger 

involved in this shot, and we will 

make every effort to prevent this from 

happening again. 

The Backbone of DaimlerChrysler 

I was just wondering why there are no 

articles on Toledo North Assembly 

plant. We have been through quite a 

cycle the last three to four years: 

the threat of the plant moving, a 

“Toledo Jeep is 

probably the 

‘backbone’ of 

DaimlerChrysler.” 

merger/take-over, new contract, new 

plant, new vehicle, new team rotation 

system and more. 

Toledo Jeep is probably the 

“backbone” of DaimlerChrysler. 

Why are we being overlooked by 

Tomorrow today? 

William H. Ellis 

UAW Local 12 

Toledo Jeep Assembly 

Editor’s Note: 

You’re right. It has been a while 

since we last covered Toledo North 

Assembly, in our Fall 2000 issue. 

We hope to get back there again 

soon. Thanks! 

UAW-DaimlerChrysler Joint Activities Board Mission Statement: “In a spirit of cooperation, mutual dedication and joint effort, the mission of the Joint Activities Board 

is to improve DaimlerChrysler’s competitive position by implementing mutually agreed upon training programs and projects to increase product quality, employee job 

security and employee satisfaction from work.” 


Nuts&Bolts 

Written & 

compiled by 

Jennifer Doll 

Carpool, 

Anyone? 

Whether you’re toting the kids to school, 

taking the family to grandma’s or lugging 

equipment to the big game, these 

smooth rides will give you a 

distinct advantage. With the 

extra room, smooth handling and 

DaimlerChrysler dependability they 

offer, any trip will be a pleasure. 

Chrysler Voyager 

This mid-level model combines value, convenience 

and safety, all under the premium Chrysler 

brand name. Voyagers are equipped with 

multistage, dual front airbags that inflate 

at varying rates to minimize potential 

airbag-related injuries. You can also 

choose front-passenger side-impact 

airbags and built-in seats for toddlers. And noise and vibration 

have been significantly reduced in this model, allowing 

you to travel in optimum comfort, wherever you go. 

Chrysler Town & Country 

Continuing the tradition that began with the first frontwheel 

drive minivan, this stylish multipurpose vehicle 

combines comfort and class. With 

innovative features, a voluminous, 

versatile interior and the amenities 

of a luxury car, all housed in the practical, 

functional body of a minivan, the 

Town & Country is king of the road. 

Dodge Caravan 

Named top minivan in Money magazine’s “Car Guide 

2002,” this rugged family vehicle offers options including 

a power rear liftgate, power sliding doors and a built-in 

DVD player. With innovations like a removable 

rear cargo organizer, three-zone 

temperature control and tons of 

storage compartments, the 

Caravan will get you and everything 

you’re carrying where you want to go — in a style that 

you’ll grow accustomed to. 

Pumpkin Patch 

Along with football games, cool weather and 

the return of school, fall also brings that funny 

orange gourd that we all know and love. But 

there’s more to the pumpkin than meets the 

eye. Take our quiz and find out some littleknown 

pumpkin particulars. 

How large was the biggest 

pumpkin pie ever made? 

More than 5 feet in diameter 

and over 350 pounds. Its ingredients 

included 80 pounds of 

cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of 

sugar and 12 dozen eggs, and 

it took six hours to bake. 

What medical uses were pumpkins 

once thought to have? 

Curing snake bites and getting 

rid of freckles. 

How much did the largest 

pumpkin ever grown weigh? 

1,140 pounds. 

Pumpkin: fruit or vegetable? 

It’s a fruit, a member of the 

gourd family. 

When is the majority of the U.S. 

pumpkin supply available? 

Coincidentally enough, 

October. Ever seen a jack-o’- 

lantern in July? 

TOMORROW FALL 2002 5

Nuts&Bolts 

The Good Old Days 

Hey, all you car fans and history buffs, have we got the quiz for you! Match the event in automobile history 

with the year in which it occurred. Of course, the more you know about Dodge, the better you’ll do. 

1. The first Hemi engine was introduced. 

2. Automakers started attaching fins to the backs of cars. 

3. One million Dodge vehicles were on the road. 

4. All civilian automobile production ceased as the industry went to 

work for the war effort. 

5. The bighorn ram was adopted as the symbol of Dodge. 

6. The first wheeled vehicle bearing the Dodge name was 

produced. (Hint: it was a bicycle.) 

7. The first Dodge with the label “R/T” (for Road and Track) 

hit the streets. 

8. The Dodge Caravan was introduced, revolutionizing the 

automobile industry. 

RON KIMBALL STUDIOS 

Match the event above with the correct year below: 

a. 1984 b. 1953 c. 1967 d. 1895 

e. 1935 f. 1942 g. 1925 h. 1955 

answers: 1.b 2.h 3.g 4.f 5.e 6.d 7.c 8.a 

Tomorrow 

WINTER 

1999 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

The Chrysler Kid Grows Up 

The last time we spoke to Cynthia Bueter, for the story 

“The Chrysler Kid” in our Winter 1999 issue, she was 

just starting out as a freshman at St. Louis University, 

in St. Louis, Mo. Bueter, whose dad, Norbert, is a repairman and 

member of UAW Local 136 at St. Louis North, was planning to 

pursue a special five-and-a-half-year degree program in physical 

therapy. Now, with four years and an undergraduate degree under 

her belt, she’s looking forward to finishing her education and 

eventually turning it into a career. 

Bueter says that the classes she 

took as a youngster at the UAW- 

DaimlerChrysler Region 5 Family 

Training Center helped prepare her for 

the diversity of a large university. “[At 

the Training Center] I got to work with 

a lot of different people,” she says. 

Bueter has made definite progress toward a career. For the past 

three years, she’s been assisting physical therapists and helping 

patients at Fenton Physical Therapy. As rewarding as college has 

been, however, Bueter is looking forward to starting full-time work 

when she graduates. “I’m looking forward to making money — 

and spending it,” she laughs. 

— Donna Ress 

Get Your 

Kicks Where? 

Experience the on-road performance 

of Dodge cars and the off-road performance 

of Dodge trucks at Route 

2002, a free test-drive experience 

that’s making its way across the country. 

Featuring a specially designed 

road course and a fun family environment, 

the event also offers a NASCAR 

Winston Cup simulator, the Viper racing 

video game, a Pedal Ram truck 

course for kids, assorted sweepstakes 

and prizes, and more. Upcoming locations 

include Philadelphia, Charlotte, 

N.C., Atlanta and Phoenix. To save 

your space, or for more information, 

go to www.dodge.com/route2002 

/events_dodge.html. 


Sign Up 

Time Out for Learning 

Workers find a fresh — and refreshing — perspective at the ‘Employee P’ 

It’s easier to learn when you’re 

relaxed — you can concentrate better 

and retain more knowledge. Just 

ask the nearly 50 UAW members who 

recently left their jobs behind and spent 

an idyllic week in Michigan’s north 

woods at a summertime Employee 

Participation Conference. 

The setting for the July conference 

was the 1,200-acre Walter and May 

Reuther UAW Family Education 

Center at Black Lake, a resort-like 

school for workers near the tip of 

Michigan’s lower peninsula, about 275 

miles north of Detroit. 

During the meeting, the delegates 

from 30 DaimlerChrysler plants 

across the country learned about the 

economic and political influences on 

the auto industry and the labor movement, 

with special focus on the UAW 

and DaimlerChrysler. 

“It was awesome,” says Mark 

Jessamy, a control center backorder 

clerk from the Newark Parts Distribution 

Center. “Coming from the city, 

it was a great experience for me. The 

center is something really nice for the 

[UAW] membership.” 

But Jessamy, a nine-year 

DaimlerChrysler employee and 

a member of UAW Local 404, 

says that one of the most 

intriguing aspects of the “Employee 

P” program was its allencompassing 

curriculum. 

Conferees heard from 

DaimlerChrysler marketing experts, 

National Training Center 

program specialists and independent 

experts in the history and politics of 

the international labor movement and 

the corporation. 

UAW Local 869 member Margaret 

Pittman, a hi-lo driver who has worked 

at Warren Stamping for eight years, is 

enthusiastic about the conference. “It 

was a wonderful experience, very educational 

and lots of fun,” she says. 

Pittman made maximum use of 

the center’s immaculately 

kept facilities, using the big 

indoor swimming pool as 

well as the gym. But she was 

particularly impressed by 

the Employee Participation 

program itself. “I really 

enjoyed the marketing presentation, 

showing us the 

newest commercials and 

explaining how the advertising 

is done,” she says. 

Both Jessamy and Pittman 

agree that the best part of the 

conference was “meeting all 

kinds of different people” 

from DaimlerChrysler facilities 

all over the country. 

Now Pittman and Jessamy will be 

spreading the word. “I’ve been 

telling my coworkers about the trip 

and how you can gain an understanding 

of the whole auto industry 

and how it is related to labor, politics 

and the global economy,” 

Jessamy says. “It’s not just about 

your job or the plant — you see it all 

coming together as a unit.” 

Employees interested in attending 

a future conference should contact 

their local union president or 

facility manager. ■ — Bob Erickson 

For further information about the 

Employee Participation program, 

contact the UAW’s Larry Williamson 

or DaimlerChrysler’s Colleen 

McBrady at the National Training 

Center, 313.567.3300. 

TOM LAUNDROCHE 

ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Margaret Pittman, Mark Jessamy, Dennis Downing Jr. and 

Carolyn Y. Redwine enjoy learning in a laid-back setting. 

RIGHT: Stunning views like this one are commonplace at Black Lake. 


Sign Up 

Touching the Future 

New program helps kids see what’s possible 

After 32 years of working in an 

auto plant, Lenny Spates has 

learned a lesson or two he can 

pass on to the younger generation. As 

a skilled tradesman, he has the experience 

and knowledge to help kids make 

the right educational and life choices. 

And, equally important, he has the 

heart and sense of purpose to do something 

about it. 

“I’m no Bill Gates — I can’t supply 

every kid with a computer,” says the 

UAW Local 1435 member at Toledo 

Machining. “You find different ways 

of giving back to the community.” 

Spates’ way is to work with at-risk 

students from two Toledo junior high 

schools during an after-school program 

at the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 

Ohio Regional Family Training Center. 

Seventh- and eighth-graders learn 

math, science and team-building skills 

with support from employees at 

Toledo Machining and Toledo North 

Assembly who volunteer their time 

once a week during the school year. 

The mentoring program is one of 

many school-to-work initiatives sponsored 

by the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 

National Training Center and Daimler- 

Chrysler Corp., designed to bridge the 

gap that often exists between industry 

and educational institutions. 

Recent studies by the National 

Alliance of Business have shown that 

public schools need help in reaching 

students who can’t connect what they 

learn in class to the outside world, 

and can’t visualize their roles as workers, 

parents and citizens once they 

finish school. 

Seeking to fill that void, 

the National Training 

Center and the corporation 

have launched the 

Youth — Focus on the 

Future Program. It’s a 

new national youth initiative 

aimed at expanding 

partnerships between 

UAW-represented Daimler- 

Chrysler locations and elementary, 

middle and high 

schools. It builds upon the 

NTC’s Youth Program and 

DaimlerChrysler’s World 

of Work Program. 

The emphasis is on exposing students 

to manufacturing technology 

and job opportunities in that field 

through a series of partnership models 

that may be implemented at 

plants, parts distribution centers 

and UAW-Daimler-Chrysler Regional 

Training Centers. 

All locations are being asked to 

appoint a volunteer coordinator to 

collaborate with schools on such 

activities as mentoring/tutoring, academic 

competitions, summer technology 

camps, Junior Achievement, job 

LENNY SPATES helps kids 

focus on the future. 

shadowing, plant tours, career fairs 

and co-op experiences or internships. 

The Ohio Regional Family Training 

Center spearheads the NTC’s commitment 

to youth in the Toledo area. Its 

after-school program benefits about 

40 students from Jones and Leverette 

junior high schools. Once a week, they 

and their teachers team up with 

Toledo Machining and Toledo North 

Assembly workers for two hours of 

activities that range from building 

solar-powered cars to learning about 

labor unions. 

The Toledo Board of Education 

To get involved as a Youth — Focus on the Future Program 

volunteer or to obtain further information about developing school 

partnerships, contact John Rhodes or Ray Czarnik, UAW-Daimler- 

Chrysler National Training Center, 313.567.3300. Also, Nellie 

LaGarde, manager of DaimlerChrysler education programs, 

248.512.2934. Employees who serve as mentors or tutors 

receive training provided by DaimlerChrysler’s education department 

before being matched with a school. They are expected to 

volunteer at least one hour per week. 

JOHN SOBCZAK/LORIEN STUDIOS 


Sign Up 

Dependent Care Savings 

A money-wise way to care for your family 

and Toledo Federation of Teachers 

have recognized the 20-week program 

as an outstanding businesseducation 

partnership. 

Spates, a jitney repairman who 

volunteered for the program three 

years ago, says it teaches students 

valuable lessons they wouldn’t learn 

otherwise. “It helps to get kids going 

in the right direction toward a good 

job, hopefully one in a union shop.” 

He says building the small-scale, 

solar-powered cars and racing them 

are highlights, since students learn 

problem solving, people 

skills and self-esteem 

while working in 

small groups. 

The satisfaction 

Spates receives from 

being a mentor is similar 

to what he felt as a vocational 

education teacher at Toledo’s Libby 

High School. “When you see kids you 

taught back in the ’80s, and they tell 

you about the positive things they’ve 

done with their lives, it makes you feel 

good all over. You feel like you’ve 

really accomplished something.” ■ 

— Ron Russell 

With a little planning, you can add some extra mileage to the money 

you earmark for dependent care. The Dependent Care Assistance 

Plan allows UAW-represented DaimlerChrysler workers to set aside 

money specifically to care for dependents — tax free. 

The plan works like a bank account. You determine how much money — 

up to $5,000 — you want to save for eligible services during the upcoming 

year. The money goes into a flexible, tax-free savings account to cover 

expenses for child care, before- and after-school programs or caring for an 

elderly parent or ailing spouse. The money, which is exempt from state, federal 

and Social Security taxes, is deducted from your paycheck and automatically 

put into your dependent care account. 

When you pay a care provider, the provider either signs a voucher, 

available for download at www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org/new 

/worklife/depcare.cfm, or provides a receipt you attach 

to the voucher. Just fax or mail the voucher to 

ADP Claims Processing (the address is on 

the voucher), which will issue a 

check drawn from the account 

or directly deposit the money 

into your regular bank account. 

Unspent funds can’t be rolled over or 

refunded, so don’t put in more than 

you anticipate using. Funds covered by 

receipts can be recovered until April 30th 

of the following year. 

The next open enrollment period is coming up this fall. Workers 

already enrolled in the plan must re-enroll for the 2003 calendar 

year. Enroll online at www.resources.hewitt.com/daimlerchrysler 

or call Benefit Express at 888.456.7800. For more information, 

call the plan administrator at 800.654.6695. ■ — Jessica Lewis 

A Helping Hand, Saving Time 

If you’re just not finding enough hours in the day, you’ll 

want to check out the new Convenience and Concierge 

Services Program. The free program, introduced last 

spring, is part of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler Family 

Resource and Referral Program. Consultants can save you 

time by recommending resources and referrals in a long 

list of areas, such as vacation planning, housekeeping 

services, dance lessons, pet care, auto repair, 

voter registration, education and fitness clubs. 

The consultant may also send you resources 

such as information packets, videos and audiocassettes. 

For a complete list of referrals and resource material, 

call the UAW-DaimlerChrysler Family Resource and 

Referral Program at 800.809.4996. — J. L. 


Plant 

The Hottest 

Viper Ever 

Comes roaring 

out of Conner Avenue 

STORY BY 

NANCY SHEPHERDSON 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

BY BILL SCHWAB 

J 

ay Leno can have whatever kind of car he wants. 

So can Joe Perry of Aerosmith and Troy Aikman, former quarterback for 

the Dallas Cowboys. But Jay and Joe and Troy all choose to own Dodge 

Vipers. (Leno has a garage full of them.) Why? Here’s one clue: the speedometer 

tops out at 192 miles per hour. 


LEFT: Bill Hay checks 

for perfection 

BELOW: In the 

driver’s seat 

BELOW RIGHT: Details 

of the 2003 Viper 

“I’ve driven a lot of great sports 

cars, but the Viper is in a class by itself. 

It’s everything your mother warned 

you about,” Perry said recently when 

he picked up his newest Viper at 

Conner Avenue Assembly. The hardrocking 

guitarist spent more than 

three hours talking to the people who 

built his car, totally stoked by the fact 

that each of these 10-cylinder driving 

machines is built by hand from the 

ground up. 

And those hands from UAW Local 

212 are special. “We have a lot of 

talented people here,” emphasizes 

Alfredo Passarelli, a member of the 

new model launch team and final line 

repairman. They do such remarkable 

work that Viper-craving customers 

like Perry often drop by to pick up 

their cars personally, something that’s 

allowed at this plant every Friday. 

Now Conner Avenue is unleashing 

the most powerful Viper ever — the 

2003 SRT-10 convertible. This Viper 

has 500 horses under the hood, a 

sleeker body and a longer wheelbase 

for improved road-loving maneuvering. 

Are Viper fans excited about the 

new car? You could say so. Every single 

one of the 1300 available 2003 

models was spoken for three days after 

they went on sale. And they’re all being 

purchased by current Viper owners. 

Tuned to Perfection 

PEOPLE WHO BUY VIPERS HAVE BEEN 

CALLED “THE MOST INFORMED, MOST 

DEMANDING, MOST DISCRIMINATING 

customers in the industry.” And who 

can blame them? If you’re paying 

$75,000 or more for a set of wheels, 

you’re going to expect perfection. At 


Conner Avenue, the focus has always 

been on finding every defect before a 

car leaves the line. 

Defects don’t have a chance here. 

The plant employs 134 people, who 

have proven that they are great at 

what they do. Not only did they have 

to bid on their jobs, but also they had 

to go through an extensive interview 

process. “We’re looking at their attendance 

record, their safety record, the 

skills they bring and their education, 

as well as their enthusiasm for the 

job,” says Cindy Henderson, plant 

manager and an admitted car nut who 

loves the Viper. She drives one whenever 

she can and creates opportunities 

for workers to get behind the wheel, 

too. Employees who have perfect 

attendance for a year are eligible to 

take possession of a Viper for a week. 

Every worker chosen for Conner 

Avenue gets the title of “craftsperson.” 

That term fits well because they are 

creating a car from scratch with 

absolutely no help from automation or 

robots. Each Viper takes two and a 

half days to build, moving along just 

705 feet of assembly line from beginning 

to end. In 2002, that meant building 

a grand total of eight cars a day. 

ENSURING QUALITY: 

Al Reynolds 

THAT VIPER JUST 

MAKES YOU SMILE: 

Loretta Steward, Ken Bott 

(Not 80 or 800. Eight.) In 2003, daily 

production is scheduled to soar to 10. 

Making their way through the plant 

at a deliberately leisurely pace, the cars 

stop at each station for 45 minutes, 

during which time each craftsperson 

has to perform a complete job such as 

installing all of the panels or full-body 

detailing. “What happens at one station 

here could take a whole zone at 

other plants,” explains Ken Bott, UAW 

Operating Principles facilitator. Each 

person is responsible for inspecting the 

car for any problems while it is in their 

station, and making sure those problems 

are fixed. And workers who finish 

the tasks on the car in front of them are 

encouraged to help others. “I will usually 

look and see if anyone in my area 

needs a bit of help,” says Loretta 

Steward, final line. “If I’ve done a job 

before, I like to show people things 

that worked for me.” 

Once the time elapses — assuming 

team members have completed their 

work — the car moves to the next station. 

But the checking is still not over. 

Throughout the plant, a variety of 

“Quality Gates” ensures that each 

Viper is checked before moving on to 

the next stage of production. For 

instance, each car is subjected to a rolls 

test where it is “driven” in a testing 

machine both at slow speeds and at 90 

miles an hour. In addition, each of the 

four antilock brakes is tested separately 

while the car is in the rolls tester. 

The car then goes to an underbody 

inspection to be tested for leaks. 

Not much different from the testing 

that happens at the end of the line in 

many plants, right? Right. Except that 

this happens just after the chassis is 

completed, before the body is added, 

to prevent dings in the finish. That 

means the tires must go on very early 

in the process. What rolls into the testing 

room looks more like a dune buggy 

than a high-performance sports car. 

But at this plant, nobody cares if things 

aren’t done in the familiar order, only 

that every single defect is caught and 

corrected. “Here, each person gets a 

chance to make their piece of the job 

perfect before it goes on,” says Al 

Reynolds, fluid filler and rolls tester. 

“That’s what makes us unique.” 

Bill Hay gets his hands on one Viper 

a day. As customer satisfaction auditor, 

his eight-hour-a-day job is to find any 

remaining defects on that one car. And 

nothing gets by Bill. So it was a cause 

for celebration when, one day last 

June, Bill tested a Viper and could find 

no defects at all. Not a single teeny-tiny 

one. The plant threw a big party for 


everyone to mark the occasion and 

Henderson hopes to do even more celebrating 

during the 2003 model year. 

The Best Is Yet to Come 

“IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE WE CAN 

IMPROVE QUALITY EVEN MORE, BUT 

WE WILL,” HENDERSON PREDICTS. 

“We had a 50 percent improvement in 

Customer Service Audits in the past 

year, and one of the pluses of 2003 is 

that it’s going to be more process 

friendly.” For one thing, the plant has 

acquired a Net, Form and Pierce 

machine that will allow it to benefit 

from more precisely machined bodies 

set to specific tolerances. For another, 

the plant will begin using an ANDON 

system in which a set of lights and 

announcements will serve as an early 

warning to team leaders if problems 

are developing anywhere along the 

line. In addition, plans call for reallocating 

each craftsperson’s tasks so 

that workloads are evened out. 

The craftspeople also are being 

trained more extensively than ever 

before on the new model. Employees 

built even the first of the test-built new 

models right on the line, intermixed 

with the 2002 production cars. “We 

went through station by station and 

trained everyone,” says Passarelli. 

“We only had to show them once and 

they knew what to do.” 

Things used to be much different at 

Conner Avenue. “The biggest change is 

that, when I started, all the employees 

had to learn multiple jobs,” says James 

Hardy Jr., financial secretary of Local 

212 and co-chair of joint programs at 

the plant. “Now we’re able to have our 

own jobs and to become much more 

expert in our tasks. Quality-wise, that’s 

a great improvement.” 

So great, in fact, that the plant 

became the frontrunner to build two 

The Ins and Outs at Conner Ave. 

engines in the past two years. In 2001, 

Conner Avenue began producing the 

aluminum engine for its own Vipers, 

and in October it will begin turning 

out 10-cylinder, cast-iron engines for 

the Dodge Ram. But even better, it will 

let the plant continue to prove that perfection 

is not only possible — it’s also 

a lot of fun to try. 

“What better way to feel satisfaction 

than to see an ecstatic customer 

come to our house to pick up their 

car?” asks Henderson. Unless it’s seeing 

Bill Hay turn in another zerodefects 

report after a long day of looking 

at perfection. ■ 

ENJOYING THE RIDE: 

James Hardy Jr. 

gets behind the wheel. 

Until 2001, the Viper plant assembled only 

the outside of the car, not the all-important innards. 

It took a lot of persuasion to convince higher-ups 

that Conner Avenue could do the job better. But it 

didn’t take long to prove it. 

In just a year, the nine craftspeople working on 

the Viper’s aluminum engine achieved a warranty 

expense reduction of 82 percent. Most of those savings 

stemmed from getting the job done with three 

fewer people. In addition, it isn’t necessary to carry 

as much inventory when you can predict precisely 

how many engines you’re going to need based on 

closely observed production levels. There aren’t any 

transportation costs either, as there would be with an 

outside engine plant. 

So is it any wonder that, when DaimlerChrysler 

needed a new place to build Ram engines, it chose 

Conner Avenue? Beginning in October, Conner 

Avenue will ship cast-iron engines to St. Louis, 

Warren and Mexico. And it will continue to produce 

all the Viper engines it needs within sight of the 

craftspeople on its own assembly line. — N.S. 


Profile 

Team DaimlerChrysler 

shows its stuff 

at the corporate 

games 

FULL SPEED AHEAD: 

Mark Miner heads to the finish. 

HIT THE 

GROUND 

running 

Global competition ran very close to home this summer for DaimlerChrysler’s 

Corporate Cup track and field team. Neither rain nor cold feet (literally) nor 

a 10K maze could keep Team DaimlerChrysler down in the 2002 Corporate 

Cup Regional Relays, held in suburban Detroit. 

“We made a great showing this year,” says DaimlerChrysler Tech Center electrical 

engineer Kelly Povilaitis, a two-event runner who co-captained Team 

DaimlerChrysler along with Tech Center mechanical engineer Ron Papke. “We had 

to contend with some cold, rainy weather as the competition began, but we kept our 

spirits high and everyone on the team gave it their very best effort.” 

STORY BY S.C. BIEMESDERFER 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM LAUNDROCHE 

By all accounts, it was the coolest 

start in years as DaimlerChrysler took 

on the elements as well as other 

automakers in a daylong contest with 

dozens of events, including a 10K run, 

5K run, 5K walk, high jump, long 

jump, shot put, distance relay and 

4 x 100 sprint relay. Overall, about 250 

employees from seven companies competed 

in the annual event. 

There were some unexpected challenges 

at the races, including a giant 

(135-member) GM team swarming 

the courses (in hopes of overtaking 

reigning champion Ford) and a 10K 

with a twist (the majority of runners 

took a wrong turn on the course, making 

it a 10K-plus). But Team Daimler- 


Chrysler came on strong with boosted 

numbers — more than 50 competitors 

this year — as its contestants raced, 

walked, jumped and cheered their way 

to a third-place finish. Perennial winner 

Ford once again went home with 

the championship trophy, GM was second 

and GE placed fourth. 

Athletes from the Big Three (as 

well as GE and several other 

Midwestern manufacturers and automotive 

suppliers) have been running 

into each other this way since the 

1980s. And for just as many years, 

DaimlerChrysler teams have made a 

great tradition of vying for the 

Corporate Cup regional crown. Every 

June, a cross-section of employees — 

men and women, union and management, 

from locations across Michigan 

and Ohio — pulls together to become 

the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Cup 

contingent. The 2002 team featured 

competitors from the Daimler- 

Chrysler Tech Center, Sterling Heights 

Assembly, Detroit Axle and Toledo 

North Assembly. 

Finance specialist and Daimler- 

Chrysler runner Darrel LaMar says 

that the company has always had its 

priorities clear in the athletic arena. 

“At work, we put competitiveness 

first; with the relays, we always make 

participation our No. 1 goal,” explains 

LaMar, who coordinated Daimler- 

Chrysler’s roster for more than a 

ABOVE: Members of Team DaimlerChrysler 

BELOW LEFT: Frederick Benchie 

BELOW RIGHT: Aisha Thomas 

decade before passing the baton to 

Povilaitis and Papke. “But that doesn’t 

mean we don’t want to win,” LaMar 

adds. “In fact, we’ve come close to taking 

the regional title a couple of times 

over the years. We’ve always had a 

strong team with a good mix of seasoned 

and more novice competitors.” 

Frederick Benchie, production 

operator at Sterling Heights Assembly, 

agrees. “This was my second time on 

the team, and it was a great experience 

to get together again with the 

people from different Daimler- 

Chrysler locations,” says Benchie, 

who this year competed in the high 

jump, long jump and distance relay. 

“It’s all about teamwork.” 

Teamwork was clearly in the hearts 

and minds of UAW-DaimlerChrysler’s 

finest as they rallied for inspiring performances. 

Toledo Assembly’s Becky 

Rudnicki made the commute to compete 

in four events (more 

than any other team 

member) and the 

women 10K runners 

(the Tech Center’s 

Jennifer Headley, Donna 

Guiher and Povilaitis) 

came in a close third. 

The crowd was wowed 

by DaimlerChrysler’s 

4 x 100 sprint relay team 

(Detroit Axle’s Aisha Thomas and the 

Tech Center’s Mark Miner, Steve 

Lambeth and Maurice Wilson) and 

their come-from-behind finish: anchor 

Wilson sped past three other runners 

to zoom from fifth to second place in 

the final yards of the race. 

“I think [the team’s performance] 

made us all realize what we can 

accomplish when we pull together,” 

says Povilaitis. “We’re already looking 

forward to next year and to competing 

with another great team.” ■ 

Team DaimlerChrysler is searching 

for more track and field talent for 

next year’s Corporate Cup, and for 

point people to organize competitors. 

UAW and non-bargaining unit 

employees who would like to become 

part of the Team DaimlerChrysler tradition 

should contact Kelly Povilaitis 

(kp15@daimlerchrysler.com) or Ron 

Papke (rdp3@daimlerchrysler.com). 


BY MOLLY ROSE TEUKE 

For Denise Stallings, the big 

picture is a big deal, and it has a 

lot to do with adopting a global 

view to keep the union strong. “It’s 

beneficial to get the full scenario 

instead of basing your view on a small, 

local level,” says Stallings, a loader and 

civil rights chairperson for UAW Local 

1248 at Center Line Parts Distribution 

Center. “We have to look at things further 

out, to look at our long term instead of just 

tomorrow and the next day.” 

Last May, Stallings got a thorough grounding in the big 

picture. Joined by 32 other union members, Stallings participated 

in the 2002 Global Youth Solidarity Project, 

touring auto manufacturing and union facilities in three 

countries. Twelve UAW members participated along with 

five Canadians, representing the Canadian Auto Workers 

(CAW), and 18 Germans, representing the German Metal 

Industry Union, IG Metall (IGM). 

“We’re all looking for a decent standard of living,” says 

Sharyl Loose, a CAD designer at Jeep/Truck Engineering 

and a member of UAW Local 412. “If we understand the 

benefits and lifestyles of other unions in other countries, we 

can all go in the same direction more easily.” 

The big picture had a different connotation for Matt 

Lemons, at least on the day he toured DaimlerChrysler’s 

Sindelfingen manufacturing facility near Stuttgart, 

LEFT: Sharyl Loose 

RIGHT: Denise Stallings 

Germany. He was awed by its size. “We have 120 people 

in my local,” says Lemons, picker-packer and second-shift 

committeeman with UAW Local 2360 at the Dallas Parts 

Distribution Center. “They have 45,000 employees.” 

Seeking Solidarity 

Although Lemons shot hundreds of pictures and hours 

of videotape, he says it’s still hard to comprehend the 

depth of his experience over the tour. But that’s not surprising, 

considering that the goal of the project, going 


Tomorrow’s 

union leaders 

learn to act locally, 

think globally 

Program 

JOHN SOBCZAK/LORIEN STUDIOS 

into its fourth year in 2003, is to help young leaders 

develop a global view. 

“We’re taking emerging leaders and giving them a 

cross-cultural perspective,” says Rodney Monk, who helps 

coordinate the project for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 

National Training Center. “We want them to get a brief 

overview of the cultural, work, union and governmental 

issues affecting all three unions.” 

Judging by the reaction of participants, it appears that 

the project is succeeding. “Understanding each other’s culture, 

business and education systems allows us to think 

more globally as unions, just as corporations have done,” 

says Loose. “The more we know, the more our minds are 

open to possibilities for the future.” 

IGM member Max Klingender echoes Loose’s notion 

that workers need to develop the same level of international 

networking that management has. “We are able to 

learn from each other and develop a joint vision of the 

future,” says Klingender, who does robotic maintenance at 

Daimler-Chrysler’s Düsseldorf facility. “We live in different 


countries but in the same world, and it is 

our responsibility to create our future.” 

Like other GYSP participants, Klingender 

satisfied two important criteria: he 

is between the ages of 18 and 33, and he 

is active in the union. “It is good to have 

young employees with the know-how to 

discuss work-life questions all over the 

world,” says Klingender, “and to transfer 

the answers to their plants, to solve problems 

and to develop a dynamic spirit for 

the future.” 

On the Road 

The tour was divided into two parts, 

a one-week tour of Germany followed 

by a one-week tour of the United 

States and Canada, with a week off in 

between. On May 5, all 33 participants 

met in Frankfurt to begin the first week. 

The group toured plants and union facilities, 

took a breathtaking ride through 

the Mercedes-Benz test track and enjoyed 

a traditional “Stocherkahnfahren” (boat 

ride) on the Neckar River. They visited 

Heidelberg Castle, Berlin’s Hard Rock 

Café and Checkpoint Charlie at the site 

of the Berlin Wall. 

It was a lot to cover. “We were up in 

the morning at 7 and on duty until we 

finished dinner at 11:30 or midnight,” 

says Loose, “and the discussions would 

go on right through dinner. Even when 

we were playing, we were working, 

learning other cultures, other ways of doing business.” 

Participants had a break, then gathered in Detroit on 

May 26 for the second leg of the tour. They visited several 

facilities, including the NTC and the Conner Avenue and 

Sterling Heights Assembly plants as well as the CAW 

Educational Centre, the Bramalea Assembly Plant in 

Brampton, Ontario, and two CAW union halls. The group 

also toured New York City from Ground Zero to Times 

Square, cheered the home team at Yankee Stadium and 

took a boat ride to within 150 feet of Niagara Falls. 

“Sometimes the days were so packed, you didn’t have a 

chance to think about what was happening,” says Holger 

Röesser, who works in wastewater treatment at Sindelfingen 

and is active in IGM’s Stuttgart local. Röesser appreciated 

the solidarity of traveling with union activists from other 

The goal of 

the project, 

going into its 

fourth year in 2003, 

is to help young 

leaders develop a 

global view. 

ABOVE: Rachel Leblanc, holding left side of flag, 

with other CAW members; BELOW: Matt Lemons 

countries. “We have to find a basis from 

which we can work together and share our 

experience,” he says. “We have to know 

that others exist, that they are not only 

numbers, but also people with families and 

wishes and plans for the future.” 

A week after his return to Germany, 

Klingender made a report to young 

trainees at his workplace. “For most of 

them, it was the first time to be in touch 

with personal experiences about the U.S.A. 

and Canada,” he says. 

“The workers in Germany and the U.S. 

are just like we are here in Canada,” adds 

Rachel Leblanc, a health and safety 

instructor at Brampton Assembly and 

member of CAW Local 1285. “They have 

families, they’re trying to earn an honest 

living in an unstable economy. They don’t 

know what the future holds, and they are 

working hard to achieve similar goals.” 

For Leblanc, this global understanding 

is part of her new world view. “Each country 

wants to be strong,” she says. “We need to understand 

that we can do this together.” 

Overall, the lessons of history were a key part of the 

tour. In one day, over two lectures, Loose took 14 pages of 

notes — “and that was on my own union in my own country,” 

she says. “It’s important to know the history,” adds 

IGM’s Röesser. “When you know what the unions have 

done, it’s easier to explain to other people how and why the 

unions are so important, to learn from the history.” 

“The union will benefit from ideas on problem solving, 

looking at new ways to assist workers and better the workforce, 

and hopefully someday gaining a complete international 

solidarity for all workers,” says Leblanc. “It may 

seem distant now, but the concept is not all that off-base. 

Really, what other choice do workers have?” ■ 

ABOVE: COURTESY RACHEL LEBLANC, BELOW: DAN BRYANT 


Our OurPeople 

Off the Clock 

Still Loyal After All These Years 

At 100 years young, Vera Vieman is a lifelong Chrysler owner 

JAY BAKER 

Vera Vieman is one satisfied 

customer. Her first car was 

a Chrysler. So is her latest, 

a 1987 navy blue Fifth 

Avenue with 32,000 miles 

on it. But what makes Vera remarkable 

is that all the other cars she’s 

owned — some 25 cars over the past 

80 years — have been Chryslers, too. 

Glen Ruble, an inspector at St. 

Louis North Assembly, knew about 

Vera’s unwavering preference for 

Chryslers long before he attended her 

100th birthday party last December. 

After all, Ruble’s son-in-law, William 

Sites, is Vieman’s grandson. Sites 

tipped off Ruble that Vieman, of 

Bourbon, Mo., was a lifetime customer. 

A long lifetime customer. 

COMMITTED TO CHRYSLER: 

Vera Vieman and Glen Ruble 

“I’ve worked at Chrysler coming up 

to 30 years,” says Ruble, a member of 

UAW Local 136, “so I was interested 

in this story.” He asked the centenarian 

about her loyalty to the Chrysler 

brand after he saw a photograph of her 

taken in 1923. The picture shows a 

smiling Vera Kappelmann leaning 

against her Maxwell, a car produced 

by the company that became Chrysler 

Corp. in 1925. (You can see this photo 

on the inside back cover of this issue.) 

These days, Vera tools around in a 

wheelchair because her left knee 

“played out,” she says, but in the 

1920s, she used her Maxwell to get to 

and from the schoolhouses where she 

taught, in Steelville and Cuba, Mo. 

“There were no highways back then, 

they were just thinking about Route 

66, and I had to drive on some 

pretty bad dirt roads,” she remembers. 

Vera didn’t get married until she 

was 30 because, she says, “My life was 

going along well, and I had no desire to 

“Chrysler was the 

first company 

to ‘dive’ the hood 

down so we could 

see the road better.” 

stop teaching.” When she did settle 

down with a Bourbon banker, Ralph 

Vieman, she convinced him to give up 

his Buick. He picked a Chrysler over a 

Cadillac after only one test drive. 

“I heard that Mr. Chrysler, who 

always wore a hat, saw to it that he 

didn’t have to take off his hat to get in 

one of his cars,” Vera explains. Sure 

enough, “Pop didn’t knock his hat off 

when he climbed in the Chrysler.” 

The Chrysler also won out because 

“Chrysler was the first company to 

‘dive’ the hood down so we could see 

the road better.” 

After that first Chrysler, the couple 

always had a gleaming late 

model in their garage. “My husband 

and I never kept one long,” says 

Vera. “We always got a good deal on 

the trade-in.” Her latest Chrysler is 

part of that long tradition. “It’s clean 

and shiny and tuned up,” says Vera, 

“but I get other people to drive it for 

me now.” ■ — Martha K. Baker 


Our 

People 

Off the Clock 

Saddle Up! 

Speed Miller puts kids on the trail to success 

Acertain part of Speed 

Miller’s anatomy — and 

not just his brain — 

remembers the first time 

he ever rode a horse. 

“Talk about a cowboy — I was walking 

like one of them!” he says of his 

first equestrian experience 25 years 

ago. “I was very, very sore.” 

Miller and his brother had ventured 

across the border from their 

Detroit home to a Canadian ranch. 

There, an older rider gave Miller 

some crucial advice: “Ride with the 

horse — when the horse goes up, 

you’re supposed to go up.” 

Today, the 58-year-old Miller, a 

second-shift maintenance supervisor 

at Detroit Axle, teaches that same lesson 

every year to 30 local kids 

through his Youth Mounted Patrol. 

He organized the Shriner-sponsored 

group 10 years ago, after hearing 

about a similar group in Atlanta. 

Miller’s mounted squad doesn’t 

actually patrol anything, but they do 

ride horses — from Detroit’s Belle Isle 

park — in parades and Boy Scout 

Jamborees all over Michigan. And 

every Saturday, Miller invites patrol 

members to his ranch to practice riding. 

“I consider all of them my kids,” 

he says. And they make good riders. 

“They don’t have the fear that adults 

have,” he explains. “Kids get up there 

and say, ‘I want to do that!’ I’ve never 

met one that hasn’t. Never.” 

Miller, who inherited his racy first 

name from his father and grandfather, 

says that riding isn’t the only thing 

patrol members can learn around 

horses. “It gives them self-confidence,” 

he says. “If they take the 

responsibility seriously, they can control 

this big animal.” 

A dozen years ago, when Miller’s 

daughter, Arlanna, showed an interest 

in riding, he bought her a quarter 

horse named Diablo. He has since 

added four more horses to his stable. 

And the Youth Mounted Patrol keeps 

them busy. 

“Kids are our future,” says Miller, a 

DaimlerChrysler worker for 38 years. 

“So [adults should] do something like 

this that’s constructive.” ■ 

— Steve Knopper 

BORN TO RIDE: 

Devante Griffin (left) 

and Speed Miller 

BILL SCHWAB 


Our OurPeople 

Off the Clock 

A FRIEND INDEED: Herb Apelgren 

In the Driver’s Seat 

WHEN HERB APELGREN FIRST LEARNED ABOUT the Friends Program, he had 

no idea he’d end up helping dozens of people drive home a brand-new 

Chrysler brand vehicle. Under the program, all UAW-represented and nonbargaining 

unit DaimlerChrysler employees and retirees can sponsor the 

sale or lease of four Chrysler vehicles a year to friends and extended family 

members at 1 percent below factory invoice. 

Apelgren, a facilities engineer at Indianapolis Foundry and UAW Local 

361 member, eagerly passed his control numbers on to people he knew. 

With four cars sold and no more numbers left, Apelgren began asking fellow 

employees if they had any that they weren’t planning to use this year. 

He then gave those numbers to more people who needed them. As of July, 

Apelgren had given out almost 50 numbers — that translates into almost 

50 new Chryslers cruising the open road. Those results would make any 

UAW-DaimlerChrysler worker proud. “All my friends drive Chrysler cars,” 

says Apelgren. ■ 

— Donna Ress 

For more information or to participate in the Friends Program, call 

800.756.2886 or visit www.dc-employeeadvantage.com. 

Loaded for Bear 

When it comes to hunting, Mike Horton’s a straight arrow 

ABOVE: LARRY LADIG, BELOW: JOHN SOBCZAK/LORIEN STUDIOS 

Most of us would need a pretty 

good reason to head out into 

the woods of northwest 

Michigan where black bears 

rule … at dusk … in the fall 

… when the big guys are good and hungry. 

Mike Horton can give you 410 reasons 

why he’s glad he sat in a tree in that dark 

forest last September. The giant 410- 

pound black bear he bagged will go down 

in Michigan history as the largest bear 

ever taken down by a hunter. With a bow 

and arrow, that is. In one, single shot. 

“It takes some patience, but my father 

taught me to bow hunt when I was 12, 

and I’ve really loved it ever since,” says 

Horton, a member of UAW Local 227 

who’s been working as a millwright at 

McGraw Glass for six years. “And I enjoy 

taking on a good challenge.” 

Horton has taken on those challenges 

to the tune of two prestigious 

Boone and Crockett awards — one 

for last year’s black bear, another for 

a white-tailed deer he took down 

in 2000. Outdoor enthusiasts 

will tell you that earning even 

one Boone and Crockett 

accolade in a lifetime 

would be a crowning 

moment for any hunter. 

And for those everyday 

proud moments, 

Horton’s 6-foot-5- 

inch prize black bear 

now stands upright 

and stuffed in his living 

room, right next to his 

television. ■ 

MIKE HORTON hunts 

— S.C. Biemesderfer with the bear necessities. 


Off the Clock 

Surf City 

BY BOB ERICKSON 

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER 

FROM INFECTION 

Viruses, Worms 

and Trojan Horses 

Everyone’s heard of computer 

viruses, and millions of people 

have had them — from the 

sniffling-sneezing kind that just 

sends you a stupid message to the 

black plague–emergency room variety 

that wipes out valuable files, 

cripples hard drives and brings down 

corporate computer systems. 

Viruses are mean little pieces of 

code — software — that are 

designed to infect your computer, 

copy themselves and then spread 

to other computers. They don’t just 

happen; they are written by people 

trying to cause trouble. 

Virus terminology is confusing, 

and the various definitions (like 

Trojan horse, worm and e-mail 

virus) are often used interchangeably. 

But you don’t really need to 

know that. What you need to know 

is how to tell if you have a virus, 

how to get rid of it if you do, and 

how to keep from “catching” a 

virus in the first place. 

You may have a virus if: 

• You get lots of e-mails returned 

to you that you never knowingly 

sent in the first place, with messages 

like: “Sorry, this mail has 

been returned to the sender, 

because it contains an attachment 

that may contain a virus.” 

• Some files suddenly cannot be 

opened, disappear or are deleted. 

• Some programs take a long time 

to start up or suddenly crash for 

no apparent reason. 

To protect against or get rid of viruses: 

• If you don’t already have 

antivirus software, get some. 

Costs range from free to about 

$60. The top of the line 

(according to most experts) is 

Norton AntiVirus, available 

from Symantec.com. Other 

good tools are McAfee 

VirusScan from McAfee.com 

and PC-cillin from 

Trendmicro.com. Free 

antivirus tools include 

Trend Micro’s HouseCall 

and AVG AntiVirus from 

Grisoft.com. Be aware, 

though, that free 

tools may not be 

as thorough. 

• If you receive an e- 

mail with an attachment, 

The NTC does not endorse any Web sites listed in Tomorrow magazine except its own. 

All URL addresses were accurate at the time of printing, but are subject to change. 

don’t open it unless you know 

what the file contains and 

trust the source. If you are 

not certain about an e-mail, 

delete it. Do not open or view 

it just to check. You cannot 

be infected if you delete 

an e-mail. 

• Only download Internet files 

from sources you trust, then 

If you don’t 

already have 

antivirus software, 

get some. 

double-check by scanning 

them with your software. 

• Keep the software’s virus files 

up to date. The major antivirus 

software vendors provide frequent 

updates and users generally 

can download them for 

little or no cost. 

• Scan your hard drive for viruses 

at regular intervals, perhaps 

once a week. And scan all disks 

you insert into your computer 

(good software can do these 

things automatically). 

• Don’t be fooled by virus hoaxes, 

false alerts about viruses that 

don’t exist. If you get an e-mail 

warning about a virus, don’t 

pass it on to your friends before 

checking a reputable hoax site. 

(See “Tech Tip.”) ■ 

DEBORAH DAVIS/STONE 


STEVEN PUETZER/PHOTONICA 

Tech Tip 

Hoax viruses are false warnings 

that claim to be about an actual 

virus, and they can be more than 

just annoying. Because so many 

well-meaning people forward the 

message, the hoax spreads, clogging 

networks and filling inboxes. Worse, 

hoaxes are like “crying wolf.” Sham 

warnings leave us vulnerable when a 

real virus alert comes along. You 

may have a hoax virus if: 

• The message urges you to pass it 

along — for example, “Forward 

this to EVERYONE in your 

address book ASAP.” (Don’t.) 

• The message makes the virus 

sound alarming. 

• The message refers to a legitimate 

source, as in “This has 

been verified by AOL.” 

When you receive a message with 

any of these red flags, check one 

of the following reputable hoax 

sites before you take action. And 

when in doubt, delete. 

www.stiller.com/hoaxes.htm 

Separates the “top five” current 

hoaxes for easy reference. 

www.datafellows.com/virus-info 

/hoax 

Lists the latest hoaxes separately. 

www.symantec.com/avcenter 

/hoax.html 

A list of hoaxes and descriptions of 

their message. 

http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp 

List of almost 100 current hoaxes. 

Dashboard Anywhere 

Dashboard Anywhere is now 

everywhere. Tens of thousands 

of Chrysler Group 

employees have been logging on to 

the new, information-packed Web 

site since it came online in 

the spring. 

The sophisticated Internet portal 

is a user-friendly site that 

allows even novice computer 

users to find out about their 

health benefits, retirement 

accounts, vacation time and 

even pay statements from 

anywhere they have a connection 

to the Internet. 

The site is organized into 

six channels, such as My Page, 

where you can read the Employee 

News Daily and the Daimler- 

Chrysler Times, search the corporate 

phone directory and view 

important announcements. 

On the Workplace channel, you’ll 

find links to the UAW Web site, 

DaimlerChrysler product sites, electronic 

forms, computer support sites 

and all kinds of corporate information. 

The Development channel 

offers orientation information for 

new employees, tells you how to get 

tuition assistance and provides links 

to the UAW-DaimlerChrysler National 

Training Center site and to our online 

learning site, LearnNTC.com. 

Those who have already logged on 

to Dashboard Anywhere can’t say 

enough good things about it. 

“I can find just about anything I 

want to regarding the UAW and 

Chrysler Group in a few minutes,” 

says Dave Hodge of the Warren Parts 

Distribution Center. 

“I can go to just one site to 

check my benefits information,” 

says Shafton Crosson 

of Warren Truck 

Assembly. 

Crosson has also 

visited the Money 

channel, which lets 

you view your work hours and pay 

information as well as savings plans 

“I can find just about 

anything I want to 

regarding the UAW and 

Chrysler Group in a few 

minutes.” — Dave Hodge 

and other benefits, check stock information 

and — coming soon — even 

change your W-4 federal tax withholding 

statement. 

Your life outside of work is covered, 

too. The Health channel features 

a what-to-do-now guide that 

helps you through the significant 

events in your life, such as marriage 

or a new baby, which might mean 

changing your insurance coverage. 

The Homelife channel brings you 

traffic and weather information, 

along with a “marketplace” that 

offers discounts. 

But what’s extra special about 

Dashboard Anywhere is that it’s just 

for you. Every Chrysler Group 

employee has now received a password 

and user ID to ensure privacy 

and security of information. And you 

can even customize the site. 

You know where to go: Visit the 

site at https://dashboardanwhere 

.chrysler.com. ■ — B.E. 

Need help? Contact the 

Dashboard Anywhere help desk 

at 866.DCC.DASH. 


Our Lifelong 

People Learning 

Off the Clock 

Check This Out — Literally 

Today’s library offers a lot more than books 

Back in high school, “going to 

the library” might have been 

as much an alibi as a destination. 

But for today’s students 

— of all ages — 

libraries are much more than a quiet 

place to hit the books. In fact, if your 

only trips to the library are to look up 

a fact or check out a best seller, you’re 

just scratching the surface. 

Modern libraries of all sizes are 

multimedia hubs, packed with 

resources that educate and entertain. 

Typically, there’s a well-stocked audiovisual 

section. There, you’ll likely find 

books on tape, which make it easy to 

read on the go. Movie buffs can check 

out classics and the latest thrillers on 

both VCR tapes and DVDs, and most 

libraries have a variety of recorded 

music as well. This department can 

also be a good place to brush up on a 

language through tapes that build 

vocabulary and pronunciation. 

At the computers, you can surf the 

Internet and use word-processing and 

other software. Printers allow you to 

take the information home for about 

10 cents a page. The St. Louis Public 

Library is one of many libraries that 

offer computer training opportunities, 

including “Exploring the Internet.” 

Many libraries offer discounted 

admission or free passes to museums, 

and all libraries have information 

about area museum exhibits. 

And, of course, libraries have 

books. The reference area is a treasure 

trove for researchers, whether you 

want to write a term paper or decide 

which refrigerator to buy. What’s 

more, a good reference librarian can 

be your personal guide, helping you 

find what you need. 

In the main library you can choose 

from all kinds of books, from romance 

to reality — fiction and nonfiction, 

hardbound and paperback. Among 

the books are other interesting 

offerings, like catalogs, government 

publications, musical 

scores, scripts of plays, and a 

range of magazines and newspapers. 

Some libraries even have 

works of art you can borrow. 

And stop whispering. You can 

speak up in programs, classes 

and discussion groups for all 

ages. Most familiar are the story 

hours and reading clubs for children, 

from toddlers to teenagers. 

But there are book groups for 

grownups, as well. Two meet 

every month at the Baldwin 

Library in Birmingham, Mich., a 

Link to Learn 

www.publiclibraries.com 

Alphabetical listing by state with 

links to library homepages. 

www.247ref.org 

This Web site allows you to chat 

in real time and e-mail questions 

to librarians across the country. 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries 

/liblocator 

Information about different 

libraries, private and public, 

throughout the country. 

www.archives.gov 

U.S. National Archives and Records 

Administration’s homepage. Provides 

links to government and historical 

documents, even showcasing drafts 

of famous speeches and transcriptions 

of charters like the Declaration 

of Independence in the Exhibit Hall. 

http://vlib.org 

Virtual Library organizing links by 

topic to information from around 

the world. 

Detroit suburb, one during the day 

and one in the evening. 

To make sure everyone can enjoy 

the collection, some libraries even hold 

English as a Second Language classes. 

There are 90-minute evening classes at 

the DeKalb County, Ga., libraries, near 

Atlanta. No sitter? No problem. The 

Decatur, Ga. library schedules activities 

like storytelling and magic shows to 

entertain the kids during class time. 

Best of all, most library services are 

free. So grab your library card and discover 

why the library can be your 

favorite information and entertainment 

destination. ■ — Meghan Tepas 

JOHN S. DYKES/FOLIOPLANET 


Your 

Money Our People 

Matters 

Off the Clock 

Made to Be Broken 

Don’t let these ‘rules’ cramp your savings style 

E. PETERSON/SIS 

You’ve heard plenty of rules 

of thumb that are supposed 

to make your financial 

life a little easier. 

Unfortunately, many old 

rules no longer hold true in today’s 

complex economy. Here are a few 

that could end up costing you. 

Mortgage interest rates need to fall at 

least 1 percentage point below your 

current rate before it pays to refinance. 

In reality, the interest rate on your 

mortgage is just one of many factors 

to consider. Chief among these are the 

length of time you plan to spend in 

your home and how much you would 

pay in closing costs to refinance. In 

general, the longer you plan to stay 

put, the smaller the difference needs to 

be between your current mortgage 

rate and a new loan to eventually save 

you money. Also, if you have lived in 

your house for a number of years and 

Link to Learn 

The Mortgage Professor 

(www.mtgprofessor.com) 

Columns, Q&A, mortgage calculators 

and financing tips provided by a former 

professor at the Wharton School 

of the University of Pennsylvania. 

Mortgage101 (www.mortgage101.com) 

Comprehensive site offering an array 

of information from mortgage calculators 

to nationwide interest rates. 

Morningstar.com (www.morningstar 

.com/Cover/Retirement.html) 

Topics and message boards for 

retirees, from cash flow and tax 

strategies to investment advice. 

still pay a private mortgage 

insurance premium, there’s a 

good chance you’ve increased 

your equity enough to refinance 

and say good-bye to 

that monthly PMI payment. 

(With certain mortgages, you 

can shed this payment even 

without refinancing.) To 

determine if refinancing is right for 

you, click to one of the Web-based refinance 

calculators in Link to Learn. 

Retirees should not invest for growth. 

The standard advice for retirees used 

to be to move virtually all of their 

money to bonds or annuities to protect 

their nest egg and provide low-risk 

returns. But many who retire at 65 will 

need to rely on their stash of cash for 

20 years or more. While you should 

certainly place a higher percentage of 

your money in safer investments once 

you retire, you may not need a good 

Berger Funds 

(www.bergerfunds.com/planning 

/retirement/during_retirement.html) 

A variety of information on investing 

for retirees. 

Quicken.com (www.quicken.com 

/savings/debt) 

Step-by-step interactive guide 

to creating a personalized debt 

reduction plan. 

The Motley Fool (www.fool.com) 

Click on the Personal Finance 

page for articles and message 

boards on budgeting and debt 

reduction. 

portion of that money for another 

decade or so. Do a reasonable budget 

for your living expenses, determine 

how much you need in liquid assets to 

pay your bills and consider taking 

advantage of that 10- to 15-year 

investment horizon. A strategy that 

includes investing in stocks to maximize 

growth should ensure that your 

investment grows faster than inflation. 

Always pay yourself first. 

For people with no revolving debt, this 

rule works. Unfortunately, if you have 

credit card balances — the most significant 

obstacle to a financially secure 

future — putting all your extra money 

into paying them off should be your 

top priority. You might even want to 

suspend contributions to your 401(k) 

and earmark that money for eliminating 

those bills. Once you’ve paid off 

everything else, you can start paying 

yourself. First, build up a savings fund 

equal to three to six months of living 

expenses. This money should protect 

you from ringing up credit card debt 

when you hit unexpected expenses. 

Then, resume contributing to your 

retirement. Without credit card debt, 

you’ll be surprised how much extra 

money you have. ■ — Chris Anderson 


People Health 

Our For Your 

Off the Clock 

Fat Chance 

When it comes to health claims, it pays to exercise discretion 

Ah, if only we could make 

our fat dissolve without 

effort! But that hope can 

make us vulnerable to 

sales pitches for gimmicks 

and supplements that do not deliver 

what they promise. “While it would 

be nice,” says Dr. Cedric Bryant, chief 

exercise physiologist for the American 

Council on Exercise, “nothing [but 

exercise] will give you the effect of 

exercise.” If you want to lose weight 

and build muscle, Bryant recommends 

avoiding these popular purchases: 

Superoxygenated water, which 

supposedly helps people exercise 

longer and at higher intensity. “The 

hemoglobin molecule is already fully 

saturated with oxygen,” Bryant says. 

“That’s hard to improve upon.” 

Herbal wraps. “The premise is that 

these will melt away fat tissue,” he 

says. “They don’t.” 

Link to Learn 

www.acefitness.org/media 

/watchdog.cfm 

American Council on Exercise studies 

and reviews of exercise fads. 

www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-health.htm 

Consumer protection from the 

Federal Trade Commission. 

www.joanprice.com/articles 

/abmyth.htm 

Six ab-training myths. 

www.news-info.gatech.edu 

/news_releases/sports.html 

Four weight-training myths. 

Electronic ab (or EMS) devices 

that promise to trim inches off your 

waist by stimulating your muscles 

with a low-amp electrical current. 

“These create an unreasonable 

expectation,” says Bryant. Worse, 

when people get frustrated with ab 

exercisers, they often try unhealthy 

alternatives, like crash diets, to get 

the promised results. 

Creams and lotions that claim to 

eliminate cellulite. “Cellulite is a 

quack term that describes the dimpling 

of fat,” he says. “These creams 

are marketed more to women. Men 

have thicker skin tissue, which simply 

means you can’t see the fat cells 

as easily.” 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

Passive exercise machines, which 

theoretically do the work for you. 

“The caloric expenditure is so low 

that it would take 300 15-minute 

workout sessions to lose a pound,” 

explains Bryant. Running, by contrast, 

will net you the same result 

after a mere 20 15-minute sessions. 

October 2002 will be the 18th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness 

Month. Visit www.nbcam.org for information about the campaign, National 

Mammography Day (October 18), and how to participate. Click on “board 

of sponsors” for breast cancer resources and hotlines. 

Don’t fall for a fake. If it sounds 

too good to be true, it probably is. 

“If it says ‘breakthrough,’ or ‘the scientific 

community refuses to recognize 

this,’ you should be concerned,” 

says Bryant. 

Instead, look for claims that are 

supported by independent, scientifically 

reviewed research, not just by 

the manufacturer’s opinion. “And be 

careful,” he warns. “Often, manufacturers 

get ‘experts’ with what 

seem to be quality credentials to 

write ‘advertorials.’ These look like 

informational pieces, but really 

they’re marketing propaganda.” 

As always, it’s buyer beware. And 

keep in mind that your genes limit 

how gorgeous you can become. So 

what’s a poor wannabe hot bod to 

do? “Focus on adopting an active, 

healthy lifestyle, and you will achieve 

improvements,” advises Bryant. “You 

don’t need to have significant loss of 

weight to attain significant health 

benefits.” ■ — Rachel Eugster 

PHIL BOATWRIGHT/SIS 


From the Archives 

Off the Clock 

PHOTO COURTESY VERA KAPPELMANN VIEMAN 

Sitting pretty: Vera Kappelmann (in foreground) with her 

Maxwell in 1923. See page 19 for her story. 


When it comes to 

high-quality, 

affordable care, 

finding the right program can be 

child’s 

play! 

With the UAW- 

DaimlerChrysler NTC’s 

National Child Care 

Network, you can find 

prescreened child care 

centers in your community 

— and get a 10 percent 

tuition discount. 

• Centers are regularly 

monitored to ensure the 

highest quality standards. 

• Priority slots are reserved 

for UAW members. 

• Care is available for children 

3 to 12 years old. 

• Participating centers now 

number more than 1,600 — 

and counting. 

• The National Child Care 

Network arranges a 

10 percent tuition discount. 

To find a center near you, call 800.809.4996 or visit www.uaw-daimlerchryslerntc.org

Tomorrow Magazine Fall 2002 - UAW-Chrysler.com

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