Western Electric @ Merrimack Valley Works October, 1979 Works' trio reels in 1,08 -p Mako shark -hree Works' employees who The boat, Cricket II was not T claim to always have their eyes on damaged during the ordeal under rainy world-record sharks, found just that skies, but the huge hark "completely Sunday, Aug. 26. straightened out three gaf ," Melanson Fishing off Montauk, L.I., Jim and Silvio said. Melanson, 25, 3 Wyoming Ave., Melanson said Mundus was sleeping Haverhill, caught a 1,080-pound shark down below, but ' when he heard the after a struggle with rod and reel of commotion, he ran up to the deck and more than an hour. threw a gaf immediately to grab the Melanson, who was not aided by his Mako." companion for fear of not qualifying Melanson explained a gaf is a barbed for the records, captured the world's device attached to a long aluminum record for the largest Mako shark ever pole. When the barbed device pene­ caught by rod and reel, and the largest trates into the shark, the pole is vcr caught by a 50-pound test line. removed, and a ' line connects the gaf T e previous record was 769 pounds which is stuck in the shark's body. for the ize line. "Mundus knows just what to do," Melanson, sitting in his living room Melanson said. 36 hOUTS after the 8 a.m. catch Sunday, According to Silvio, Mundus is exclaimed -- "I knew it was a big fi sh known as the "Monster Man" when it when it struck my line, but I had no idea just how big." comes to catching sharks. He was fishing with Marco Silvio "A couple of times I felt like letting and Ernie Morgan, also Works' em­ Marco take over, my hands were so ployees, with Frank Mundus, technical swollen, but Marco said 'If I help you, advisor for the movie "Jaws", who you can kiss the world records good­ was portrayed as Quint in the movie, bye," Melanson said. according to Silvio. There are strict rules in competing Mundus' boat, a 40-footer, is used for world records requiring only one person to man the rod and reel. Silvio, by many fishing party expeditions, JIM MELANSON, Haverhill, caught this Mako Shark weighing 1,080 pounds Silvio said. however, did hold onto ¥elanson's "Everyone wants to go with with rod and reel, Aug. 26. Melanson, left, shares honor here with Marco Silvio, waist to steady him through the Mundus," Silvio said "He knows both Works employees. Ernie Morgan, a third Works employee on the trip, is one-and-a-quarter hour ordeal. where to go for the big ones." also from Haverhill. Continued on Page 3 Four students agree Works opened career world Inside -------, he summer of '79 was beneficial Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, the "Western Electric, I feel, is the **The 1979 Western Electric, MVW T from a work-oriented learning National Alliance of Business, and the finest company in the Merrimack United Fund Poster Winners show experience for four students, ages Greater Lawrence Community Action Valley for which to work. and express their happiness at Works' Sept. 5 reception for chil­ 18-20, who took part in the Works' Council, Inc. "As a participant in the Cost dren and parents, Page 3. VEPS Program. Paul, who is studying Business Accounting Department, I was trained The acronym stands for Vocational Management at North Adams State in Western's standard cost system **Report Clerks are the piece de Exploration in the Private Sector, and College, was in agreement with the which was outlined to me by Richard resistance in maintaining continuity is a program that facilitates the career others that working at the Works was Dennehy, section chief. Everyone in within departments, as this month's selection process of young participants extremely beneficial. the department gave me invaluable ad­ On The Job story details, Page 4. by placing them in work exposure His reactions to the summer employ­ vice which will benefit me in the future. positions in the private sector. ment follow: Among those who took part here was "My experience at Western Electric **It was a glorious day, weather­ Paul Manzi, 18, of North Andover, was very beneficial in my future studies "The members of the department wise, and a plentiful number of who worked the summer in the Cost at North Adams State College. The were all concerned about my continu­ children and rides at the WEValley Accounting Department. VEPS Program helps young people ing studies at North Adams. The Club-sponsored annual Canobie Other participants were Lesvia Mel­ discover what areas they would like to people in the office also made me feel Lake Family Outing, Page 5. endez, also 18, of Lawrence and two continue in college. important and always complimented from Methuen, Kevin Leocata, 20, and I'm studying Business Administra­ my work. **The Works' annual UF campaign James Sharon, 19. tion with concentration in either "It was like working together in one reached its goal, and then some, The · Greater Lawrence VEPS Pro­ accounting or management, also with a big family. As a result, I hope to work Page 3. gram was sponsored by the Greater minor in computer science. for Western Electric next summer." 2 Van damaged in David's path hen summer ends and autumn's "I knew it was windy, the remains of Winevitable color display begins, Hurricane David bearing down on the thoughts usually turn to raking leaves. area, but I didn't realize it was that However, there are a number of windy," Rose said. truths to the old adage that "if one The time of the mishap was shortly doesn't like the New England weather, before 7:30 p.m. just wait a minute." She said the tree was so large, it Rose C. Doucet, safety department curtailed traffic during the nighttime employee at the Works, can attest to hours, both ways on Butler St. what New England and Mother Nature It curtailed her opportunity to drive have in store from time to time. to work for much longer than that. Rose's 1976 custom-equipped van "I have been forced to carpool tells a visual tale of woe after it was now," she said. destroyed Sept. 6 while parked in front of her sister's home, Butler St., She said the van had been equipped . Lawrence. with a dinette, curtains, a bureau and Rose said she was about ready to closet, which Rose said she enjoyed as leave "when I heard a crash. I looked a "recreational vehicle." outside and found a huge Elm tree had A sticker on the back of the van said, been uprooted, landing on my van." "A little courtesy won't kill you." This is all that remains of van on which huge Elm tree landed during Sept. 6 tropical storm, David. She hadn't been out of the vehicle 10 However, getting along with Mother This scene is on Butler St., Lawrence. Vehicle is owned by Rose C. Doucet, Works safety department minutes when the mishap occurred. Nature isn't always a sure thing. employee. BSS provides 4th investment choice he Bell System Savings Plan participants as a fourth investment companies or other financial institu­ employees will receive an amended T (BSSP) for salaried employees choice. tions which will guarantee the repay­ prospectus and an· insert to their has been amended in order to provide Participants will be able to direct ment · of principal plus a fixed rate of summary plan description booklet. participants with a greater degree of their future savings to be invested interest on a year-to-year basis. In addition, the plan has been amended to provide for the temporary flexibility in investment choices. entirely or in part in this new option. In October, all employees in the suspensions of an installment distribu­ Effective Dec. 1,1979, a guaranteed A guaranteed interest fund is a fund Works eligible to participate in the Bell tion to retired employees when they are interest fund will be offered to invested with one or more insurance System Savings Plan for salaried rehired by the Company. Blood donors help others while helping themselves By Bob Zinga/i verybody's business is giving September. Ed was rushed to the Greater Lawrence Blood Program, "It makes you feel good to see peo­ E blood because you or a member hospital after suffering a ruptured praised the ongoing record of our local ple giving of themselves to help others, of your family may need blood at any aneurysm. The life-giving blood was Works: "Western Electric is our big­ and themselves, when the need arises." time. Donors who give regularly immediately available at no cost to gest supporter as to the number of Reggie LaPlume, a volunteer from through the Red Cross assure a Ed's family because Ed had thought visits that are sponsored yearly. Life­ Lawrence, was busy seeing to the ap­ measure of security against future enough to plan ahead for his family's giving blood is so important and we petites of the successful donors and family blood needs. Ed Walak, an needs, little knowing that he himself need 1,500 pints per day in order to when asked why she donated her time engineering associate, and regular con­ would need such a large quantity. Ed is meet the needs in Massachusetts. We replied: "Just to help out, I can always tributor to the local Works blood presently recuperating comfortably at have to worry about the needs of larger find things to do around the house but bank, found this to be true to life when Tufts Medical Center where the opera­ hospitals in Boston because that is when 1'm called, I gladly come." he required more than 20 pints of tion was performed.