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"Other Stories" |
"Ruin the rug party?" The strange bunch in the ETF |
DATA LINE
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February 1969 - New hires, some you will
know. March 1969 - More you should recognize May 1969 - More names, Sales contest, and those at Grumman July 1969 - Testimony by AMF Beaird |
CHIT-CHAT
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November 1970 - 1st international shipment, 1st 1304's,
old timers |
FEEDBACK
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June 1972 - New chief and newsletter, Flying lessons from Ted Spitzmiller, CE assignments (some became SE's later). July 1972 - The President of the month excersise finally ends. |
SALES AND
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SSNs 001-006,
SSNs 007-009 |
IMAGE
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IMAGE for FEBRUARY Now includes Field
Engineering - Hot Dog! IMAGE for APRIL IMAGE for JUNE THE LAST IMAGE PUBLISHED Thats all folks!! |
Kevin Stranahan remembers Sister Boogie Woman: "She threw great parties!!!! I seem to remember a 'Ruin the rug' party at her place back in the summer of '78. A bunch of us "dumb" trainees thought she was serious!!!!!"
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
A big welcome to all of you who joined DPI during the month of January.
There is no better way to start off the new year than as a team member at
DPI.
Russell DuBois........President
R. J. Erickson..........Sales Rep. W. Dis. Mgr.
George Gough.........CE Trainee
Michael McMahan..Stores Clerk
Susan Mudrock........Secretary
Laurence Peckler.....Personnel Manager
Charles Renna.........CE Trainee
James Shipp.............CE Trainee
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
DPI welcomes the following new people. Let's make them feel welcome and
a part of the team.
Ed Bennett...................Maintenance Repair
Ronald Boyle................CE Instructor
Eugene Erickson...........Logic Engineer
Jim Flores......................Inspector
Carol Hannibol..............Secretary (New Orleans)
Josephine Mazzone.......Clerk
Marylou Montoya.........Secretary (Los Angeles)
Bernie McFall................Systems Analyst
Charles Norton..............Draftsman
Dale Nutter...................CE
Lyle Olson.....................CE Trainee
Karen Peterson.............Personnel Assistant
Dave Redman...............Stores Clerk
Deanna Schmidt............Secretary
Lowell Walker..............CE
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Charles F. (Chuck) Antony........Director of Manufacturing
Robert D. (Van) Vanderberg.....Manager of Marketing Services
David Alcorn..............................CE Trainee
Grete Bame................................Receptionist
Thomas L. Bernard....................Sales Rep (New Orleans)
Richard DeJong.........................CE Trainee
Dick Brothers.............................Systems Engineer
Maria Cordina............................Clerk Typist
William Eoff................................Sales Rep (LA)
John A. Flores............................Tech Spec.
John Gaertner............................Assembly I
Dudley Hartzog..........................CE Trainee
Diane Kellerby...........................Insp. I
Kris Kringel................................Supvisor Application
Progrogramming
Angeline LaGalante...................Assembly
Ralph McBurnett.......................Assembly - Part Time
Larry Paschoal...........................Programmer
Fran McLaren...........................Assembly 111
Hoss McNeill............................Mgr. Plains States
Karen Peterson.........................Personnel Ass't
Carol Stump...............................Secretary
M. S. Morrlson.........................Draftsman
Mike H. Paull............................Sr. Mech Eng.***
George Rear.............................Sr. Stores Clerk
Arnold Rubenstein....................Jr. Draftsman
Kathy A. Sears.........................Clerk Typist
Jere Swanson...........................Hqtrs Systems Eng.
David Wasler...........................CE Trainee
Robert Wickline.......................CE Trainee
*** Note from Bill Hill: When the PC Boards in the 2104 prototype were found
to be next to impossible to insert and pull out barehanded, Mike designed
the now famous Board Puller and Inserter (I still have some). Of course
the inserter became "infamous" when someone pushed a board and its connector
through the back of the card cage.
SALES CONTEST RESULTS
The winner of the National Award in the first DPI Sales Contest which
ended on April 1, 1969 was Ted Lumpert.
Ted's "orders received" performance was 188% of quota. Ted's prize is a round
trip air travel for two, a double room for one week, and $100 "spending money"
at either the Lake Geneva Playboy Club or a Bermuda resort location.
HAVE FUN!!!
The winner for the Eastern District Sales Contest, with orders totaling
166% of quota, was Gene Mascoli. His prize is $50, round trip travel and
a double room for two at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City or a Bermuda
resort location for 2 nights.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
CUSTOMER TALK
This month's customer spotlight is on Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp
where we have 141-1204's and 4-2103's with 6360 interfaces to an IBM
360/50.
Major reasons for DPl's popularity at Grumman Aircraft are equipment performance
and service support -- a credit to the fine work of our CE's:
Clyde Blanchard
Donald Rhodes
Mickey Snider
David Wasler
A CUSTOMER SPEAKS ON DPI
Pleasant testimony to the acceptance of DPI is reflected in this extraction
from an internal training manual at AMF Beaird.
"Although DPI (Data Pathing Incorporated) is a new name to you, it is a company
that has been highly successful in marketing data collection equipment; in
fact, dat collection systems is their only product. To date, they have replaced
all other types of systems and have yet to be replaced by a competitor. They
come to Beaird with high credentials in the areas of reliability and up-time.
From surveys that have been made, Beaird feels that this is the finest data
collection equipment available."
On the International Scene
Manufacturing
5-YR. Luncheon
* INTERNATIONAL VENTURES *
CUSTOMER ENGINEERING NEWS
SALES and SHIPMENTS
** NEWS FLASH**
December 1st, the Dress Code for women was written allowing office workers the comfort of wearing pants suits to work. The following are a few comments from the masculine point of view:
TO DO IT OR NOT TO IT, IS THAT THE QUESTION?
If pants are in And dresses are out, Here are some things We should know
about.
Should we wear a bra And does it matter That some girls are thin And others
are fatter?
When tennis shoes My feet adorn Must panty hose Be always worn?
Must a see-through blouse Match my fish-net vest? Oh what do you think Would
look the best?
Are boots okay If pants are flared? Just what have Paris Designers
declared?
Suede vests with fringe Are neatly neat Especially if worn With moccasined
feet.
And from what kind of jewelry Must we refrain? Is my peace symbol okay On
a rawhide chain?
As the controversy rages About fashion "do's and don'ts!
I think I'll play it cool And stick with my will's and won'ts!"
FLASHHHH FLASHHHHH FLASHHHHH FLASHHHH
NEW USE FOR DPI PROCESSOR FOUND
In today's world, the sophistication of various devices, machinery and electronics, can so specialize, that it is refreshing to realize an additional use for something other than that originally designed into it, can be found - or at least thought to be found.
We have reference to a conversation setween Chris Mesler, Receptionist in Building 1, and a Super Salesman.
While awaiting his appointment with Purchasing, he asked Chris if he might not just run across the hallway and drop his dime into the machine for a cup of coffee. She looked aghast and said "But Sir, that is no coffee machine, that is our Processors!!!
(Well you can't win them all.)
Management Techniques
In the barn, each mule had a stall - actually a horse stall about 3 1/2 feet wide and about 9 feet long. Each animal's harness was hung on pegs on the wall inside the stall - to the animal's right as he faced the manger. Now, when you go in to harness up a HORSE for the day's work, you go on his harness side, the right. You push him over to the the left side, and this gives you room to pick the harness off the hooks and sling it over his back. Not so a MULE. You go in on his left side and push him over to the side with the harness on it. Then you get smartly out of the stall, as he goes THUMP up against the side where you were!! Then, you go in on his right side, and having lots of room, buckle him up and back him out . . . I think it took me about six years of managing to learn to treat some people this way. Submitted by Les From
DPI Programmers explained
There they sit, in the middle of the Newport News Computer Center, two DPI 2104 Processors. These machines cost the customer many many dollars and hours of system evaluation. However, without a program these machines don't even make good bookends. Add a program and the machine comes to life and becomes a useful tool to the customer and a source of income for DPI.
Who writes the programs? What are Programmers? DPI's programmers' educations vary from "Yeah, I finished High School" to "Maybe next year I'll start on my Maasters." Our Programmers' backgrounds vary from a registered Pharmacist, graduate of Anthropoloy, a Technician, a Pool Shark, a Mathematician and a Clerk, to straight degreed Programmers. Character-wise, we have our resident hip activists, suburbanites (with a station wagon and a VW), hard hats, and a programmer who is a practicing member of the "Zero Population Growth" organization (poor Judd!). Submitted by Henry J. Lopez, Applications Programmer.
Many years later someone said that "managing programmers is like trying to herd cats!"
State of DPI's Business
Many of you are aware that DPI, along with many, many Bay Area companies, has gone through a most difficult period of the Nation's economy with the demand for our products dropping to minimum levels. This drop in business, which started more than a year ago, necessitated an almost complete halt to our production activities.
The strength of our basic product line, supplemented by the introduction of new processor options and a new line of terminals, has brought about a very positive resurgence in our business. The fourth quarter of this year promises to be the first profitable quarter of the year and, in fact, the first profitable quarter since the October-November-December quarter of 1969. The achievement of a revenue level of $3 to $3. 5 million for this quarter will insure that the year ending June 30 meets necessary performance criteria. To achieve the $3 to $3.5 million level and to insure the shipment of goods necessary to provide adequate revenue levels in July and early August, it has been necessary for everyone to work long hours and an extended work week. All of us are deeply appreciative of the enthusiastic and productive response that has been demonstrated by all of DPI's employee family. Without your dedication and cooperation, we can not achieve our goals which are essential to the Company 's continuing growth.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of announcing to many of you the Company's continuing discussions with two possible acquisition candidates. Neither of the situations that I discussed that day has been completely resolved. It appears that there is little likelihood of the CPC merger with DPI taking place in the near term. Their company, which is public, enjoyed a spurt in market price which caused them to require a higher percentage ownership in the resultant operation that would have been formed by the amalgamation of CPC and DPI. The Management of DPI felt that this percentage was unreasonable and not in the best interest of DPI's shareholders, investors and employees. Discussions on the second merger are continuing and we have high hopes that it can be consummated. Whether or not these mergers, or any others, are completed at some time in the future provide this Company with no less an oppertunity for the achievement of outstanding results and performance. Any merger that is proposed or achieved will only be made on a basis that enhances our product lines and increases the fundemental soundness of DPI as a continuing corporation.
If the business our Marketing force has currently under negotiation is closed, as we believe it will be, the Company will continue to grow. Management feels that this growth will not, however, requires the indefinite continuance of the long day, extended work week currently in use. we anticipate returning to more normal hours early in July. As a further benefit to our employees, I am pleased to announce that we will close the plant at the end of the work day on Friday, July 2 so that all employees can enjoy a four day July 4th holiday of Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
On behalf of all Management, please understand that we are sincerely appreciative of the efforts of every single employee of DPI and DPIS. (Note: DPI Systems was the DPI leasing company we had set up)
IBM shows DPI terminals?
During an audio/visual slide presentation by IBM to North American Rockwell
about IBM's new CRT, somebody (and we're not saying who) slipped in a slide
of the DPI 1304B Terminal. Twenty-five people in the room just came apart
laughing with the exception of one very embarassed IBM Sales
Representative.
P.S. The Sales Rep is out looking for me.
(ed. note: Thanks for the input Dave Lowe, we'll be sure and keep your
secret)
Want Ads
Free kittens anyone? Give Chuck Humphrey a call on ext. 204, or 225-7120
New President
Welcome to FEEDBACK. We're both new on the job! Peter J. Davis, President (In a letter to all employees dated June 9, 1972, it was announced that Russell C. Dubois resigned (they always say that) and Peter Davis was selected President and CEO. Don't miss the July 1972FEEDBACK).
FLYING by Ted Spltzmiller
When I started taking flying lessons a little over a year ago, I had some apprehensive moments during which I doubted my ability to ever solo an airplane. Although I had read countless articles on how easy it was to fly, one has a tendancy to become very emotionally involved; especially during those first ten to twelve hours prior to the solo. You quickly find that each hand has 5 thumbs and coordination between mind and body is non-existant. At times when I became completely saturated with my instructor's comments, I recall mumbling something about draining swamps and tall alligators.
Well, here I am. Total proof that ANYONE can learn to fly. And so I too became an expert and qualified to write an article on how easy it is to learn to fly. It's so easy in fact that the hardest part is talking your wife (or husband) into parting with $800 for the lessons.
Today marks my first and my last year as a private pilot since I will be receiving my Commercial license next month. For those of you who have never experienced the "Orville Wright Syndrome", why not stop over and take a look at some of the aerial photos which were taken of the Bay Area; maybe we can arrange for a hop to Monterey for coffee.
Since there are a number of pilots in the company, perhaps we could get together and discuss the possibility of a DPI Flying Club. .....LOOK OUT CHARLES LINDBERGH.....
CUSTOMER ENGINEERING NEWS
GRADUATION TIME FOR CUSTOMER ENGINEERING CLASS
This has been one of the larger C.E. classes to complete Customer Engineering
School, nine C.E.'s and one International Customer Engineer. The following
are the assignments for this class who will graduate on June 30, 1972.
HILDON GOLD - Newport News, Virginia
BILL GUDORF - South Bend, Indiana
BARRY JESS - Reading, Pennsylvania
BUDDY JONES - New Orleans, Louisiana
GRANT LEE - Texas Instruments, Attleboro, Massachusetts
JOHN LESAC - Houston, Texas
GERHART PREUSSER - Germany
PAT ROBERTS - Alcoa, Warrick
BILL WEBSTER - Rochester, New York
We wish them all the best of luck on their new assignments.
If you are trying to keep up with some of your classmates, here are a few of the transfers that have taken place.
Russ Walker - formerly in Mass., is now at Motorola, Florida.
Mick Snider - formerly in Sunnyvale, is now the Group Leader/Specialist in the Southern District. Too bad, we were all getting attached to Linda's chili.
Ron Maddaus is now assigned to Pontiac Motor Division. Ron must have done a great job at John Deere, he has allowed John Deere to become an on-call site.
Pat Armstrong - formerly of Avondale, is now assigned to Motorola Schaumburg.
Anyone that knows Ken Krawczyk, our Logistics Support Manager, will never believe the story that the stamps just didn't stick to the birth announcements he and Dottie sent when Kenneth C. Jr. was born.
As most of you have already found out, we have a new Department Secretary, Jeri Snowden.
July 7-10 - Peter Davis announced sweeping changes and gave his "this is the second saddest day in the history of DPI speech." The first was when our founder Roy Score left the company, and the second was that Gene Mascoli had resigned.
July 14 - The "sweeping" changes were un-swept with Peter Davis resigning, everone re-instated to their previous positions and Roy Score appointed Chairman of the Board and acting CEO.
New President
LAST month, with considerable fanfare, we announced "FEEDBACK" and printed a congratulatory letter from our president Peter Davis. This month, with considerable regret, we have said good-bye to Mr. Davis. The events of the past month have created some concern among us, but from my vantage point I believe the situation can be likened to a midwest thunderstorm. During the full fury of the storm, its thunder and lightning, and the downpour of rain, one could almost believe there would be no tomorrow. But after the storm has passed and the sun shines on a freshly washed world, one can enjoy the fresh cool air and know that the storm brought new life to the land. So it is with DPI!! Just as thunderstorms are necessary to the continued production of crops in the midwest, so will the events of the last month produce continued growth for DPI.
Join me now in a "Welcome Aboard" salute to Mr. John Frieberg, our new President! Mr. Frieberg comes to us from Singer in Hartford, Connecticut. For the next few weeks he will be phasing out of his present job and so will be at DPI only on Thursdays and Fridays. I, as founder of DPI and Chairman of the Board of Directors, will be attending to the corporate duties and will maintain an office with an "open door" policy at Headquarters in Sunnyvale. When not in the office in Sunnyvale, I will be visiting the various Field Offices and customers, so intend to be seeing each and everyone of you in the Field in the near future.
LeRoy J. Score, Chairman of the Board