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| Norfolk Southern Corporation | Volume 4, Issue 9, September 2004 |
A shutdown at a Dow Chemical Company facility presented a time-sensitive challenge to Norfolk Southern to deliver a new generator to the facility.
“Without the new generator providing power for the Taft, La., plant, Dow would have been unable to produce any chemicals for its consumers,” said Bill Flanagan, NS national account manager chemicals and for Dow.
Dow considered hiring a U.S. Army transport plane to bring a replacement generator to the site, but that option was too expensive. Company representatives contacted Flanagan to ask about rail service, and NS and Union Pacific operated a special train to transport the generator from Siemens Westinghouse in New Kensington , Pa.
Ed Courtney , NS system manager locomotive planning said the move was arranged by Mary McCoy Smith, Larry Dillon and Cassandra Peery all of the NS clearance bureau.
Smith also credited trainmaster Ronnie Fallin for arranging the expedited interchange from NS to UP at St. Louis .
“It was a good example of what teamwork among railroads, divisions and departments can accomplish,” Smith said. “This is the quickest move that I’ve seen and we were glad to be of service. It makes you proud to be number one in the railroad industry.”
Dow Chemical recognized NS for outstanding service.Brad Gray, Dow’s global director purchasing said, “NS and UP delivered the special train in 3.8 days, well ahead of the forecasted transit time of seven days. Communication among train crews, yard personnel and dispatchers was timely and thorough.”
The 50th anniversary of the opening of the hump at DeButts Yard in Chattanooga , Tenn. , was celebrated May 22. Before Southern Railway converted the site to a hump yard in 1954, it had been a flat switching yard for 100 years. In 1968, the yard was named for a former Southern Railway president Harry A. DeButts.
A brass band greeted NS employees, retirees, families and guests as they arrived for the event. D. L. Foutz, terminal superintendent, and David Johnston, trainmaster and event chairman, welcomed everyone. Among the speakers were Bill Schafer, director government affairs, Gary Naff, manager diesel shop, and Paul Barys, a local television weatherman, who gave the day’s weather forecast as well as the forecast of 50 years ago.
Robert Soule, president of the Tennessee Valley Railway gave a historical perspective. Soule, formerly a signal supervisor for Southern Railway and NS, worked at Chattanooga when the first cars went over the hump 50 years ago.
Erin Cortright, of New Canaan , Conn. , the granddaughter and last surviving descendant of Harry DeButts, was an honored guest.
The Tennessee Valley Railway Museum and the North Carolina Transportation Museum displayed retired locomotives for public viewing. They included the Southern E8 6900 and a former Army steam engine Tennessee Valley RR 610. A former B&O office car, TVRR 98, was also displayed. The Chattanooga Diesel Shop showcased two NS locomotives that guests boarded. The NS 4610, the Southern Railway centennial locomotive, also was displayed.
The celebration featured live music and plenty of food. Children enjoyed playing on a bouncer and slide, meeting McGruff the Crime Dog and fingerprinting provided by Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department deputies.
“The event was a success and gave the participants a feeling of camaraderie among employees and our retirees,” Johnston said. “This good will will serve NS and the Central Division for years to come.”
Norfolk Southern has committed $3 million and is the first “Founding Colony Sponsor” for Jamestown 2007, the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in the Americas . Jamestown 2007 will feature a series of national and international events and programs beginning in May 2006 and continuing through February 2008.
“It makes perfect sense for Norfolk Southern to become an integral part of this uniquely American moment. Many people do not realize that Jamestown laid the foundation for our nation, establishing the concepts of innovation, free enterprise, democracy and rule of law in the New World . We’re proud to be part of this continuing national story,” said David Goode, chairman, president and chief executive officer.
“The Jamestown 2007 commemoration is of nationwide significance, but it is fitting that the first major corporate sponsor should be one of our own from Virginia ,” said Gov. Mark R. Warner. “The Jamestown quadricentennial gives us an opportunity to tell a fascinating story to a much broader audience. The benefits to the commonwealth’s economy as a result of this commemoration will be great, and Norfolk Southern’s contribution is a strong start.”
International Jamestown commemorations have been held every 50 years since 1807. In 1907, Virginia hosted a world’s fair that brought President Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, international dignitaries and 1.5 million visitors to the state. The 350th anniversary in 1957 focused on preservation and education efforts, and culminated with Queen Elizabeth II’s first visit to the United States as monarch. Nearly 1.2 million visitors came to 1957 commemoration activities and spent more than $55 million in the state.
Norfolk Southern updated its Information Security Web site to increase security awareness among NS users and provide easier access to security information and resources. External links have been added for users to access information about various topics, such as wireless connections, Microsoft and other external sites.
The FAQ section was enhanced to quickly address security-related questions most often asked of security personnel and NS help desk representatives. The “Contact Us” page also was updated.
Other improvements include:
“We’ve organized information into specific categories and provided a cleaner design for easy navigation,” said Wanda Jackson, information security consultant. “Users can find things easily and learn more about security at Norfolk Southern than they have in the past. Our main goal is to assist and show our users how to best protect NS’ information and assets. We realize our job isn’t complete unless the first line of defense, our users, are educated.”
For more information and updates, visit http://itsecurity.nscorp.com.
Earlier this year, many Internet users received an urgent message asking them to update their bank account information because their federal deposit insurance might lapse. The message contained a link to what appeared to be the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Web site, where people were asked for sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and more. It was a scam.
The scam is just one example of “phishing,” whereby thieves try to obtain bank account or credit card information so they can run up bills or clean out the accounts. Thieves use the information to steal someone’s identity, sometimes causing years of headaches for the victim.
Users of America Online, eBay, PayPal and Amazon.com have been targeted in the past, but the list is growing every day. Bogus sites claiming to be banks, public utilities, brokerage houses and federal agencies also have been used to steal personal information from consumers.
In another version of the scam, someone calls pretending to work for a credit card company’s security department. They don’t ask for a credit card number. They ask for the four-digit security code on the back of the card, giving them the ability to apply for credit using your name and information.
How can you prevent this from happening to you?
Interested high school juniors should make plans to apply for four-year scholarships to be awarded in 2006 to children of Norfolk Southern employees.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation, an independent, nonprofit organization, administers the scholarship program. NMSC identifies talented high school students and aids as many as possible in obtaining college educations. NMSC handles the selection of winners and the administration of awards. No officer or employee of NS participates in the selection of scholarship winners.
The NS program covers Merit, Achievement and Special scholarships. For detailed descriptions of these scholarships, go to NMSC Web site at www.nationalmerit.org. Competition for these scholarships is open to children of active, retired or deceased employees of NS and its participating subsidiaries. Applicants must be in their junior year of high school and plan to enter college in 2006.
To compete for a scholarship, students must take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 , or Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004 . Students who are starting their junior year must make arrangements with principals or counselors in September 2004 to take the PSAT/NMSQT.
Participation requirements established by NMSC for scholarship competition are explained in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin distributed at schools prior to administration of the test.
Entry forms and program outline for the 2006 NS scholarship program can be downloaded from the Employee Resource Center or obtained by writing to Norfolk Southern Corporation, Scholarship Program Coordinator, Three Commercial Place , Norfolk , Va. , 23510; sending an email to nseducation@nscorp.com; or by MEMO to NSEDUCAT. Students should return the completed forms to the above address postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2004 .
Winners will be selected on a competitive basis according to merit and without regard to financial need. NMSC will choose the winners by evaluating academic records through high school, demonstrated leadership and extracurricular accomplishments, the school’s recommendation, the student’s self description and test scores. In most cases, winners will be notified in March 2006.
The amount of each NS scholarship is determined individually and can range from $1,000 to a maximum of $4,000 a year for up to four years of college study, or until baccalaureate degree requirements are completed, whichever comes first. The amount is determined by NMSC.
The winners must enter college as full-time students in the fall term following their selection, and they are responsible for making administrative arrangements and fulfilling all requirements of their chosen college. The college must be in the U.S. and hold accredited status with a regional accrediting commission on higher education.
Norfolk Southern celebrates the traditions and contributions of Hispanics culture during Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 – Oct. 15. The company’s Diversity Council is sponsoring the celebration.
“The contributions of Hispanic people have given so much to our world,” said supervisory special agent and council member John Garcia. “This is an opportunity for all of us to expand our knowledge of those traditions and experiences.”
In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration. During this month, America celebrates the traditions, ancestry and experiences of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America , South America and the Caribbean . Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries — Costa Rica , El Salvador , Guatemala , Honduras and Nicaragua . In addition, Mexico declared its independence on Sept. 16 and Chile on Sept. 18.
Garcia said there is a special section of the NS Web site devoted to information about Hispanic heritage , and a notepad listing NS’ principles of diversity in Spanish and English will be distributed at various locations on the system. “We encourage everyone in the company to visit the Web site and learn more about the traditions, contributions and experiences of Hispanic people,” he said.
What is Hispanic?
One’s heritage is the customs and traditions that are handed down from generation to generation through their families. A person with Latino heritage is the descendant of a family from Mexico, Central America or South America . The term Hispanic means people who come from a country where Spanish is spoken.
Norfolk Southern’s women’s network, WiNS, now has a leadership council of 12 people from across the system and five senior executive sponsors.
WiNS held its first events in Atlanta , Norfolk and Roanoke in late June and early July. The group sponsored lunch-and-learn sessions featuring a presentation about the Conrail transaction by Marta Stewart, vice president and controller. Information about WiNS also was presented. The group held a second series of networking events in late August at the same locations.
Membership in WiNS is open to all nonagreement employees. To find out more about WiNS, check out its Web site, accessible through NS’ electronic Employee Resource Center . Access the ERC through the NS Web site at www.nscorp.com.
Terminal trainmaster working with Iraqi Ministry of Transportation
Terry Gamble, terminal trainmaster and U.S. Army Reservist, currently is working with the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation overseeing reconstruction of antiquated rail and air transportation systems and refurbishment of the port of Umm Qasr . The port is an entry point for military supplies, reconstruction materials and cargo from the United Nations Food Programme. Under Gamble’s leadership, the port has seen major revitalization, including removing several sunken ships, dredging to allow 40-foot draft cargo ships and upgrading the cargo handling system.
Gamble, who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel and has served for more than 29 years, previously has worked in Civil Affairs units. He has been deployed to Central America , the Balkans and across the Muslim world. He spent most of 2002 in Afghanistan . His service in Iraq began in August 2003.
One difference this time is that he has a cellular phone that allows him to call home fairly frequently.
Gamble reports that “there’s a lot of progress being made and it doesn’t get recognized.” Gamble also said he looks forward to the day when the Iraqis can take control and run their own country.
Carman nominated for Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Roger Gregg , a carman serving in the U.S. Navy Reserves, has been nominated for the Navy and M arine Corps Commendation Medal for his service as leading chief petty officer for staff personnel located at Gulfport, Miss., providing personnel and disbursing support to Naval Construction Battalion 14’s personnel deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
His nomination is for the period March through August 2004. It reads, “During this period, Chief Petty Officer Gregg was instrumental in the successful mobilization and outstanding administration and management of pay and personnel requirements for more than 450 reserve Seabees activated in support of operations Iraqi Freedom II.
Gregg hopes to return to railroad service at Knoxville ’s Sevier Yard in November.
Norfolk Southern will honor its veterans and active-duty employees during Veteran’s Month in November. If you’d like to share some of your experiences as a member of the military for possible publication in Newsbreak and on a special section of the NS Web site, send them to Andrea Just, manager corporate communications, at andrea.just@nscorp.com; NS mail to Box 224 , Norfolk ; or U.S. Mail to Three Commercial Place , Norfolk , Va. 23510 .