Budd Rochester Knows How to Party!!

Hello Everybody:

Just thought I better post the date of this year's party.

The party will be on friday dec.5. Party time will be from 5'oclockto whenever. The party will be at Dublins Pub located on ten mile rd.two blocks west of I- 94 expressway. Iwill be there from
4 o`clock on

Hope to see you there.

Norm Fournier Sr.

The Upcoming Election -- A Budd Pastime

The Budd Company, prior to its acquisition in 1978, was always a company that actively encouraged its employees and the public at large to vote.

The company published a annual "Guide to Federal Officials," which was distributed to approximately 100,000 nationwide. It also held a "Forum on Government Affairs," an event where corporate employees and their spouses could hear a nonpartisan government official address an important issue.

In 1978, the company rented voting machines and conducted a mock election to gauge the political opinions of its employees.

The company never offered its own views, but simply asked that everyone "Make Their Voice Be Heard."

Budd also had a Political Action Committee (PAC) that supported candidates who favored the automotive and railcar businesses.

Shopping for Budd Photos

Hi,

I'm looking for a larger, higher quality photo of the Budd AutomotiveProducts sign that used to sit atop the Budd Manufacturing Company plant in Philadelphia (see the following link):www.pgworks.com/images/major_budd.jpg

Budd had a similar sign atop their stamping plant in Gary, IN, and may have had others.I would appreciate any potential photo sources or leads that you can provide.

Thanks for the help!

(Note: Information can be sent to the Budd Blogger at go2paulf@gmail.com)

Mark T. Evans

Anaheim, CA

Attention: Rochester Retirees -- October 23 Lunch

Rochester retirees luncheon will be held October 23, 2008 at Rivercrest.

Please contact Karen Hunter at 586 286-0525 or Ramona at 248 656-1362 or r.hepfner@earthlink.net for information.

Thank you.

Ramona Hepfner

Rochester Retirees Luncheon

For several years now retirees and those who had worked at Rochester have gathered for a spring and fall luncheon. RiverCrest. Many of you will remember the meetings held there plus Nino catered our picnics at Addison Oaks where our luncheons are held. Over 60 were in attendance this spring and are looking forward to our fall luncheon. Joe and Marilyn Logan (Florida) planned a trip to Michigan around our luncheon date. No date for the fall get-together has been selected at this time. Thanks to Karen Hunter and Ramona Hepfner for making the arrangements. For more info, contact Ramona at: r.hepfner@earthlink.net

Budd -- A Place for Bonding, says Bondy

Hi Paul!

Thanks for a great e-mail and a great idea! It's hard to sum up 20 working years into a 'philosophy', but I think many of us share the feeling that the work we did each day was not just for a paycheck (although that was important!) or to further the company's goals, but because our fellow employees needed what we did, to do what they had to do. At least for me, it was a personal thing.

We may not have been able to articulate the company credo, but we felt what we did was worthwhile and necessary to someone. Ideas like The Budd Institute gave us a chance to meet employees all up and down the corporate ladder and establish ties we would not otherwise have had.

My wish for you and all the Budd gang on this day is health and happiness and a joyous 4th of July!

Karen Bondy

Hooray for the Red, White and Budd

LET'S HEAR IT FOR EDWARD G. BUDD...AN AMERICAN 'PIONEER'! His legacy left us filled with pride in a company born of one man's ingeniuity and skill and steeped in traditional patriotism and pride. I am one of many who remember the 'original' Budd Company. I am extremely proud to have contributed 25 years of my service, and I continue to be rewarded each month for my hard work and loyalty. My memories are many, which include the American flag that flew proudly out front, first in Philadelphia,and last in Troy. May God bless all of those who contributed to this wonderful company on this Fourth of July. Today, there is only ONE remaining soldier who fought in WWI. May we never forget all of our friends who served so that we can enjoy the freedoms we treasure today.

Lynne Wikarski, Indian River, MI (lynneupnorth@fastmail.fm)

Budd Family Loses Norm Freitag

Norm Freitag, the friendly engineer who worked at The Budd Company Technical Center, died June 26.

May 21 Budd Retirees Reunion

May 21 was a day of reunion for old and dear friends who retired from The Budd Company.

More than 60 Budd retirees met at the Rochester Chop House for lunch. In attendance were Budd people who retired 20 years ago and some that retired last year.

Thanks to Mercedes Godin for arranging the event. It may be an annual affair.

If you attended the Budd Retiree Luncheon and would like to tell us about your experience, please do so on Budd Company Blogs.

Remembering Pat McIntosh from Detroit Plant

From Don Ruedisueli,

I just received notification that Pat McIntosh passed away on Saturday, 3/22/08.

Most of the corporate elitists probably don't know Pat but he had been the Benefits Manager at the Detroit plant for almost 30 years until he was unceremoniously transferred to corporate in 1998 and relegated to answering the phones for the new benefits center which was established at the end of 1997.

In my opinion, Pat was the best manager ever to have worked for Budd and I am blessed with having been able to work for him for all the years that I did. He was not only the most knowledgable and caring employer I have ever had the honor of knowing but he also had unrivaled personal integrity. A trait which the Corporate HR staff was sadly lacking.

The way the corporate HR people treated him following his transfer to Troy in '98 was far beyond disgusting. I was greatly saddened when he developed his medical problems to the extent that he had to leave the company on disability but at the same time I was relieved that he no longer had to put up with such insulting behavior from his own managerial peer group.

Thank you, Pat, for leaving such a positive impact on my life and may God welcome you home and watch over your family. You will truly be missed............

Don Ruedisueli