Company Picnic, a “Concrete” Success

It is common for companies to sponsor their corporate picnics on the rich, lush grassy grounds of a metropolitan park located several miles outside the city boundaries. Not so with Milton Manufacturing. True to its motto: “Detroit Proud,” Milton Manufacturing sponsored its company employee picnic at its Galactic Headquarters in Detroit. In fact, you might say that its company picnic was a “concrete” success.

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that Milton is located in an urban setting that was hard-hit by the economy. Directly across the street from Milton, there was a neighborhood of 100+ homes that no longer exist as a result of the downfall in the economy a few years ago. As the homes became abandoned, decayed, Milton purchased the lots, some vacant others with houses, and leveled the homes to open up the land and converted the area into community flower and food gardens that are planted, harvested and shared with local area residents.

Milton takes its role as a corporate neighbor in the community very seriously. Remember the song from the 1970s entitled “Takin’ It to the Streets” by the rock band The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald as lead vocalist? Milton hosted its picnic in the “concrete” street right outside of its plant facilities and headquarters. By doing so, the local residents and their children were also invited to enjoy the picnic.

Clearly, the picnic was very kid-friendly — with popcorn, cotton candy, dunk tank, a hay ride, several blow up giant game structures (including a giant dry slide and a giant wet slide) and family tours of the plant facilities. Children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, were in constant motion going from one game to the next.

It was a great day for family fun — and a wonderful day for employees to show their families where mom or dad works during the week.

MILTON Manufacturing Supports
No-Phone Zone Day

You’re driving in rush hour traffic. You just have to send your BFF a text message right now to tell her about something. Why wait? It’s not urgent but it’s on your mind now.

Your BFF writes back saying that your message has her LOL. Wait a minute! Where did that car come from? Wow! That was a close call. You almost hit that young boy standing at the corner! Where’s your cell phone? Oh, it fell out of your hand and it’s on the floor on the passenger side. You just have to pick it up right now. Why wait until you come to a stop. Got it! Oh, no! You’ve lost control of the car and it’s headed into oncoming traffic! BAM! CRASH!

Does this scenario sound familiar to you? (If you don’t already know: BFF is a “text” shortcut for “best friend forever” and LOL stands for “laughing out loud.”) Stories have hit the news about school bus drivers and train engineers responsible for multiple deaths in a single incident because they were “texting while driving.” Not every incident where a cell phone is involved hits the news, but deaths caused by people “texting while driving” have risen to an incredible level.

In the 1980s, grass-roots safety campaigns were instrumental in helping to reduce deaths from drunk driving with the increased use of seat belts and other efforts.

Now, in 2010, the U.S. Transportation Department has declared April 30 a day of national observance for “No-Phone Zone Day.” This safety campaign was led by popular television personality, Oprah Winfrey, to encourage drivers to pledge not to chat or text on a cell phone while driving. Participants can pick from three pledge options to affect their driving style: no texting; no texting and no chatting; or no texting and hands-free calling only.

MILTON Mfg. realizes that April 30th has passed, but it is never too late to practice good safety procedures!

Eye-opening facts:

  • According to researchers, texting on a cell phone while driving slows the reaction time of the driver more than when he/she is under the influence of alcohol.
  • In a university study released last year, it was determined that truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in or nearly involved in a crash.
  • President Obama banned federal employees from texting while driving government vehicles. The employees are also banned from texting while driving their own vehicles when using government-issued phones.
  • According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, when drivers text while driving, they take their eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ron LaHood says that this finding suggests that, at 55 mph, a texting driver actually travels the full length of a football field without directing his attention to the road.
  • Secretary LaHood also said drivers of commercial vehicles caught texting while driving could be fined up to $2,750.

For more information, the U.S. Transportation Department has launched a special website at www.distraction.gov, the “official U.S. government website for distracted driving” information. So far, 24 states, including Michigan and the District of Columbia, have joined Oprah’s efforts to support distracted driving legislation.

Here at MILTON MANUFACTURING, we encourage you to practice safe driving habits. Wait until you can pull your vehicle off the road to chat or text safely.

MILTON and Focus HOPE
working together in Detroit

g_FH-logoMILTON MANUFACTURING has forged an educational and working relationship with the nationally-recognized civil and human rights organization, Focus:HOPE.

In 1968, Father William Cunningham (1930-1997) and Eleanor Josaitis co-founded Focus:HOPE, an organization “dedicated to intelligent and practical solutions to the problems of hunger, economic disparity, inadequate education, and racial divisiveness.” Together, Cunningham and Josaitis adopted the following mission:

Recognizing the dignity and beauty of every person, we pledge intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. And to build a metropolitan community where all people may live in freedom, harmony, trust and affection. Black and white, yellow, brown and red from Detroit and its suburbs of every economic status, national origin and religious persuasion we join in this covenant. —
Adopted March 8, 1968

Since its modest beginnings more than 40 years ago, Focus:HOPE has grown to become a well-known and respected organization, diligently working to bridge the economic and racial disparities in southeast Michigan through its food distribution program, career training programs, and HOPE Village Initiative.

In the early 1980s, Focus:HOPE launched its Machinist Training Institute (MTI) and soon after developed a manufacturing operation through which FH became a supplier to the automotive industry. The Machinist Training Institute is housed in the former Ex-Cell-O plant facility. Upon completion of the Machinist Training Institute, students are provided with job placement services with manufacturing companies throughout southeast Michigan.

In the early 1990s, FH opened the Center for Advanced Technologies in a former Ford industrial engine plant. The CAT offers its students an innovative college degree program (associate, bachelor and master degrees) in partnership with various university and business partners. Furthermore, FH offers skills in information and computer technology, as well as cultural appreciation in music, art, photography and writing.

MILTON MANUFACTURING is proud to work with Focus:HOPE to hire FH students living in federally-designated HUB Zones of Detroit.

Our Human Resources Manager is working with a FH team that consists of the Placement Relations Supervisor, Manager of the Machinist Training Institute, Business Manager, and Student Services Supervisor.

MILTON MANUFACTURING applauds the social services, civil rights, and career training efforts of Focus:HOPE. We are dedicated to training, employing and working within our surrounding community to help improve the great city of Detroit and its residents.