12.21.09 - Tri-State Dedicates New Addition
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For the first time in 30 years, Tri-State has added to our offices and shop here in Plymouth, MN. We also gave the whole property a bit of a make-over, especially noticeable in the new fence along Highway 55. During a break in our annual safety meeting, we all congregated in the balmy 20 degree temperatures for a brief dedication ceremony.
The text of Jim Melcher's dedication remarks follow:
"When they built the first building here, they didn’t do any dedications; and when they built the first addition they didn’t do any dedications. They just did the work! It always falls to later generations that need to preserve the memory of the strong work of our founding generation to do things like dedications.
"So that’s what we’re here for: to dedicate the new addition to Tri-State Drilling to our two late founders, Ralph Eisele and H. Wayne Riethmiller. Ralph and Wayne are now beyond the reach of all earthly honors and rewards; so when we gather to honor them, we primarily hope to incite ourselves to imitate them. In other words, in dedicating this building we rededicate ourselves to the qualities and values our founders exemplified for us.
"Both of these men were totally dedicated to Tri-State; they were both tenacious in achieving their goals. Where Wayne was assertive, and aggressive with a sense of humor and tended to stir people up, Ralph was a calming influence on people. In their different ways, they both made the people they worked with want to do their best, to perform at their peak. Wayne distinguished himself as a company innovator, and his competitive spirit awoke in others a desire to innovate as well. Ralph was the go-to in the early years for recovering tools lost down a well. Unlike Wayne, Ralph had the patience for it. (As a team, our founders—including Clarence Berthiaume and my father—they all as a team had the necessary qualities for success, although you might argue no individual possessed all of them. Think Beatles, or the 1987 Twins.) At this time of year it is especially fitting to note that both Ralph and Wayne were also generous, to family, friends, the needy, and employees.
"So in dedicating this building, we are rededicating ourselves to leadership, tenacity, innovation, patience and generosity. As first President of Tri-State since Wayne, I hereby dedicate this building."
12.19.09 - Tri-State Holds Annual Safety Meeting
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Pictured is Andy Kimball teaching a session on first aid. Mr. Kimball is in the Environmental Health and Safety Office at the Univ. of MN-Duluth. Still active in the National Guard Reserves, he gave a vigorous, no nonsense presentation that, although nearly four hours long, kept the guys attention and taught them a lot.
12.18.09 - Davis H. Elliott Trainer assists in Tri-State Annual Safety Meet
Tri-State was fortunate enough this year to have Greg Crutchfield of Davis H. Elliott participate as a trainer in our Annual Safety Meeting. Greg is DHE's Safety Director. He taught us state-of-the-art concepts in crew formation, site awareness and, especially, the communication skills necessary for a safe construction worksite.
Tri-State thanks Greg and everybody at Davis H. Elliott!