December 2011

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#Greetings

Often times I tell people the two most important commodities at A&K are not things that may come to mind like inventory or equipment, but rather our customers and our employees. Our customers and our employees are the lifeblood of our existence, without both we would be out of business.

It’s drawing close to that time of year when folks start thinking about resolutions. I try to start each day with how I’m going to leave A&K a little better than I found it. Even though as a company we are spread across the country I’m making a diligent effort to make sure my fingerprints are left and felt throughout. Some days it’s hard not to get bogged down in the minutia, the constant flurry of urgent but not really important. Things like email, technology that drags on us & demands our time and attention. It makes me think of the passing of Steve Jobs this past October. It’s hard to overestimate the effect the former Apple CEO had on the technology industry as a whole. His company’s innovation in tablets and smart phones kicked off the current rush toward mobility that will almost certainly define the space we live in for years to come.

When the Apple co-founder’s life ended on October 5th at age 56, the event marked the passing not only of an international icon, but also of a man people felt they knew well – even if they had never met him. Jobs was beloved because his company made high quality products that people used to extend their own personalities. Every device Apple made was designed to become a trusted friend to its user.

In our rail industry we may use these devices to help us become smarter, move faster, get the quote out quicker, and all the while this industry remains based on relationships. At this holiday time of year let me be the first to tell you we value you and your business. Thank you for relying on us to supply your rail needs. We look forward to serving you again in 2012 and hope to see you soon! Please keep in touch.

I wish you & your families the happiest of holidays.

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Contact Information
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A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.

Employee News

Chris Miller (Corporate) and her husband Mick are proud grandparents of twins (boy/girl). Maxwell Miller Scow and Lucille Esther Scow (aka Max & Lucy) were born September 6, 2011 in Rochester, MN. Mick and Chris’s daughter Carrie and husband Jeff Scow are the sleep deprived parents. Also welcoming the babies into the family are Sam, age 6 and Mick, age 3 ½. Lucy weighed 5 lbs 13 oz and was 18 inches long. Max weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and was 18 ½ inches long. Mick and Chris had a set of boy/girl twins 38 years ago weighing 5 lbs 13 oz (boy) and 6 lbs 4 oz (girl). 1 oz difference!

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Rhonda Nicoloff celebrated her 20th anniversary with A&K. November 4th marked the official date. A surprise congratulations gathering was planned and everyone at corporate headquarters was in attendance. Thank you Rhonda, on behalf of all A&K employees, we really appreciate ALL you do for us!

Wright Fuel
Card Program

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Good job team! November marked the 9th consecutive month we hit the Basic Rebate level for total gallons purchased. But we can still do better! Our company wide goal is the Bonus Rebate Level. Are you doing your part to help A&K save money? Remember, all fuel/gas purchases are to be made with the Wright Express Fuel Cards. If you are looking for a location that accepts the card you can search online at www.wrightexpress.com/ accepting-locations or call 800-492-0669. You can also get services that are eligible for the rebate. For example tire purchases, tire repair, auto repairs, car washes, oil changes, or windshield repair. Please contact Janet Walker or Karen Burke in the Corporate office if you have any questions about the program.

Holiday Shutdown Reminder

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Please be advised that in a continued effort to save costs, while at the same time providing a renewal for our employees, we will be implementing a company wide shut down this holiday season which will be in effect December 24, 2011 – January 2, 2011. All locations will reconvene for business Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Happy holidays to you and your families.

Safe Harbor Shelter

The tradition of A&K employees attending the Evergreen Christmas Tree fund raiser for Safe Harbor Shelter continued for the fifth year. November 15th, 2011 was the date that so many gathered to help support victims of domestic violence. This season A&K helped sponsor a tree, along with Cindy Merrell, her husband Bob and her daughter Melissa. Cindy and her family began planning and gathering materials, for this year’s tree right after Christmas last year. It was a labor of love, and the tree that they assembled was the hit of everyone who saw it. Their theme was Warmth, and that theme was truly reflected in the color of the ornaments and lights that covered it. It stood on a rotating stand, so every inch of it was perfect. The tree was accented by a standalone fireplace topped with a Yule log. The lucky purchaser was Chevron Oil. Thank you Cindy, for such a beautiful donation.

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Always Moving Forward
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The Cab Ride

I walked to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with
photos and glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag
out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase
to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly
toward the curb. She kept thanking me
for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.
‘I just try to treat my passengers the way
I would want my mother treated’. ‘Oh, you’re
such a good boy’, she said. When we got in the
cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, ‘Could
you drive through downtown?’ It’s not the shortest way’,I answered
quickly. ‘Oh, I don’t mind’, she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice’. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left’, she continued. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long’. I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. ‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico … two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk      and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already                     seated in a wheelchair. ‘How much do I owe you?’ she                               asked, reaching into her purse. ‘Nothing’, I said.                                    ‘You have to make a living’, she answered.                                         ‘There are other passengers’, I responded.                                         Almost without thinking, I bent and gave                                              her a hug. She held onto me tightly.                                              ‘You gave an old woman a                                         little moment of joy’, she said. ‘Thank you’.                                         I squeezed her hand, and then walked                               into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door                     shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware – beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, -- but -- they will always remember how you made them feel.

“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.”

— Mother Teresa

A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.
Always Moving Forward

Copyright 2011 A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.