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News | News Archive | Summer 2005
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To do it because it is right|
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” —John Wooden First and simply — do as you say. If you give someone your word, regardless of how big or small, always do it. It has powerful results in all walks of life — family — church — work. Second — give everything your best effort. The discipline of doing it right is a learned habit, not one you are born with. Be proud of your work regardless of its importance. Let your pride in your work dictate your reputation. - Graham Bennett |
 Graham Bennett, President |
“Just do it.” There once were four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. An important job had to be done, and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it and that Somebody would do it. But Nobody realized that Everybody thought Somebody would do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. |
If you own your own business or have a company logo on your vehicle, do not pull into Quality Mart 42 on Lewisville-Clemmons Road without a fleet card because you are not leaving without a sales pitch and an application. Crystal Ferguson, Manager, has generated eight accounts with an estimated monthly average of $9,500. Ask Crystal why she promotes Quality Fleet and she’ll quickly reply that it builds loyal customers, increases gas volume, and, best of all, cuts credit card costs. So it is a win-win situation for her store. Although Crystal sets the pace, her whole team actually promotes Quality Fleet. Don Yountz, third shift associate, just received a $20 award for landing another account. Great teamwork! |
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There’s an Ironman among us...
“Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” St. Francis of Assisi
To be an Ironman takes a lot of hard work, goal setting, determination, consistency and incredible endurance. William Pittman, Senior Vice President, Hotels & Real Estate, mastered all of these qualities to achieve his goal of becoming an Ironman earlier this year. William, who has been with Quality Oil for 20 years, successfully completed his first Ironman competition on April 9, 2005. Following is an account of his experience:
MY FIRST IRONMAN TRIATHLON
Since watching my first Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon on NBC
Sports back in the 1990s, I have wanted to complete an Ironman
Triathlon event. The Ironman Triathlon is an endurance sports
event that starts with a 2.4-mile swim and is followed by a
112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run — all in one day. The
competition starts at 7 a.m. and participants have until midnight to
complete the three events.
My dream started to become a reality when I ran my first marathon several years ago. At the time, finishing the run was just as big as the Ironman is now because by completing it I realized that anything is possible with proper goal setting.
My Ironman training started a year before the actual race when I went to my local YMCA for adult swim classes. I took swimming lessons as a child and could get around in the water, but to swim a lap prior to the class was really a challenge. I would rather run 26 miles than attempt to swim laps. After a few months in the class, I could swim a few laps, and over the next year I gradually increased my distance to the 2.4 miles required for the event.
My next step was to start riding the bike. Oh sure, we can all ride a bike, but I was going to ride 112 miles to finish the Ironman. My first training ride was only 10 miles, and I worked my way up to a 100-mile training ride prior to the race.
The run was the one part of the triathlon I felt most comfortable in, but at the Ironman, I had to swim and bike before I could run.
I signed up for Ironman Arizona held in Tempe. On race day, I woke up at 4 a.m., had a bagel, and headed off to the event. I arrived at the race site around 5 a.m. to prepare. By 6:30, all 2000 participants were directed to jump into the 65-degree lake. At 7:00 a.m., the cannon shot sounded the start of the swim. Knowing my limited swimming abilities, I positioned myself at the back of the pack. I started my swim and felt I was moving two strokes forward and one stroke back — but I was moving! After a little less than two hours in the cold lake, I finished the swim and went to a transition area to change from my wetsuit to my biking attire to begin the 112-mile ride through Arizona. I remember looking back and seeing about 50 other swimmers still in the lake.
The first 20 miles of the bike ride were really a breeze — almost a ride in the park! I could not believe how fast I was going. Suddenly I came to a turn-around point and realized the wind had been pushing me. Now it was time to ride into a 25-knot head wind. It was all I could do just to keep moving. If I had stopped pedaling, I would have rolled backwards. My pace now was about like my swim pace, but I knew if I kept pedaling, eventually I would make it to the turn around and the wind would push me again. The race was on a three-loop bike course, so after the first 40 miles I knew what the course was like. By 4:00 p.m., I was only a few miles from the bike finish.
After finishing the bike event, I went to the run transition area.
Around 4:30 p.m., I took off on the run. I felt relieved that I wasn’t
the only one left on the course so — no problem! The marathon
course was two loops through the city of Tempe then through a
local park. The parks in this part of the country are not full of
shade trees and nicely paved paths. This was Arizona, and it was
like a mini desert. I ran along a canal on a path of fine, white sand.
The only shade was from the cactus plants. Being from the
Carolinas, I considered
this a desert.
The run went well until mile seven. As I started to slow down, I remembered my goal was to FINISH the Ironman event. With that goal in mind, I decided to walk for awhile and enjoy the day — or should I say — the night. I knew if I could average a mile in 15 minutes, I would finish the remaining 19 miles by midnight, the official time the event would end.
Around 7 p.m. the sun went down, and I noticed there were fewer runners still on the course. I could hear coyotes in the background and started thinking maybe I should pick up the pace. Heading back into town, I could hear the cheers as other competitors crossed the finish line. Wow! Just to think I was about to be an Ironman! What had taken me all day to complete was only a few steps away. At 10:35 p.m. — after 15 hours and 35 minutes — I crossed the finish line and the announcer said, “William Pittman, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN.”
Completing the Ironman was an awesome experience and one I’ll never forget. Yes, I am looking forward to my next Ironman event. My main goal still will be — to finish!
— Ironman William
Propane Grill DOs and DON’Ts
Propane grills make “grilling out” an easy and relaxing ending to beautiful summer days. Following are a few common-sense guidelines that can keep grilling fun and free of fire hazards.
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DOs for safe propane grilling:
• Open lid before lighting the grill. | 
DON’Ts for protecting against hazards while grilling:
• Do not smoke while handling the propane cylinder. |
Protecting Pockets and Privacy
More than any other time in history, Americans are facing attacks on their personal and financial privacy. Identity theft affects 500,000 people in the United States every year. Although there may be no way to absolutely shield your privacy, it is critical that you understand a few simple rules to avoid being compromised.
- Keep only essentials in your
wallet — Do not carry important
identity documents such as your
Social Security card, passport or birth
certificate with you. Keep them
locked in a secure place. Your Social
Security number could give credit
thieves access to your credit report
and bank accounts.
- Monitor your credit card— Check
your statements every month. Report any unauthorized charges
before you pay the bill. If you have credit cards that you do not
use, close the accounts and destroy the cards.
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Destroy records and statements — Shred any papers you
discard that have any personal information on them such as
credit card and bank statements that contain private financial
information. Be sure to include any junk mail you receive for
credit card offers.
- Secure your mail — Empty your mailbox quickly, lock it
or get a P.O. box so that criminals don’t have easy access. Mail
outgoing bills from a secure location instead of from home.
- Don’t leave a paper trail — Always be sure to take your
ATM, credit card or gas receipts with you after you have made
a purchase.
- Know who you are dealing with — Never give personal
or financial information to anyone over the phone unless you
are absolutely sure it is legitimate.
- Remove your name from marketers’ hit lists — Contact
the national Do-Not-Call Registry website or reach them by
telephone at 1-888-382-1222.
- Guard your card online — Be cautious when shopping unknown websites. A quick trip to Bizrate.com or the Better Business Bureau to check out the company can save you lots of money and headaches later. Be sure that the website provides multiple ways to contact the merchant, such as a telephone and fax number and a physical address, not a P.O. box. Do not enter your credit card number unless the padlock is showing on the lower part of your browser.
— Annette Wagoner
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Bringing It On!
In April, the Hotel Sales Coordinators and Directors of Sales attended an action-packed, information-filled sales retreat in Winston-Salem. The group consisted of 11 sales people representing all seven QOC hotels. Recognition awards were presented for top performance in 2004, as well as awards for creative presentations that each hotel team conducted during the retreat. 2004 Hotel Sales Award Highest Revenue Per Available Room Index Highest Weekend Occupancy Index Most Improved Weekend Occupancy Index Presentation Awards Best Hotel Presentation Best End User Presentation A Close Encounter with a Celebrity
On a recent trip promoting his daughters’ design business, www.creativeandcolorful.com, in New York, Don Baker, General Manager of the Hampton Inn Winston- Salem and his wife met celebrity news anchor Katie Couric of the Today Show. |
Spirit of Pride Award
Congratulations to Olga Chavez, Executive Housekeeper at the Hampton Inn Winston-Salem. Olga received the Spirit of Pride award from Hilton Hotels Corporation in recognition of her outstanding contribution to guests, fellow team members and the community. Correction: Paula Green, recognized in the previous newsletter as the Spirit of Pride winner, is the Guest Services Manager at the Hampton Inn Winston-Salem. Hampton Inn-Christiansburg Walks in Relay for Life
Employees at the Hampton Inn Christiansburg, VA participated in Relay for Life on May 20-21, 2005. Relay for Life is an overnight, fun-filled event where teams of people take turns walking laps. The event began on Friday at 6 p.m. and concluded Saturday at noon. Each team was required to keep at least one team member walking on the track at all times. The event celebrates survivors of cancer and raises money for research and programs of the local American Cancer Society. The Hampton Inn team consisted of Betty Shideler, Assistant General Manager; Allison Harris, Guest Service Representative; Terri Dinkins, Guest Services Manager; and Cary Hoge, Director of Sales. Despite the rain, wind and 50-degree weather, the Hampton team completed the event and raised $1,300 for the American Cancer Society. |
2005 Service Awards
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The Importance of a Correct E-mail Address
A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida to thaw out for a long weekend during one particularly icy winter. Because both had jobs, they had difficulty coordinating their travel schedules. It was decided that the husband would fly to Florida on a Thursday, and his wife would follow him the next day.
Upon arriving as planned, the husband checked into the hotel. There he decided to open his laptop and send his wife back in Minneapolis an e-mail. However, he accidentally left off one letter in her address, and sent the e-mail without realizing his error.
In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband’s funeral. He was a minister of many years who had been “called home to glory” following a heart attack. The widow checked her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted and fell to the floor.
The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on
the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:
To: My Loving Wife
From: Your Departed Husband
Subject: I’ve Arrived!
I’ve just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow looking forward to seeing you then. Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P.S. Sure is hot down here!
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| Pat and Pat Keefer have relocated to the new Quality Plus in Hibriten. Mr and Mrs. Keefer were formerly managers of Connolly Springs Quality Plus where they have a total of 27 years of service. Hibriten opened on June 14, 2005 at 1350 Wilkesboro Boulevard SE in Lenoir, NC. |
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Congratulations Graduates!
 | Nick Lowman, son of Tim Lowman, Senior Vice President, Convenience Store Operations, graduated from Glenn High School. He was Valedictorian of his class and plans to attend Tulane University in the fall. |
 | Kristin Sawyer (part-time, Plymouth Quality Plus), daughter of Jean Sawyer, Supervisor, East District, graduated from Plymouth High School. Kristin was Valedictorian of her class and plans to attend Mars Hill College in the fall. |
 | Justin Welborn, son of Annette Wagoner, Purchasing Agent, has received the Bob Timberlake scholarship. This scholarship is funded by the North Carolina Propane Gas Association. Justin will attend UNC-Charlotte in the fall. |
| Quiz Answers:
1) a: Romeo and Juliet is most often read by high school
English classes. |
Quality Oil Company, LLC
PO Box 2736
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
336.722.3441
FAX 336.721.9527
bfoster@qocnc.com
Quality Oil Newsletter Committee:
Brenda Foster, Administrative Assistant
Annette Wagoner, Purchasing Agent
Danny Brown, V.P. Service Stations
Haywood Stroupe, Sales Supervisor
William Pittman, Senior V.P.-Hotel Operations
Lisa Dodson, Accounting
Jamie Westmoreland, Operations Clerk
Nancy Puckett, Administrative Assistant
Kim Williamson, Corporate Director of Hotel Sales
Don Morton, Quality Plus Operations Manager
We welcome your suggstions. You may email them to
bfoster@qocnc.com