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GOAL (Continued from page 6) From Your Employee Assistance Program Staying TogetherjTalk, Listen Then Compromise • Programs to teach adults to read • Home for unwed mothers • Search and Rescue assistance • Drug and alcohol abuse pre vention • Day care services • Crisis intervention • Information and referral for services All couples have arguments. The con flict may have to do with money, in laws, sex or how to rear the children. But why are some couples able to work through these conflicts while others seem to be stuck in them or even torn apart by them? There are many answers, but one way that successful couples deal with their differences is through a combination of honest ex pression, clear communication and compromise. Talk Openly In the first stages of romance, we’re caught up in the euphoria of early love. We think our partner can do no wrong. Over time, however, reality sets in and each of us realizes that our views or habits are different from the other’s. This may be hard to accept. But learn ing to talk about these differences openly, without accusation or blame, can be productive. Communicate Clearly Practice clear communication, In stead of jumping to conclusions about what you thought you heard, repeat back what your partner just said to be sure you really understood it. Use “I” statements instead of “you” statements, which sound accusatory. Focus on your feelings, rather than what the other person did. No one can argue with your feelings. For example, saying, “When you go to your mother’s house after work instead of coming straight home to be with me, I feel ig nored” is more likely to open up the lines of communication than saying “You always go to your mother’s after work and I don’t like it.” Avoid asking “why” questions, which also sound accusatory and can put your partner on the defensive. “Why do you go to your motner’s house after work?” can quickly escalate and the point of your complaint v“I feel ignored”) will get lost in the process. Learn To Cam promise Once you’re able k talk openly about differences, it’s easiei to work out com promises. Through clear communica tion, you’ll be able to establish together what is or isn’t important to you and to your partner, and then decide on com promises accordingly. In a healthy, communicative relationship, both part ners are able to compromise some of the time. Compromise is productive and enhances the respect you feel for each other. Summary Annual Report The Clinton Mills, Inc. Profit-Sharing Retirement Plan This is a summary of the annual report for the Clinton Mills, Inc. Profit-Sharing Retirement Plan, EIN 57-0836044, for January 1,1989 to December 31,1989. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Basic Financial Statement Benefits under the plan are provided by a group defined contribution annuity contract. Plan expenses were $709,107, which were benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 802 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year. The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $6,092,347 as of December 31, 1989, compared to $6,290,130 as of January 1, 1989. Durmg the plan year the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $197,783. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The plan had total income of $511,324. Your Rights to Additional Information You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. lb obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write to the office of Pauline S. McLendon, who is the plan administrator. The charge to cover copy ing costs will be $2.00 for the full annual report, or $.25 per page for any part thereof. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompany ing notes. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan admin istrator, this statement and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of this portion of the report because this portion is furnished without charge. You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at Clin ton Mills, Inc., 600 Academy Street, Clinton, SC 29325, and at the U. S. Depart ment of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N4677, Pension and Welfare Benefit Programs, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20216. For assistance in obtaining a copy of available information, contact the Per- sonnel Manager in your work area. Pauline S. McLendon Financial Administrator Clinton Mills Drawer 1215 Clinton, SC 29325 Associate Assistance Program Provides Confidential Service Illiteracy Still A Problem Clinton Mills employees are respond ing well to the Associate Assistance Pro gram. The program offers a free and confidential counseling service to employees. Most of us experience personal prob lems at some point or another in our lives. For the majority, the problems normally solve themselves with a minor adjustment period. However, some problems are of a more serious nature and require outside help. Clinton employees are offered ex cellent counseling services on a free and confidential basis. The Company’s program has provided numerous em ployees professional assistance due to personal, family, financial, and job related problems. The Associate Assistant Program is a reasonable place to start for personal concerns that effect job performance and the employee’s personal life. One of the major benefits of the Associate Assistant Program has been the services provided for employees with alcohol and drug related problems. Alcohol problems cause much distress within a family. Many employee’s family members have entered alcohol and drug treatment centers after meeting with Clinton’s assigned counselors. The AAP counselor will do every thing possible to provide appropriate services at no cost. However, expenses that are incurred through specialized treatment centers will be discussed with the employees. Anyone wishing to use the AAP can contact the counselor through their Personnel Department, Plant Nurse, or Supervisor. Until recently, America has had justifiable pride in its education system and its high rate of literacy. But in our present society, with its emphasis on technology and communications, some of our traditional views are changing. Last year, one out of five American adults was functionally illiterate. Twenty-seven million cannot read well enough to complete a tax form or job application. Thirty-five million more are considered “marginally illit erate’—unable to read and understand beyond a sixth grade level. Between now and the close of the cen tury, basic literacy will be required of adults entering the work force. Three out of four jobs created in 1990 will re quire more than a high school diploma. No one can afford to ignore this grow ing national problem. But there are things you can do—as individuals and as parents—to help turn it around. As individuals: • Learn more about illiteracy in your community. Call your United Way and find out which United Way- sponsored agencies have programs that address illiteracy. Become in volved in these programs. • Be a volunteer tutor for a young person or an immigrant who is learn ing to read. • When you are looking for a gift for a teenager, consider a book that features a favorite subject. • Write your congressional repre sentative and share your concern about illiteracy in America. • Form a task force to address illit eracy in your own community. As parents: • Know the grade level at which your children read. Schools test every child in reading and the results are readily available. If your child needs extra help in reading, look into special programs offered by the school or con tact a volunteer placement agency to find a tutor. • Limit the amount of time children watch television. Encourage them to watch educational programs—and to check out library books that follow up on those programs. • Take your children to the library and encourage them to get their own library cards. Then have them choose their own books and check them out. Encourage teenagers to study and con duct research at the library. • Set an example by reading your self. When they are young, read to your children and encourage them to read to you. Question them to see if they understand what they’ve read. As they get older, encourage them to set aside some time each night for reading. • Work with your children’s school to encourage reading and writing skills. Start a book-publishing center that will publish students’ best-written stories ...or publish these stories in a school newsletter. Make the product so you don’t mind buying it yourself. Carl Holloway, Geneva Maintenance Cloth Maker - page 7