79-03-B4
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Lawrence Welk[edit]
Transcript[edit]As our country was approaching its bicentennial, a man wrote~ book called "My America, Your America". In the foreword he says, "I know that this wonderful life of mine could never have happened anywhere but here. My parents knew this long before me. Searching for freedom, they came to this country as immigrants, from a land where they and their parents before them had been bitterly oppressed-- trapped in a life where there was little or no chance to better themselves." You can see and hear this man any week on TV. Just treat yourself to an hour's entertainment that will--if you're old enough-- bring back nostalgic memories of the Big Band era. There he is, one-time farm boy, son of immigrants, telling us, "It's wunnerful, wunnerful". And Lawrence Welk has done something to make life wonderful for those around him. Take a look at his company of more than 50 people and see if you can't feel the genuine warmth and camaraderie of his musicians and artists. You can, because it's there. In this cynical world where too often a broken promise doesn't count unless it was in writing, the Lawrence Welk company operates with no written contracts. This is part of the "Welk Training and Sharing Plan". A great many business executives and industrialists could do themselves a favor by having Lawrence explain his plan to them. The plan consists of three parts. Number one is the training program. Young talent is discovered, then trained by the employer and senior employees. Trainees are paid during a period which does not exceed one year. At the year's end, employee and employer review progress and decide whether to continue the relationship. If the decision is yes, the trainee becomes a full employee and begins from that day to share in the profits and other benefits of the business. Part two of the plan is a profit sharing trust which sets aside an amount equal to 15 percent of the company's gross payroll. This money is deposited and invested for the sole benefit of the employees. If and when they retire or leave the company, they get their share. There are, in addition, special benefits and bonuses for meritorious effort. The corporation also assumes all or part of the payment for medical coverage, life insurance, union assessments and so forth. And part three is the no-contract basis. As Lawrence explains it, "The prime goal of our job training and sharing program is to develop the individual person to the highest possible degree of his inborn talents and potential in every way--personally, professionally, morally and spiritually. This goal is the basic, underlying motivation for our entire system." Does this system work? In the backstage life TV viewers never see, there is an unmistakable family spirit. They babysit for each other, take trips together and help each other in time of trouble. Sounds real American, doesn't it? Lawrence Welk's bicentennial book "My America, Your America" is worth reading. It's wunnerful, wunnerful. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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