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Growing with the Grove – 3M Cottage Grove Celebrates 60 Years
Sixty years is a significant milestone and clearly worthy of a celebration. 3M Cottage Grove is proud to have been part of the community for all these years, and we look forward to many more of “Growing with the Grove.” We launched our celebration on September 13 with our Employee Family Day.
3M Family Day a Resounding Success
On Saturday, September 13, 3M employees and their families gathered on the Cottage Grove site to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. The day began with a VIP Breakfast for city and county dignitaries, State Representatives Karla Bigham and Denny McNamara, as well as 3M executives. Cottage Grove Mayor Sandy Shiely presented Site Director Vicki Batroot with a proclamation declaring September 13, 2008 “3M Innovation Day in the City of Cottage Grove.”
A little light rain did not dampen the excitement as 1,700 employees, retirees and their families enjoyed a day of entertainment and reminiscing. Walking and bus tours allowed employees to proudly show their families where they work and what they do.
Popcorn, snow cones and other tasty treats appealed to kids of every age. There were clowns, face painters and music for all. Kids could spray the fire truck hoses and jump on play jumpers. A variety of 3M products were on display. Many folks also enjoyed seeing – and hearing – the 3M NASCAR.
The University of Minnesota Raptor Center thrilled young and old alike with a live peregrine falcon and bald eagle on hand, along with educational messages and lessons on preserving our natural habitat. As a parting gift, every employee and each guest left with a large bag of innovative 3M products.
The Raptor Release – A Celebration Soars
On September 27, the entire community got involved with our Raptor Release Community Celebration. While a number of local VIPs were on hand at various times, we also heard from several who could not make it.
What could be more thrilling than watching as raptors take wing, returning to the sky where they belong? On Saturday, September 27, about 2,500 community residents were on hand to find out. Joining the festivities was Sven Sungaard, KARE 11 meteorologist.
“Releasing a hawk is one of the coolest experiences I’ve had. It’s not every day you’re able to hold a creature like that in your hand and toss him in the air on his way once again in the natural world,” said Sundgaard.
Critically-acclaimed acoustic guitarist and composer, Dean Magraw, entertained the crowd with a performance reflecting his many musical influences – various blues styles, diverse jazz styles, western classical music, and folk and traditional genres from many cultures.
The Fall Raptor Release was sponsored by 3M, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. In addition to watching raptors returning to the wild, celebration participants could observe and photograph the Raptor Center’s eagles, falcons, hawks and owls up close and personal. There were also a number of activities and educational displays for the children throughout the day.
3M Cottage Grove Honored for Wildlife Habitat Management Program
The 3M Wildlife Habitat Council team at the 60th Anniversary celebration.
By demonstrating that we have ongoing programs and continual quality improvement plans for the management of the wildlife habitat on the site, 3M Cottage Grove has earned the certification of the Wildlife Habitat Council.
Here is an excerpt from the Council’s certification letter:
“Congratulations! You and the employees of 3M Cottage Grove have earned Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Wildlife at Work(SM) certification for the successful implementation of a comprehensive wildlife habitat management program. This prestigious distinction is awarded to your program as a result of your demonstrated commitment towards long-term wildlife habitat enhancement efforts.”
This certification honors not only the site but employees as well. It also recognizes our public engagement and work with outside organizations such as the Friends of the Mississippi. Applying for certification required substantial time and effort. Spearheading the application team was Bob Siegel, with Julie Arndtson coordinating. This is the first time 3M Cottage Grove has received the certification; it lasts for two years, at which time we will re-apply.
The 3M Cottage Grove Wildlife Habitat Team is a cross-functional group of employees who work to coordinate projects on site and employee engagement. They also run projects to support the goats of the wildlife management plan. For information on the Wildlife Habitat Council and its programs, visit www.wildlifehc.org.
Employee Close Up: Jerry Bandholz, Process Engineer and Avid 3M Volunteer.
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“I just love getting kids excited about math and science.”
An “avid” volunteer may be putting it mildly. As a 3M Science Wizard, Jerry has conducted many demonstrations and hands-on experiments with grade-schoolers, covering a variety of science topics. He has also been tutoring science and math in local public schools for nine years.
Last spring, he spent one day a week with 2nd-graders as a Junior Achievement volunteer. And when he’s not volunteering with kids, he’s out cleaning up along Highway 61 as an Adopt-A-Highway participant.
“I think that volunteering improves your outlook in work and life … it makes you a more positive person,” states Jerry. “I know I get more out of it that I put into it,” he adds. “I learn a lot in the process.”
Jerry is a process engineer in the Abrasives Systems Division, working with Cubitron™ grain, an abrasive material that is used for coating in very tough applications – grinding wood, steel, titanium, etc. 3M manufactures the grain here in Cottage Grove, and then it is shipped to coaters.
“I especially like interacting with the production people to make improvements, helping to make their jobs more efficient, then seeing those improvements in action” says Jerry. “It results in a better product for our customers and hopefully more profit for 3M.”
Jerry has been with 3M for 27 years, ever since he graduated from college. He is married to Debbie and has two daughters, one in college and one in ninth grade.
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