> Wellman Pet (L1/P3) Expansion -Pearl River, MS
	Lauren has currently spent 38,702 man hours and Lauren subcontractors have spent 6,170 man hours. There have been 12 first aids, 0 recordables and 0 lost time accidents to date. Engineering is progressing well and is currently on or ahead of schedule in all areas. All piping for the SSP area has been issued and is being fabricated. 100% of engineered equipment has been purchased for the SSP Building and 75% for the melt phase. Engineering's current % complete is 75 with a planned % complete of 66. Construction continued work in the melt phase of the project doing tie-in work and electrical relocation activities. Structural erection for the SSP building continued and equipment is being set in the building as it is erected. There are currently 66 Lauren employees (including indirects-11) onsite. Construction % complete is 18% with a planned % complete of 15%. This project team is making good progress in all areas. Engineering has reworked their Electrical and Instrumentation schedule in order to get construction these items to work on earlier. Construction is completing activities in the melt phase that are not scheduled until this summer which will help with manpower peaks in the middle of the project. Erection of the SSP building is continuing and equipment is being set as it is available. The preheater was set on April 9th, and the Reactor was set on April 12th. Dave Steel is working to address the quality issues with the steel. Pipe fabrication continues on SSP Large Bore Piping (16" and greater) and fabrication for the small bore piping (Less than 16") has also begun. The first load of >16" piping was shipped the week of April 11th.
> Zeppelin Training for Wellman's Pearl River, MS Project
	Dave Weatherly, Ruben Rodriquez and Tony Montoya of the Industrial Services Department recently spent two (2) weeks at Zeppelin's Silo Manufacturing Facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany.  Zeppelin provided training in welding, assembling and erecting their aluminum product silos.  Industrial Services will be assembling and erecting two (2) Zeppelin prefabricated 1.2 million pounds amorphous chip storage silos at the Wellman PET (L1/P3) Expansion Project in Bay St. Louis, MS. From left to right in the photo are: Ruben Rodriquez - Lauren, Franz Zweifel - Zeppelin, Tony Montoya - Lauren, Karl-Heinz Mundt - Zeppelin, and Dave Weatherly - Lauren.

Current Work – Industrial Services

> Crown Cork & Seal – Abilene, TX
Lauren’s Industrial Services team is installing a washer & UV bottom rim coater in    the Abilene facility.
> TXU Energy – Mt. Pleasant, TX
TT-1 Switchgear (New), Change Feeds
> Zoltek – Abilene, TX
Miscellaneous support work
> Bandag – Abilene, TX
Plant improvement work.
> GP @ Quannah
Ongoing plant upgrade and repair work.
> ACCO Feeds – Abilene, TX
Plant upgrade work.
> EBBA Iron – Eastland, TX
Plant upgrade work

Current Projects - Engineering

> Golden Spread Cooperative – Denver City, TX
   Mustang Power Station, Unit 4

> Brazos Electric Cooperative – Various Locations
   Substation design

> Sid Richardson – Big Spring, TX
   Project involves the design of a cogeneration unit.

> Schenectady International, Newport, TN
   Retrofit work to restart chemical plant

> Siemens - Vineyard, UT
   Lakeside Power Plant – EOR

> Siemens Westinghouse
   Conceptual design of modular pipe rack (501F)

Current Projects - Fabrication

> Rentech Boilers
Miscellaneous fabrication projects
> Barr Fabrication
The shop is finishing up work on fabricating platforms for wind tower generators for    Barr Fabrication located in Cross Plains, Texas.
> Wellman/Pearl River, MS
	Fabrication for Wellman/Pearl River project. The first loads of piping and supports have been shipped to the project site.

Through Week Ending April 17, 2005
Total Manhours = 154,666
Lost Time Incident Rate = 1.29
Total Incident Rate = 2.59

In our last quarterly meeting I spoke about the meaning and implications of our core value: (We will be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasures). In summary, I suggested that God owns it all and that we are to manage well that which God has entrusted to us. Despite the many difficulties we have encountered and the many mistakes we have made, God has been gracious to us and has delivered us through troubled times. He has done this because he loves us. He has also done this because he has a purpose for Lauren and wants to use you to accomplish his purposes. Allow me to share with you a passage in Isaiah that has application to what I see God doing in our workplace.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtain’s wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendents will dispossess nations, and settle their desolate cities. Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace, you will not be humiliated.”
Isaiah 54:2-4

God has promised blessing and fruitfulness to his children. This does not mean the absence of suffering or pain. Nor does it primarily mean material blessings. It means that he loves those who seek him and desires to give them all that they can handle. God desires good stewardship. We are to prepare for his blessing so that we are ready to receive what God provides and use it for his glory. The preparation is our responsibility; the increase comes from the Lord. A good steward lays the groundwork and prepares for God’s blessing. A good steward makes wise use of what God has given him. The steward plans and prepares for increased responsibility. He makes sure that all is ready for God’s increase.

God is willing to give us more territory for use in promoting his Kingdom. It may not yet be clear where our “borders” will be expanded, but we must prepare for them to be expanded. We must make sure we have skilled and sufficient people to do the work. We must make sure that adequate systems and procedures are in place to successfully carry out the work. We must secure financial resources and put in order the facilities and tools to accomplish the work. Now is the time to carefully consider what “cords” we must lengthen and what “stakes” we must strengthen. Let us prepare the “place of our tent” to receive the expanded responsibilities and opportunities God is preparing for us.

I recognize that to begin such preparation now may create for some a crisis of belief. It is easy for us to focus on our inadequacies or past failures. We fear that what we are doing may appear stupid. We fear ridicule and rejection. We fear we will fail. And apart from God our fears are real and justified. Our crisis is to step out in faith and take action. However, if we do not do so, we are really telling God that he cannot do what he has purposed. Ultimately, our fear is not because we lack confidence in ourselves, but our fear shows a lack of trust in God. When we exercise faith and prepare for more blessing and more responsibility, there will be no shame. There will be no disgrace. God will be glorified in our faith and obedience. I encourage each of you to reflect on these words spoken by Isaiah and proceed accordingly.

Blessings,
Cleve Whitener