Dell employees rally....
from Austin American-Statesman, Section D, page 1, September 18, 1998
A truly Bonding experience
Dell Computer workers who gathered recently at the Erwin Center for the company's annual employee rally stared wide-eyed as a dark figure slid, Bond-like, down a rope from the ceiling to a large stage. With the sound of a helicopter overhead and smoke rolling, Michael Dell strode into the spotlight and a a roaring ovation from more than 7,000 employees and friends.
The crowd rallied to the James Bond-inspired theme, "Direct is Forever," and a surpuise appearance by Desmond Llewelyn, aka "Q," Her Majesty's expert on lethal gadgets.
All this plus food and drink and the pride in working for the fastest-growing, most profitable PC company.
What could be better?
Well, how about 200 shares of Dell stock for everyone in the arena? All 14,000 Dell employees in the United States, too?
It's just our way of saying "thanks," Michael Dell said in announcing the options, just before a rafter-rattling standing ovation.
The 200 options, which employees can exercise in full in five years or 20 percent a year till then, would be worth about $163 million, based on Dell's closing price of $58.125 on Thursday.
By the way, it wasn't Michael who rappelled down the rope. that sort of behavior could hurt the stock, after all.
[Poster's note: bold emphasis added by poster. Management seems somewhat optimistic...]
(Article brought to my attention by Marie Smith, fellow DellHead) |
