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<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-size: 20.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">YOU�RE
ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS</font></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�When
are they going to straighten this mess out?� Why don�t they hire someone
who knows what they�re doing?� �Who screwed this job up?� �Why can�t
they bring in more customers?� </font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">These
are the kinds of questions we tend to ask when we encounter problems.
You may have asked one or more of them this week yourself. </font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Did
you get an answer that solved the problem? Probably not. Answers
to these questions seldom solve the problem because they�re the wrong questions.
All of them require <i>someone else</i> to do something. To get to the
right answers we need to start with the right questions. The right questions
should have three things in them. They are:</font></p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Ask �what� or �how�</b></font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>not </u>�who�
�why� or �when�. </font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Use the term �I�, </b></font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>not </u>�they�,
�them�, �we� or �you�. </font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b> 3.
Focus on action</b></font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The prime
question then comes down to �What can I do about this now?�</font></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>And
then do it.</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Stop
the circle of blame by framing the question differently. Who�s to blame?
No one, not even yourself. Forget about who to attack and ask �How can
I make this right now?� </font></p>
<table border="1" width="67%" id="table11">
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Wrong
Questions:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�When
will they start delivering materials on time?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
do these customers expect so much?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
don�t people just follow instructions?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The
Right Question:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�What
can I do to help?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Wrong
Questions</b>:</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
can�t those salespeople stay within our capabilities?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
can�t those field guys follow the specs?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The
Right Question:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�How
can I better understand the challenges they face in the field?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Wrong
Questions:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
doesn�t this younger generation want to work?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
aren�t these people motivated?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
can�t they get to work on time?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The
Right Question:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�How
can I be a more effective coach?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Wrong
Questions:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
do they dislike me so much?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Why
do I have to do everything myself?�</font></p>
<p> </td>
<td valign="top">
<h4 class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The
Right Question:</b></font></h4>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�How
can I be a better partner?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Sometimes
you need to ask someone else that question.</font></p>
<p> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
<b>John Miller�s</b> book �<i>QBQ The Question Behind The Question</i>�, he
says, �Long range vision and strategic planning are great tools. But I need
to get something done before lunch.� Ask things like �How can I accomplish
what is needed with the resources I have now?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Once
you�ve framed the right question and you know what <i>you</i> need to do, focus
on action. Sometimes that takes courage or at least confidence, you may
even see it as a risk. Take the risk! Ultimately the risk of doing
nothing is a dead end. </font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Action
</b>brings learning and growth even when it leads to mistakes. </font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>Inaction
leads to stagnation and atrophy. </i></font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Action
</b>may require courage but</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>Inaction
is based on fear.</i></font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Action
</b>builds confidence.</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>Inaction
builds doubt.</i></font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">As
John Miller said, �It�s better to be the one who is told to wait then to be
the one who waits to be told.� Action is not just about knowing what to
do, but <i>doing</i> what you know.</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">So
stop �we-they ing� yourself to a standstill. It�s about �What can I do
now?� It�s about taking personal responsibility.</font></p>
<hr>
<h2 style="margin-left:.75in" align="center">
<font face="Verdana" color="#008000">Have an employment question?</font></h2>
<h3 style="margin-left:.75in" align="center"><font face="Verdana">Send it to
<a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=From HR On The Job">
[email protected]</a></font></h3>
<p style="margin-left:.75in" align="center"><b><font face="Verdana" size="2">
Please include Company Name and Association in your e-mail. Company
identification will be kept confidential.</font></b></p>
<hr>
<h2 align="left"><b><u><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hitchhiking on the Information
Highway</font></u></b></h2>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font
size="4" color="#FF0000">Dateline: March 2006</font></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Note. Although we attempt to provide the HRU update on the first
of each month, we are normally delayed awaiting the release of several
monthly government statistical reports. We will hereafter update the information
as each report becomes available without waiting for all of them to be
released.</font></i></p>
<p> </p>
<table border="0" width="100%" height="67">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="100%" height="370">
<blockquote> <span style="mso-ignore: vglayout">
<div align="center">
<h2 align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span style="font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: 700"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">TOO
SOON OLD and TOO LATE SMART</font></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">We
all know that America is aging, and that in some states Like New Hampshire
and Wisconsin the population is in decline because deaths outnumber
births and more people are leaving than are coming in. </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Demographers and sociologists tell us that it�s because we are marrying
later and having fewer children. More people are living longer
and fewer people are being born. This phenomenon is not
limited to the United States. In 2000 the world population had
approximately 605 million people over the age of 60. The projection
is that by the year 2050 that number will more than triple to 2 billion.
When that happens, seniors over the age of 60 will outnumber children
14 years of age and under for the first time in history! </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
The implications of this for Americans are enormous. For one
example, the older generation has most of the money! Because
of the differences in the way older Americans handle their finances
compared to younger generations, older Americans saved more money,
invested more, bought and paid for houses that increased in value
and lived more so within their means. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Today, people 50 years and over control 77% of all the financial assets
of the United States. They own almost 50% of all the credit
cards. And they a actually account for more than 50% of all
the discretionary spending. (Not the 18 to 25 year age group
TV advertisers market and program to.) That�s 2 � times the
national average. In contrast, those under 50 are the least
financially sound. They have high income but income is not a
sign of wealth. They do not save money. They borrow profusely
from their 401(k) funds, mortgage their home equity to the maximum
and bury themselves in credit card debt. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Economists tell us that we are about to experience the largest transfer
of wealth in history as older people pass on and begin to leave their
wealth to the very needy �drowned in debt� next generation.
Although there is currently an educational movement to redirect younger
people, there seems to be few yet interested. But while they
are sleeping, someone else is watching these events carefully.
All levels of the American government from federal, state, county
and municipal are planning, through new and expanded taxes, to cut
themselves in for a lion�s share of that transfer. </font><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> </span></p>
<table border="1" width="50%" id="table8" cellpadding="2" height="102">
<tr>
<td valign="top" height="86">
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Talent
is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented
individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work�</font></span></b></h3>
<blockquote>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">
<i>-Stephen King</i></span></b></font></h3>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</span><p> </p>
<span style="mso-ignore: vglayout"></span>
<div align="center">
<h2><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">THE TIMES THEY
ARE-A-CHANGIN - AGAIN</font></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
1985 a landmark study by the Hudson Institute entitled �Workforce
2000� (see the Personnel Notebook �Workforce 2000� on this association
website) predicted that by the year 2000 almost 70% of all the new
entrants in the American workforce would be women, minorities and
immigrants. Although mostly disregarded in 1985 all those predictions
came true.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
But now in 2006 another change is immerging. The decline of
women in the workplace! And the question being asked is, �Is
this a normal cyclical blip or are we experiencing a sea change?�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
The growth of women�s representation in the workforce began in the
1960s and grew at a blistering pace bringing about the cultural, economic
and political transformation of society. But since the mid 1990s
that growth has stalled. Most observers originally considered
this to be a simple demographic pause in a continuing, long-term growth.
But now social scientists are beginning to believe that the gender
revolution has run its course and is actually over.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Is
this because women are deciding that they would rather stay home with
the kids instead of competing in the workforce? No, says the
University of Maryland, who in cooperation with the U.S. Census bureau
has just completed a study on this surprising trend. Their research
has concluded that the change is because women are hitting the wall
on the time they have available in their lives. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Their study showed that as women began putting more hours into employment,
their husbands responded by spending more time with the children and
doing housework. Women, although deep into their careers and
continuing to spend more time at work, were not prepared to give up
on time with family and home. They began to spend even more
time with their children. With work hours and trips expanding
at the same time that family time was also expanding, their hours
of sleep began to decline by almost 4 hours per week. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
One set of statistics stands out dramatically. In 1965, the
average time mothers spent in outside employment was 9 hours per week
while housework hours were at 32 hours per week. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">By
1995, outside employment had jumped up to 26 hours per week while
housework hours dropped down to 19 hours per week.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
But then from 1995 to 2003 it appears that women may have hit the
wall as their hours spent in outside employment dropped back to 22
hours per week even though the hours spent in housework remained the
same at 19 hours. And further, the percentage of women in the
workforce began to decline as well. The data indicate that women
are individually beginning to max out. There just aren�t any
more hours to give and they�re taking some back. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Some sociologists suggest that this is a pull back toward maternal
instincts. But whether maternal, economic or just plain maxing
out the supply of time, the trend is continuing. That
trend will begin to hurt employers shortly as women are a necessary
part of the American workforce and that workforce is already showing
signs of shrinking.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
There was one other interesting and maybe obvious exception to this
trend. While overall, most groups of women showed less participation
in the workforce, there were two groups of women, single mothers and
high school dropouts who dramatically increased their participation
in the workforce. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> </span></p>
<table border="1" width="50%" id="table9">
<tr>
<td height="78" valign="top">
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">You
can have it all. You just can�t have it all at once�</span></b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">
<i>-Oprah</i></span></b></font></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<span style="mso-ignore: vglayout"></span><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout">
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div align="center">
<h2><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">DO AS I SAY,
NOT AS I DO</font></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Oops!
The AFL-CIO has been conducting a nationwide picketing and protesting
campaign to unionize Walmart employees. Their charges against
the retailer were that: </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Their employees were not union.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Only 70% of their employees were given health benefits.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>They had too many part-time workers.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.05in" align="left"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">They
lobbied and campaigned to pass laws requiring that all workers must
be provided health benefits. Many states have already passed
such laws. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.05in" align="left"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">So
the AFL-CIO hired workers to do the marching, sign carrying, walking
and standing the picket line. However:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>The employees were not union.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>None were provided with health care benefits.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Employees complained that they were limited to 20 hours
per week part time.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Their weekly paycheck was $180 before taxes.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .3in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>They were limited to 2-minute breaks, which were deducted
from their paychecks.</font></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText2" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">AFL-CIO
President, John Sweeney, said that he saw nothing wrong with hiring
non-union people nor with providing no benefits. After all,
he said, �We�re giving jobs to people who don�t have jobs, people
who in some cases couldn�t secure work.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
Maybe the AFL-CIO needs to be unionized.</font></p>
<table border="1" width="50%" id="table10">
<tr>
<td valign="top" height="355">
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>�He
Who Knows and Knows That He Knows�</b></font></h4>
<blockquote>
<h4 align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He
is wise FOLLOW HIM</font></h4>
</blockquote>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
�He Who Knows and Knows Not That He Knows�</b></font></h4>
<blockquote>
<h4 align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">He
is asleep WAKE HIM</span></font></h4>
</blockquote>
<h4 align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>�He
Who Knows Not and Knows Not That He Knows Not�</b></font></h4>
<blockquote>
<h4 align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He
is a fool SHUN HIM</font></h4>
</blockquote>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
�He Who Knows Not and Knows That He Knows Not�</b></font></h4>
<blockquote>
<h4 align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He
is a child TEACH HIM</font></h4>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
<h3> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
-Arabian Proverb</b></font></h3>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</span>
<blockquote>
<hr width="75%">
<p></p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<table border="0" width="33%">
<tr>
<td width="64%" valign="top">
<div style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1; padding-left: 4; padding-right: 4; padding-top: 1; padding-bottom: 1">
<p align="left"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Minimum Wage:</b></font></p>
</div>
</td>
<center>
<td width="100%" valign="top">
<h3><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">$5.15/hr.</font></h3>
</td>
</center>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="99%">
<tr>
<td width="13%" valign="middle" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Average
Income:</b></font></td>
<td width="67%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber4" height="76">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="76">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber5">
<tr>
<td width="50%" align="center"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Hourly</font></b></td>
<td width="50%" align="center"><b><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Weekly</font></b></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber6" height="50">
<tr>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center"> <u>
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
February</font></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
2005</u><br>
$15.95</font></td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<u>February 2006</u></font></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$16.47</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<u>February 2005</u><br>
</font></span>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
$536.17</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<u>February 2006</u></font></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$555.04</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td width="20%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<table border="0" width="99%" height="96">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="40" colspan="2">
<h3 align="center"><span style="text-decoration: none"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Federal<br>
Poverty Level:</b></font></span></h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" height="48">
<p align="center"><b><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">One
(1) Person<br>
</font></u></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">$8,980</font>
</td>
<td width="50%" height="48">
<p align="center"><u><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Family
of Four</font></b></u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$18,400</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<b>
<table border="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td width="37%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>IRS Mileage Allowance :</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="63%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<div align="left"><font size="-1"><b>44.5</b> </font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">cents per mile<br>
</font></div>
</td>
</center>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="32%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Postage:</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="68%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"> </td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">1 oz.</font></td>
<td width="68%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.39</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Each additional ounce</font></td>
<td width="68%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.24</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><i>Postcards</i></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">.24</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</b>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<b>
<p>
<table border="0" width="38%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr> </tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="98%">
<tr>
<td width="34%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>Population:</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="82%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1"> </td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="34%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>World</b></font></td>
<td width="82%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">6.3 Billion</font>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="34%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>U.S.</b></font></td>
<td width="82%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">292.3 Million</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</b>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="1" width="99%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr> <b>
<td width="48%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1">
<p align="left"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">U.S.
Workforce</font></b></p>
</td>
</b>
<center>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>
<font size="-1">
February
2005</font></u></b></font></td>
<b>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<u>
<span style="font-weight:700">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
February
</font></span>
</u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
<b>
2006 </b></u></font></td>
</b>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">U.S. Civilian Workforce</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">148,271,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">150,449,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font size="-1">Number Employed</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">140,285,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
143,074,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Number Unemployed</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1">7,986,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
7,193,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Unemployment Rate</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font size="-1">5.4</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font size="-1">4.9</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="96">
<tr>
<td width="25%" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1" height="48">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Absentee Rates (annualized)</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1997</u></b></font></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1998</u></b></font></td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1999</u></b></font></td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2000</u></b></font></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2001</u></b></font></td>
<td width="6%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2002</u></b></font></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2003</u></b></font></span></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2004</u></b></font></span></td>
<td width="9%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<b><u>2nd
Quarter 2005</u></b></font></span><p> </td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>3rd Quarter
2005</u></b></font></span></td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1" height="48">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Men equal
approximately 1/3 of all absenteeism<br>
Women approximately 2/3</font></td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.0%</font></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.6%</font></td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.4%</font></td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.9%</font></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.1%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="6%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<p><font size="-1">3.6</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
3.4%</font></span></td>
<td width="7%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
3.2%</font></span></td>
<td width="9%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
+6.3%</font></span></td>
<td width="8%" align="center" valign="top" height="48">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
+4.8%</font></span></td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber3" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<h4><b><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">PRODUCTIVITY
OF THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE</font></b><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
(The amount of goods produced, divided by the number of work hours
it took to produce it)</font></h4>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber2" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1992</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.7%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1993</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.5%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1994</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.3%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1995</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.9%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1996</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.5%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1997</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.0%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1998</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.6%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>1999</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.4%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2000</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.9%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2001</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.1%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2002</b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="68%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.7%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2003</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.5%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><font size="-1"><b>2004</b></font></td>
<td width="68%"><font size="-1">4.0%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>1st
Quarter 2005</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">+2.6%</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<font size="-1"><b>2nd</b></font><span style="text-decoration: none"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
Quarter 2005</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
+2.1%</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<font size="-1"><b>3</b></font><b>rd
Quarter 2005</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">+4.7%</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>4th
Quarter 2005</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">-2.6%</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Overall 2005</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2.6%</font></span></td>
</tr>
</table>
</font></span>
<h3 align="center"> </h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="61"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">� William J. Cook</font></p>
</body>
</html>