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<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Disagreeing
Doesn�t Have To Be So Disagreeable</font></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Business
is a contact sport. It�s not about making friends. Friendship can
be a result or even a method. It can even be a byproduct. But in
business and/or in the workplace, It�s about accomplishing the agreed upon goals
we have been brought together to accomplish. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
doing so, we are bringing together different kinds of people, with different
desires, goals and temperaments. We know there are going to be clashes.
These clashes don�t have to result in broken relationships or leaving jobs.
Each of us has to develop skills or methods that navigate through these differences
to arrive at those agreed goals. That�s called management. Even if you�re
not a manager, you still have a job or a career to manage. And to do that
you have to learn how to deal with disagreeables. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">So
you disagree with a colleague on which software to buy, your boss calls a meeting
and then keeps disappearing or your assistant spends way too much time making
or taking personal calls. These are the kinds of issues we all deal
with, the kinds of issues that will not be solved with technology but with interpersonal
methods and skills. So let�s take a look at methods to deal with disagreeables,
and with practice maybe those methods will become skills.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">We�ll
use the case of the boss who calls meetings and then keeps disappearing.
Here are steps to disagree without being so disagreeable. </font></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Four
Steps to Navigating Disagreeables </font></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Describe what happened in a <i>non-judgmental</i> tone of voice</font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
the case of our disappearing boss, you might say, �I noticed you had four or
five phone calls that pulled you away from our meeting yesterday.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>2<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Explain the impact of the behavior on you, a customer or anyone else
associated with your team</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�Your
experience with this project will help us avoid lots of problems down the road.
But I noticed that we kept making decisions without your input, because we couldn�t
afford to wait for you to come back�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>3<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Specify what you want in observable, measurable terms</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�How
about scheduling our meetings for 7:30 am before calls start coming in?
I�m sure that the others would be willing to start early.�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>4<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span>Explain the consequences that could come from your solution.</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">�I�ll
bet we could finish our meetings in half the time and have fewer headaches down
the road if we include your input.� </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
real life this method provides several advantages. First, planning ahead
and thinking through what you want to say and how you will say it means that
you are less likely to lose your temper or to come across as demeaning.
Second, when these issues are avoided, it creates a major stress in the workplace.
By taking a pro-active lead and resolving this in a professional manner you
relieve that pressure for everyone. Third, you will be more identified
as a problem solver as opposed to a complainer or an avoider. Fourth,
this system is logical, uncomplicated and flexible. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">I
was once asked, �And if that doesn�t work what next?� Well, we have
all seen extreme cases where professionalism, logic, simplicity and flexibility
don�t work. We mentioned <i>avoiders</i>, those who withdraw from all
conflict or just surrender. That means the problem will never get resolved,
particularly when the disagreeable one is what we might call a w<i>arrior,</i>
those who are disagreeable in the most disagreeable manner. Let�s look
at some specific warrior types and consider how to deal with them when all else
fails.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Sherman
Tanks:</b> They try to intimidate you with in-your-face arguments.
They state opinions as facts.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Get their attention by using their first name to begin a sentence.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Maintain eye contact and give them time to wind down.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Stand up to them without fighting, don�t worry about being polite.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Suggest that you sit down to continue talking.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Snipers:</b>
They take potshots in meetings but avoid one-on-one confrontations.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Expose the attack, draw them in out in public and don�t let social
convention stop you.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Get other opinions. Don�t give in to the Snipers views.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Provide the Sniper with alternatives to a direct contest.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Chronic
Complainers:</b> They find fault with everyone, except themselves.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Politely interrupt and get control of the situation.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Quickly sum up the facts.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Ask for their complaints in writing.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Negativists:</b>
They already know that nothing new will work. They�ll be the wet blanket
when you�re trying to light a fire in group brainstorming sessions.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Acknowledge their valid points, ignore the rest.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Describe past successes.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Avoid �you�re wrong, I�m right� arguments. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Exploders:</b>
They throw tantrums that can escalate quickly.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Give them time to regain self control.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>If they don�t, shout a neutral phrase such as �Stop!�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .5in"> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Take a time-out or have a private meeting with them.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Handling
disagreeable people can be an art. As when Winston Churchill was once
accosted by a woman at a dinner party who told him �If you were my husband I
would put poison in your tea�. �Madam�, said Churchill, �If I were your
husband, I would drink it�.</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: July 2007</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="3729">
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<td width="100%" height="3702">
<blockquote>
<div align="center">
<h2 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Top
4 Employment Law Problems</font></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>
<span style="font-size:18.0pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">BLR
</font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">(Business
& Legal Reports) recently reported on the top four employment
law problems employers are having in the U.S. </font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -.25in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> <b>Wage and Hour Mistakes</b>: This area is number one
and is growing by leaps and bounds. The two primary reasons
are:</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Misclassifying employees as Exempt or Non-exempt</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>b.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></b>Failing to properly include bonuses and commissions into
overtime calculations.</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> <b>Illegal Hiring Practices</b>: Most problems show up in
two categories:</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Illegal Interview Questions. You should only seek information
that bears on the candidates job-related qualifications.</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
b.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Background checks. You <i>should do</i> them, but do
them legally. Specifically in the areas of credit checks (follow
the Fair Credit Reporting Act) , criminal checks (convictions not
arrests), </font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> <b>Handling Leave Requests Improperly</b>: While most HR professionals
understand the differences between FMLA, ADA, WC etc. most supervisors
may not. Even employees may not know about these laws and their
rights�until their denied�Then they hear it from friends with lawyers.
Train your supervisors.</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> <b>Failure to Handle Sexual Harassment Cases Properly</b>:
Everyone knows it�s the law, but many don�t really take it as seriously
as the<b> EEOC </b>or employee�s lawyers do. They advise 3 key
actions:</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
a.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Have a strong anti-harassment policy, well communicated</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
b.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Train all employees in this</font></p>
<p class="ListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: 1.0in" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
c.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span> Respond to all cases quickly, seriously and objectively.
You can be sued by the charging party as well as the one charged.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In
addition there are always these famous last words that will apply
to most cases �Be sure to document everything�.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:60.0pt"> </p>
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table17" cellpadding="2" height="102" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td valign="top" height="78">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Law
is merely the expression of the will of the strongest for the
time being, and therefore laws have no fixity, but shift from
generation to generation�</font></span></b></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Brooks
Adams</i></b></font></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align:center"> </h1>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-size:18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Resume
Blunders</font></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>
<span style="font-size:18.0pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">BLR</font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
also published the results of a recent Careerbuilder.com survey of
over 2,000 hiring managers and HR professionals about the most unusual
blunders they found in job resumes they received. Here are a
few of the best:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Under �Experience� the candidate wrote �Spent summers
on my family�s yacht�.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Was printed on pale blue paper with teddy bears around
the border.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Explained gap in employment saying that his cat died
and he was in mourning for three months.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Stated that he was unavailable for work Fridays through
Mondays as this was �drinking time�. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Attached to her resume was a picture of her in a cheerleading
uniform.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Had drawn a picture of a car on the envelope with a
note that, if hired, the car would be given to the hiring manager.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Under �Experience� said her sister had won a strawberry
eating contest.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Under comments he stated that he works well in the nude
if required. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Also under �Experience� was written �I have unsuccessfully
raised a dog�</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.25in; margin-left: .25in" align="left">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="font-family: Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>In the cover letter �To creeat creeactions that satisfy
both my customers and my creeactivity� </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">You
can see find more resume blunders at Resumania.com provided by the
staffing firm of Robert Half.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p>
<p>
</div>
<span style="mso-ignore: vglayout">
<div align="center">
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table19" height="87" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td height="109" valign="top">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�He
has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire:</font></span></b></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Winston
Churchill</i></b></font></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p> </p>
</div>
</span>
<div align="center">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span style="font-size:18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Another
Reason for High Medical Costs?</font></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>
<span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Of
the top 25 highest paid jobs in the U.S. 14 of them are in the medical
field according to <b>BLS</b> (Bureau of Labor Statistics) in their
June report. In fact the top 9 are all medical jobs with a minimum
annual salary of $145,600 and up. Another interesting point
was that all of the top 25 require a bachelor�s degree or higher <u>except
one</u>. Air Traffic Controllers (# 15 on the list at $107,000)
need only have experience or on the job training.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table20" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Only
the mediocre are always at their best�</font></span></b></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i> </i></b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Jean
Giraudox</i></b></font></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Your
State Needs You</font></span></b></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">According
to <b>The Kiplinger Letter</b> the states are about to go money hunting.
And it�s the business owners they have in their target sights.
Although most states have gained enormous incomes during the last
five years, so much so that many have brought in far more than their
budgets called for, they feel that they just cannot make it much longer
without your continued and expanded support. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Looming
over the horizon is a fiscal mess caused by the ever growing number
of state employees and the cost of their very generous, oversized
benefit plans (Government worker�s also earn, on average, 10% to 15%
more than their counterparts in private industry) . And as they
begin to retire in the next few years they will find that their equally
generous pensions are underfunded. So the states are planning
now to get that money from businesses. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Their
primary targets will be the service industries such as landscaping,
construction, equipment leasing, lawn mowing, janitorial services,
carpentry, delivery services, plumbing, painting and many business
assistance services. States feel that they are losing revenue
to web site sales and must get that money from some other source.
The biggest increases are expected in the northern states. It
is expected that the states will make the increase gradually so as
not to lose businesses that may want to move to a neighboring state
to dodge these new taxes. It�s no coincidence that the one state
that has already placed a tax on ALL services is the one where going
next door isn�t possible, Hawaii. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"> </p>
<table border="4" width="50%" id="table21" bordercolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">�Education
is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you
get when you don�t�</font></span></b></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b> </b></font></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>Pete
Seeger</i></b></font></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center"> </div>
<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"> <b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
June
2006</u></font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$16.73</font></td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center">
<b>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><u>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
June</font></u></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span style="text-decoration: none"><u>
2007</u></span></font></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$17.38</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><b><u>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
June</font></u></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>
2006</u></b><br>
</font></span>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
$567.15</font>
</td>
<td width="25%" height="50">
<p align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none"><b><u>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
June</font></u></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>
2007</u></b></font></span><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><br>
</u>$589.18</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">$10,160</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>
$19,806</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<hr noshade color="#000000">
</font><table border="0" width="100%">
<b></b><tr>
<b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<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>
</font></b><center><b></b><td width="63%" style="border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1">
<div align="left"><b>
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">48.5</font><font face="Verdana" size="-1">
cents</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
per mile</font></b></div>
<div align="left"><b>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">20
cents per mile for medical travel or moving purposes</font></b></div>
<div align="left"><b>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">14
cents per mile for travel for charitable organizations<br>
</font></b></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>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<b>
<p>
<table border="0" width="38%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
</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">6.5 Billion</font>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="34%" valign="top"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>U.S.</b></font></td>
<td width="82%" valign="top">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">300
Million</font>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><i>One
birth every 8 seconds<br>
One death every 13 seconds<br>
One new immigrant every 30 seconds<br>
Net gain = 1 person every second</i></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">
<b>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><u>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
June</font></u></span></b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u><font size="-1">
2006</font></u></b></font></td>
<b>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <b>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><u>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
June</font></u></span></b><u><span style="font-weight:700"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">
</font></span> </u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>
<b> 2007</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">151,370,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">153,072,000</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">144,386,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center"> <font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
146,140,000</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">6,984,000</font></td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<font size="-1">6</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">,933,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><span style="text-decoration: none">
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Persons Who Currently Want A Job</font></span></td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4,798,000</font></span></td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4,898,000</font></span></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">4.6</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" align="center">
<p><font size="-1">4.5</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr noshade color="#000000">
<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>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>2006</b></font></span></td>
<td width="68%">
<span style="text-decoration: none">
<font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">3.0%</font></span></td>
</tr>
</table>
</font></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="21"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">� William J. Cook</font></p>
</body>
</html>