|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/highlandlabs/cqi-bin/ALFA_DATA/alfasymlink/root/domains/hrahg/pn2000/ |
Upload File : |
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0">
<meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document">
<title>HR - On the Job</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<p align="center"><img border="0" src="hronthejob.jpg" width="504" height="54"></p>
<h2 align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">EMPLOYERS
SUPPORTING VETERANS</font></h2>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>BUT THE BENEFIT COSTS ARE
INCREASING</b></font></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">As a result of the September 11 attacks on the United States, veterans
and reservists are being called upon once again to come to the aid and defense
of their country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And they are
responding wholeheartedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">U.S. employers are also responding with expanded support of our
military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A recent survey of
500,000 employees and their employers by Watson Wyatt, the leading U.S.
consultant on benefits administration, shows the following facts and statistics:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><u>Pay</u>:</font></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">80% of those
companies surveyed have special pay policies in place for military and
reservist employees</font></p>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">10% are now
adding such a policy for the first time</font></p>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">51% are
considering revising their current policy to improve it</font></p>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l4 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">60% are
preparing differential pay policies to make up for the difference between
their regular and military pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>6%
will continue to issue the entire pay for a specified period of time.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>48% will provide differential pay
for a specific period of time while 12% will provide differential pay for an
indefinite period of time.</font></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><u>Benefits:</u></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><span style="font-family:Symbol">�<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>47% said they will exceed the requirements of COBRA and the
veterans employment regulations</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .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>16% will provide full benefits for an indefinite period of time</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .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>31% will provide full benefits for a specified period of time
(generally from 3 to 9 months)</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .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>Of those who will, these are the time periods for which employers
are providing full benefits:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2;
tab-stops:list 1.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><span
style="font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>18% = 1 to 3 months</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2;
tab-stops:list 1.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><span
style="font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>18% = 3 to 5 months</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2;
tab-stops:list 1.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><span
style="font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>41% = 5 to 7 months</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2;
tab-stops:list 1.25in"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><span
style="font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>24% = more than 9 months</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Many companies are also providing programs to facilitate contributions
to disaster relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Although many
of the companies expect to experience financial difficulties as a result of all
these efforts, none plan on any workforce reductions resulting from those costs.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">On the horizon, however, are solid predictions of a 13.6% increase in
benefits cost in 2002 (up from 12.2% in 2001 and 8.1% in 2000).</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><u>Benefit Cost Increases</u>:</font></p>
<table border="0" width="67%">
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>All plans<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">13.6%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
"Courier New";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Indemnity<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">14.4%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
"Courier New";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)<span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">13.7%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
"Courier New";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">
o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Point of Service (POS)<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">12.7%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level2 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
"Courier New";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"">o<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)<span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">13.9%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Prescription Drug benefits<span style="mso-tab-count:
1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">17.0%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Medical only<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">13.0%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="49%">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4;
tab-stops:.5in 1.0in right 4.5in"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><span
style="font-family:
Symbol">�<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Dental benefits<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></font></td>
<td width="17%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6.7%</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Employers expect even higher cost increases for their retiree medical
plans.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Employers are already planning their reactions:</font></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">75% intend
to educate their employees on the use of benefits via website training</font></p>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">71% intend
to reduce benefits and/or increase co-pays</font></p>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">60% intend
to target specific benefits to review or reduce</font></p>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">32% intend
to institute a more aggressive managed care program</font></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Consultants overall are advising employers to more assertively educate
employees on the responsible and effective use of benefits.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">And keep in mind that for the first time we are faced with a heavier
incidence of death and injury on our home front than on a foreign battlefield.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We now must call upon our home guard of
firefighters, rescue workers and police to carry on the battle here.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Try to provide the same support for our
home front army of lifesavers.</font></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<hr width="75%">
<table border="0" width="76%" height="376">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="370">
<p align="left"><b><u><font size="4"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hitchhiking on the
Information Highway</font></u></b></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font
size="4" color="#FF0000">Dateline: March 2002</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 class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>Living
Wage laws are killing me.</b></u> As California and some other communities
continue to initiate the Living Wage entitlement on to employers, infamous
Montgomery County Maryland continues the race to out-do California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>(The other major contender is the District of Columbia)<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Montgomery County officials are
about to initiate a Living Wage that will not only increase the wages
of the most deserving or needy workers over the most productive workers,
but to more than double the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to
$11.50 per hour for all workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>When the Federal Minimum wage increases, thousand of low tech jobs
are eliminated from the workforce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>As employers find it less expensive to go without or to divert
those dollars into technology or to contract it out to jobbers who convert
regular entry level jobs to day labor and temp employees. What will be
the effect of doubling the minimum wage?</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Historically
it also tends to drive employers out of the area, and even out of the
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Some use to call
this �Penny Wise and Pound Foolish�. Some used to call it �Killing the
Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs�.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Martha�s
tip of the day:<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Don�t throw away all that leftover
wine! Freeze it into cubes and use it in casseroles and sauces.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">My
Wife: Leftover wine?</font></p>
<hr width="75%">
<table border="0" width="42%">
<tr>
<td width="73%">
<p align="left"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Minimum Wage:</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="91%"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">$5.15/hr.</font></td>
</center>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="90%">
<tr>
<td width="13%" valign="middle"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Average
Income:</b></font></td>
<td width="55%">
<table border="0" width="106%">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<p align="center"><b><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Hourly</font></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<table border="0" width="514">
<tr>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>Mar.</u></b><br>
$14.17</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u><b>Apr.</b></u><br>
$14.22</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>May</u></b><br>
$14.26</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u><b>June</b></u><br>
$14.29</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>July</u></b><br>
$14.34</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u><b>August</b></u><br>
$14.38</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana"><b><u><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">September</font></u></b><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$14.41</font></font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><b><u><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">October</font></u></b><font
size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
$14.47</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><u><b><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">November</font></b></u><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$14.54</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><b><u><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">December</font></u></b><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$14.61</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><u><b><font color="#000000"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">January</font></b></u><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><br>
$14.59</font></td>
<td width="64">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>Feb.</u></b><br>
$14.68</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td width="32%">
<table border="0" width="101%" height="78">
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="40">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>Family of<br>
Four</u></b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100%" height="30">
<p align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">$59,900 (annual)</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="13%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Poverty
Level:</b></font></td>
<td width="55%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"> </td>
<td width="32%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">$17,650 (annual)</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="90%">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<p><b><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Benefit Costs as a Percentage of Payroll</font></u></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="90%" height="275">
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1997</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1998</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1999</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2000</u></b></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Statutory
Benefits</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.55%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.39%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7.93%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.15%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Health
Care Benefits</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.58</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.43</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8.11</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7.47</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Pension
Plans</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.66</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.31</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.84</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.06</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Capital
Accumulation Plans</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.71</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.53</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.88</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.62</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Death
Benefits</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.55</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.49</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.46</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.37</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Disability
Benefits</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.48</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.48</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.47</font></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.47</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Other
Benefits</font></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.02</font></u></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.16</font></u></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.87</font></u></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><u><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">0.91</font></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="53%" height="25">
<p align="center"><b><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Total
Benefits</font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="11%" height="25">
<p><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">24.83%</font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">23.40%</font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">22.83%</font></b></p>
</td>
<td width="12%" height="25">
<p><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">26.05%</font></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="90%">
<tr>
<td width="100%">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Predicted
increases in benefit costs (adjusted since 9/11/2001 terrorist
attacks):</font></p>
<table border="0" width="99%">
<tr>
<td width="61%" valign="top">
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Overall health & accident policy benefits</font></p>
</blockquote>
</td>
<td width="39%" valign="top"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">15%
increase</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="61%" valign="top">
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Workers Compensation</font></p>
</blockquote>
</td>
<td width="39%" valign="top"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">30%
increase nationwide</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="61%" valign="top">
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Health</font></p>
</blockquote>
</td>
<td width="39%" valign="top"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">20%
increase on average but 25-30% for small companies</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="25%" valign="top"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Gas
Prices:<br>
</b><i>Regular</i></font></td>
<td width="12%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>National Avg.<br>
May 15</u></b><br>
$1.76/gal.</font></td>
<td width="12%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>National Avg.<br>
June 15</u></b><br>
$1.73/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>National Avg.<br>
July 15</u></b><br>
$1.43/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>National Avg.<br>
August 15</u></b><br>
$1.39/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>September 15</u></b><br>
$1.53/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>October 15</u></b><br>
$1.29/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="36%"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="12%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>November 15</u></b><br>
$1.18/gal.</font></td>
<td width="12%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>December 15</u></b><br>
$1.09/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>January 15</u></b><br>
$1.11/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>February 15</u></b><br>
$1.08/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>National Avg.<br>
<u>March</u></b><br>
$1.24/gal.</font></td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<div align="center">
</div>
</td>
<td width="13%" valign="top">
<p align="center"> </td>
<td width="36%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>High (CA) $1.90<br>
Low (KY) $0.93</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<b>
<table border="0" width="79%">
<tr>
<td width="50%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>IRS Mileage Allowance <i>(1-01-02)</i>:</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="50%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">36.5 cents per mile</font></td>
</center>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="54%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="32%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Postage:</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="68%"> </td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="32%"><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">.34</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">.23</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">.21</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="38%">
<tr>
<td width="100%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Where your federal tax dollar went in 2001:</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="38%">
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Social Security</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">23%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Discretionary</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">19%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Defense</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">16%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Medicare (over 65 years of age)</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">13%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Other</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">11%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Interest on National Debt</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">11%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Medicaid</font></td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">7%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="67%"> </td>
<td width="33%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>100%</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="34%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="100%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Where Uncle Sam got his money in 2001:</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="34%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="61%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Individual income tax</font></td>
<td width="39%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">50%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="61%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Payroll taxes</font></td>
<td width="39%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">32%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="61%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Corporate taxes</font></td>
<td width="39%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">10%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="61%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Other</font></td>
<td width="39%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">8%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="61%"> </td>
<td width="39%">
<p align="right"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>100%</b></font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="31%">
<tr>
<td width="25%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b><u>Population:</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="75%"> </td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>World</b></font></td>
<td width="75%">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">6 billion</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>U.S.</b></font></td>
<td width="75%">
<p align="center"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">282 million</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</b>
<table border="1" width="90%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<b>
<td width="48%">
<p align="left"> </p>
</td>
</b><center><b>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>Mar.</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>Apr.</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>May</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>June</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>July</b></u></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><b><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u>August</u></font></b></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="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141,868,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141,757,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141,272,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141.354,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141,774,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141,350,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Number Unemployed</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6,088,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6,402,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6,169,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6,422,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6,395,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">6,957,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Unemployment Rate</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.3%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.5%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.4%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.5%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.5%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.9%</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"> </td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>September</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>October</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><u>November</u></b></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>December</u></b></font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>January</b></u></font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>February</b></u></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">U.S. Civilian Workforce</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">142,190,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">142,290,000</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">142,279,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">142,314,000</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">141,390,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">142,211,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Number Unemployed</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7,009,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7,741,000</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">8,160,000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">8,300,000</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7,900.000</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="right"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">7,892,000</font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="48%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">Unemployment Rate</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">4.9%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.4%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="center"><font size="-1"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5.7%</font></td>
<td width="10%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.8%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.8%</font></p>
</td>
<td width="10%" align="center">
<p><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">5.5%</font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="77%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="50%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Average Cost of replacing one Federal Government
employee:</b></font></td>
<td width="50%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1">$36,000</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="85%">
<tr>
<td width="15%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Productivity Rates (2000)</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u><font
color="#FFFFFF">1st Qtr.</font></u></b></font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u><font
color="#FFFFFF">2nd Qtr.</font></u></b></font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u><font
color="#FFFFFF">3rd Qtr.</font></u></b></font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u><font
color="#FFFFFF">4th Qtr.</font></u></b></font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1st
Qtr.<br>
2001</u></b></font></td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2nd
Qtr.<br>
2001</u></b></font></td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>3rd
Qtr.<br>
2001</b></u></font></td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><u><b>4th<br>
Qtr.<br>
2001</b></u></font></td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="15%"> </td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font color="#FFFFFF"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.1%</font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font color="#FFFFFF"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.6%</font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font color="#FFFFFF"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">3.0%</font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center" bgcolor="#0000FF"><font color="#FFFFFF"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.2%</font></td>
<td width="14%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.1%</font></td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">2.01%</font></td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.5%</font></td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.8%</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table border="0" width="72%" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="25%">
<p align="left"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size="-1"><b>Absentee Rates (annualized)</b></font></p>
</td>
<center>
<td width="19%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1997</u></b></font></td>
<td width="20%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1998</u></b></font></td>
<td width="20%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>1999</u></b></font></td>
<td width="20%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><u>2000</u></b></font></td>
</center>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%"> </td>
<td width="19%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.5%</font></td>
<td width="20%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.6%</font></td>
<td width="20%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.7%</font></td>
<td width="20%" align="center"><font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">1.7%</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>