World trade has declined sharply in the last few months, and analysts are predicting it will make it harder for countries to pull themselves out of the global recession.  Combined exports and imports from the U.S. dropped 18% in the four months from July to November, falling to $326 billion from $398 according to Commerce Department figures.  Two-thirds of the decrease has been from imports.  In Japan, exports declined 27% in November compared with the previous November, while imports fell 14% in the same period.  China saw its worst foreign-trade decline in December, and Germany experienced an 11.8% drop in exports in November from the previous year which is the largest decline this decade. 

 

On December 18 Maersk Line gave notice that it planned to withdraw from the port of Charleston by the end of 2010.  Maersk is the port's biggest customer.  Its seven weekly ship calls generate 20% of Charleston's volume (364 annual ship calls).  Their announcement was precipitated by the refusal of the ILA locals' to allow the company to operate from a "common-use" area where gates are staffed by nonunion state port employees.  Maersk will phase out its services over the next two years. 

 

Coming soon...new Intermodal service to and from Titusville, Florida.  Scheduled to open February 2009.

 

The TSA announced the completion of over 1 million fingerprint-based background checks on truck drivers required to carry a HAZMAT Endorsement (HME) on a commercial drivers license.     

 

Responding to a recent CS employee survey, employees provided a staggering amount of data demonstrating an interest in educational and voluntary activities promoting and supporting a healthy lifestyle.  When asked if interested in a corporate Wellness Program, the answer was an overwhelming yes and programs of interests were identified such as weight loss programs, smoking cessation programs, nutrition and fitness programs, educational programs on cancer, heart disease and stroke prevention, employee assistance programs (financial mgmt, job stress)...and much more.   

 

Employers such as CS have a tremendous interest in health-related issues because employers and their employees are major purchasers of health insurance today.  Escalating health care costs continue to remain an issue of great concern.  According to the Wellness Councils of America, more then 81% of businesses with 50 or more employees have some form of health promotion program.  Most employers are offering wellness programs to offset the rising costs of health care.  Worksite wellness is health care reform that works.  Most chronic diseases are related to poor lifestyle choices which are preventable.  Due to the amount of waking hours at work, the workplace is a logical and convenient opportunity to provide individuals with information, along with encouragement and support for improving health and well-being.   

  

 

On January 14, Jan Haley, Kossuth, MS office, was named 4th Quarter Quality Winner for her outstanding work as Claims Administrator.  Congratulations Jan! 

 

Jan is now eligible, along with other quarterly winners (Heather McPherson of Portsmouth, VA,  Joe Pessen of Prairie Village, KS, and Mike Cathcart of Memphis, TN), for the 2008 Cornerstone Employee of the Year Award which will be presented during Cornerstone's annual awards banquet.                            

   

How cute is this little guy?

 

Ben is opening one of many gifts provided by "Holiday Heroes" through the popular Youth Villages program.