The one thing we are asked to address most (by our members) is health insurance. We are hoping to accomplish rate stability and make our employees healthier.

The ongoing issues are the strength of the economy and whether or not the pace of the recovery is in fact slowing down. One of the important things this week will be to see the extent of the damage.

The only clear picture we have from the job cut numbers this year is that employers appear to be confused about the direction this economy is taking, ... Companies are experiencing increased business, but they are also seeing their costs soar due to higher fuel prices, inflation in supplier prices and a weaker dollar, which makes it more expensive to buy foreign parts.

The only concern I do have is I'd like to see a couple more months (of data) put together here before we declare this torrid, hot economy as into another phase of gearing down. I'm not as optimistic yet that we have slowed everything.

The only crystal ball even more difficult to read than where one's own personal situation may be is where the country is headed and what the country's economic situation will be in 20 or 30 years.