I continue to be amazed and appreciative of the teamwork at Charter Oak Bank. Teamwork has been woven into the fabric of our culture here at the bank – and I think that is main reason our employees rate us year after year as one of the Best Places to Work in the North Bay. Internally, employees work to support each other not only in their jobs, but also to support each other when personal issues arise – be it an extended illness or just coverage on their job so the employee can take care of a family situation.
Externally, with our Napa Valley community - the spirit of volunteerism amongst the employees is extremely high. Last year Charter Oak Bank employees volunteered over 3,500 hours to our community, being involved in over 50 organizations. We recently joined together to help renovate an elderly woman’s home and worked a Saturday to help clean up around the river. Team Charter Oak Bank has really taken on the 2009 Relay for Life very seriously– hosting a BBQ to raise funds – and set a team goal of $7,500 to raise by the walk at the end of July.
What I enjoy best about this teamwork, is that by working together we get to know each other better – providing for a more congenial work environment – thus supporting Charter Oak Bank as one of the Best Places To Work.
You’ve heard the advertisement –
"Happy Employees Make For Happy Customers".
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Napa County Unemployment Rate Drops
The numbers are out, and Napa County’s unemployment rate dropped for the second month in a row. May’s rate was 8.3% versus 8.6% for April and 9.1% for March. California’s unemployment rate continued to climb to 11.5% for May, with the nation at 9.4%. This continues to show Napa County, while definitely feeling the effects of this recession, to be in a healthier position than much of the state of California and the rest of the country.
Receipts at hotels and restaurants, while not immune from this downturn, are beginning to even out – thanks in part to the “Staycations” of our Northern California residents. While home prices show some rise, foreclosures in the county also continue to rise, meaning we are still not out of the woods.
As we’ve been hearing and reading in the last few weeks, it does appear that this recession is at or near bottom – both locally and nationally. However, this does not mean it is over. The effects of the recession, compounded by the number of people still out of work will mean a slow and bumpy return to a positive economy. Consumers are spending less and it's predicted they will not rush back. Frugality will become hip – whatever that turns out to mean. And the current state of finances of the governmental agencies, states, schools, etc. will likely cause more layoffs, and more of slow consumer spending.
That said, I take the unemployment news as quite positive, with a dose of reality that we have a long road back.
Receipts at hotels and restaurants, while not immune from this downturn, are beginning to even out – thanks in part to the “Staycations” of our Northern California residents. While home prices show some rise, foreclosures in the county also continue to rise, meaning we are still not out of the woods.
As we’ve been hearing and reading in the last few weeks, it does appear that this recession is at or near bottom – both locally and nationally. However, this does not mean it is over. The effects of the recession, compounded by the number of people still out of work will mean a slow and bumpy return to a positive economy. Consumers are spending less and it's predicted they will not rush back. Frugality will become hip – whatever that turns out to mean. And the current state of finances of the governmental agencies, states, schools, etc. will likely cause more layoffs, and more of slow consumer spending.
That said, I take the unemployment news as quite positive, with a dose of reality that we have a long road back.
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