Greetings,

For those of you who have been with us for awhile, you know that I periodically let you know what's going on and what I have been thinking about. For those of you who are new to Cornerstone this e-mail is just what I have stated above. I feel you should know what's on my mind (no caustic remarks from you longer term people).

I have already told you we had a great year last year, unfortunately the same can not be said for the first four months of this year. I know we keep reading about the rebounding economy, but folks, we ain't seeing it yet at headquarters. We are still way off from last year, but in some ways even that is beneficial. Slowing down does give us an opportunity for a little self-examination and a chance to evaluate what we have done right, and in retrospect things that were not so bright. (Yes, we really do more than play golf and have strategic planning lunches.)

One of the bright things we have been doing is conducting seminars on sales training and team building here at corporate. If you'll remember, I sent all of you a copy of Memphis Intermodal Ops' Purpose and Values Statement. That was a direct result of the training they went through. We are preparing the next round, which will involve outside sales personnel. We have not yet figured out how to organize all of the rest of you, but are doing are best to come up with something.

We do have many new faces on board, both in ops and sales, and our excited about what they bring to the table. I am cautiously optimistic about the remainder of the year, but certainly understand it is still an uphill climb. We are seeing some tightening in the availability of trucks which is a normal precursor to our seeing increases in intermodal and truck brokerage. Our Houston office has opened a transloading operation in Austin, Tx. which is once again expanding the services that we provide.

It has been eight months since 9/11, but it seems longer than that to me. Our society as a whole seems to have undergone some fundamental changes. A renewed since and understanding of patriotism, a seeming desire to return to more traditional values of family, home, and maybe a renewed appreciation or examination of what is truly of value in our lives. I know that I examine more closely what I am willing to invest my time and energy in. Things that might of been deemed urgent a year ago don't have the same sense of urgency today. Nothing like watching those two symbols of American might and power collapsing to the ground to help put one's place in life in perspective. I do believe that some good always emerges from man's acts of evil. We may see this demonstrated in some of the things I just mentioned above, but in most cases it is individuals changing the way they act or changing long held beliefs that have just been shattered.

Speaking of long held beliefs, will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Personally, I don't believe so. If you think about it, people from the same country, speaking the same lanquage, and believing in the same God have been killing each other at a ferocious level of hatred since the 16th century. I speak of Ireland. Things have improved right now, but I wonder for how long. Now let's take the Middle East. Two peoples, different lanquage, different beliefs, different God, and they really,really hate each other, don't like us much either! I am concerned about more terrorist attacks in the US. I think it inevitable, I just don't know at what level. For those of you who pray; continue, for those of you who don't; start, for those of you who refuse to; be vigilant, and for all of us let's love those around us and who are precious to us.

I have kept you all informed of my mother's journey with Alzheimer's. She is now 87, still mobile, though just barely, usually doesn't know who I am other than a familiar face. She's on pureed food because she kinda forgets to chew. She still laughs a lot, and was singing along to some old hymns the other day. She seems without pain, but couldn't articulate it if she tried, so we don't bring her home much anymore because getting her in and out of the car is hard, and there is a concern that I might hurt her and not know it. Besides, she really doesn't know the difference anyway and I realized I was just doing it to make my self feel better.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again, make sure your parents have wills, powers of attorney for both health and financial in place, and make sure those of you with children have done the same along with adequate insurance. The passing of a love one or long term hospitalization is difficult enough without having to deal with probate court, or do you have the right or ability to access funds to take care of a parent, etc. We are not at a stage where we can help with much of this, but I would like to be in a position to assist our employees with some of these issues down the road.

Well, I think I'll stop now lest you think I am trying to write the great American novel. I hope things are well with each of you and your loved ones, I am glad you are with us and I look forward to meeting more of you and seeing again those of you I already know.

Rick Rodell
President/CEO
Cornerstone Systems
Memphis, Tn.
901.842.1017