| AFSANET: AFSA President Update: January 3, 2008 |
|||
| To sign up for AFSANET, click here. | |||
|
Latest | Previous |
|||
|
1. New Year's greetings from AFSA President John Naland. Here is what we are working on at AFSA headquarters. Please send any comments or suggestions to me at naland@afsa.org. CONDOLENCES 2. AFSA extends sincere condolences to the families and friends of our colleagues who were shot to death in Khartoum on New Year's Day. USAID officer John Granville, 33, and locally employed Sudanese national Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama, 39, were working to bring peace and stability to Sudan. We echo the January 1 statement of USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore who noted that "American men and women and foreign nationals alike put their lives on the line every day in an effort to further the humanitarian and development programs throughout the world and they deserve our deepest gratitude. It is this dedication and compassion that keeps us all dutifully committed to our work." THE YEAR AHEAD 3. AFSA had productive year-end meetings with the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, the Under Secretary for Management, the Director General, the Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, the Director of the Foreign Service Institute, the Director of Medical Services, and key staff at the President's Office of Management on Budget. We also organized a meeting on Capitol Hill on December 18 at which key House staffers discussed how best to move pay modernization forward. After we meet with the Deputy Secretary of State (scheduled for January 10), we will update you on where AFSA sees things headed in 2008 on a wide range of issues of importance to the Foreign Service. NEWS YOU CAN USE 4. You may have seen media reporting about a class action suit on behalf of everyone who traveled abroad between February 1, 1996, and November 8, 2006, and used a Visa, MasterCard, or Diners Club credit, debit, or ATM card. The suit sought reimbursement for overcharges on foreign transaction fees. The bottom line is that anyone who used any those cards abroad in recent years qualifies for a $25 refund (possibly more if you fill out a lot of paperwork). The $25 refund is easy to apply for online at http://www.ccfsettlement.com . Deadline for requesting a refund is May 30. 5. Whether or not your New Year's resolution was to review your personal finances, now is a great time to do so. For example: -- The fact that 2008 has 27 (instead of 26) pay periods merits the attention of active duty members who want to maximize TSP contributions. Check with your agency for details (for example, see 07 State 169734 of December 21, 2007). -- Active duty members who are unsure of their prospects for a financially secure retirement might want to check out the "Retirement Planning 101" article published in the Foreign Service Journal last September (online at http://www.afsa.org/fsj/sept07/fsknowhow.pdf ) -- Tax payers (that is all of us) should be on the lookout for the annual AFSA Tax Guide to be published in the AFSA News section of the February issue of the Foreign Service Journal. JANUARY FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 6. The January 2008 Foreign Service Journal is on the printing presses and will be hitting the mail and AFSA's Web site next week. The issue focuses on "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Foreign Service" -- not the cheeriest subject, admittedly, but an important one. It also contains a special "Speaking Out" section devoted to member comments about the October 31 State Department town hall meeting regarding possible directed assignments to Iraq and the media coverage of that event. And, speaking of reader input, the AFSA News section gives a detailed readout on the results of our recent survey of active duty State members. FSJ SEEKS INPUT FROM MEMBERS WITH IRAQ SERVICE 7. Once again, as it has done each spring since 2004, the March 2008 issue of the Foreign Service Journal will focus on Iraq. Specifically, the Journal would like to hear from members who either currently serve there or have done so within the past year, describing their ability to function effectively in that difficult environment amid stringent security restrictions. We are primarily seeking short statements (500 words or less) for a compilation of responses. However, longer submissions will be considered for publication as separate articles. While we normally identify all contributions, we are willing to consider non-attribution; please so indicate when submitting responses. Because of our lead time, we request that all contributions be sent by Monday, January 14 to FSJ Editor Steve Honley at Honley@afsa.org. In case of questions, Steve can also be reached at (202) 338-4045, ext. 511. Thanks in advance for your help. SUPPORT AFSA IN THE CFC 8. The 2008 CFC campaign ends January 15 (or January 5 for donations made via Employee Express). AFSA has donated refreshments for State's wrap-up CFC Fun Run/Walk to be held on the National Mall on January 9 (for details of that event, see State Department Notice 2007-12-060 of December 11, 2007). Here is a final reminder of AFSA's two non-profit funds that federal employees can make a CFC gifts to: -- AFSA Scholarship Fund (CFC #11759): In 2007, the AFSA Scholarship Fund provided need-based undergraduate scholarships to 52 Foreign Service kids totaling $138,400 along with providing $28,500 in Academic and Art Merit awards to 25 Foreign Service high school seniors. The overhead of the AFSA Scholarship Program is 10%. AFSA Financial Aid Scholarships range from $1,500- $3,500 and Merit Awards range from $500-$1,500. Your support stays in the Foreign Service community. Go to http://www.afsa.org/scholar/ for complete details. -- Fund for American Diplomacy (CFC #10646): The Fund for American Diplomacy (FAD) is AFSA's public education arm. We explain to high schoolers, college students, business leaders, senior citizens, media, etc. just how critical U.S. diplomacy and the Foreign Service are to America's national security and economic prosperity. Our speakers’ bureau, high school essay contest, and best selling book "Inside a U.S. Embassy" are just a few examples of the grassroots programs we offer. FAD's overhead expenses are only 7.3 percent. Go to http://www.afsa.org/CFCFAD.cfm for complete details. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AFSANET is a free service of the American Foreign Service Association designed to provide updates on items of interest to the foreign affairs community. To become a member of AFSA, visit http://www.afsa.org/mbr/index.cfm . To subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter go to http://www.afsa.org/forms/maillist.cfm .w examples of the grassroots programs we offer. FAD's overhead expenses are only 7.3 percent. Go to http://www.afsa.org/CFCFAD.cfm for complete details. |
|||
|
Latest | Previous |
|||
|
