AFSANET: AFSA President Update

AFSA President Update -- February 20, 2009

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1. Greetings from AFSA President John Naland. Here is what we are working on at AFSA headquarters. Please send any comments to me at naland@afsa.org.

CONDOLENCES FOR FALLEN COLLEAGUE

2. AFSA extends its deepest sympathies to all those who knew and admired our colleague Brian Adkins who was killed on January 31 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was serving as a first tour State Department FSO. The circumstances of his tragic death are still under investigation. His parents, John (Dan) and Christine Adkins, have established the Brian Daniel Adkins Memorial Fund, a tax deductible charity, to which donations may be sent via electronic funds transfer at WESBANC, account no. 3481505539, routing no. 043400036. Alternatively, contributions may be mailed to Christine Adkins at 4147 Manassas Ct., Columbus, Ohio 43207.

NEW ADMINISTRATION, NEW CONGRESS

2. As you may have seen on live TV, AFSA played a major role at the ceremony welcoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Department on her first day in office. We also spoke at a welcoming ceremony for her at USAID the following day. We had a very productive meeting with Deputy Secretary of State for Management Jacob Lew on February 4 at which we discussed key issues confronting the Foreign Service. Our initial meeting with Secretary Clinton is scheduled for March 20 (delayed by my upcoming TDY to Iraq in preparation for my June transfer to lead the Basra PRT and Regional Embassy Office).

3. Of course, what AFSA members want to know is: a) where are we on closing the overseas pay gap and b) where are we on getting funding to increase Foreign Service staffing? My interim answer is: stay tuned. AFSA continues to lobby Congress on both issues. We understand that Secretary Clinton has personally reached out to key lawmakers on those same key issues. Given the recent preoccupation with economic stimulus legislation, Congress is only now starting to focus on other things. As Congress moves soon to pass the remainder of the government's FY09 budget, we will learn about Foreign Service staffing increases. By late March, we should have a good idea of the prospects for finally closing the 23.10 percent cut in base pay suffered by overseas junior and mid-level Foreign Service members.

LAST CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

4. Next Friday, February 27, is the deadline for nominations for AFSA's prestigious constructive dissent and exemplary performance awards. In recent years, AFSA has often not received qualifying nominations in all available categories. Despite that fact, we are convinced that Foreign Service members continue to practice constructive dissent. But what we sometimes have is a shortage of colleagues who recognize those acts of dissent and take the time to nominate them for an AFSA award. Thus, we encourage all members to think about colleagues who have taken a stand over the past year and nominate them for one of these prestigious awards. Now is the time to honor those who have the professional courage and integrity to speak out forthrightly, using appropriate channels, by taking a stand for what they believe is right; by confronting the status quo; by asking tough questions; by offering alternative solutions; and by giving the best possible counsel that we are trained to give.

5. Winners receive a $2,500 cash prize and are honored at a ceremony in June at the State Department which is typically attended by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of State. But no one can win unless someone nominates them. Details on nomination procedures and guidelines can be found at < www.afsa.org/awards/index.cfm > or in the December issue of AFSA's Foreign Service Journal.

AFSA LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

6. The Richard C. Scissors Legal Defense Fund was created to provide financial assistance to members in cases involving issues of significant institutional importance to the Foreign Service. The AFSA Governing Board named the fund after Dick Scissors, a retired Foreign Service officer and beloved AFSA colleague, who passed away in September 2007. So far, AFSA has received over $22,500 in contributions from 357 donors. We thank all who have contributed so generously to the fund.

7. For those of you who wish to make a donation, please make your check out to "AFSA Legal Defense Fund" and mail it to: AFSA, PO Box 98026, Washington, DC 20090-8026. Contributions are not tax deductible. Your contributions will help us preserve due process rights, fundamental fairness and transparency for all AFSA members. If you have questions, please contact AFSA General Counsel Sharon Papp, at < papps@state.gov > (202) 647-8160.

SINGLES IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE

8. FSI's Transition Center has asked us to spread the word about their workshop on Singles in Foreign Service to be held at the FSI on Wednesday, March 25 from 6 to 8:30 PM. It is open to all foreign affairs agency employees. This is a non-tuition course with no cost to any agency for employees attending. To register, e-mail < FSITCTraining@state.gov > with the attendee’s name and agency. For questions contact Archana Dheer at < dheera@state.gov >.

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