AFSA President's Update

1. Greetings from AFSA President John Naland. Here is what we are working on at AFSA headquarters. As always, I welcome your comments or suggestions at naland@afsa.org.

2. Here is an update on AFSA’s efforts to convince Congress to close the 18.59 percent pay gap between domestic and overseas base pay for FS members below the senior ranks. For background, see AFSA’s discussion paper and my updates of July 27 and August 3.

3. Having made my initial rounds on Capitol Hill as the new AFSA President to meet with select lawmakers and staffers, I regret to say that, despite AFSA’s persistent efforts over a number of years, I do not see broad support for eliminating the pay penalty for serving overseas. Since the FS lacks a large constituency in congressional districts around the nation, interest in our issues is largely limited to lawmakers serving on committees with jurisdiction over foreign affairs and lawmakers from the metro Washington D.C. area where large numbers of FS members and retirees do live and vote. Most other lawmakers are focused on issues impacting their districts and have little interest in FS pay and benefits.

4. This reality argues for having AFSA and the State Department focus efforts on the handful of key lawmakers who other Members of Congress will defer to (that is the strategy that almost secured passage in late 2006). AFSA is now pursuing this strategy in our meetings on the Hill. We also strongly believe that it is vital for senior State Department leaders to weigh in with key lawmakers. This week, following up on our July 26 request to Secretary Rice, AFSA sent a letter to State Management asking them to make a strong push now.

5. AFSA achieved an important goal in late July by getting draft legislation introduced to fix the overseas pay disparity. But as explained in previous updates, there are two versions: one containing the Administration supported pay-for-performance system and the other with the version preferred by some in the Democratic controlled Congress that does not include pay-for-performance. The next step is to get legislative language that both the Administration and Congress can agree on included in pending State Department authorization legislation. This will likely only be possible in the context of negotiations with a small group of key lawmakers. Active engagement by senior State Department leaders will be vital. AFSA is determined to keep pressing forward until success is achieved. I will keep you informed.

6. As the FS faces its fifth rotation into Iraq, the number of active duty members with Arabic language skills who have not already gone is declining. While the active-duty FS have been "stepping up to the plate" in large numbers, with more than 2,000 volunteers for Iraq over the past four years, there is no question that this continuing effort is putting a strain on our ranks.

7. Thus, AFSA encourages FS retirees with Middle East experience, particularly those with Arabic language skills, to consider serving in Iraq. The large and growing U.S. Mission in Baghdad and the expanding Provincial Reconstruction Teams around the country have numerous positions that seasoned, qualified FS retirees could fill. Retired FS members with the right qualifications could play an important role in filling some of these positions and in making a contribution to U.S. efforts in Iraq. Indeed, many retirees have already served with distinction there.

8. There are various ways to be rehired for a TDY in Iraq. The salaries, above and beyond your pension, can be lucrative. Obviously, there are also substantial risks. For more information, please contact Tony Spakauskas in State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA/SCA/EX) at spakauskasA2@state.gov.

9. AFSA continues to support legislation in the House and Senate that would permit retirees to pay their health premiums on a pre-tax basis. The House bill is now before the Ways and Means Committee, which is an important step beyond where things were in previous sessions of Congress. This change would save the average retiree over $800 a year. But, because it would cost the government more than $12 billion over a ten-year period, quick adoption seems unlikely given pressures to limit non-defense related deficits.

10. There is also pending legislation that would lift the WAE caps for the Civil Service. AFSA is working to include FS retirees in that bill and we encourage the State Department also to support conforming language that would clearly include our retirees.

11. I was honored to address the monthly meeting of the Foreign Affairs Retirees of Northern Virginia on September 26. I briefed them on challenges facing the FS today and also discussed AFSA’s advocacy of issues impacting FS retirees. Over the next year, I look forward to visiting retiree associations in Maryland, Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. Elsewhere, AFSA’s bi-monthly Retiree Newsletter is in the mail containing useful updates on health benefits and prospects for the 2008 annuity Cost Of Living Adjustment.

12. AFSA USAID Vice President Francisco Zamora, top AFSA staffers, and I met with Under Secretary of State for Management Henrietta Fore on September 20. Ms. Fore is also the Acting Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and has been nominated by the President to be the USAID Administrator. I thanked Ms. Fore for her strong advocacy on the Hill and inside the Administration for ending the overseas pay disparity and urged her to continue to press the issue. AFSA VP Zamora, mentioning an issue that was raised in Ms. Fore’s confirmation hearing, commended her for noticeable progress in improving diversity at USAID since she has been acting Administrator. He said that, compared to most previous administrators, she was clearly paying more than lip service to the issue. We discussed a range of issues impacting U.S. foreign assistance. Ms. Fore stressed her openness to constructive suggestions from AFSA and USAID employees concerning evolving changes in how U.S. foreign assistance is managed.

13. AFSA FCS Vice President Donald Businger, top AFSA staffers, and I met with FCS Chief of Staff and Acting Deputy Director General Gabe Pellathy on September 27. We discussed a range of issues impacting the ability of the FCS to promote trade and investment, our respective legislative priorities, and the potential for working more closely together.

We raised a number of outstanding AFSA proposals and expressed the hope that FCS Management would respond to them soon. Mr. Pellathy endorsed the need to work through pending issues and said that he looked forward to working with AFSA towards that end.

14. AFSA has created an online forum for FS women -- a place to chat, share stories, reach out and air concerns. The forum provides an opportunity to connect anytime, anywhere. Please join the discussion leader, FSO Della Cavey, to dialogue about the unique challenges and opportunities facing the women of the FS today. Go to www.afsa.org/discussionforum.cfm/ to join the conversation. Tell your friends. (AFSA is exploring creating online fora on other topics, but can only do so in cases like this one where a dedicated volunteer discussion leader steps forward to coordinate the forum.)

15. The October issue of the Foreign Service Journal is out. It focuses on the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. It contains an article “A Foreign Service Murder” explaining what really happened at the U.S. Embassy in Malabo (then called Santa Isabel) on August 30, 1971. It also includes an AFSA Issue Brief detailing how underinvestment in FS training is hurting U.S. foreign policy. With this issue, the FSJ Editorial Board bids farewell to Josh Glazeroff after two years of dedicated service. We welcome his replacement David McFarland.

16. The cover story of the January 2008 FSJ will focus on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the FS. Editor Steve Honley, who will be writing that article, would like to hear from FS personnel (and their family members) who are dealing or have dealt with PTSD. While we prefer that contributions be "on the record," because of the sensitivity of the topic we are willing to consider running submissions without the author's name. To submit an article or commentary on the subject, or to obtain more information, please contact Steve Honley at Honley@afsa.org or (202) 944-5511.

17. Here is the 2008 FSJ Editorial Calendar showing the focus topics currently planned for the coming year. We invite members who wish to contribute articles or commentaries on these topics (or others) to contact Steve Honley directly for more information (see contact info above).

18. The State Department’s Foreign Service National Relief Fund has run out of funds with which to assist all overseas agencies’ FSNs who have suffered losses due to hurricanes and other disasters. Donations are needed urgently. FS members may donate by check, credit card, or payroll deduction (see State 118374 of August 23 or the Intranet site web.rm.state.gov for full details). FS retirees, FSNs, and other locally engaged staff may make check or cash contributions. Check contributions should be sent to the Department’s Gift Fund Coordinator, Donna Bordley, Department of State, RM/CFO Rm. 7427, 2201 C Street NW, Washington DC 20520. Make checks payable to the U.S. Department of State and write FSN Emergency Relief Fund on the note line. Include a return address where a letter of acknowledgement for charitable tax deduction purposes may be sent.

19. Mrs. Diana Negroponte will open the 47th Annual BOOKFAIR of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) on Friday, October 12 at 2 PM in the Exhibit Hall at Main State (HST). Employees, their escorted guests, retirees and their spouses are cordially invited. During the week, from October 15-19, this same group of people is admitted from 11 AM to 3 PM. BOOKFAIR is open to everyone, including the general public, on two weekends: October 13/14 and October 20/21 from 10 AM to 4 PM each day with entrance from the "C" Street Lobby. The last day, books are sold at half price. Mastercard/Visa and checks accepted. Questions: Please call 202 223 5796 or consult the web site: www.aafsw.org.

20. On Thursday, October 11 the AAFSW will hold its Second Annual "Wine and Cheese" in the Diplomatic Exhibit Hall of the Department of State (HST). The event will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM. Admission is $10 per person which can be paid at the "C" Street entrance. Take advantage of this opportunity to review the books, art work and collectibles, stamps and coins for possible purchase.

FOREIGN SERVICE YOUTH FOUNDATION

21. The Foreign Service Youth Foundation invites all Foreign Service High Schoolers in the Washington, DC area to a Tree Planting Community Service Event. On Saturday, October 13, FS teens can join with other FS teens in a volunteer effort with Casey Trees community tree planting program. The event will last from 9 AM to 1 PM. Location: Petworth Park Triangle, Quincy St. & Rock Creek Church Rd., NW Washington DC (Four blocks from the Petworth metro station). For anyone taking the metro, FSYF Program Directors will meet you at the station and walk you to the tree planting site. Event day cell phone: Alex 202-388-5346. RSVP by October 6 to FSYF or for more information: 301-404-6655, e-mail fsyf@fsyf.org, or www.fsyf.org.

22. All FS Middle School students in grades 5 through 9 in the Washington, DC area are invited to participate in the annual FSYF Adventure Away Day on Saturday, October 20. While particularly for children who have just returned from overseas and are adjusting to life in the USA or children who are preparing to go overseas, all FS middle school kids are welcome. The training course encourages team-building, problem-solving, communication and cooperation skills. Youth will take part in high ropes, low ropes, and the climbing wall. The cost is $25 (FSYF members $20), siblings $15. Drop off and pick up at FSI Visitor Center, 4000 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA. The kids will go by bus to the No.VA 4-H Educational Center in Manassas. Pick up is 8:45 AM and return 5 PM. Contact fsyf@fsyf.org or 301-404-6655 for your registration packet or visit the FSYF website at www.fsyf.org. Space is limited and permission slips are required.