AFSANET: AFSA President Update

AFSA President Update -- October 10, 2008

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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.

OVERSEAS PAY GAP

2. Please see my October 9 detailed update on this key issue that was distributed via AFSANet, ALDAC cable, and is posted on AFSA's website < www.afsa.org >.

IRAQ / AFGHANISTAN SERVICE

3. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy, on October 2 and 3, respectively, announced via ALDAC telegrams that volunteers had stepped forward to fill all summer 2009 positions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The messages saluted the volunteers; lauded their sense of duty, patriotism, and willingness to take on a challenge; and thanked the families who they will leave behind. As one of those nearly 500 summer 2009 volunteers, my family and I appreciate the messages.

4. Unfortunately, despite the intense media interest over Iraq assignments last fall, no media outlet appears to have seen the two ALDAC telegrams. Perhaps that is because media outlets are not on distribution for ALDACs and State apparently took no effort to draw outside attention to the messages. State's Spokesman did not make an announcement from the podium, the Bureau of Public Affairs did not issue a Press Release, no mention of the accomplishment was featured on State's Internet homepage, and no senior official stepped before the cameras to make a statement.

5. AFSA, which for months had urged our Management interlocutors to coordinate the release of this announcement with us, was disappointed that this accomplishment was not sounded more loudly and widely. After the ALDACs were released, AFSA quickly sent out a Press Release < http://www.afsa.org/state/100608afsanet.cfm > calling on journalists who had erroneously reported last fall that State had been unable to fully staff Iraq to now show as much zeal in reporting that, in fact, every one of these positions in both Iraq and Afghanistan for summer 2009 has been filled more than eight months in advance. That Press Release generated the only publicity to date -- two short articles on Internet news sites -- for the news that all positions in Iraq and Afghanistan have been filled.

RESOURCES FOR DIPLOMACY

6. The prestigious American Academy of Diplomacy has released their long-awaited landmark study "A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future" which provides Congress and the next President a blueprint for fixing the human capital crisis that has hobbled U.S. diplomacy in recent years. The report contains a series of detailed recommendations, including expanding the number of diplomats and development professionals by 4,735 over the next five years -- a growth of 46 percent -- to be accompanied by significant increases in training. I served on the 18 person advisory group that provided guidance to the drafting of the report. The final product can be viewed online at < http://www.academyofdiplomacy.org/programs/fab_project.html >. On October 8, AFSA issued a Press Release lauding the report. The release said, in part:

"This landmark new report correctly warns that our nation's foreign affairs agencies are in crisis. As America prepares to hand over unprecedented foreign challenges to a new President, the diplomatic element of our national security has been eroded by years of under-funding. This has weakened America's engagement with the world, harmed national security, and diminished our nation's role as the world’s leader in global affairs. U.S. national security in a dangerous world cannot be guaranteed by our superb military acting alone. It requires a "whole of government" approach that includes skilled diplomacy, effective public communications, and efficient foreign assistance. Our next President, whoever he is, will need to re-balance his foreign policy toolkit by strengthening the diplomatic element of national security. This report by the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Stimson Center provides a blueprint for rebuilding U.S. diplomacy to meet the global challenges that our nation now faces."

FSJ REQUEST FOR INPUT: GLOBAL REPOSITIONING

7. The January issue of the Foreign Service Journal will examine the Global Repositioning Program, so the Journal is seeking feedback from Foreign Service members. The Journal would especially welcome comments from those who have served or are serving in GRP positions, but also wants to hear from those who are not in GRP positions but are serving at posts that have either gained or lost positions in connection with global repositioning. Please respond to any of the questions below that apply:

-- Describe your experience with GRP. Were you at a gaining or losing post? What impact did you see at your post from the GRP?
-- Define “transformational diplomacy”. Are the GRP positions at your post being used for transformational diplomacy? If so, please describe those activities.
-- Has the support and funding for new GRP positions and the programs they are to undertake been adequate. How well have the gaining posts absorbed the increased staffing?
-- Describe your experience with the creation of new American Presence Posts. How are the new APPs functioning? What about the Virtual Presence Posts?

8. Please send your comments to FSJ Associate Editor Shawn Dorman at < dorman@afsa.org > by October 17. Unless otherwise noted, the Journal will assume your comments can be used with attribution. All submissions are subject to editing for length, format and style. Thank you for your assistance!

AFSA 2009 RETIREE DIRECTORY

9. AFSA is beginning to prepare the 2009 edition of the Directory of Retired Members. All retired members are listed in the directory along with their addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. If any of your information needs to be updated, now is the time to do it. Please send an email to < member@afsa.org > or call 202-338-4045 ext. 525.

2008 LEGISLATIVE ACTION FUND DRIVE

10. We recently mailed a letter to all members requesting their support of AFSA's Legislative Action Fund. The LAF finances our fight for resources for the Foreign Service and gives us the capacity to help members voice their concerns as foreign affairs professionals. Over the years, AFSA has consistently prodded Congress and the Administration for foreign affairs funding. We have pushed for adequate funding not only for physical resources but also funding levels that enable the Foreign Service to function professionally. At a time when more is being asked of the Foreign Service than ever before, AFSA members need to have effective representation on Capitol Hill. To sustain this type of representation, we need your support. Please donate generously to the LAF. To learn more about our legislative efforts, please contact Ian Houston at Houston@afsa.org or visit us on the web at < http://www.afsa.org/congress.cfm >.

AAFSW

11. 48th Annual Bookfair: Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy will open the 48th Annual BookFair of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW.) on Friday, October 17 at 2 PM in the Diplomatic Exhibit Hall in Main State (HST). Employees, their escorted guests, retirees, and their spouses are cordially invited. During the week from October 20 to 24 this same group of people is admitted from 11 AM to 3 PM. BookFair is open to everyone, including the general public, on two week-ends: October 18/19 and 25/26 from 10 AM to 4 PM with entrance from the “C” Street Lobby. On the last day books are sold at half price. Mastercard, Visa, and checks accepted. For questions please call 202 223 5796 or consult the web site < www.aafsw.org >. This year AAFSW is featuring two outstanding merchants -- Oriental Carpets and Silk Road Imports -- along with a special association with the online children’s bookshop Swimming Lizard Books. All three merchants will donate a percentage of their profits to the AAFSW.

12. Third Annual Wine and Cheese: On October 16, from 6 to 8 PM, the AAFSW will hold its Third Annual “Wine and Cheese” in the Diplomatic Exhibit Hall of Main State (HST). Take advantage of this opportunity to make purchases before the actual opening of BookFair. Please RSVP to < carmengeis@gmail.com > if you intend to attend. There is a $10 donation which may be contributed at the door.

SAN ANTONIO CONFERENCE

13. Foreign Service retirees in the San Antonio, Texas, area are cordially invited to attend a national security conference presented by the National War College in Washington, D.C. which will be held at Lackland Air Force Base on November 14 in the Officers’ Club. The theme is Challenges Awaiting the Next Administration. Topics include: the Compound Security Dilemmas of the 21st Century; the Pentagon Under the Next Administration; Latin America, China, and their Global Links; The Russian Bear Awakes; and Afghanistan: What Next? Speakers include professors from the National War College, who may take questions at the end of their presentations. Conference information and registration forms may be obtained from the Executive Director, NWC Alumni Association, P.O. Box 2284, Arlington, VA 22202, phone: 202-863-2306; email: craigj@ndu.edu. The cost is $55, which includes a light breakfast, the luncheon and luncheon speaker. Lecture sessions, not including the luncheon and speaker, may be attended for $30, which does include the light breakfast. Family, friends, colleagues, and personal guests are welcome.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AFSANET is a free service of the American Foreign Service Association
designed to provide updates on items of interest to the foreign
affairs community.

You can update your mailing address by going to our website:
< http://www.afsa.org/comment.cfm>

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>.