|
|
|
AFSA USAID Vice President Update: August 8, 2006 |
|
Here is your update from USAID Vice President Francisco Zamora. Please send any comments and questions to fzamora@usaid.gov.
1) Introductions are in Order: This is my first official communication to the membership as the newly appointed USAID AFSA Vice President. My assignment started July 31, 2006 in order to complete Bill Carter’s term ending July 15, 2007. Bill is very busy at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (FSI) taking the 8 week retirement course. On behalf of all of us, I take this opportunity to commend Bill for his steadfast dedication to AFSA members’ employment interests and rights. We all appreciate all that he has done for us over his three years as USAID AFSA Vice President and wish him the best in his next career. I first want to thank everyone for making me feel welcome in this challenging job. We have a great crew here in Washington working for you. Doug Broome, our senior labor management advisor, continues his close oversight of all matters related to personnel regulations and benefits. He is ably backed up by our colleague Asgeir Sigfusson who keeps this place running smoothly. Remember, we are here to serve you, so do not hesitate to let us know what is on your minds. As Bill Carter did, we continue to live by the following AFSA values: Responsiveness: We listen to our members and actively promote their interests. Effectiveness: We act with a sense of urgency, get results, and make a difference. Integrity: We demonstrate openness, honesty and fairness in everything we do. Efficiency: We carefully expend our resources where they can have maximum impact. Community: We foster teamwork, respect for each other, and enjoy our time together. Courage: We encourage responsible risk taking in order to achieve results. Empowerment: We trust each other to give our best efforts guided by these core values. Patriotism: We are faithful to the grand and enduring ideals that gave our nation birth. For those of you who do not know me, I have been the USAID Representative on the AFSA governing board over the last year. I joined USAID as an International Development Intern in December 1980 as a Health Development Officer and have served in Mali, Liberia, Honduras and my last posting was in Egypt. My wife Susan and two boys, Andy and Nick, accompanied me throughout my assignments. In 1999, after 18 years overseas, I was assigned to Human Resources as an Assignment and Performance Counselor where I got my feet wet in all things related to personnel. I moved to the Bureau for Global Health in 2003 where my last position was as Chief of the Maternal and Child Health Division. I am happy to represent all of you here at headquarters and will do my best to look after yours and your family’s welfare and interests. Please stop by the office any chance you have to chat. 2) Congratulations: We here at AFSA extend our heartiest congratulations to the (happily) large group of USAID Foreign Service Officers who have received tenure. It’s an important milestone and we are glad that the Agency has secured this deep talent pool for years to come. For a complete list of tenure recipients, please go to: http://www.afsa.org/AIDVP/USAIDtenurelist06.cfm. 3) Lessons from Performance Board Season: Here comes yet another lesson in what will surely continue to be a regular feature of these messages. If you are an FS-01 and wish to be considered for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service, you are responsible for sending a written request stating this fact. This is commonly referred to as “opening the window.” HR sends out an announcement to this effect every year, and we here at AFSA remind you of this as well 2-3 times each year. Due to travel status, home leave, long term training or other reasons some of you may have missed the General Notice informing you of this requirement. Therefore, if you are an FS-01 and you wish to be considered for the Senior Foreign Service, please contact M/HR/EPM (Darren Shanks). This regulation is covered in ADS 463.3.2 (“Promotion Eligibility Requirements”) as well as ADS 422.5.1a (“Promotion Into the Senior Foreign Service”). 4) News You Can Use: The regular round-up of news items of interest. a. NPR has recently aired two reports on the life of Foreign Service Officers and their families abroad. We highly recommend this series, which was reported by Megan Meline, wife of USAID FSO Jed Meline. Part I is here and the second can be found here.5) The Challenge of MCC: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on the progress and performance of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. All is not necessarily rosy in MCC-land, as this recent Washington Post story suggests. Those with some time on their hands may wish to click onto the actual report and give it a thorough read. 6) Variation on a Theme: The GAO has also just published a report on the persistent staffing and language gaps at the Department of State. Here’s that report for those who are interested. 7) The Journal Is Out: The July-August edition of the Foreign Service Journal should have made it to most mailboxes by now. The cover story is on the Foreign Service phrase of the year: “Transformational Diplomacy.” Also check out the new format of the AFSA News section, now located in the back of the journal. As always, AFSA members can access the Journal online, including all articles and features, by visiting: www.fsjournal.org. 8) Some Things Won’t Change: I will continue Bill’s “open-door” policy, which means that we welcome visitors at the AFSA office, located in suite RRB 2.10-C. As for myself, you may contact me via e-mail at fzamora@usaid.gov or via phone at 202-712-1631. Doug’s coordinates are dbroome@usaid.gov or 202-712-0947. The general number for the AFSA/AID office is 202-712-1941. The AFSA membership desk and other departments are located at our headquarters, where the number is 202-338-4045. fzamora@usaid.gov or 202-712-1631. |
|
