AFSA USAID Vice President Update: June 21, 2006
Here is your update from USAID Vice President Bill Carter. Please send any comments and questions to wcarter@usaid.gov
Let’s all hope for a Team USA victory in the World Cup match on Thursday.
1. Performance Boards: The various boards are making progress and, in fact, some have already adjourned. So far, AFSA has attended two debriefs with more to come this week and next. Would you believe that despite all the brilliant advice on AEF preparation offered in this space as well as the Foreign Service Journal, many of the same mistakes of the past are being repeated?
2. Summer Reading:
a) Appointees in the federal government.
b) How to dole out U.S. aid?
c) Trouble with the new health insurance program.
d) News from the COLA front.
e) New book challenges aid programs.
3. Honoring Our Best: AFSA's annual awards ceremony will take place Thursday, June 22 at 4 p.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the Department of State. We cordially invite all active-duty as well as our retired colleagues to join us for this annual event which honors our Foreign Service personnel. This year's recipient of AFSA's prestigious Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award is Ambassador Morton Abramowitz, three-time ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, former president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and current Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation. Dr. James R. Schlesinger, first Secretary of Energy and former Secretary of Defense, will present the award to Ambassador Abramowitz. The Director General, who is the co-sponsor of the event, will present a special award of appreciation to Senator Paul Sarbanes in recognition of his strong support of the Foreign Service during his 30 years in the U. S. Senate. AFSA President Tony Holmes will deliver welcoming remarks, present Ambassador Bruce Laingen a special recognition award for his many years of service including over a decade as the chairman of the Awards and Plaque committee, and will introduce the winners of the other awards. Four awards for Constructive Dissent and two awards for exemplary performance and outstanding professional contributions will be presented.
4. Need Some TSP Guidance? A new guide on TSP has been prepared by FedWeek.com, and it is available from their web site, fedweek.com from $9.95. With all the recent changes to the program, some refreshing might be in order.
5. The New Journal Is Out: The June edition of the Foreign Service Journal should be of great interest to USAID folks, since the cover focus is the Agency and the changes brought by transformational diplomacy. Please give it a thorough read. If it’s not already in your mail boxes, it will be soon.
6. “Please Don’t Help Me:” This item brought to you by Murphy’s Law. Last year, several USAID members qualified for student loan repayment. In at least one case, the member received the benefit on the SEL and was duly taxed. However, because of a series of snafus, the funds never reached the lending institution, so the interest continues to be charged. Our poor member was taxed for something he didn’t receive and continues to watch the interest accrue. How’s that for a double whammy?
7. Summertime: Despite the scorching heat and withering humidity of a Washington summer, the AFSA staff braves packed Metro trains and hordes of confused tourists to work for our membership. If you’re in DC this summer, please stop by for a visit at RRB 2.10-C. I am always available by phone at 202-712-0677 or by e-mail at wcarter@usaid.gov. Our senior labor management go-to guy, Doug Broome, is on his part-time summer hours but is always available by phone. The main AFSA/AID number is 202-712-1941, and AFSA HQ is at 202-338-4045.
