1. Use of Premium Class Air Travel: We have received several emails regarding the use of Business Class travel recently. In order to clarify some of the questions, I am including part of a recent Agency Notice (dated 09/29/2006) for your information. The text is as follows: "Effective immediately, business class travel may be permitted for temporary duty (TDY) travel over 14 hours in lieu of a rest stop. The determination as to whether an employee will travel business class or be scheduled for a rest stop is at the discretion of the responsible manager and funding office. In making these decisions, the responsible officers are expected to keep in mind the limited availability of OE funds and that schedules do generally permit rest stops. Managers are also expected to approve business class travel in a fair and consistent manner, recognizing that it is not an entitlement or a benefit of employment. In no case may these decisions be based on the traveler’s grade or position. The travel authorization should include the following statement if business class travel is authorized: For travel over 14 hours, business class is authorized in lieu of a rest stop. This language serves as the rationale for approving business class travel. If approved, the traveler will not be eligible for a rest stop en route or a rest stop upon arrival at the duty site." (AFSA Vice President’s comment: Just because it is authorized does not mean it is available. Travel funds may be limited and in many cases, this is the principal reason why Business Class travel is not permitted. Please review the full notice and its attachment and ask your particular offices for additional information.)

2. Where’s My FrontLines? A number of you have written me to find out why FrontLines has not been published now for several months. I contacted the Legislative and Public Affairs Bureau office in charge of putting this newsletter together to get an answer. I was told that the Administrator has directed that all publications in general be reviewed to determine their purpose, message, consistency, audience and cost issues. Once this has been studied, a decision will be made on how to proceed and to decide when and if FrontLines will be re-issued. I would like to know from you all what you think of this situation. Do you read FrontLines? Who do you think is the audience? Who should it be: The employee? Our counterparts? The U.S. public? Contractors and partners such as PVOs, universities, or Congress? How is FrontLines useful in your work or personal life? Should there be one publication for the employee and another for the outside world? It would be very useful to get some feedback from you regarding this issue. Tell me your thoughts and e-mail me at fzamora@usaid.gov. You can also comment on this on the USAID VP blog (www.afsa.org/usaid).

3. It Bears Repeating: As we said in our last AFSAnet message, many of you are following the proposed conversion of the Lafayette Federal Credit Union to a for-profit financial institution. The voting materials, which describe the proposed changes, have been sent to members. They have until later this month to send in their votes. In the meantime, some members have begun circulating a petition opposing the conversion. Here is the position of the anti-conversion camp (http://www.savemycreditunion.coop/). The case for the conversion is presented by the LFCU board here (http://www.lfcu.org/conversion/dear_member_letter.pdf). As before, we will not tell you how to vote, but simply suggest that you read all the materials and get well informed before deciding how to cast your vote.

4. Have You Filled Out the Survey Yet? We remind USAID members to please fill out the survey that was recently sent via an AFSAnet message. It is a short, anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire, and your answers will help us greatly in setting our agenda. Please visit http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224M2ZSF59S and spend 10 minutes telling us what you think.

5. Health Open Season is Here: Federal employees can make changes to their health plans beginning November 13, with the season going through December 11. Many changes have been made in the federal health plan system, such as separate dental and vision plans being offered for the first time. We suggest you visit OPM’s web site at www.opm.gov/insure/health for further information. See also the related Agency notice of November 6: http://iapp1.usaid.gov/notices/notDetail.cfm?msgid=12099&prev=true&currmo=11&curryr=2006.

6. The Perfect Gift for the Holidays: Can’t decide what to get your great-aunt Marge, or your political-science major nephew? How about a copy of AFSA’s book, the international bestseller "Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America?" Over 40,000 copies have been sold so far. This book is an excellent present for the people in any Foreign Service Officer’s life, as it answers the eternal question: "So, what is it exactly that you do?" The book contains dozens of personal stories, anecdotes, and day-in-the-life narratives from FSOs all over the world. Visit www.afsa.org/inside and this book can be yours for only $12.95.

7. Open Doors: We encourage members and others to visit the AFSA office, located in RRB 2.10-C. We are always available, either in person, by e-mail (fzamora@usaid.gov) or by phone (202-712-1631).