1. Last Chance: The USAID Member Survey will officially close tomorrow, December 1. You will be able to submit your responses until 11:59 pm on that date. We have had an excellent response rate, but of course we want more! We encourage you to visit the survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224M2ZSF59S and share your thoughts with us. This is completely anonymous and takes only 10 minutes or so, as all the questions are multiple-choice. If you are one of the 40 or so members who have partially completed the survey, please take a few minutes to finish it. The responses will be very helpful to us. We will share the results with the membership in early December.

2. An AFSA Member’s Thoughts: One of your fellow members has contributed a thought-provoking thread to the AFSA USAID VP blog. This one is related to the use of PSC/TCN positions by USAID. We encourage you to read the entry at www.afsa.org/usaid (click on the blog link at the top) and then leave your comments. The blog is intended to spur discussions about issues such as this, and we hope to see great participation.

3. Health Open Season: We are still in open season, and we want to draw your attention to the fact that you can access the Consumer’s Checkbook to acquire more information about the changes in the program. Active-duty Foreign Service Officers at USAID can visit http://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/hig.cfm and select the "my agency has purchased access for me" option. The site will send you a username and a password. Retired AFSA members from all agencies can visit http://www.afsa.org/retiree/consumer_checkbook.cfm. Simply enter your AFSA member number and your password and you will obtain access.

4. Another Election Cycle Begins: Want to represent your colleagues and make sure the voice of the Foreign Service is heard, with management, on the Hill and around the country? If you do, then please consider becoming a part of the next AFSA leadership team by running for a position on the 2007-2009 AFSA Governing Board. Take a look at the positions available and consider putting your name forward or nominating a colleague. This election is for a board that will take office July 15, 2007, and serve for two years. We are beginning this process at this early date because of the time needed for overseas ballots and in order to complete the process by March 2007 for active duty members who may need to transfer or bid on other jobs. Instructions on how to run and be nominated for the 2007-2009 AFSA Governing Board may be obtained by visiting http://www.afsa.org/elections/procedures.cfm.

5. USAID Numbers You Can Use: (We hope to make this a regular feature to give you an idea of the context you all work in.) As of September 30, 2006, the total number of USAID employees is 2,413. Of those, 1,498 are in Washington and 915 are overseas. 1,295 are in the Foreign Service while 1,118 are in the Civil Service. As of October 2006, the total number of AFSA members was 13,396. The breakdown is as follows: Retirees - 3,864 (from all agencies); State - 8,320; USAID – 908; Foreign & Commercial Service – 170; Foreign Agricultural Service – 114; International Broadcasting Bureau – 20.

6. Visits Encouraged: Please feel free to visit the USAID AFSA office, located in suite RRB 2.10-C. We have an "open door" policy here. You may always reach me at 202-712-1631 or at fzamora@usaid.gov. Senior Labor Management Advisor Doug Broome is at 202-712-0947 or dbroome@usaid.gov. The general office number here is 202-712-1941, and AFSA HQ may be reached at 202-338-4045.