Sample Recruitment Letter
Richard Boly, Post Rep in Asuncion, sent this letter to prospective AFSA members at post. It has been posted here as an example for other post reps. Feel free to add or change text as you deem fitting. Please contact the AFSA Membership Representative if you need further assistance or have any other suggestions.
Dec 3, 2004
To: Prospective Post AFSA Members
From: Post AFSA Rep - Richard Boly
Subject: Let AFSA Work for You
Now that the summer transfer season is just about over, I wanted to touch base with all prospective post AFSA members to highlight some of the benefits of being an AFSA member and some of the things AFSA is doing to specifically benefit you. The Foreign Service Journal produced and published by AFSA provides interesting insights and critical analysis of career and policy issues. AFSA members can sign up for timely e-mail updates from AFSA on everything from budget developments and personnel issues to press coverage of relevant issues.
AFSA is working continuously to make a career in the Foreign Service more rewarding. This past year AFSA has,
- secured overtime for State Dept. employees who undergo training on Saturday
- ensured a "gap memo" and/or a military evaluation is placed in personnel files of returning reservists, which allows these employees to compete for promotion
- securing additional leave for employees at hardship posts which deny family visits
- enhancing EFM employment opportunities in Taiwan
AFSA represents all Foreign Service employees, both members and non-members, as a bargaining unit. Look at the guidance the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) gives on this issue: "An exclusive representative may not treat non-union employees differently from dues paying union members in matters over which the union has exclusive control and where the non-members had no other choice for representation other than the union." However, it also says that "non-members must be treated the same as members only in matters which are within the union's scope of responsibility because it is the exclusive representative, and over which the employee may not seek representation from another source, such as a private attorney." Be sure that AFSA is there for you regardless of the issue. One round with a private attorney could cost you more than your AFSA dues over an entire career.
How much are dues? The equivalent of two or three Starbucks coffees a week or the cost of a movie for two a month. The combined power of this modest sum contributed by members drives the small, but powerful operations of AFSA and ensures that a watchful eye and tenacious advocate is looking out for your interests.
I have enclosed an AFSA membership application and a postage paid envelope. As a small token of AFSA's appreciation, for a limited time, new members will receive a couple of thank-you gifts from AFSA - a sleek replacement for your ID chain and a handsome gold tone ballpoint pen. Once you have signed up, let me know and I will personally deliver your set of gifts.
