The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2009

2008 AFSA-PAC Treasurer’s Report Dear Colleagues: The AFSA-PACmade significant strides in 2008 in tactically and creatively using our resources to draw greater attention from key deci- sion-makers to vital Foreign Service issues. We had a seat at the table. We used our political action committee to advance the agenda on issues such as solving the overseas pay comparability problem and addressing Foreign Service staffing shortages. Our fundraising metrics remained similar to those of years past. We raised slightly more money in 2008 ($29,432) than in 2007 ($28,967) and remained very steady on the number of donors. However, we fell far short of matching our record of $49,000 collected during 2004. Following the trend of years past, 77 percent of the 477 donors to AFSA-PAC in 2008 were retirees. Roughly 20 percent of donations came from overseas. Also, the average donation was $0.20 higher than in 2007, standing at $61.70. AFSA-PAC contributed $25,000 to our congressional supporters’ re- election efforts during 2008. We continued to divide our contribu- tions equally between Democrats and Republicans, as called for in the AFSA-PAC bylaws. Our focus remained on the appropriating and authorizing committees with jurisdiction over Foreign Service man- agement issues, Foreign Service staffing and general foreign affairs matters. We continued to enjoy good relations with key decision- makers at the highest levels in both parties. We also continued to expand our cultivation effort to include new faces. In 2008, AFSA-PAC was persistent in raising the profile of the Foreign Service on Capitol Hill. I am proud of what we accom- plished. We worked closely in conjunction with AFSA’s legislative strategy to strengthen the voice of AFSAmembers. Our impact is cumulative, and we will continue to build upon a successful record in 2008 as we move ahead this year. Respectfully submitted, Thomas D. Boyatt Treasurer, AFSA-PAC AFSA Award Donors Tapped by Obama Administration Robert Rivkin was confirmed as general counsel to the Dept. of Transportation on April 29, and his brother Charles H. Rivkin was announced as the president’s choice for ambassador to France on May 27. Along with their siblings, they fund AFSA’s William R. Rivkin Constructive Dissent Award in memory of their father. Please read more about the history of the Rivkin Award online in the July- August 2008 AFSA News at www.fsjournal.org . This year, the Rivkin family announced two winners of the award (see pp. 50-51). 49th Annual Art & Bookfair – Mark Your Calendars Plan ahead! Save some time for the 49th Annual Art & Bookfair of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide. The fair will open on Friday, Oct. 16, and continue through Sunday, Oct. 25. As usual, it will be held in the Diplomatic Exhibit Hall on the first floor of Main State (HST). The event will feature secondhand books from all over the world, an extensive display of art and collectible objects, rare books in the Collectors’ Corner and an assortment of stamps and coins. 48 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 0 9 A F S A N E W S AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Staff: Executive Director Ian Houston: houston@afsa.org Business Department Controller Kalpna Srimal: srimal@afsa.org Accounting Assistant Cory Nishi: cnishi@afsa.org Accounting and Administration Assistant Alicia Campi: campi@afsa.org Labor Management General Counsel Sharon Papp: papps@state.gov Labor Management Attorney Zlatana Badrich: badrichz@state.gov Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: yorkej@state.gov Grievance Attorneys Neera Parikh: parikhna@state.gov and Holly Rich: richhe@state.gov Office Manager Christine Warren: warrenc@state.gov USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: dbroome@usaid.gov Marketing & Outreach Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: asigfusson@usaid.gov Member Services Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: hedrick@afsa.org Member Services Representative Michael Laiacona: laiacona@afsa.org Web Site & Database Associate Geron Pleasant: webmaster@afsa.org Administrative Assistant Ana Lopez: lopez@afsa.org Outreach Programs Retiree Liaison Bonnie Brown: brown@afsa.org Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: switzer@afsa.org Legislative Director Casey Frary: frary@afsa.org Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: tracy@afsa.org Scholarship Director Lori Dec: dec@afsa.org Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger: berger@afsa.org Elderhostel Administrator Bernard Alter: alter@afsa.org AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org FSJ: journal@afsa.org PRESIDENT: naland@afsa.org STATE VP: kashkettsb@state.gov RETIREE VP: pamichko@aol.com USAID VP: fzamora@usaid.gov FAS VP: henry.schmick@fas.usda.gov FCS VP: keith.curtis@mail.doc.gov AFSA News Editor Francesca Kelly : kelly@afsa.org (202) 338-4045, ext. 516; Fax: (202) 338-6820 On the Web : www.afsa.org/fsj and www.fsjournal.org How to Contact Us: Governing Board: PRESIDENT: John Naland STATE VP: Steve Kashkett USAID VP: Francisco Zamora FAS VP: Henry Schmick FCS VP: Keith Curtis RETIREE VP: Robert W. Farrand SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris TREASURER: Andrew Winter STATE REPS: Anne Aguilera, David Firestein, Susan Malcik, Sandy Robinson, Shayna Steinger, Elaine Tiang-Chu, Daphne Titus, Andrea Tomaszewicz, Christopher Tremann USAID REP: Michael Henning FCS REP: Rebecca Balogh FAS REP: Kathryn Ting IBB REP: Al Pessin RETIREE REPS: Janice Bay, Herman Cohen, David Passage, Jonathan Sperling