The Foreign Service Journal, February 2003

O nFeb. 6, 2002, theAFSAGoverning Board, after vigorous debate, approved the creationof a political action committee by a 10 to 5 vote. This actionwas theculminationof adecade-long evolving consensus that AFSA should actively seek tobuild a constituency, rather than complaining about the lack of one. Since 1994, succeeding boards have devoted increasing financial and human resources to influence the congressional process and to tell theForeignService story to the American people. The first stepwas the January1995creationof a full-timecon- gressional relations positionand the subse- quent hiringofKenNakamura for the job. For eight years Ken has worked hard and successfully to keep the board apprised of what is happeningon theHill and to influ- ence the authorization process by consul- tation and discussion — particularly with congressional staffs. Similarly, inMarch 2001 AFSAmoved tocreateourown“publicdiplomacy” func- tion by establishing a full-time public affairs positionandhiringTomSwitzer, an experienced USIA veteran, to fill the posi- tion. Printandelectronicmediaplacements, contacts with reporters of all descriptions, and the number of speaking engagements by (largely) retiredForeignServiceperson- nel are all up dramatically. NowAFSA-PAChas beenadded to this rich mixture. As its first priority the PAC will seek to influence the appropriations process. From 1991 to 2001 the Foreign Service was hollowed out as human and financial resourceswere reducedby30per- cent. The Service, if not on the edge of extinction, was seriously hobbled in carry- ing out its professional duties. The num- ber-onepriority forAFSA-PACis toensure that this does not happen again. Withrespecttoorganization,AFSA-PAC has three officers as required by law: Treasurer (myself), Assistant Treasurer (Susan Reardon), and Keeper of Records (KalpnaSrimal). AllareelectedbytheAFSA boardevery twoyears in themiddleof each AFSAboard’s term. All serveat thepleasure of theboard. Decisions aboutwho receives PAC financial support and why are made by a council composedof the treasurer and four retired AFSA members: Kempton Jenkins, TerryHealy, IrwinRubensteinand DonNorland. All members of the council haveextensivepolitical/legislativeexperience. Note that active-duty AFSA members are prohibited by the Hatch Act from exercis- ing a management role in the PAC. ThePACdoes, however, operateon the basis of bylaws approved by the AFSA GoverningBoard. Inaddition to the above organizationalmatters, thebylaws establish important political parameters. Above all, thePAC is required toensure that financial support afforded senators and representa- tives is exactly the same (in amount to the penny) for Democrats and Republicans. Also, since our exclusivepurpose is the leg- islativewell-beingof theForeignService,we have limitedourselves tonational elections for senators and representatives. We only support incumbents whohave influenced, or are in a position to influence, legislation impacting our Service. It is, of course, axiomatic thatPACeffec- tiveness is directly proportional to the resources available. In this connection I am delighted to report the response toour ini- tial fund-raising campaign forAFSA-PAC. Exceeding even the most optimistic pre- diction (mine), I amvery proud to tell you that 525 AFSAmembers contributed over $30,000 for our initial efforts! Seventyper- cent of the contributors were from the retired constituency, 28 percent active and 2 percent associates. However, only a dis- appointing 14percent of the contributions came fromoverseas colleagues. Clearly,we have work to do with our compatriots on the firing line. Chairmen and rankingminoritymem- bers of the Appropriations and Authorizations Committees in both hous- eswerepriorityrecipientsofAFSA-PACsup- port. LongtimefriendsoftheForeignService and U.S. engagement abroad also received assistance. About two-thirds of our total funds have (or soonwill be) distributed. In a“first-ever”development, the chairmanof akeyappropriations subcommittee invited us todropby for achat. JohnNaland,Terry Healy and I spent about an hour with the chairman inaveryuseful conversation. We had the chance to urge approval of the full requestandtomakeclearourpriorities(per- sonnelpositionsandrelatedsupport)incase funds are restricted. We, of course, do not know how Fiscal Year 2003 will work out, but we did have a “seat at the table.” Constituencybuildingiscumulativeover time. The more you do, the more impact youhave. Wewill continue toseek theassis- tanceofourmembers,toadvanceourefforts on the Hill and to report the results as we go forward. ▫ SEE BOX ON PAGE 3 FOR MORE INFORMATION American Foreign Service Association • February 2003 BUUILDING A CONSTITUENCY AFSA-PAC: FIRST REPORT BY TOM BOYATT, TREASURER AFSA NEWS 2002 TAX GUIDE INSIDE THIS ISSUE