The Foreign Service Journal, March 2003

4 AFSA NEWS • MARCH 2003 Y E A R I N R E V I E W President Bush signed into law the State Department FY 2003 Authorization Bill con- taining AFSA-supported provisions on PIT retirement benefits, Virtual Locality Pay, and other issues. AFSA provided extensive advice and support to the producers of National Geographic’s documentary “Ambassador: Under Fire Overseas,” which aired nationally on Sept. 4, presenting very positive images of American diplomats. In AFSA’s first-ever videoconference, a senior State Department trade negotiator explained U.S. trade policies to some 300,000 households in northern Indiana via a regional cable network. AFSA President Nalandmet with Foreign Service retirees in Northern Virginia. October Convinced FASmanagement to accept changes implemented by State governing busi- ness-class travel for permanent change of sta- tion travel. Signed an agreement (under negotiation since 1999) with FCS obligating it tomake career candidates brought in under the ill-fated inte- gration program eligible for commissioning consideration. Signed a settlement agreement with Commerce regarding the Unfair Labor Practice filed on grievance adjudication, which resulted in the negotiation of new grievance processing procedures for the Foreign Commercial Service. Signed an agreement with Commerce guaran- teeing the implementation of the service needs differential policy within the FCS. The Foreign Service Journal focused on India, in concert with a major conference on that country held at DACOR. The AFSA Scholarship Fund received the final installment of an $800,000 bequest from the estate of Naomi M. Mathews and her late husband, Ambassador Elbert GeorgeMathews. This was the largest bequest in AFSA’s history. Presented proposals to State management to counter State’s plan to provide security information to the promotion boards and temporarily remove names from promotion lists. Met with DS to express our interest in ensur- ing the safety of family members at overseas posts. Met with State’s new chief financial officer to discuss customer service for Foreign Service annuitants. Retirees presented AFSA’s 44th one- week Elderhostel pro- gram in Arlington, Va. Six D.C.-area retirees traveled to Chautauqua, N.Y. to pre- sent the 66th such programoverall since 1996. USAIDAFSA successfully overrode spurious objections (made on purely personal grounds) from an overseas director to a properly-made assignment of a career USAID officer. AFSA President Nalandmet in London with 155 entry-level employees from56 posts. November Convinced FASmanagement to abandon an outdated procedure and process senior Foreign Service step increases 3months earlier; i.e., with those for all other FS officers. Made the case tomanagement (again) that State allow all FS-4 generalists to be considered for promotion to FS-3 at the same interval as other officers after they enter the Foreign Service. AFSA President Nalandmet with Foreign Service retirees in Florida. AFSA intensified a several-year effort to con- vince Congress to pass the capital gains tax exclusion for Foreign Service personnel. It passed both the House and Senate in the “Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act,” but the full Congress failed to give final passage to the bill before adjourning for the year. As a result of AFSA’s requests, State’s retire- ment office inaugurated a toll-free number for annuitants to use in contacting their coun- selors. The number of people receiving updates on AFSA activities via the AFSANet e-mail service passed 5,400. December The Foreign Service Journal ’s third annual roundup of books by Foreign Service-affiliated authors featured some 40 titles in a wide range of genres. Met with the new assistant secretary for diplo- matic security to discuss DS career paths, secu- rity clearance revocations and probations, delays in completing security clearances, and the financial difficulties experienced by agents whose initial assignment is in theWashington area. Filed an appeal with the Foreign Service Grievance Board on behalf of five FS-4 junior officers challenging State’s implementation of the September 2001 entry-level salary policy. Provided information to numerous FS-3mid- level officers whomay grieve the same policy. Finalized renegotiation of AFSA’s contract with FASmanagement after eight months’ work. The new contract improves the trans- parency of many FAS actions including those governing assignments, selection board panel- ing, leave without pay, time-in-class exten- sions, and lateral entry. Reached final agreement with State on a change in the precepts for the Commissioning and Tenure Board. AFSA was the subject of a Washington Post editorial for the first time in a piece entitled “A Foreign Service PAC.” AFSA opened negotiations with USAID on changes in the evaluation skills matrix, pro- motion precepts, and rating timeline. AFSA convinced the Army and Air Force Exchange System to open online ordering from its catalogue to all overseas Foreign Service members. Nancy Leary established an AFSA Perpetual Academic Merit Scholarship in the name of her late husband, John C. Leary. During 2002, AFSA hosted 23 recruitment luncheons for new generalists and specialists and three retirement champagne toasts for retiring members. A full 86 percent of Foreign Service new hires joined AFSA in 2002 (totaling 990 newmembers). Membership stood at 11,674 at year’s end. AFSA Annual Report 2002