The Foreign Service Journal, March 2005

Y E A R I N R E V I E W w AFSA Annual Report 2004 w 2 AFSA NEWS • MARCH 2005 January Throughout the year, AFSA assists hundreds of Foreign Service employees with a wide range of concerns, including administrative issues, grievances, discipline cases, security and OIG investigations, and security clearance cases. The fifth and final installment of the F oreign Service Journal ’s series profiling the various foreign affairs agencies spotlights the Voice of America and the International Broadcasting Bureau. A $15,000 perpetual scholarship in memory of Col. Richard D. Hallock is established by his widow, former FSOMyriam Johnston Hallock. AFSA hosts a luncheon for the National Association of Retired Federal Employees president and legislative staff to discuss retire- ment and benefit issues of common interest. AFSA joins the Coalition for Effective Change to follow federal employee issues including proposals on reforming the Civil Service. February AFSA President John Limbert attends the Africa Bureau’s entry-level conference in Windhoek, Namibia, meeting with individual members throughout the event. Participants in an AFSA Foreign Service Elderhostel program presented by Arizona retirees visit the American consulate in Nogales, Mexico. For its symposium celebrating George Kennan’s 100th birthday, Princeton University hands out several hundred copies of the Foreign Service Journal ’s February issue pro- filing Ambassador Kennan. President John Limbert sends a letter to Assistant Secretary for Resource Management Christopher Burnham expressing AFSA’s concerns about retiree annuity overpayment cases. AFSA arranges for 12 retiree speakers for George Mason University’s professional stud- ies program to explain the critical role of the Foreign Service in defending U.S. interests around the world. March AFSA/USAID successfully negotiates a resolu- tion of a grievance resulting in the payment of many thousands of dollars to a member who was improperly denied a Difficult-to-Staff Service Differential. AFSA arranges a panel for five senior retiree speakers to explain Foreign Service careers to some 250 students at Georgetown University. AFSA’s FCS VP attends an annual meeting of Senior Commercial Officers in the Czech Republic and holds individual member meetings. AFSA/State proposes a solution to the prob- lem of the employment status of Eligible Family Members at AIT Taiwan. AFSA’s advocacy prompts the department to add these family members into the Family Member Appointment program, enabling them to accumulate retirement and TSP benefits. AFSA/State writes to the department concern- ing the poor service to retirees from the retire- ment office, especially regarding annuity cal- culation procedures. AFSA State VP and AFSA staff participate in the annual Office Management Specialist Conference at the Foreign Service Institute. April President John Limbert meets with Assistant Secretary for ResourceManagement Christopher Burnham to discuss the opera- tions of the Retire- ment Accounts Division in Charles- ton and the issue of overpayment-of- annuity cases, which has forced some retirees to pay back thousands of dollars. State management agrees with AFSA’s pro- posal that henceforth, “gap memos” inserted into Official Performance Files of Foreign Service reservists called to active-duty military service will note that the employee is on active military duty. AFSA/USAID hosts a highly successful brown-bag lunch, meeting with members and answering their questions and concerns. AFSA/FAS hosts a presentation on the Office of Personnel Management’s core leadership competencies. AFSA awards 22 Academic Merit and Art Merit Awards totaling $23,500 to 20 students. Acting AFSA President Louise Crane and FCS VP Chuck Ford host a reception in honor of newUS&FCS Director General Rhonda KeenumNewman. AFSA sends a letter toM/MED concerning late settlement of bills for costs incurred dur- ing pre-entry physicals. M/MED revises its procedures to speed up processing. May The AFSAMemorial Plaque Ceremony is held onMay 7 as part of Foreign Affairs Day. Secretary of State Colin Powell presides over the solemn ceremo- ny honoring the men and women of the Foreign Service who made the ulti- mate sacrifice while serving their country abroad. AFSA staff and officers take 49 retirees to Capitol Hill to meet with 32 members of Congress during AFSA’s “Day on the Hill” for discussions on issues affecting both active- duty and retired Foreign Service members. AFSA/USAID succeeds in persuading USAID management to offer an Immediate Benefit Plan to its employees. This plan helps cover immediate expenses, such as mortgage pay- ments, funeral costs and final medical bills, among others, in case of the death of an employee. JOSH MIKKELA THOMPSON MIKKELA THOMPSON MIKKELA THOMPSON