The Foreign Service Journal, March 2005

Y E A R I N R E V I E W Participants in the AFSA Elderhostel program presented by Colorado retirees visit NORAD’s facility inside Cheyenne Mountain. AFSA holds a meeting with management and HR representatives from FAS and FCS to dis- cuss a range of issues, including the need to tie individual performance to agency goals. After three years of negotiation, AFSA and FCS agree to new policy guidance on overseas assignments. AFSA/State completes negotiations on the 2004 promotion precepts. New provisions include removing time-in-grade requirements for tenured generalists seeking promotion from FS-4 to FS-3, and requiring leadership and management training as a prerequisite for promotion by 2007. The department agrees with AFSA that henceforth, Meritorious Service Increases will be given to the top 10 percent of those ranked for promotion but not promoted. AFSA President John Limbert writes to USAA protesting the company’s decision to exclude frommembership Foreign Service personnel fromUSAID, Commerce and Agriculture. At AFSA’s behest, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, USAIDAdministrator Andrew Natsios and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans send letters to USAA advocating exten- sion of USAA services to Foreign Service employees of FAS, FCS and USAID. June AFSA holds a press conference, “Extreme Diplomacy in Iraq,” at which AFSA President John Limbert and former Baghdad consular officer Beth Payne exhort Congress to approve the full State Depart- ment authorization request in view of the dangerous working conditions in Iraq and other posts. AFSAmeets with Diplomatic Security officials for a briefing on security for embassy staff in Baghdad. The June 24 AFSA Awards ceremony is held in the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room. AFSA presents four awards ($2,500 each) for constructive dissent as well as awards for extraordinary contributions to effective- ness, professionalism and morale. The Lifetime Contribution to American Diplomacy Award is presented to Ambassador Richard Parker. The Foreign Service Journal features an interview and profile of Lifetime Contribution to American Diplomacy Award winner Amb. Parker. AFSAUSAID successfully lobbies USAID management to rethink the expense involved in moving offices to contiguous spaces, the so-called “re-blocking” plan. The resulting savings of millions are thereby freed up for use in more pressing programs. At AFSA’s insistence, the State Department agrees to revise the FAM to require DCMs to serve as mentors for all entry-level employees, not just generalists. AFSA’s ongoing effort to recruit new FAS members includes a recruitment luncheon held during the Global Lite Conference. The AFSA/State team successfully negotiates new procedures for the operation of reconsti- tuted promotion boards. Two new-hire DS agents receive increases in their salaries because of AFSA intervention on their behalf to show they were hired at the wrong step level. July AFSA’s National High School Essay Contest winners are honored at the 2004 Youth Awards Ceremony. AFSA President John Limbert and staff meet again with Assistant Secretary Burnham to talk about AFSA’s continuing concerns about retiree overpayment cases. AFSA proposes that all specialists should receive a certificate, signed by the Secretary of State, upon tenure. August A total of $65,425 in AFSA financial aid awards for the 2004 fall semester is bestowed on 63 Foreign Service youth for undergraduate study. The total financial aid scholarship amount to be bestowed for the 2004- 2005 academic year is $130,300. AFSA/USAID argues successfully before the Foreign Service Grievance Board that an untenured USAID employee should be rein- stated. However, the struggle between the FSGB and USAID continues as USAID refus- es to implement the Board’s judgment. At AFSA’s request, the State Department grants retirees unescorted access to the Federal Center Credit Union branch at SA-44. AFSA and DACOR host one of many cham- pagne receptions held throughout the year for graduates of the Job Search Program at FSI. AFSA/State meets with Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Francis X. Taylor and staff to discuss, among other topics, assign- ments, contact reporting and procedures for suspension of security clearances and the sub- sequent investigations. Letters fromAFSA are sent to all executive directors of regional bureaus to remind them of the requirement to pay overtime to special- ists and untenured officers. AFSA urges State management to send an ALDACmessage on the topic, which it does. September AFSA State VP Louise Crane and AFSA staff appear on Federal News Radio’s “Fed Talk” program to discuss Foreign Service issues, including the lack of locality pay for Foreign Servicemembers serving abroad. AFSA President John Limbert addresses 75 attendees at a D.C. Elderhostel programon the Middle East. The program set a new record for attendance among the 54 programs presented to date by D.C.-area retirees. AFSA sends amemo to the FAS administrator encouraging a rigorous domestic review process to help ensure agencymanagement has the necessary structure in place tomeet cost- cutting targets. AFSA attends four Combined Federal Campaign kick-off events to promote the MARCH 2005 • AFSA NEWS 3 w AFSA Annual Report 2004 w MIKKELA THOMPSON JAY MALLIN AUSTIN TRACY JOSH