The Foreign Service Journal, March 2008

MA R CH 2 0 0 8 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 55 A F S A N E W S Y E A R I N R E V I E W AFSA/USAID influences the timely submis- sion of nominations for the 2007 promotions into and within the Senior Foreign Service, which were approved three months sooner than in the previous year. AFSA testifies before a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the problems of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to the Foreign Service in Iraq. AUGUST AFSA’s National High School Essay Contest winner, Sumit Malik, is honored by Secretary Rice at the State Department. AFSA testifies before a subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on staffing, pay modern- ization and the lack of resources for foreign affairs agencies. AFSA writes to the State Department con- cerning application of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act by the Generalist and Specialist Tenure Boards, as well as the arrangements for including military evaluations and personal statements in official performance files. AFSA subsequently enters into a fruitful dia- log with the Human Resources Bureau to cor- rect any errors that may have occurred. AFSA protests the conditions of service for diplomatic couriers on some courier routes in Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Pres. Naland testifies before the Senate Government Reform Subcommittee on Foreign Service staffing needs. Pres. Naland lays a wreath at the Arlington Cemetery ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of the 1998 East Africa embassy bombings. AFSAmeets with the new director of HR’s Retirement Office, Patricia Nelson-Douvalis, to discuss retiree services. Financial Aid Scholarships total- ing $67,450 are awarded to 53 Foreign Service children for undergraduate college study in the fall 2007 semester. AFSA/USAID guides the Human Resources Office on the intake process for the first group of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities interns. Mrs. Dorothy Cameron establishes another scholarship in the name of her late husband, Turner C. Cameron, this time a Perpetual Financial Aid Scholarship. AFSA hosts a Job Transition Program recep- tion for new retirees. SEPTEMBER AFSA testifies before the House Armed Services Committee on civilian benefits for the Foreign Service and other non-military personnel serving in combat zones. AFSA/Labor Management meets with a group of Human Resources officers and sub- sequently makes several proposals to the State Department to improve the HR career path, promotion prospects and assignment oppor- tunities. State VP Kashkett is the keynote speaker for the fall series at George Mason University’s “Lifetime Learning” seminars, addressing the “Dangers and Challenges Facing the Foreign Service.” Pres. Naland meets with the Foreign Affairs Retirees of Northern Virginia. AFSA/FCS tables two midterm proposals for fall 2007: requiring tracking concurrence records with signatures on performance appraisal documents and requiring consulta- tions between management and AFSA on how to improve diversity (geographic, gender, etc.) on the selection and promotion boards. The Scholarship Fund Annual Appeal raises $20,111. AFSA/USAID provides a briefing to new Foreign Service officers on residency and state tax issues. OCTOBER AFSA/State meets with Human Resources Bureau staff to discuss concerns about the 2007 promotion boards, including member selection and the role of AFSA observers at promotion board briefings. AFSA signs a memorandum of understand- ing with State to allowmembers to compete for promotion even if they have not complet- ed the Mandatory Leadership Training, with the stipulation that they then have to com- plete the training by Oct. 15 of that year. AFSA-sponsored retiree speaker Stephen Dachi gives a presentation at Georgetown University’s annual international career fair on the opportunities and challenges of Foreign Service careers. AFSA/Elderhostel offers a new one-day pro- gram on the United Nations. Pres. Naland and State VP Kashkett ask ques- tions on behalf of Foreign Service members at the State Department town hall meeting on Iraq staffing issues. AFSA is involved with supplemental appro- priations requests for Iraq and Afghanistan. AFSA hosts a Job Transition Program recep- tion for retirees. The AFSA Governing Board votes to allow board members’ children to apply for AFSA scholarships and awards. NOVEMBER AFSA consults individually with more than 130 members identified as “Prime Candidates” for possible directed assignment to Iraq to provide guidance and information. AFSA officers give more than three dozen media interviews on the DG’s “Prime Candidate” exercise to set the record straight about the large number of volunteers for Iraq assignments and to defend the Foreign Service against unfair and erroneous characterizations by the media. AFSA holds a video conference with members in Baghdad. Onward assignments, overhead protection of trailers and the size of the Baghdad mission are among the topics dis- cussed. AFSA/State holds a video conference with a disabled member overseas to discuss mea- sures to ensure equitable treatment in his case. AFSA Annual Report 2007