The Foreign Service Journal, April 2008

52 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / A P R I L 2 0 0 8 A F S A N E W S AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Staff Changes at AFSA AFSA bid farewell to Accounting Assistant Jon Reed in January as he heads to New York City to pursue his life- long dream to be a comic book artist. His new career got a boost when he won first prize in the Comic Book Idol 3 competition, a popular comic book art contest. By winning this talent search contest, hosted by www.comicbookresources.com, Reed got an all-expense- paid trip to the 2008 New York City Comicon, where Comic Book Idol host and comic book writer J. Torres helped him network and meet industry leaders. Reed also received assignments from IDW Publishing, Oni Press and Image Comics for winning the contest. AFSA wishes Jon the very best on his exciting path. Moving into the accounting assistant position is former Member Services Representative Cory Nishi. The new member services representative is Michael Laiacona. He was raised on Long Island and has two degrees from George Mason University, a B.A. in communications and a B.A. in music. His previous job was with WGMU Radio as a producer. He is one of the hosts for a weekly sports talk radio show called Sportsbreak, which can be heard on WGMU Radio at www.wgmuradio.com. Correction The March story, “An Inside View of the FS Grievance Board,” listed several former chairs of the board, but the list was incomplete. We would like to acknowl- edge the distinguished service of the three other former chairs: William E. Simkin, Alexander B. Porter and Arthur Stark. Security Training Now Offered for Members of Household On Feb. 25, the director general’s office informed AFSA that Members of Household would now be welcome in security courses on the same footing as Eligible Family Members. AFSA has been pressing the State Department for years to take this first step toward fairer treatment of Members of Household — a step that makes complete sense from a security point of view. AFSA is pleased that the change has been made, but believes many other policies still need to change in order to provide more equal treatment for MOHs. Details were given in a Feb. 25 unclassified cable from Director General Harry K. Thomas Jr., “A Reminder on the Importance of Security Training” (State 18852). Here’s what it says about the MOH policy: “We believe that you can take an active, positive step toward enhancing your own personal security by ensuring that you, your family members, and all those who form a part of your usual household (i.e., Members of Household) enroll in training — and then practice good personal security. We are extending access to security training to MOHs in the firm belief that they can be at risk because of their association with us and, as residents of our households and participants in the embassy community, can positively contribute to our collective safety.” AFSA applauds this important step and will continue to push for more bene- fits for Members of Household. The Journal Is a Little Greener Several months ago, the Foreign Service Journal stopped shipping the magazine to individual subscribers in “polybags,” thus reducing the use of environmentally unfriendly plastic. The plastic wrap will still be used occasionally, for issues that include special add-ons or inserts. Staff: Executive Director John Mamone: mamone@afsa.org Business Department Controller Twee Nguyen: nguyen@afsa.org Accounting Assistant Cory Nishi: nishi@afsa.org Labor Management General Counsel Sharon Papp: papps@state.gov Labor Management Attorney Zlatana Badrich: badrichz@state.gov Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: yorkej@state.gov Grievance Attorneys Neera Parikh: parikhna@state.gov and Holly Rich: richhe@state.gov Office Manager Christine Warren: warrenc@state.gov USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: dbroome@usaid.gov USAID Office Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: asigfusson@usaid.gov Member Services Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: hedrick@afsa.org Member Services Representative Michael Laiacona: laiacona@afsa.org Web-site & Database Associate: vacant Administrative Assistant Ana Lopez: lopez@afsa.org Outreach Programs Retiree Liaison Bonnie Brown: brown@afsa.org Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: switzer@afsa.org Congressional Affairs Director Ian Houston: houston@afsa.org Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: tracy@afsa.org Scholarship Director Lori Dec: dec@afsa.org Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger: berger@afsa.org Elderhostel Coordinator Janice Bay: bay@afsa.org AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org FSJ: journal@afsa.org PRESIDENT: naland@afsa.org STATE VP: kashkettsb@state.gov RETIREE VP: pamichko@aol.com USAID VP: fzamora@usaid.gov FCS VP: donald.businger@mail.doc.gov AFSA News Editor Shawn Dorman : dorman@afsa.org (202) 338-4045 x 503; Fax: (202) 338-8244 On the Web : www.afsa.org/fsj How to Contact Us: Governing Board: PRESIDENT: John Naland STATE VP: Steve Kashkett USAID VP: Francisco Zamora FAS VP: Vacant FCS VP: Donald Businger RETIREE VP: Robert W. Farrand SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris TREASURER: Andrew Winter STATE REPS: Anne Aguilera, Oscar DeSoto, David Firestein, Jim McRea, Sandy Robinson, Shayna Steinger, Daphne Titus, Andrea Tomaszewicz USAID REP: Michael Henning FCS REP: Stephen Anderson FAS REP: Vacant IBB REP: Al Pessin RETIREE REPS: Herman Cohen, Harry Geisel, David Passage