The Foreign Service Journal, April 2010

A P R I L 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 53 A F S A N E W S W hen I ran for this office, I was not overjoyed at the prospect of campaigning, and felt somewhat em- barrassed composing letters and e-mails to col- leagues with whom I had not been in touch for years. But the response to my outreach was incredibly satisfying for reasons that had nothing to do with the election result. I heard from a host of former colleagues, learning of their ac- complishments in retirement, rekindling friendships and fos- tering connections on similar interests. You should all have received a copy of the 2010 AFSA Di- rectory of Retired Members : use it well to reconnect with old friends. The 2010 directory is an improvement on last year’s di- rectory not only in information contained, but also in layout and presentation. It is more than a phone and address book; it is a valuable resource. In the first 25 pages, spouses will learn how to report the death of a FS annuitant. The directory goes on to elaborate the mechanics of survivor annuities and elections. Although facing this can be difficult, you do need to know this critical information and should alert your spouse to its location. This year’s directory also provides a wealth of information on topics like Medicare B, long-term care insurance andWhen Actually Employed work. I’ve already received several sug- gestions for improvements to the 2011 edition, such as in- cluding the names of spouses. This is easily accomplished: start sending us those spousal identifications, and we will en- sure their inclusion in the next edition. Another suggestion is to put the directory on a compact disc. It would be cheaper to produce, maintain and update, but it probably would require us to abandon the printed edi- tion, as we could not afford to produce both. The recent re- tiree survey showed that over 90 percent of our retirees are technologically literate. But my bottom line, until otherwise persuaded, is not to go the CD route if it cuts off our oldest and most loyal AFSA members, who are totally reliant on the print copy of the di- rectory. So while you’re busy connecting with your retired colleagues, also reach out toAFSA and let us knowwhich you prefer. ❏ V.P. VOICE: RETIREE ■ BY ROBERT G. HOUDEK Connecting with Colleagues V.P. VOICE: FCS ■ BY KEITH CURTIS Good News for FCS T here is good news from this corner. Much of our hard work is paying off, and things are finally looking up for the Foreign Commercial Service. While Washington continues to dig out of one storm after another, we can see some clear skies in our effort to restore FCS to strength. I reported last month that Congress approved an extra $9.5 million above the president’s request for our Fiscal Year 2010 budget, which was already a solid increase over FY 2009. Nevertheless, we are still facing a significant budget shortfall to cover costs this year. Far more significant is the substantial increase in the pres- ident’s budget request for FY 2011. He has asked for the largest increase for the International Trade Association and the Commercial Service in our budget history. ITA would get some $90 million, roughly two-thirds of which would go to the Commercial Service. This would not only make us whole again, with amanageable budget, but would also allow us to begin to rebuild. As Imentioned inane-mail to the field,these two important successes were brought about by a team effort. First among those to thank for the success of the FY 2011 budget proposal are Commerce Secretary Gary Locke andourmanagement team. Sec.Locke went to bat for us with the Office of Management and Budget, making a special appeal for in- creased resources. This push frommanagement included a re- freshingly proactive Congressional Liaison Office. However, just as important were our friends in business, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several of the in-country American Chambers of Commerce, the District Export Councils and the Business Council for International Under- standing. AFSA’s labor management office also proved very effective. But in the end, congratulations go to those of you in the field, both on the domestic side and overseas, for demonstrating our value in key encounters with our senior management and with members of Congress. Substantial challenges lie ahead with the congressional process. We may not see the results of this effort until after a new Congress convenes next year. In the meantime, we must continue to demonstrate our vital role in keeping the U.S. economy strong. ❏