The Foreign Service Journal, May 2007

MA Y 2 0 0 7 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 57 2 006 was a dramatic year for the American Foreign Service Associa- tionPoliticalActionCommittee. We made significant contributions to theover- all AFSA effort to pass overseas compara- bility pay. The stars and planets were just aligned when the effort stalled and foundered. Disappointmentwas sharp, but realprogresswasevident. Relationshipswere testedandstrengthened,whilenewcontacts were forged. Throughout the process, AFSA-PAC provided the AFSA legislative teamamore robustpresenceat thecongres- sional table. In terms of rawmetrics, 511 colleagues donated an average of $60 each, bringing total contributions to AFSA-PAC to $30,585. Regrettably, thedownward trend that emerged last year has continued. The 511 donors in 2006 represent a decrease fromthe622whocontributedin2005. And it is far below the record level achieved in 2004,whenover800AFSAmembersdecid- ed to pitch in. AFSA retirees continue tomake up the bulkofsupport(75percent),whilethenum- ber of overseas donors slightly increased to 17 percent. Although trends are discour- aging—especially inviewofAFSA’s great- ly increasedeffectiveness on theHill—our financial position remains comfortable. Interested colleaguesmay review all of our monthly financial reports submitted to the Federal Elections Commission at www.fec.govtolearnmoreaboutyourPAC. With respect to output, AFSA-PAC donated $32,000 divided equally between the two parties and concentrating, as usual, on the chairs and rankingmembers of our authorizingandappropriating com- mittees ineachchamber. Since its creation in 2002, AFSA-PAC has donated over $140,000 to its friends and supporters on Capitol Hill. We are by nomeans a heavy hitter as PACs go, but we target narrowly our foreign affairs legislative universe, and we contribute consistently. We are there everyyearbeingpart of theprocess and fur- thering anddefending the interests of both our retired and active-duty colleagues on issues that affect us all. I would expect our contributions to increase in2007aswe con- tinue to struggle for overseas comparabil- ity pay and expanded retiree benefits, and in defense of the reality that the Foreign Service serves very effectively on the front lines in an ever-more-dangerous world. I would like to highlight the dedication of several of AFSA’smembers who volun- tarily serveon thePACCommittee. Amb- assadorTheresaA.Healy,AmbassadorNick Rey, Ambassador Vern Penner, Mr. Irv Rubenstein and Dr. Eugene Schmiel have helped guide and advise our small PAC to its current effectiveness. I would also like to record thanks to our late, great friend Ambassador Don Norland for his service andhelpful adviceprovided since the foun- dation of AFSA-PAC. Inclosing, AFSA-PACrelies entirelyon thevoluntary supportof you, ourmembers. Noduesareusedforpoliticalcampaigncon- tributions andall activities are instrict com- pliancewith federal and local election laws. Our impact is cumulativeover time. I look forward to addingmomentumduring the coming year to what we have achieved together thus far. A F S A N E W S AFSA ON THE HILL 2006 AFSA-PAC Treasurer’s Report BY TOM BOYATT, AFSA-PAC TREASURER NOTES FROM THE FSI TRANSITION CENTER Courses for FS Family Members W e plan to periodically highlight upcoming Transition Center courses formembers of the ForeignService com- munity. To register or for further information call (703) 302-7268/9 or e-mail FSITCTraining@state.gov . May courses include: MQ115: ExplainingAmerica: May 24. Expatriates abroad face difficult questions about American society. Explore the roots of American cultural values for effective responses to those questions. MQ703:PostOptionsforEmploymentandTraining: May 31. Designed to help U.S. government foreign affairs spouses identify anddevelop employment opportunities andpersonal strategies for seeking paid or unpaid professional opportunities overseas. June courses include: MQ803: Realities of Foreign Service Life: June 1. MQ 200: Going Overseas for Singles and Couples without Children: June 2. MQ 210: Going Overseas for Families (for parents and chil- dren grades 2-12): June 2. MQ220:GoingOverseas:LogisticsforAdults: June 2. Thenuts and bolts of planning for the move overseas, offered in conjunc- tion with MQ 200 and MQ 210. MQ230: GoingOverseas: Logistics for Children (for parents and children grades 2-12): June 2. MQ703:PostOptionsforEmploymentandTraining: June 12. MQ 104: Regulations, Allowances and Finances in the Foreign Service Context: June 21-22. MQ801,Maintaining Long-Distance Relationships: June 23. July courses include: MQ250: YoungDiplomatsDay: July 9, 16, 30. Introduces the world of diplomacy to children (grades 2-12) of U.S. government employees working abroad. MQ914:YouthSecurityOverseasSeminar: July 10, 17, 24, 31. Foreign affairs family members in grades 2-12 explore safety and security threats theymight face inoverseas environments and iden- tify resources for protecting themselves. MQ115: Explaining America: July 7. MQ803: Realities of Foreign Service Life: July 28.