The Foreign Service Journal, May 2009

I n their first official meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton onMarch 20, AFSA leaders raised the membership’s top concerns regarding resources, the overseas pay disparity, war-zone staffing, family-friendliness, political ambassadors and the future of USAID. Secretary Clinton, accompanied by Deputy Secretary Jacob Lew and Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy, warmly received AFSA President John Naland, State VP Steve Kashkett and USAIDVP Francisco Zamora for the 30-minute discussion. Naland pledged AFSA’s willingness to collaborate with the Secretary on an ambitious agenda of action items vital to the long-termhealth of American diplomacy. The Secretary thankedAFSA for being a strong advocate for the Foreign Serv- ice. Surprising the Cabinet Turning to resources and staffing, the Secretary said she and her teamwere 100-percent engaged and had moved quickly to persuade the White House and Congress of our needs, but ac- knowledged that this will be an uphill battle in the current budget environment. Naland argued that the present and fu- ture demands on U.S. diplomats will necessitate dramatic budget increases and sufficient new staffing to create the“train- ing float” that will enable the Foreign Service to acquire the lan- guages and special skills essential to our mission. In response to AFSA’s affirmation of the growing urgency of the overseas pay gap, Sec. Clinton said she had raised this issue at the Cabinet level for the first time and that the response was one of surprise that such a problem existed. There is a con- sensus that the pay disparity must be fixed, but tactical dis- agreement exists between State and theWhite House over what legislative vehicle to use. State is reinforcing daily the need to act, even with the president’s chief of staff. Kashkett urged scrutiny of the size, scope and utility of war- zone staffing. He conveyed AFSA members’ hope that Sec. Clinton will end the previous administration’s Iraq-centric focus, which has strained our assignment and promotion sys- tems, led to neglect of our other 265 embassies and consulates, and created a perception that important diplomatic work else- where in the world is not valued. A Historic Opportunity Pointing out that today’s Foreign Service families typically spend 10 to 15 years at hardship posts, Kashkett highlighted three vital areas in which Sec. Clinton has a historic opportu- nity to make great strides in family-friendliness by: • increasing substantially the professional work possibilities for family members and partners who accompany FSmembers overseas; • obtaining paid maternity/paternity leave for FS employ- ees who are now obliged to exhaust their annual and sick leave during the mandatory three-monthmedevac frommany over- M A Y 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 45 American Foreign Service Association • May 2009 AFSA NEWS Continued on page 49 AFSA Leaders Meet with Secretary Clinton DISCUSSION INCLUDES OVERSEAS PAY GAP, WAR-ZONE STAFFING A small group of AFSA officers and staff meet with Secretary Clinton, March 20. From left: General Counsel Sharon Papp, State VP Steven Kashkett, Sec. Clinton, President John Naland and USAID VP Francisco Zamora. STATE DEPARTMENT FILE PHOTO Vote! Vote! Vote! The AFSA Governing Board Elections Are Happening Now! D o you find yourself complaining about the same old Foreign Service issues that never seem to change? Don’t just grumble — take action! Once again you have a chance to vote, in the AFSA Governing Board elections. Ex- ercise your right to have the best possible people represent- ing you in Washington. All AFSA members should have received a ballot in the mail, accompanied by a special AFSA election publication with candidates’ statements. This ballot should be mailed back in the enclosed, color-coded envelope to the AFSA Election Committee, to reach us no later than June 11. Note: Ballots must be sent by postal mail in order to be counted. Please do not use fax or e-mail! If you have not received a ballot by May 11, please e-mail member@afsa.org .