The Foreign Service Journal, June 2004

2 AFSA NEWS • JUNE 2004 AFSA NEWS BRIEFS AFSA Success on DS New-Hire Per Diem Thanks to AFSA’s representation on their behalf, all new hires with Diplomatic Security now receive per diem during their three-week orientation class. Previously, State assigned some DS agents to Washington ahead of their arrival for orientation. Because they were assigned to Washington, this meant they were not eligible for per diem, yet were living in very expensive temporary quarters. AFSA spoke out repeatedly and insistently on their behalf, and has been successful. Life in the Foreign Service BY BRIAN AGGELER, FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER USAA Eligibility “Hot Line” In recent months, at least a few specialists have had difficulty applying for USAA insurance coverage. It seems that not all USAA employees know that State Department specialists are eligible for coverage. We recently learned about an eligibility hot line, which has been successfully tested by one of our spe- cialist members who was having trouble obtaining the insur- ance. The number to call is 1 (800) 531-8080; then ask for the eli- gibility hot line. According to our member, “the person answering the phone knew all the answers to my questions and was very courteous and nice. She ‘put me in the system’ first, and we went from there. I am very pleased!” Seeking Writers We are seeking submissions for various AFSA News periodic fea- tures — Of Special(ist) Concern, Family Member Matters, On the Lighter Side, Where to Retire — and encourage you to consider writ- ing for them. There are no deadlines for submissions for these fea- tures: We accept submissions at any time, and seriously consider them all. We have not yet received any submissions from specialists for the “Of Special(ist) Concern” feature, so would be especially glad to hear from you. Please send your 450- to 550-word submissions to afsanews@afsa.org. Input for AFSA News AFSA News is not just for news from and about AFSA, but includes news of interest to AFSAmembers and the Foreign Service community. We welcome your suggestions on what types of features and information you would like to see in AFSA News . Let us know what you find useful and what you don’t find useful. Send input to afsanews@afsa.org. Staff: Executive Director Susan Reardon: reardon@afsa.org Business Department Controller Kalpna Srimal: srimal@afsa.org Accounting Assistant Steven Tipton: tipton@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 USAID Senior Labor Management Advisor Douglas Broome: dbroome@usaid.gov USAID Office Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: asigfusson@usaid.gov Grievance Attorneys Harry Wilkinson: wilkinsonhg@state.gov, an d Charles Henderson: hendersonch@state.gov Office Manager Christine Warren: warrenc@state.gov Law Clerk Marques Peterson: petersonmo@state.gov Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: hedrick@afsa.org Representative Cory Nishi: nishi@afsa.org Web site & Database Associate Meijing Shan: shan@afsa.org 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 Ken Nakamura: nakamura@afsa.org Corporate Relations/Executive Assistant Austin Tracy: tracy@afsa.org Scholarship Director Lori Dec: dec@afsa.org Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger: berger@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 AFSA E-MAIL: afsa@afsa.org AFSA NEWS: afsanews@afsa.org FSJ: journal@afsa.org PRESIDENT: limbert@afsa.org STATE VP: cranelk@state.gov RETIREE VP: jones@afsa.org USAID VP : wcarter@usaid.gov FCS VP: charles.ford@mail.doc.gov FAS VP: Laura.Scandurra@usda.gov AFSA News Editor Shawn Dorman : dorman@afsa.org (202) 338-4045 x 503; Fax: (202) 338-8244 On the Web : www.afsa.org/news How to Contact Us: Governing Board: PRESIDENT: John W. Limbert STATE VICE PRESIDENT: Louise K. Crane USAID VICE PRESIDENT: Bill Carter FCS VICE PRESIDENT: Charles A. Ford FAS VICE PRESIDENT: Laura Scandurra RETIREE VICE PRESIDENT: George F. Jones SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris TREASURER: Danny Hall STATE REPRESENTATIVES: Pamela Bates, Cynthia G. Efird, Scot L. Folensbee, Raymond D. Maxwell, John C. Sullivan, Jim Wagner USAID REPRESENTATIVE: Thomas Olson FCS REPRESENTATIVE: William Crawford RETIREE REPRESENTATIVES: Gilbert Sheinbaum, David E. Reuther, Theodore S. Wilkinson, III, Stanley A. Zuckerman IBB REPRESENTATIVE: Alex Belida FAS REPRESENTATIVE: Michael Conlon