The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

EXTENDING AFSA’S REACH AFSA Meets with Pearson and APSA Fellows O nMarch20, AFSAPresident Tony Holmes met with the current Pearson and American Political Science Association fellows working on Capitol Hill on legislators’ and committee staffs. The fellows are members of the Foreign Service who are taking a one-year detail both to learnaboutCongress and the legislativeprocess, and tohelpprovide infor- mation to senators, members of Congress and fellow Hill staffers about foreign pol- icy issues, the foreign affairs agencies and the ForeignService. These fellowsworkon the Hill not as representatives of the Department of State, but as knowledgeable participants in foreign affairs. AFSAmeets with each class of Pearson and APSA fellows to explain our legisla- tive agenda, describe howwe see develop- ments onCapitolHill and to get their reac- tions and feedback. This year, we dis- cussed many issues, ranging from the Secretary of State’s transformational diplomacy and global repositioning ini- tiatives to AFSA’s primary legislative objective of aWashington, D.C.,-pay level for all members of the Foreign Service, regardless of where they are posted. AFSA explained that in a change from previous years, the administration now supports a newworldwide pay systemand included it in the president’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget request. However, it is being tied to a change in the Foreign Service per- sonnel system to a “pay-for-perfor- mance” basis. These issues were fully dis- cussed, withHolmes providing the AFSA perspective for the fellows to consider as they go back to their jobs on theHill, and the fellows offering their own inputs that canhelpAFSAcontinue to sharpen its leg- islative approach. Thesemeetings are certainly helpful to AFSA and, hopefully, to the Pearson and APSA fellows as well. During their year on the Hill, the fellows develop a unique perspective as participants in the legisla- tive process who have an “insider’s view” of the Foreign Service and life over- seas. They can help provide information to us on the current dynamics of the Hill, and can also help clear upmisperceptions there about the Foreign Service and its operations. o JUNE 2006 • AFSA NEWS 9 CLASSIFIEDS JOSH ATTORNEY WITH 26 years’ successful experience SPECIALIZING FULL-TIME IN FS GRIEVANCES will more than double your chance of winning: 30% of grievants win before the Grievance Board; 85% of my clients win. Only a private attorney can ade- quately develop and present your case, including necessary regs, arcane legal doc- trines, precedents and rules. Call Bridget R. Mugane at Tel: (202) 387-4383, or (301) 596- 0175. E-mail: fsatty@comcast.net Free initial consultation. LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY, FORMER FOREIGN SER- VICE OFFICER: Extensive experience w/ tax problems unique to the Foreign Service. Available for consultation, tax planning, and preparation of returns: M. Bruce Hirshorn, Boring & Pilger, P.C. 307 Maple Ave. W, Suite D, Vienna, VA 22180. Tel: (703) 281-2161. Fax: (703) 281-9464. E-mail: mbhirshorn@boringandpilger.com PROFESSIONAL TAXRETURNPREPA- RATION: Thirty years in public tax practice. Arthur A. Granberg, EA, ATA, ATP. Our charges are $75 per hour. Most FS returns take 3 to 4 hours. Our office is 100 feet from Virginia Square Metro Station, Tax Matters Associates PC, 3601 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22201. Tel: (703) 522-3828. Fax: (703) 522-5726. E-mail: aag8686@aol.com WILLS/ESTATE PLANNING by attorney who is a former FSO. Have your will reviewed and updated, or newone prepared: No charge for initial consultation. M. Bruce Hirshorn, Boring & Pilger, P.C. 307Maple Ave. W, Suite D, Vienna, VA 22180. Tel: (703) 281-2161. Fax: (703) 281-9464. E-mail: mbhirshorn@boringandpilger.com TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES VIRGINIAM. TEST, CPA: Tax service spe- cializing in Foreign Service/overseas contrac- tors. Contact info: Tel : (804) 695-2939. Fax: (804) 695-2958. E-mail: vtest@aol.com FREE TAX CONSULTATION : For over- seas personnel. We process returns as received, without delay. Preparation and rep- resentation by Enrolled Agents. Federal and all states prepared. Includes “TAX TRAX” unique mini-financial planning reviewwith rec- ommendations. Full planning available. Get the most from your financial dollar! Financial Forecasts Inc., Barry B. De Marr, CFP, EA, 3918 Prosperity Ave. #230, Fairfax, VA 22031 Tel: (703) 289-1167. Fax: (703) 289-1178. E-mail: finfore@aol.com ROLAND S. HEARD, CPA 1091 Chaddwyck Dr. Athens, GA 30606 Tel/Fax: (706) 769-8976 E-mail: RSHEARDCPA@bellsouth.net • U.S. income tax services • Practiced before the IRS F IRST C ONSULTATION F REE WWW . ROLANDSHEARDCPA . COM PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: $1.25/word (10-wordmin.) First 3 words bolded free, add’l bold text $.75/word, header, box, shading $10 ea. Deadline: 20th of the month for publica- tion 5 weeks later. Ad Mgr: Tel: (202) 944-5507. Fax: (202) 338-6820. E-mail: miltenberger@afsa.org