The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2017

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA FAS VP. Contact: mark.petry@fas.usda.gov or (202) 720-2502 FAS VP VOICE | BY MARK PETRY AFSA NEWS Looking Forward In my final VP column, I want to look ahead to the Foreign Agricultural Ser- vice that I hope to see in 10 years. I believe that FAS has a bright future representing the Department of Agricul- ture and the U.S. govern- ment on important global issues—not only food trade, but also land use, food security and climate. I think that we must do better at imagining and embracing our potential, rather than focusing on what we are against. One of our best assets is our tight-knit community. To sustain ourselves as a healthy workplace, we need to keep our small-town feel. I strongly believe that our FAS Foreign Service community will not thrive without the willingness to pitch in and selflessly give our time or assistance when our friends and colleagues need help or must change plans unexpectedly. We can not and should not expect to always be immediately rewarded, but our com- munity remembers and is willing to extend a hand to those who have done their part in the past. While we are currently vexed by poor personnel decisions made in the past, I feel that we can move past them. Experienced officers who take up the challenges caused by past leadership decisions will deserve the right to lead our ranks and to shape excellent new offi- cers, who will undoubtedly have to take difficult stretch assignments. During this time, the real challenge will be to exhibit leadership in an agency already dangerously close to being overwhelmed by the Civil Service. We must sharpen our mission focus. Technology and evolving cooperator dynamics are quickly chang- ing the types of services that we need to provide. We must be vigilant in ensuring that we are serving our constituents in the best way possible. We should continue to fine-tune our unique combination of inherently government func- tions with the value-added market services that benefit our industry and make us unique. Our first opportunity is apparent. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Per- due recently announced his intention to follow the congressional recommenda- tion to reorganize USDA to include a trade under sec- retary. At its best, a force- ful person in this position can bring USDA a greater focus on trade and greater voice inside the agency as a whole. While most aspects of this are out of our control, it is a great chance to show our value and influence the future of our agency. Moving forward together as one community, FAS will remain a great place to work and serve our country. n April Minutes: On behalf of the Minutes Approval Commit- tee, Retiree Representative Ambassador (ret.) John Limbert set forth the minutes of the April 5 Governing Board meeting. There were no amendments from the board. Scholarship Donors: The Governing Board reviewed a pro- posed Memorandum of Understanding for new scholarship donors. State Representative Ramon Escobar moved that the MOU be returned to the Executive Committee for further review. The motion was approved. Position Description: State Vice President Angie Bryan moved that the Governing Board approve the revised position description for the State vice president to include supervision of the AFSA general counsel and Labor Man- agement staff. The motion was approved. Retiree Coordinator: Retiree Vice President Ambassador (ret.) Tom Boyatt moved that the Governing Board approve the creation of a new Retiree Outreach Coordinator posi- tion. The motion was approved. Committee on Elections: Committee member Curt Whit- taker gave a report on the AFSA election cycle to date. Outreach to Agricultural Communities: FAS Vice President Mark Petry gave a report on the steps AFSA is taking to reach out to agricultural communities and inform them of the work the Foreign Service does and how it affects them. n AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, May 3, 2017 52 JULY-AUGUST 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL