The Foreign Service Journal, November 2006

O ne of the insights I have gained fromserving on theAFSA Board is how much Congress dominates the lives of retirees. Your annuity, benefits, cost of living and rep- utation are in the gentle hands of Congress. Another insight I’ve gained is that many AFSA members are not aware of the association’s efforts and successes on their behalf onCapitol Hill. We recently had to bid a sad farewell to Legislative Affairs Director Ken Nakamura, who leaves AFSA after years of out- standing service to the organization and to the Foreign Service. (He has taken a position at the Congressional Research Service.) I would like to share with you Retiree Representative Gil Sheinbaum’s notes from the farewell ceremony. “On Sept. 14, the AFSAGoverning Board, four former AFSA presidents, AFSA staff, the Department of State’s director gen- eral and other guests paid tribute to Ken Nakamura who, for over 11 years, was AFSA’s point person on Capitol Hill.” Now don’t turn us off here — these notes are about why active-duty FS employees and retirees shouldbecome and remain AFSA members! “The evening was about how a single mem- ber of the AFSA staff — Ken Nakamura — the first full-time legislative affairs staff member for AFSA, made the most of his job by getting to know intimately howCongress functions and, in turn, how to cultivate key members of Congress. He knew how to win their assistance and support for legislation impor- tant to the Foreign Service, whether it involved funding, secu- rity of FS personnel, training, improving living andworking con- ditions abroad or helping when we face retirement from the Service. Basically, the indefatigableKen always worked to spread the word to our representatives on the Hill that our personnel are smart, well-motivated towork for our country and absolute- ly loyal, and that the Foreign Service itself is a unique and high- ly qualified organization indispensable in the conduct of the for- eign affairs of our country. “One former senior official at Ken’s farewell lamented that it is too bad the StateDepartment’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs was not up to the same standard as AFSA’s efforts on the Hill. [In all fairness, the bureau has many different responsibilities, and everyone knows that the Pentagon’s contingent on Capitol Hill, by comparison, is far more extensive, can offer more incentives and is very well-funded.] To active-duty members of the Foreign Service, and retirees as well, our bread-and-but- ter issues are those mandated by or resolved by congression- al action. “One key issue has been locality pay, enacted more than a decade ago, whichdisadvantages our personnel serving abroad. After intensive efforts by Ken and many others over the years, that aberration may soon be corrected. Ken was also among those responsible for amending Virginia’s constitution so that those Virginians living abroad for several years because of their job could still vote in state and local elec- tions. The constitution had required a person to both have a residence and be in abode in order to vote inVirginia’s state and local elections. Another success was his work with theMilitary Coalition and theMilitary Officers Association of America, to push for an amendment to the tax code (now in effect) regarding the waiver of the tax on capi- tal gains resulting from the sale of a principal residence. Prior to the change, many Foreign Service personnel found they could not waive the capital gains tax, because they had spent toomany years abroad and fell outside the residency requirements. “AFSA has two roles to play for its members: as our pro- fessional association, stressing the need to continue and enhance the widely-recognized high standards of the Service; and as the bargaining unit formost American Foreign Service employees. What happens on Capitol Hill is vital to maintaining our high standards in recruitment, performance and morale. Ken has worked closelywith department officials in establishing our cre- dentials on the Hill. “Hats off toKenNakamura for his accomplishments—and also to the AFSA membership that supports these efforts and lets its congressional representatives know how they feel about life in our cherished profession.” The torch has been passed to our new director for legisla- tive affairs, Ian Houston, and I ask you to support the contin- uing fight for your benefits and reputation. We need to increase AFSA’s retiree membership, which is the lowest percentage of anyAFSAconstituency. After amultiyear effort, State nowallows retirees to have their membership dues deducted from their annuity. Ask us for the forms. We need to encourage retirees tomake their presence known. You’dbe surprisedhowmanymembers of Congress and staffers, both in Washington and your local district, don’t know they even have Foreign Service constituents. Yet retirees reside in every state and probably every congressional district. Contacting your representative or senator’s office, whether inWashington or locally, doesn’t require commenting on spe- cific legislation or a foreign policy issue. It just means inform- ing your representative that he/she has a Foreign Service con- stituent whowas proud tohave served in the front lines of defense for the American people. Finally, consider bringing that pride to Washington, D.C., and join us for AFSA’s Day on theHill, scheduled forMay 2007. Joinus andmeet your representatives and senators, as American citizens and former Foreign Service employees. AFSA—Your Voice, Your Advocate. V.P. VOICE: RETIREES BY DAVID REUTHER AFSA on the Hill A F S A N E W S NOV EMB E R 2 0 0 6 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 85