The Foreign Service Journal, November 2007

NOV EMB E R 2 0 0 7 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 61 lyhowtohandle, and fund, amajorAFSA- HQ renovation. The initial debate inside AFSA concerned whether to renovate the existing spaceor tobuildup fromthe three- story footprint to create space that could be sold or rented to outside parties. Experts were hired, committees were formed and countlessmeetingswere held. In the final analysis, the numbers did not point to a guaranteed profit that would make addingnewfloorsworth the cost and the risk. There was also much debate about whether to add an elevator to the building, a costly proposition. AFSA’s legal counsel and staff stronglyurged the inclusionof the elevator, not only for the convenience of the staff—whopitch indaily tohaul boxes ofmagazines,mailings andpamphlets, even copy machines and other equipment and furniture, up the three flights of stairs — but for visiting members, many of whom are advanced in years. Liability concerns were also highlighted. The elevator was approvedand is included in the plans. The renovatedbuilding, unlike the current one, will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Governing Boardmet on Sept. 19 in a special session to consider the recom- mendations from the Finance and Audit Committeeonthe reconstructionplans and budget. Votes were taken on which con- struction company to select from three viablebids, andonhowto fund the $2-mil- lion project. The board agreed to take the first million from the AFSA reserve fund, whichwas created for just such a purpose. The board is still considering options for the secondmillion, but will likely decide to borrow, at market rate, from the scholar- ship fund. As the voice of the Foreign Service, AFSA needs an improved face. The new building will be a more welcoming place not only for thosewhowork inside, but for members and visitors as well. AFSA will be open for business throughout the con- struction,withsome staffmembers andoffi- cers working out of temporary offices in Rosslyn and others telecommuting. The Labor-Management Office in theTruman Building (MainState) will remain open. TheAFSAe-mail sys- temwill remainoper- ational throughout, and all employees will access their ac- counts from outside the headquarters building. The temporary AFSA-HQoffice is located at State Annex SA-15, 1800 N. Kent St., Arlington, Va. Thankyou for your patienceduring the renovation. A F S A N E W S Renovation • Continued from page 55 Photos: Shawn Dorman