The Foreign Service Journal, December 2003

8 $)6$ 1(:6 ‡ '(&(0%(5 The Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide is seek- ing nominations for the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. One U.S. government direct-hire employee or family member from each of the six geographic bureaus of the State Department will be selected to receive the award. The awards will be presented at Foreign Affairs Day in May. The award recognizes outstand- ing volunteers in one or more of the following categories: excep- tional service to the community, outstanding activities directed toward the host country and exceptional service in emergencies. It is time to consider nominating someone from your region. Nominations are due Feb. 2 and can be sent by e-mail to AAFSW@starpower.net; by fax to (202) 362-6589; or by mail to the AAFSW office at 5125 MacArthur Blvd., N.W., Suite 36, Washington, DC 20016. For more information, e-mail AAFSW or call (202) 362- 6514. The nomination should not exceed three printed pages and should follow the following format: Nominee’s name; agency and posi- tion (if nominee is a family mem- ber, the name, relationship to the direct-hire employee and the employee’s position and agency); nominator’s name, agency, posi- tion (or family relationship) and description of association with the nominee; and justification for the nomination. Questions: e-mail aafsw@starpower.net. USAID Mission Directors Conference JimKolbe, R-Ariz., Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Foreign Operations, spoke at the October USAID Mission Directors Conference inWashington, D.C. AFSAmem- bers should find his remarks about USAID and foreign aid in general interesting reading. The full text of the speech can be found at www.usaid.gov/press/speeches/2003/sp031009.html. AFSA NEWS BRIEFS New to the AFSA Congressional Web Page AFSA has expanded its congressional Web page (www.afsa.org/congress.cfm) to include a much wider range of resources for visitors with legislative questions. Visitors to the site can now track important legislation rele- vant to the Foreign Service as it moves through Congress, gain an overview of top issues, review AFSA’s legislative agenda, and read AFSA’s congressional testimony. We have also provided more resources for contacting Congress, learning about con- gressional committees and leadership, and understanding the legislative process. We encourage you to visit this page to learn more about legislative issues of interest to the foreign affairs community. OPEN SEASON REMINDERS Thrift Savings Plan Open season for the Thrift Savings Plan ends on Dec. 31, so if you want to open an account or change your contribution amount, do it soon! Reallocation of contri- butions to the individual funds from salary may now be done at any time. To make a change, submit a TSP-1 Election Form to your bureau personnel office or submit it using Employee Express at www.employeeexpress.gov. FS members over age 50 are reminded to consider the TSP catch-up provision which allows them to contribute an extra $3,000 in 2004, up from $2,000 in 2003. The additional contribution can be made by filling out form TSP-1-C. For this form, and for more information on the TSP open season, go to www.tsp.gov/curinfo/index.html. The next open season runs from April 15, 2004 through June 30, 2004. Health Insurance The Federal Employee Health Benefits open season for 2004 runs until Dec. 8, or 31 days from the date materi- als are received at post, whichever is later. (Retirees have until Dec. 31.) Members are also eligible to change plans following the occurrence of a “qualifying life event” such as marriage or changing employment status. More infor- mation on the FEHB can be found at www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp. Long TermCare Insurance Open enrollment period for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program runs through Dec. 31. The decision about whether to enroll is a complicated one and depends on your individual needs. AFSA urges members who decide to enroll to research the options offered through the federal government program and look at other options as well to find the best program and price. The OPM Web site contains information about LTC insurance at www.opm.gov/insure/ltc. Ce rtified LTC insurance consultants are available to answer questions at the toll-free number: 1-800-LTC-FEDS (800-582- 3337). Information is also available at www.ltcfeds.com. The Web site offers online applications and an interac- tive calculator to provide customized price quotes. The AFSA Web site also has information on LTC insurance at www.afsa.org/retiree/ltc.html. The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is administered by Long Term Care Partners, LLC, a joint venture company between John Hancock Life Insurance Company and MetLife, the country’s largest carriers of group long term care insurance. AAFSW Seeks Nominations for Outstanding Volunteers