The Foreign Service Journal, December 2006

DE C 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 65 A F S A N E W S A s you read this, the Foreign Agricultural Service will already have flipped the switch to implement the long- overdue reorganization. This is an exciting time for those of us inWashington as we attempt to make the reorganized FAS function as we envision it. For staff sta- tioned overseas there will be less adjustment. The “new” FAS permits development of an overall USDA country/regional strategy to focus efforts andmonies on the same policy goals. For years we have bemoanedmissed policy opportunities: nowwe should be able to take full advantage of themwith coordinated responses across the agency. Most FAS FSOs worked on — or provided valuable input into — the reorganiza- tion to address our concerns. It surprises me how the reorganization magnifies the differing work attitudes and perceptions held by FAS employees fromour twomain personnel systems. FAS FSO comments focused on how tomake the reorganization better for all employees. Most FAS overseas posts are now regional in nature, sowe work in virtual offices within our region with our computer and cell phone. This work experience influenced reorga- nization comments expressed along the lines of, “just giveme a computer and a phone and I can figure out how to work anywhere.” Many of our Civil Service colleagues, on the other hand, asked career-focused ques- tions about the reorganization, such as: “Exactly what will I be doing?” “What are my career advancement opportunities?” “What if I don’t enjoy my work?” “Where/when can I change positions?” While developing program area work strat- egy, the civil servants seemedmore concerned about how activities and responsibil- ities wouldmeshwith the other programareas (whowould actually dowhat?), while the FSOs’ basic approach has been to figure things out over time. This reminds me of something Senior Executive Servicemember Richard Schroeter said 15 years ago, when he was assistant administrator for international trade policy: “I try to fill half ofmy (90-member) staff with FSOs: you guys just need a task, any task, and are happy to go off and do whatever is necessary to get the job done.” I believe these differing work attitudes, concerns and perceptions of employees in our two personnel sys- tems combine to make FAS a much better agency, covering all aspects of the reor- ganization to be more responsive and to better serve our customers. As overseas postings loom, a few of us reluctantly contemplate the task of address- ing the procedure for assigning returning FSOs toWashington-based positions. This year’s Summer Placement PlanmatchedFSOs topositions inabiddingprocess inmuch the sameway theywere done prior to the establishment of theWashingtonPlacement Plan. Now is the time to provide us your guidance and ideas on these two assignment systems and possible alternatives. FAS/AFSA remains without a vice president to lead upcoming contract negotia- tions. Currently, a group of FAS AFSA advisers picks up many of the tasks normally handled by the VP. FAS needs one person to handle and effectively coordinate these various tasks. If you are interested in filling the vice president position, please contact me at roberto.curtis@fas.usda.gov , or call AFSA Executive Director Susan Reardon at (202) 338-4045, ext. 505. V.P. VOICE: FAS BY ROBERT CURTIS, FAS REPRESENTATIVE A Reorganized FAS The System and You: A Successful Outcome We are pleased to report that the prob- lem described by Kenya Owens in the first edition of the feature “The System and You” has been resolved in his favor. In “A Housing Loss” ( AFSA News , September), Owens explained how he and his wife, both Foreign Service specialists but assigned to different training facilities, were penalized for sharing lodging during training, even though they were married and it saved the government money. Owens recently let us know that the vouchers have been recalculated, and it was determined that a mistake was made. He has been reimbursed for the difference. He tells AFSA News , “When I originally asked about challenging this, I was led to believe that the decision from the travel claim technician and/or the supervisor was final. The only reason I contacted AFSA was in an attempt to identify this to other couples so they did not potentially make the same mistake that we did. It is pretty daunting to think that if I had decided not to e-mail AFSA, the claim would have never been reviewed.” The lesson? It can pay to question something that just seems wrong. Share your story of a struggle inside the bureau- cracy with Journal readers by sending your submission (300-500 words) to dorman@afsa.org . Inside Embassy for the Holidays: 5 for $45 AFSA is offering a holiday discount on purchases of five or more copies of Inside a U.S. Embassy. This book is a great gift for family, friends and contacts who may not understand what the Foreign Service is and how an embassy works. Go to www.afsa.org/inside for more information and to order, or call (847) 364-1222. Send questions to embassybook@afsa.org. AFSA NEWS BRIEFS