The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007

54 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / DE C EMB E R 2 0 0 7 A F S A N E W S AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Staff: Executive Director John Mamone: mamone@afsa.org Business Department Controller Twee Nguyen: nguyen@afsa.org Accounting Assistant Jon Reed: reed@afsa.org Labor Management General Counsel Sharon Papp: papps@state.gov Labor Management Attorney Zlatana Badrich: badrichz@state.gov Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: yorkej@state.gov Grievance Attorneys Neera Parikh: parikhna@state.gov and Holly Rich: richhe@state.gov Office Manager Christine Warren: warrenc@state.gov USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: dbroome@usaid.gov USAID Office Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: asigfusson@usaid.gov Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: hedrick@afsa.org Representative Cory Nishi: nishi@afsa.org Web-site & Database Associate: vacant Administrative Assistant Ana Lopez: lopez@afsa.org Outreach Programs Retiree Liaison Bonnie Brown: brown@afsa.org Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: switzer@afsa.org Congressional Affairs Director Ian Houston: houston@afsa.org Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: tracy@afsa.org Scholarship Director Lori Dec: dec@afsa.org Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger: berger@afsa.org Elderhostel Coordinator Janice Bay: bay@afsa.org AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org FSJ: journal@afsa.org PRESIDENT: naland@afsa.org STATE VP: kashkettsb@state.gov RETIREE VP: pamichko@aol.com USAID VP: fzamora@usaid.gov FCS VP: donald.businger@mail.doc.gov AFSA News Editor Shawn Dorman : dorman@afsa.org (202) 338-4045 x 503; Fax: (202) 338-8244 On the Web : www.afsa.org/news How to Contact Us: Governing Board: PRESIDENT: John Naland STATE VP: Steve Kashkett USAID VP: Francisco Zamora FAS VP: Vacant FCS VP: Donald Businger RETIREE VP: Robert W. Farrand SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris TREASURER: Andrew Winter STATE REPS: Oscar DeSoto, David Firestein, Jim McRea, Nick Pietrowicz, Margaret Riccardelli, Sandy Robinson, Daphne Titus, Andrea Tomaszewicz USAID REP: Michael Henning FCS REP: Stephen Anderson FAS REP: Vacant IBB REP: Al Pessin RETIREE REPS: Harry Geisel, David Passage, Herman Cohen, Howard Jeter Seeking “Family Member Matters” Submissions We are looking for Foreign Service family members to write about issues relating to life and work in the Foreign Service for our occasional feature, Family Member Matters. An honorarium of $100 is paid for submissions that we publish. Please send your 400- to 600-word essay to FSJ Associate Editor Shawn Dorman at dorman@afsa.org . There is no dead- line; this is a standing call for submissions. FS Retirees: You’re Needed in Iraq As the Foreign Service faces its fifth rotation into Iraq, the number of active-duty members with Arabic-language skills who have not already gone there is declining. While the active-duty contingent has been stepping up to the plate in large numbers, with more than 2,000 volunteers for Iraq over the past four years, there is no question that this con- tinuing effort is putting a strain on our ranks. Thus, AFSA encourages FS retirees with Middle East expe- rience, particularly those with Arabic-language skills, to con- sider serving in Iraq. The large and growing U.S. mission in Baghdad and the expanding Provincial Reconstruction Teams around the country have numerous positions that seasoned, qualified FS retirees could fill. Indeed, many retirees have already served there with distinction. There are various ways to be hired for temporary duty to Iraq. The salaries, above and beyond your pension, can be lucrative. Obviously, there are also substantial risks. For more information, please contact Tony Spakauskas in State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA/SCA/EX) at spakauskasA2@state.gov . Money for College: Apply by Feb. 6 Apply now for AFSA Academic and Art Merit Awards as well as need- based Financial Aid Scholarships. The deadline for application is Feb. 6, 2008. More than $150,000 will be awarded to over 75 deserving students from the Foreign Service community. Go to www.afsa.org/scholar/ for the eligibility requirements and applications, or contact Scholarship Director Lori Dec at (202) 944-5504 or 1 (800) 704-2372, ext. 504. Life in the Foreign Service BY BRIAN AGGELER