Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
M A G A Z I N E
*
The Winds of
26 Generosity
Embassy helps community after typhoon and fire.
*
International
32 Women’s Issues
Empowering women strengthens democracy.
*
ON THE COVER
The idyllic South Pacific Islands face
the same globalization growing pains
as other developing nations.
Photograph by Corbis
* Post of the Month:
SUVA
South Pacific Islands Abound
with Challenges and Charms.
20
14 Bermuda Impact 30 Shores of Tripoli
Post practices successful public diplomacy on a New embassy ushers in a new era.
shoestring.
36 Portable Careers
16 La Paz Leadership Agency cooperation lets eligible family members
Reaching out to Bolivia’s future leaders. fill employment needs.
COLUMNS
2 FROM THE SECRETARY 42 MEDICAL REPORT
PLUS >>> A Farewell to Charms + State Honors Life and Legacy of Benjamin Franklin
+ FSOs Needed—To Complete Job Survey + State Uses Web to Clear and Track Grants
+ Foreign Affairs Day Set for May 4 + Free Equipment Leads to First-Class Fitness
Center + A Little Help Goes a Long Way in Rwanda + CFC Donations top $2 Million +
Marine Reunion to Honor Tehran Captives + Warsaw Reaches Out to Families in Crisis
A FAREWELL TO CHARMS
The U.S. Embassy in Belize City, with 76 years of rich history, had born in the building between 1931 and 1942. Consuls’ families lived
long been touted as the “last wooden embassy”—until November, there as late as 1980.
when a new embassy building opened its doors in Belmopan, the The second floor later served as offices for the ambassador and
capital of Belize located 55 miles inland. deputy chief of mission.
The Belize City embassy building was erected in 1866 in New The structure has withstood extensive damage. Water from Hur-
England and then, along with a few other buildings, knocked down ricane Hattie in 1961 was more than 12 feet deep—up to the
and sent as ballast in freighters to Belize City. The building was second floor; mud from Hurricane Greta in 1978 was more than a
reassembled there and served as a home to P.W. Shufeldt, a promi- foot deep.
nent U.S. citizen, until 1930 when the U.S. purchased it. But local wildlife has caused the most destruction. During con-
The first U.S. consul who worked there, G. Russell Taggart, was struction of the consular unit, a crocodile was found living under
the victim of a tidal wave in 1931. He was swept out to sea and his the embassy, and termite mounds more than six feet tall were found
body was never recovered. The first vice consul, Culver Gidden, within the walls.
married Shufeldt’s daughter, and the family lived on the second floor Columns have been replaced, exterior stairs built and a consular
while business was carried out downstairs. Six Gidden children were unit added, but the charm of the building has remained.
FSOS NEEDED—
TO COMPLETE JOB SURVEY State Uses Web to Clear
How can a Foreign Service
officer influence who gets hired
from the last (1997-98) job
analysis. Among other things,
and Track Grants
and promoted and the content these officers identified what is The State Department plays a key role in
of Foreign Service Institute new about the work and what research grants allocated to foreign recipi-
training courses? knowledge, skills and abilities ents by the National Institutes of Health.
Many FSOs may not realize are needed to perform it well. In 2005, the NIH spent nearly $700
that the knowledge and skills Many FSOs have already partic- million in grants that involved more
tested by the Foreign Service ipated in this phase. than 130 countries through collabo-
examination and oral assess- The results are being used to rative research between U.S. and
ment, the precepts used by develop Phase 2, an online foreign scientists. The Department’s
selection boards and the courses survey that each FSO will be role is to facilitate communication
offered by FSI—to name a few asked to fill out, with specific between NIH’s Fogarty International
examples—are based on infor- reference to his or her current Center and overseas posts to review
mation collected in a “job position. The answers will research programs and ensure consis-
analysis.” provide precise measurements tency with the foreign policy objectives of
A job analysis is a systematic of what tasks are actually per- the United States.
procedure for collecting infor- formed and what knowledge A new system makes that process easier. In
mation on what employees do and skills are truly needed to the past, the Fogarty Center transmitted each request
in their jobs and the knowledge, perform in each FSO position. to posts by cable for foreign policy clearance. Now the center
skills and abilities required to The survey should be avail- has migrated to a Web-based Foreign Tracking System, which
do the jobs. It is, in effect, a able in March and will take allows for faster clearance through embassies and acts as a
snapshot of Foreign Service about an hour to complete. A database, allowing for easy tracking of foreign NIH-funded
generalist work. sufficient number of FSOs must research by NIH, State and embassies.
A job analysis has been con- complete the survey for the The Department and the Fogarty Center first tested the
ducted by State about every results to be usable. Given the system with three posts (London, Ottawa and Rome), then
decade over the last 50 years. importance of the job analysis expanded the system to 27 others. As of January 1, all posts
One is underway right now. to various human resource have started to use the new FTS.
Every FSO will have the oppor- functions, the Director General For more information on the FTS see http://www.fic.
tunity to provide input. requests that all FSOs complete nih.gov/news/fts/fts.html. The Office of International
In Phase 1 of the job analysis the survey. Health Affairs in the Bureau of Oceans and International
update, groups of FSOs across Don’t miss this chance to Environment and Scientific Affairs is the point of contact
different career tracks reviewed influence the hiring, training in the Department.
the task and knowledge lists and promotion process.
Rob Wiley
The Marine Embassy Guard Asso-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ciation will hold its annual reunion
April 26–29 at the Marriott Fairview Bill Palmer
WRITER/EDITOR
Park Hotel in Falls Church, Va.
This year, the association will celebrate its Jennifer Leland
10th anniversary and honor those who served in the Tehran Marine Security WRITER/EDITOR
Guard Detachment who were held captive from Nov. 4, 1979 to Jan. 20, 1981. David L. Johnston
Foreign Service and State Department personnel are invited to attend. For ART DIRECTOR
more information, contact reunion chairman Tom Butler at 212-734-7668 or
butler_dugan@msn.com.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Annette R. Cocchiaro
Reaches Margot A. Sullivan
Out
to Families State Magazine (ISSN 1099–4165) is pub-
lished monthly, except bimonthly in July
Bermuda Impact
Can a small post with no history of Hamilton completed more than 100 PD trumps news about even highly nega-
public diplomacy to speak of and no budget projects and raised the post’s profile and the tive international events.
to start actually conduct an effective PD overall respect for the U.S. role in Bermuda • Use the portfolio matrix concept and
program? to levels not seen in many years. partner extensively. Avoid the “No Go”
Hamilton, Bermuda, is a small post that quadrant, focus on “Piggyback PD” and
faced those same drawbacks, but it has Keys to Success undertake “Partnership” projects only
proven that innovation, dedication and dis- Hamilton found four simple keys to a when partnering with like-minded
cipline can overcome most obstacles. When successful PD program. organizations. Effective partnerships
Consul General Gregory Slayton arrived in • Appoint an LES member as PD special- dramatically leverage PD reach and
La Paz Leadership
REACHING OUT TO BOLIVIA’S FUTURE LEADERS BY VALERIE O’BRIEN
Bolivia is a diverse country with more section and a fluent Aymara speaker to Priority Outreach
than 30 different indigenous groups, includ- monitor and translate radio programs in The public affairs section’s top priority in
ing Aymaras and Quechuas who live in the rural communities for the public affairs Bolivia is to reach out to indigenous and
high plains and valleys of the Andean region. section. Similarly, the U.S. Agency for Inter- youth audiences in all its public diplomacy
PHOTOGRAPHS: (ABOVE): ROLANDO DEL VILLAR; (OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT): ARTURO CABRERA;
While indigenous and mestizo Bolivians national Development had been targeting programs. As part of this strategy, PAS pro-
make up around two-thirds of Bolivia’s pop- the lion’s share of its development assis- posed and received Bureau of Educational
ulation, they have long been excluded tance efforts to the indigenous poor for and Cultural Affairs funding for a four-
politically, socially and economically. many years, from support for microfinance week Study of the U.S. Winter Institute, a
The past few decades have seen a rise in and increased access to justice to greater program that introduced the students to the
indigenous people’s political and cultural engagement of indigenous microenterprises history and culture of the U.S. and provided
consciousness and increased demands for a in high-value export chains. them with leadership training. The program
greater share in the country’s economic and USAID developed an inclusion initiative took place in January 2006 in Amherst,
natural resources. In December 2005, Boli- in 2005 designed to diversify its workforce, Mass., and Tucson, Ariz. Fifteen indigenous
vians elected their first indigenous launched an indigenous internship university students, all from underprivi-
president, Evo Morales Ayma. program, provided Aymara language train- leged backgrounds, from across Bolivia were
It was in this social and political context ing for staff and expanded public outreach selected to participate in the program.
that the U.S. Mission in La Paz decided to to activities with indigenous communities. In addition to gaining new perspectives
intensify its search for innovative ways to The Department of State requested and and a deeper understanding of U.S. culture
(RIGHT): CARMEN J. ARZE
engage indigenous audiences, especially obtained post language grant funding from and democracy, the students also developed
young people. The mission had already the Foreign Service Institute to initiate a strengthened desire to work for change in
begun reaching out to indigenous groups Aymara language classes. Some American their own country. To sustain the momen-
several years ago when it hired an Aymara officers and Locally Employed Staff are cur- tum from this positive exchange
advisor for the economic and political rently enrolled in Aymara classes. experience, the U.S. Embassy in La Paz
offered the students scholarships to study U.S. Though the U.S. embassy environment ties and support alternative development in
English and implemented an indigenous was markedly different from that of the Bolivia. The interns said they felt privileged
internship program for alumni of the Bolivian public sector, in many ways the real to have had the chance to get an inside
exchange program. challenge was not in adapting to the Ameri- view of the embassy and USAID, since
Three Aymara students from rural areas cans, but in overcoming the negative most Bolivians are unaware of what the
near La Paz took part in the internship stereotypes held by other Bolivians in the U.S. Mission actually does.
program. Ruben Hilari worked in the man- mission. Management Counselor Kimberly “I was amazed to learn that USAID has
agement section, Fernando Villca interned DeBlauw and USAID/Bolivia Director so many programs in Bolivia and how
in the public affairs section and Olga Marina Michael Yates championed the internship much the U.S. is doing to help us,” said one
Cruz joined the narcotics affairs section. program as a way to begin bridging the deep USAID intern.
USAID’s also launched a similar intern- cultural gaps between indigenous and non- Yates notes that “the interns are now
ship program, which included the indigenous Bolivians. anxious to share their very positive experi-
participation of six Aymara university stu- “Local staff served as mentors for the first ences working with the U.S. Government
dents. Panfilo Montesinos and Policarpio time, and as such, acquired new skills as well not only with their home communities, but
Apaza works on alternative development as insights from the interns on ways to more broadly.” The public relations benefits
issues; Joel Mendizabal works with the eco- improve embassy and USAID programs,” could be important, especially as this
nomic opportunities office on income- said DeBlauw. “The experience has been program expands.
generating activities; Aurelia Montesinos invaluable for all.” All sections came away satisfied and
assists the food security unit; Jhony Quispe The nine embassy and USAID interns agreed that they benefited greatly from the
supports the democracy team; and Severo quickly formed part of their respective contributions and unique perspectives the
Vargas works with the health team. Panfilo, teams despite some initial concerns. Several interns brought to their work. One LES
Policarpio and Aurelia were all selected to interns said the experience surpassed all mentor working in PAS noted that insights
participate in the PAS Winter Institute expectations. Not only did they learn about offered by the PA intern helped the section
program in January 2007. the various management and foreign assis- fine-tune its programs and materials so it
tance functions, NAS eradication and drug could more effectively reach out to indige-
Cultural Gaps prevention efforts, USAID development nous audiences; USAID mentors working
The embassy internships recently con- programs and PAS public diplomacy pro- with the food security and health interns
cluded, and the three embassy-sponsored grams; they also took computer and English made similar comments.
students presented a brief report to the classes, assisted with PAS book donations in Given the success, the U.S. Mission will
entire mission on what they learned from various cities, visited USAID projects, likely continue the internship programs.
their experience. All three said they were attended official receptions and took part in USAID says it is definitely continuing the
impressed with the high standards, profes- a variety of other mission activities. program and is expanding it to implementa-
sional ethics and collegial work environment In addition to the practical and profes- tion partners. ■
at the embassy. sional skills they acquired, all learned
One of the interns said every time he much about U.S. efforts to strengthen The author is the cultural affairs officer at the
entered the embassy, it was like going to the democracy, expand economic opportuni- U.S. Embassy in La Paz.
“Windows on America”
Ever since their arrival in August 2005, Mission’s public diplomacy sections. encourage lasting relationships between
Ambassador William R. Timken and his Ambassador and Mrs. Timken hope that the American and Muslim German youth.
wife Sue have made it a priority to reach program will encourage more positive views
Prior Engagements
This “Windows on America” group is
building on several years of engagement
efforts with Muslim groups in Frankfurt’s
consular district. This year’s Iftaar recep-
tion hosted by Consul General Powell
and attended by Ambassador and Mrs.
Timken was well received by the Muslim
community.
Army Chaplain Abdul-Rasheed Moham-
Above: Ambassador Timken, right, and U.S. Army chaplain Abdul-Rasheed Mohammad greet a guest
at an Iftaar hosted by Consul General Powell in Frankfurt. Below: Ambassador and Mrs. Timken look mad led the prayer. Before the Iftaar,
at a picture at the opening of the exhibit on American mosques. Ambassador Timken and CG Powell
opened an exhibition about American
mosques at the Frankfurt City Library’s
international branch, located in the Gallus
district where many Muslims and other
people with immigrant backgrounds live.
This exhibit, which has since traveled to
several other cities in Germany, shows new
audiences the diversity of Muslim life in
America and the successful integration of
Muslims in the U.S.
Since the successful completion of the
pilot projects in Duesseldorf and Berlin,
“Windows on America” has expanded into a
nationwide program. In addition to the
girls’ group from Frankfurt, public diplo-
United States, as well as lasting contacts chapter of the Turkish-Islamic Union of the macy staff members are planning projects
with their new American friends. Institute for Religion (Ditib) thanked the with groups across Germany and anticipate
“This project has given me a new per- Consul General for her visit and expressed a sending approximately 100 students per
spective of the U.S., and it has forced me to strong interest in contacts with the Muslim year on this program.
reevaluate my beliefs and prejudices about community in the United States. Major German and American corpora-
the U.S,” said one German student. The visit not only attracted attention in tions have responded positively to the
Efforts are now underway to organize a the German media, but the Turkish daily Timkens’ initiative by contributing more
fourth group of students for the “Windows Hürriyet (60,000 circulation for the Euro- than $250,000 to the effort to date. The
on America” program, this time in Frank- pean edition) also carried a story on demands of organizing a program of this
furt with a focus on a girls-only group that December 12 about the visit and the scale are more than offset by the rewards:
appeals to families of more conservative efforts to organize a “Windows on the visible difference this program makes in
backgrounds. Frankfurt Consul General Jo America” group. the lives of the students and a greatly
Ellen Powell visited the Ulu Camii Mosque The idea for a girls’ group evolved out of improved image of the U.S. among young
near Frankfurt in December to meet with a roundtable for Muslim women leaders Muslims in Germany. ■
students and interested parents. The chil- hosted by Mrs. Timken and CG Powell in
dren were very interested in hearing about September 2006. Special requirements for Scott Rauland is the public affairs officer in
America and asked Ms. Powell numerous the host families will be considered, and Frankfurt; Ruth Anne Stevens is the assistant
questions about the United States and her two female Muslim chaperones will accom- cultural affairs officer in Berlin and coordina-
personal life. The chairman of the Frankfurt pany the group. tor of the “Windows on America” program.
PHOTOGRAPH: CORBIS
Suva
South Pacific Islands Abound
With Challenges and Charms
By Heidi Gibson
When they hear the words “South Pacific,” many people visual- compete in an era of globalization without the advantages of
ize gleaming white beaches with swaying palms, World War II economies of scale or convenient location.
Marines fighting across islands inch by inch, scantily clad tribes or With the expiration of the World Trade Organization Agree-
even Rossano Brazzi singing “Some Enchanted Evening.” ment on Textiles and Clothing in 2004, Fiji’s textile industry
What they probably don’t visualize is Suva, Fiji, a commercial largely collapsed. Fiji’s other traditional export earner, sugar, is
and governmental center and a town with considerable charms. also struggling. Tourism, though, is a winner, so long as there is
The U.S. Embassy in Suva, with 19 direct-hire Americans, political stability.
including the Peace Corps and Defense Attaché offices, has The U.S. has been a strong advocate for democratic values
responsibility for all U.S. relations with five countries—Fiji, Kiri- throughout the Pacific, but the road has been bumpy in Fiji, with
bati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu—plus consular and defense four coups in 20 years. The most recent was last December, when
responsibilities for France’s Pacific territories. the military commander grabbed presidential powers. That act
The geography spans five million square miles, a huge swath of triggered tough international sanctions, including by the U.S.
ocean speckled with mostly small islands and plenty of scenic Abroad, the Fiji military has a more positive record, having con-
vistas, plus diverse cultures and challenging work. tributed over many years to peacekeeping operations around the
In the opinion of many, the greatest strengths of Fiji are its world, including in the Sinai and with the United Nations in Iraq.
friendly people and laid-back atmosphere. In an area where the
usual foreigners are “Aussies” or “Kiwis,” Americans are a bit of a A Growing Hub
novelty. It is impossible to go anywhere without receiving Fiji has long been a crossroads for the Pacific, and its popula-
PHOTOGRAPHS: U.S. EMBASSY IN SUVA
beaming smiles and friendly greetings of “bula,” which means tion is a blend of Melanesians (like Papuans) and Polynesians
hello. Life is casual. At official functions, men wear Hawaiian-style (like Hawaiians). Suva, with a population of around 100,000 plus
shirts. Locals refer to the relaxed pace as “Fiji time.” perhaps another 200,000 in nearby squatter settlements, hosts a
large number of regional and international organizations.
Small Fish, Big Pond The embassy is similarly developing into a regional hub. Last
Although many of the Pacific Islands look like picturesque out- summer, the Department established an environmental hub for the
posts that the modern age has bypassed, they face issues similar to Pacific in Suva. Fisheries, climate change and conservation of bio-
those other developing nations face. They are struggling to diversity are all issues of vital importance to the region and to the
Typhoon Milenyo,
known internationally as Xangsane, was the strongest
tive difference through volunteerism and
charitable donations. USEC supports eight
charities in the metro Manila region, from
orphanages to the ever-popular Project
Smile.
storm to hit Manila in more than a decade and passed USEC President Christiane Armstrong
directly through the Philippines’ capital on September was faced with an immense challenge: With
28, 2006. The city was turned into an impassable maze so many needing help in the wake of
Typhoon Milenyo, where could the club be
of uprooted trees, downed power lines, flooded roads most effective? The answer was soon clear,
and damaged buildings. With torrential rains and gale- as USEC volunteers found when they
PHOTOGRAPHS: CHRISTIANE ARMSTRONG
force winds of more than 100 miles per hour, the visited the Buting Bridge slums.
Constructed along rivers, railroad tracks,
typhoon was blamed for 179 deaths and nearly $120 dumps and government land, Manila’s slum
million in damage throughout the country. communities are the center of urban
poverty in the country. Living in homes
As the U.S. Embassy began disaster Kristie A. Kenney also wanted to reach out built of cardboard, tin, discarded lumber
response for the mission community, many to suffering Filipino communities. She and tarps, residents are at the mercy of all
of whom were without power, telephone turned to the U.S. Embassy Club, a commu- types of natural disasters, as well as devas-
and water for several days, Ambassador nity service organization composed of tating fires.
Immediately after Typhoon Milenyo, a Buting Bridge children as students. fire victims, who were staying at a tempo-
portion of a slum community located Although USEC’s mission with Trichet rary shelter. The 27 families who had lost
around and under Buting Bridge in usually supports its work with children everything in two back-to-back tragedies
Makati—just minutes from many embassy afflicted with autism, cerebral palsy and were thrilled to receive the bags of donated
homes—burned down. Twenty-seven fami- Down’s syndrome, it was clear that the goods, including everything from canned
lies were suddenly homeless; the few embassy community’s help was most food to hygiene products to children’s
possessions they had been able to save from urgently needed to help the families of clothes.
the typhoon were now lost forever. Buting Bridge get back on their feet. The volunteers toured the fire-ravaged
Trichet Learning Center, one of the chari- USEC engineered a two-day drive at the neighborhood. They were amazed at the
ties supported by USEC, counts many embassy and the Seafront residential com- devastation, but even more awed by the
pound to collect an everyday living conditions of Manila’s slum
impressive amount of dwellers. The homes left standing are
canned food, rice, cramped, dark and stifling. A standard
clothes and toys from living space for a family of as many as 10
embassy employees— people is about 8 x 8 feet, with walls made
both Americans and of found supplies such as cardboard. Furni-
Locally Employed ture is rare and women cook on small
Staff. Even though portable stoves. School attendance is unreli-
many families were able, as many children are sent to work
staying with friends or begging in the streets, and adult unemploy-
in hotels after their ment is high. It was clear that the donations
own homes were would be put to good use in Buting Bridge.
damaged or flooded, “Milenyo caused a lot of damage to many
they returned home to of our homes,” Armstrong said. “But every-
sort through their one immediately looked past their own
closets and cupboards problems to help those more in need. What
to find goods and sup- a great way to show our Filipino friends that
plies to donate. Americans at the embassy really care.” ■
USEC volunteers
brought the donation The author is an Employed Family Member
to the Buting Bridge at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
In 1932, the global economy sputtered and Germany, Italy October sailing season. She can accommo-
date 15 passengers, and a 160-horsepower
and Japan had begun the machinations that would again General Motors diesel engine propels her to
plunge the world into war. The newly minted Republic of speeds of up to 15 knots.
Turkey, led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was transforming
Manifest Destiny
itself from Ottoman remnant to modern, Western state. The Hiawatha’s most important role
And in Istanbul, then still the capital, a graceful, 50-foot remains representational, however. Three
motor launch called the Hiawatha began plying the waters U.S. ambassadors and 27 consuls general
of the Bosphorus. She continues to this day. have proudly served as her custodians
through the years. Many have fond memo-
Now the longest-running ship on the the embassy to Ankara, Ambassador Sherrill ries of notable guests and adventures
Bosphorus, the Hiawatha has become donated the Hiawatha to the U.S. govern- aboard the vessel. Some of the VIPs treated
PHOTOGRAPHS: U.S. CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
a potent symbol of Turkish-American ment. For a period, she was included in the to Bosphorus cruises include first ladies
relations and our committed presence in consulate’s motor pool and crewed by con- Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton
the region. sulate staff. (1953 and 1999, respectively), General
Constructed of teak and mahogany with Long operated by a private contractor at Douglas MacArthur (1932) and NATO
brass fittings by the American Car and no cost to the U.S. government—her Supreme Commander General Dwight
Foundry Company in Wilmington, Del., in upkeep is underwritten by American busi- Eisenhower (1952). The passenger manifest
1922, the Hiawatha was brought to Istanbul nesses—the Hiawatha is managed by the has sparkled with artists such as the great
by its first owner, Ambassador Charles H. consulate general’s employees association American writer James Baldwin, ground-
Sherrill. At the conclusion of his tour in and may be rented by members and affili- breaking composer Philip Glass and
1933, and with the move of the capital and ates for excursions during the April- renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly.
Adding a further star turn to the federal budget cuts in 1987 (when then- structural, drive train and safety upgrades
Hiawatha’s lore, in 1975 Consul General Consul General William E. Rau said he likely are required.
Howard P. Mace took her to Imrali Island in would sell her over his dead body), Last November, the Hiawatha was taken
the Sea of Marmara to visit American the Hiawatha faced her gravest challenge to a dry dock facility in Tuzla, southeast of
inmate Billy Hayes. Upon arriving at the in 1989. Istanbul, thanks to the generosity of Turkish
quay, he was informed that Hayes—whose Early on the morning of Dec. 6, the industrial magnate, sailor and longtime
experiences formed the basis of the 1978 leftist terrorist group “16 June,” well aware Hiawatha admirer Rahmi Koc.
film “Midnight Express” (screenwriter of the Hiawatha’s significance as an emblem It is the sincere hope of current and
Oliver Stone subsequently apologized for its of U.S.-Turkish amity, firebombed her at former employees of the U.S. Consulate
scurrilous depiction of Turks and her moorings in Kurucesme, a historic General in Istanbul, and of all those who
Turkey)—had escaped earlier that day. neighborhood on the Bosphorus not far have had the privilege and pleasure of
More recently, the Hiawatha has borne from the consul general’s official residence. viewing the Bosphorus and Golden Horn
Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia, Although much of her superstructure was from her deck, that the Hiawatha again will
Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader severely burned, the Hiawatha remained be restored to prime condition, ready to
Ginsberg, as well as a host of Congressional fundamentally sound and—following a thrill future generations of Americans and
representatives. four-month renovation—returned to Turks as an enduring envoy of friendship in
The Hiawatha’s original captain, Naci service in May 1990. the storied city where East meets West.
Bey, remained at the helm for more than With her classic profile and plucky char- The ongoing, vital assistance provided
five decades until his retirement in 1986. acter, the Hiawatha has continued to inspire by corporate sponsors will help realize
ship spotters in Istanbul and imitators who that hope. ■
Budgets and Bombs have constructed replicas. However, with
Saved by the consulate’s employees asso- fourscore-and-five years of cruising to her The author is a vice consul at the U.S.
ciation from being sold in the wake of keel, she is showing her age. Significant Consulate General in Istanbul.
Shores of Tripoli
New Embassy Ushers in a New Era By Rafik Mansour
An Afghan woman casts her vote in a women’s polling station in southern Afghanistan.
International
Women’s Issues
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY BY EMPOWERING WOMEN BY JENNIFER LELAND
PHOTOGRAPHS: (ABOVE): ELIZABETH DALZIEL/AP; (OPPOSITE PAGE): JENNIFER LELAND
According to the United Nations Development Fund for ed and empowered women are vital to democracy—and impor-
Women, most of the world’s 1.3 billion “absolute poor” are tant for the development of all countries.”
women. On average, women receive 30 to 40 percent less pay than Created by Congressional mandate in 1994, State’s Office of the
men for the same work. And everywhere, women continue to be Senior Coordinator for International Women’s Issues serves as the
victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence cited as sig- focal point within the federal government for the integration of
nificant causes of disability and death. women’s issues into broader U.S. strategic, economic and diplo-
Despite such inequality, there is a growing awareness that peace matic goals.
and social progress require the active participation of women. As “We are ramping up our focus on global women’s issues,” says
First Lady Laura Bush said, “No society can prosper when half of Deborah Emmert, senior advisor for the Broader Middle East and
its population is not allowed to contribute to its progress. Educat- North Africa. “IWI is the loudspeaker to make sure women’s
From left, Andrea Bottner and part of the IWI staff: Kenya Kyler, Kathryn Kargman, Valerie Keitt, Penny Rechkemmer, Deborah Emmert and Orna Blum.
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, women have stayed out of power and have been prevented from
left, joined then-Iraqi State Minister for Women’s Affairs Narmin Othman obtaining leadership positions, so they have very little experience
in 2004 to kick off the Iraqi Women’s Democracy Initiative. with and no knowledge of leadership.”
In February and March of 2006, IWI sponsored a delegation of
Political and Leadership Training Iraqi women leaders, including newly elected members of the
This mission directly affects the welfare not only of women, but Council of Representatives and heads of nongovernmental organi-
of whole societies. “Women account for half of the population,” zations, to participate in the U.N. Commission on the Status of
says Bottner, “so democracy rings hollow if half of the population Women and International Women’s Day events. The women also
is isolated.” shadowed members of Congress and took part in state and local
Portable Careers
Agency Cooperation Through creative manage-
ment, the Department’s Office
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
and OPM combined resources
nership. They hired 18 overseas
EFMs as DS special investiga-
Lets Eligible Family of Personnel Security and Suit- to allow the processing of secu- tors who directly contribute to
ability and the Office of rity clearances overseas to faster security clearance inves-
Members Fill Personnel Management have proceed faster, more efficiently tigations.
Employment Needs forged an alliance that exempli- and at reduced cost. The DS and OPM entered into a
BY NANCY SERPA
AND PHIL LUSSIER
Despite exten-
sive press coverage
about “pay for per- In 2003, the Office of Personnel
formance” for the Management instituted govern-
Senior Foreign ment-wide “pay for performance”
Service or Senior guidelines to implement legislated
Executive Service, we senior pay reform. In the 2004 rating
get a surprising number cycle, members of the SES and SFS
of questions from became subject to performance-
employees about how based pay adjustments. This meant
the senior pay system no more time-in-grade-based step
works. So we decided increases, fixed pay scales and annual
to make this effort to COLAs. Instead, all senior pay
explain the system increases are based entirely on per-
in simple terms. formance. People who do not receive
an evaluation get no pay raise at all.
PHOTOGRAPH: CORBIS
From 2004 to 2006, pay adjustments were $15,000 cash awards and/or SFS members motion into the senior ranks, the Wash-
made in two parts: a base pay adjustment promoted from FE-MC to FE-CM. ington locality rate is permanently
based on Congressionally-approved increas- They received a 5.7 percent increase (the incorporated into salary. Pay raises for
es to the Executive Schedule in January and Executive Schedule increase plus 4 percent) new OCs are effective the first pay
an additional performance-based adjust- in 2007. period after promotion is attested by
ment in April. For 2007, OPM mandated The chart below summarizes the criteria the President.
that all pay for performance adjustments be for the six performance tiers and the associ- • Some basic pay caps apply. OC basic
made in January to align more closely with ated pay increases for 2007. pay is capped at 102 percent of EX III
the end of the performance rating period.
This year, the two-step adjustment was com-
bined into one pay raise effective the first Senior Pay for Performance System (Summary)
pay period in January (and payable in the
February 1 paycheck).
SES and SFS performance-based salary Tier SFS Criteria SES Criteria Pay Adj. CY 2007
increases are based on similar criteria. Pay Pay Increase
adjustments are made on a six-tier scale,
with Tier I being the highest increase and I $15K, $12.5K ‘Outstanding’ Rating Tier V +4% 5.7%
Tier VI the lowest (no increase). SFS Performance Pay and (Presidential
Bonus, Promotion to Award, or $15K, or
members for whom the summer selection
CM $12.5K Performance
boards recommend no pay adjustment or Pay Bonus)
members who are involved in investigations
of wrongdoing are Tier VI employees and II $10K Award, or ‘Outstanding’ Rating Tier V +3% 4.7%
get zero pay adjustment. SES employees who Promotion to MC and $10K Award
are rated “unsatisfactory” or have ongoing
III Reviewed by Remaining Tier V +2% 3.7%
investigations are also in Tier VI. In both
Performance Pay ‘Outstanding’
services, when the investigation is complet- Board (approximately Summary Rating
ed, salary increases may be restored if the 60%)
employee is not disciplined or reprimanded.
In Tier V are SFS members who were not IV N/A ‘Exceeds Tier V + 1% 2.7%
recommended by selection boards for sub- Expectations’ Rating
sequent consideration by performance pay
V All others performing All others performing Adjustment to EX 1.7 %
boards (about 40 percent of the SFS). They
at fully successful at ‘Fully Successful’ or if no change to
received a pay adjustment equal to the level not otherwise level not otherwise EX, equal to the
Executive Schedule increase. In 2007, that disqualified disqualified adjustment to the
increase was 1.7 percent of base pay. Tier V GS exclusive of
also includes SES members who received locality pay
“fully successful” performance ratings.
VI Open Investigation/ Open 0%
Tier IV comprises SES members who
Referral to Investigation/Referral
received a rating of “exceeds expectations,” Performance to Performance
but did not receive a summary rating by the Standards, no rating Standards, no rating
Performance Review Board of “outstand-
ing.” There is no equivalent to Tier IV in
the SFS system.
Tier III employees receive the Executive A couple of points of clarification: ($157,692 in 2007); MC pay is capped
Schedule increase plus two percent (a 3.7 • Payment of performance pay cash at 107 percent of EX III ($165,422); and
percent increase in 2007). These are SFS awards to members of the Senior CM pay is capped at EX II ($168,000).
members who are reviewed by the perform- Foreign Service is limited by law to 33 SES members must have a summary
ance pay boards but do not receive cash percent of the SFS. The SES does not rating of “outstanding” by the PRB to
performance pay awards, and SES members have a statutory limit, but generally be paid above the EX III level
who receive an “outstanding” summary hovers around 50 percent. SES members ($154,600) and are capped at EX II
rating from the SES PRB but do not rank do not have promotion opportunities ($168,000).
high enough to receive a cash award. within the senior salary band. Additional information and pay calcula-
Tier II includes SES and SFS members • Promotees within the SFS no longer get tion examples can be found at the HR/RMA
who rank high enough to get a $10,000 cash a pay raise effective on the date their website http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/prd/
award and/or (for the SFS) are promoted promotion is confirmed by the Senate hrweb/rma/compensation.html. ■
from FE-OC to FE-MC. They received the and attested by the President. Instead,
Executive Schedule increase plus three they get January pay adjustments. Those Nancy Serpa was, until February, director of
percent (or 4.7 percent) in January 2007. promoted into the SFS receive a six the Office of Performance Evaluation; Phil
Tier I pay adjustments are reserved for percent increase in their FS-01 base pay Lussier is director of the Office of Resource
SES/SFS members who received $12,500 or (not including locality pay). Upon pro- Management and Organization Analysis.
STEPPING
<<< OUT
PHOTOGRAPHS: (ABOVE): CORBIS; (OPPOSITE PAGE): TRISHA MARKS
History Lesson
BANGKOK CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY AND SUPPORTS CHARITY BY HELEN LYNCH
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has a long employees and their families but also to proceeds from these events should go. This
tradition of celebrating Black History the community at large. year, the funds will be donated to Bangkok
Month with a number of activities through- This year's Black History Month was Emergency Shelter for Minors and Women.
out February. These celebrations highlight kicked off with an evening at a local hotel To encourage members of the mission to
the accomplishments and contributions of where guests listened to the smooth sound learn more about black history, questions
black Americans in different fields. of Eldee Young, who plays the double bass. are published in the weekly newsletter,
PHOTOGRAPHS: U.S. EMBASSY IN BANGKOK
The embassy has a dedicated group of The support from the embassy commu- About Bangkok, for several weeks. During
volunteers that has worked diligently to nity has grown every year, as evidenced by Family Day this year, participants competed
plan exciting events for Black History the strong participation and increasing in an exciting game of Black History Jeop-
Month for the past several years. Activities sums of money raised. This year's bake sale, ardy. Winners took home prizes and a
have included a basketball tournament, a with Embassy families donating baked better knowledge of the history of black
dinner and dance cruise, a golf tourna- goods, was a great success. Ticket sales were Americans. ■
ment and a family day. The family day very strong for all of the events.
event, which includes food and entertain- Each year the Black History Month Com- The author works in the Community Liaison
ment, is open not just to Embassy mittee decides on a charity to which the Office at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.
*
Security Apr May Length
MQ911 SOS: Security Overseas Seminar 9, 23, 30 14 2D
Mandatory Courses
MQ912 ASOS: Advanced Security Overseas Seminar 16 8, 22 1D
FS-3/GS-13
PK245 Basic Leadership Skills Foreign Service Life Skills Apr May Length
MQ104 Regulations, Allowances and Finances in the
FS-2/GS-14 Foreign Service Context 25 2D
PT207 Intermediate Leadership Skills MQ107 English Teaching Seminar 14 2D
MQ111 Making Presentations: Design to Delivery 16 3D
FS-1/GS-15
PT210 Advanced Leadership Skills MQ115 Explaining America 24 1D
MQ116 Protocol and the U.S. Representation Abroad 21 19 1D
Managers and Supervisors MQ203 Singles in the Foreign Service 25 2.5 H
PT107 EEO Diversity Awareness for MQ703 Post Options for Employment & Training 31 1D
Managers and Supervisors
MQ802 Communicating Across Cultures 4 1D
Newly promoted FS-OC/SES MQ803 Realities of Foreign Service Life 13 1D
PT133 Senior Executive Threshold MQ852 Personal Finances and Investment 11 2.5 H
Seminar MQ854 Legal Considerations in the Foreign Service 23 2.5 H
MQ856 Traveling with Pets 18 2.5 H
MQ916 Save Overseas Home 2 2.5 H
Senior Policy Seminars
FSI’s Leadership and Management
School offers professional development and Career Transition Center Apr May Length
policy seminars for senior-level executives RV101 Retirement Planning Seminar 17 4D
of the Department and the foreign RV103 Financial Management and Estate Planning 19 1D
affairs/national security community.
RV104 Annuities, Benefits and Social Security 18 1D
For more information contact FSI’s
Leadership and Management School at
(703) 302-6743, FSILMS@state.gov or Length: H = Hours, D = Days, W = Weeks
http://fsiweb.fsi.state.gov/fsi/lms.
Willie D. Hobgood,
82, a retired Civil Service employee, died
Jan. 12 at her residence in Alexandria, Va. Joyce Bernice “Judy” Munske,
She joined the Department in 1962 and 76, of Fairfax, Va., a retired Civil Service employee, died recently of
served in the Bureau of African Affairs and respiratory complications due to pneumonia and polio. She worked
the former Bureau of Equal Employment for 25 years as a photo editor with the U.S. Information Agency.
Opportunity. She retired at the end of 1979. Throughout her life, Although wheelchair-bound most of her life, she traveled abroad,
she was active in church affairs. was an active volunteer and was active in her church. She was a
scuba diver, ham radio operator and dog lover.
* retirements
FOREIGN SERVICE >>>
Adair, Vicki L.
Alter, Bernard
Ammerman, Alan B.
Haran Jr., Thomas F.X.
Harris, Bonita G.
Hasman, Melvia A.
O’Neal, Molly L.
Ortblad, Dennis J.
Parker, Anita E.
CIVIL SERVICE >>>
Brown-Williams, Gloria J.
Buckbee, Betty
Campen, Tomoko T.
Johnson, Gail Regina
Lewis, Eugene J.
Pollard, Carol L.
Bazala, Sylvia J. Hill, Lawrence N. Parson, Ronald Scott Cleveland, Lillian A. Savoy, Ernell B.
Beck, Maria Del Rosario Holbrook III, Morton J. Peterson, Paul T. Frazier, Pamela L. Watson, Dan S.
Becker, Daniel C. Hucke, John Pillman, David C. Frye, Darlene F. Williams-Fleming,
Benedict, Gloria K. Jenkins, Henry M. Rogers, Paul Hokenson, Kathryn B. Carolyn
Brown, Norman C. Littlefield, Charles L. Salmon, Sandra J. Jackson, Frederick H. Zylman, Jon G.
Burnside, William Lubow, Richard E. Scott, John F.
Crisp, Florence Medley Lunstead, Jeffrey John Sheppard, Florita Indira
Derrick, Steven M. Maher, Peter Francis Smyth, Janice S.
Durnell, Kevin W. Maisto, John F. Stewart, Ann Wells
Eastham, Terry Robert Marek, James A. Suarez, Jaime
Evans, John M. Maybarduk, Gary H. Tulenko, Timothy Andrew
Fiffick, Paul F. McKune, Elizabeth Weller, Anthony R.
Garland, Elaine L. Miller, David Richard Whitney, John L.
Glassman, Deborah Mohanco, John Wigle Connors, Marilyn
Glatz Jr., Charles L. Moseley, Katharine P. Wilczynski, Alec
Greenlee, David N. Mulenex, David Wayne Williams, Penelope Ann
Hamilton, Jerry Norvell, Yolanda
COMING IN APRIL
• Dusty-Road Diplomats
• ART in Embassies: Iceland
• ART in Embassies: Kuwait
• The World’s Newest Nation
... and much more! Questions? Comments?
statemagazine@state.gov
MAR.2007
e
Ma n Af mbe
y 4 fai r
, 2 rs
00 Da
7 y
WHO>WHAT>WHEN>WHERE
U.S. Department of State PERIODICALS
Bureau of Human Resources POSTAGE AND FEES
Washington, DC 20520 PAID
DEPARTMENT
OF STATE
ISSN 1099-4165
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use