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Email FLO – flo@

[pic]EMPLOYMENT

The Network – Receive DC area job postings via email and find other job search resources on the FLO webpage.

PIT Buyback Program Guidance and Instructions on FLO’s Internet website: .

[pic] INFORMATION & RESOURCES

FLO Publications on the Internet may be found at

[pic] FS FAMILY MEMBERS

Job Seekers Network Group supports the DC area job seeker. Calendar-

[pic] FS Direct Subscriptions

To subscribe, please use the following links:

Internet:

Intranet:

Via AAFSW: Visit the FLO area of the AAFSW web site at and click on FLO newsletters.

FS Direct is also available on the FLO Internet web site at

2007 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season Soon Ends

By Paula S. Jakub, RHU

Vice President, American Foreign Service Protective Association

There was quite a pleasant surprise when the 2007 FEHB premium rates came out. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reported the average premium increase in 2007 for employees and retirees enrolled in the FEHB Program is 1.8%, the smallest rate increase in more than a decade. About 78% of enrollees will have a premium increase of less than 5%. Again this year, the Government will pay an average 72% of the premiums – not a bad deal for the excellent, comprehensive benefits available in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (see ).

The new FEHB premiums will take effect in January 2007. FEHB Program enrollees who have Self-Only coverage will pay an average of $1.34 more bi-weekly, while those with Self and Family coverage will pay an average of $3.13 more bi-weekly.

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program remains a model for health care delivery systems throughout the country and, indeed, the world. Among the many reasons are:

• Choice of 284 health plans (up from 279 in 2006)

• Competitive benefit packages

• No pre-existing condition limitation

• Eligible retirees and spouses are covered

2007 premiums (bi-weekly) for selected plans:

| |2007 Bi-Weekly Employee Premium | |

|HEALTH PLAN | | |

| |Self Only |Self and Family |

|BCBS Standard |$57.30 |$134.30 |

|FSBP |$50.72 |$138.22 |

|GEHA Standard |$33.28 |$75.62 |

|GEHA High |$94.59 |$192.85 |

|Mail Handlers Standard |$48.68 |$106.39 |

|Mail Handlers High |$172.06 |$340.36 |

Some things to look for in some of the 2007 FEHB Plans:

• Transparency in Healthcare pricing and quality

Plans will work to make information available on the cost of services delivered by various providers. In addition, plans will work to make available information on the performance of doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers. Access to provider pricing will help enrollees understand the true cost of their healthcare, allowing them to become better consumers. Patients will be able to know, by procedure or type of illness, which hospitals, physicians and other providers meet established, industry-accepted quality standards.

• Health Information Technology, (HIT)

Plans will work toward making personal health information, including medical, lab and prescription drug histories, available to their enrollees. Enrollees also can obtain up-to-date drug information and check generic pricing. The use of this health information technology will allow the employees to make better-informed decisions in selecting their health plan.

• Promotion of more cost-effective (generic) prescriptions

Generics are chemically and therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name drug. The Food and Drug Administration must approve all generic versions of a drug and assure that they meet strict quality, strength and purity standards. The main difference between a generic and its brand-name drug is the cost of the product (far cheaper than its brand-name equivalent). Almost every plan will address generics in one way or another next year.

Each year the individual plans of the FEHB Program offer enrollees a benefit package with comprehensive coverage at a good, reasonable premium, especially with the government’s 72% contribution. Since plans vary in the changes, it is important to know what your particular plan is doing for 2007. As in previous years, we encourage you to read carefully Changes to this Plan in Section 2 - How we change for 2007 when you receive your 2007 plan brochure.

Do not rely on premium costs alone to make your health plan decision. Things like extra deductibles and plan allowances for services, especially overseas, could end up costing you extra money. Customer service and global coverage are of paramount importance for employees and their families serving in foreign countries.

Open Season runs from now through December 11, 2006. The effective date of a change in health plan and premiums is the first day of your first full pay period in January 2007.

Dental and Vision Coverage

OPM will be offering, for the first time, dental and vision coverage. The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is available to Federal employees eligible for the FEHB and annuitants (regardless of FEHB status). OPM has contracted with several domestic insurance carriers to make supplemental dental and vision benefits available to the population. There are four Nationwide and three Regional dental carriers from which to choose. Most plans will pay 100% with no deductible for preventive care (Class A). The coinsurance (cost-share) varies for the other three classes – intermediate, major and orthodontic. Additionally, three vision plans will be available. The premiums will vary by plan and by enrollment type (Self, Self+One, Self and Family).

Three important things to note:

▪ These are all voluntary plans, meaning the individual can decide whether or not to buy coverage. Most people who buy dental coverage know very well beforehand that they will use the benefits. Utilization or claims will affect the plans’ premium.

▪ The individual will pay 100% of the premium. Unlike the FEHB, where the Federal government pays approximately 72% of your premium, each member will pay the full dental premium without any subsidy.

▪ The decision to buy voluntary dental insurance should be entered into with prudence. If you are considering a voluntary dental plan, examine whether the plan, any plan, is a good financial option. If you use a dentist only for annual exams/cleanings, paying a monthly premium for a dental plan is not a good choice. On the other hand, if you require more extensive dental care, i.e. root canals, crowns and bridges, then a dental plan may be worth the money.

Open Season for the FEDVIP will coincide with the FEHB Open Season, now through December 11, 2006. Enrollment will take place through the secure BENEFEDS web site . You cannot enroll through the FEHB Program.

This is your Open Season. Make the best of it!

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[pic] Education and Youth

Do Your Homework!

There are many factors to consider when deciding on bids for future assignments. An important consideration is appropriate educational opportunities for school age children.

1. Check the websites of the Overseas Briefing Center and the Office of Overseas Schools. Check on whether the post has a school considered adequate at the grade levels of your children. Whether a school is “adequate” is a determination based on a school having a US type curriculum, no religious affiliation and a number of other factors. A school may be a good choice for your child even if it is not considered “adequate.” If there is not an adequate school or children are not allowed at post for security reasons, a boarding school allowance is provided. Home schooling is also an option.

2. Contact the CLO at the post and/or the school itself to obtain additional and most current information on the educational options and services. Please contact the Family Liaison Office at (202) 647-1076 or email flo@ for CLO contact information.

3. If you have a child with special needs you MUST work closely with the Employee Consultation Service in the Medical Division. Your child will be cleared to go to a post only if appropriate educational services are available.

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[pic] Support Services

Working through Personal Setbacks

By Naomi Ritchie, FLO’s Crisis Management and Support Officer

Winter can be a time of high anxiety for the Foreign Service family, as word of a promotion or next assignment is awaited, family members at home are missed over the holidays, and the college kid decides to skip a visit to post.

While waiting word on the next assignment, we may spend our time imagining ourselves being selected for one of our top choices. It’s a bit like applying to college; we send in our application in the early fall, hoping for an “early decision” so we can relax and enjoy the rest of our tour, but usually don’t hear until the spring! Sometimes we are delighted with the assignment; sometimes we are disappointed. This year, the bidding process has changed. Many are wondering how the changes will impact their families.

For those of us who are experiencing the first few months of a new tour, we are adjusting to our new lives and may find ourselves hitting a low point on the cultural adaptation curve. Past experience tells us that this is only temporary phase, but the discomfort we feel remains.

Besides bidding, promotion angst, adjustment to post, and holiday blues, winter brings other challenges. One challenge may be worrying about our elderly parents at home as they face winter weather and the health risks associated with the season. It is important to stay in close contact over the Internet or telephone, hoping they make it through the winter without catching the flu.

Bouncing Back

So, how can we help ourselves better manage a setback or disappointment quickly and with less pain? A recent edition of Better Homes and Gardens offers some great tips. The article, “Smart Ways to Bounce Back,” suggests doing the things that make you feel better first. Follow up by taking a good look at what you have learned through engaging in positive activities. To help recover from a temporary set-back or a period of the blues:

1. Exercise. Start a new and fun activity like tennis or salsa dancing.

2. Laugh. Laughing releases endorphins, the natural painkiller (rent a funny movie).

3. Be creative. Creativity diverts negative energy (play an instrument, set up a treasure hunt for the community to learn the culture highlights of your post, cook/bake using the local ingredients).

4. Spoil yourself. Splurge on a massage or spend time doing your favorite thing (cry if you need to, but don’t allow yourself to wallow in it).

5. Volunteer. Find an organization at post that will benefit from your helping hand, your energy, your skills, and your time.

Once you have had a chance to reflect on your disappointment or experience it is time to begin again:

1. Do not blaming yourself; avoid “negative self-talk.”

2. Keep perspective by looking at what has just happened as an isolated incident; do not let it spill over into other areas.

3. Look for the lesson learned and remember that life is an unfolding process.

4. Stay focused on your strengths and accomplishments.

5. Look at the options you have available in the future so that you can move forward with a positive attitude.

Look not only to your family, but to your friends when seeking help to cope with disappointments and to move forward. Friends will offer different perspectives, giving you a completely different take on your situation. The article mentions five personality types. Who among your friends fits the following categories?

1. The “chicken soup friend,” who is great at providing sympathy.

2. The “comedian friend,” who is great at making you laugh.

3. The “coach friend,” who gives you the ole pep talk when you are ready to get going again

4. The “CEO friend,” who helps you to develop your new action plan.

5. The “celebration friend,” who is always there to help you celebrate your successes.

At post, visit the CLO or Health Unit for support, encouragement and a list of local resources. Most importantly, remember, you will get through it!

[pic] Training

From FSI: Foreign Language Resources in the DC Area

In addition to the language self-study materials available through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), there are a number of online and self-study resources available to Department employees and family members who reside in the Washington, D.C. area. The following is an excellent list of language resources available through public libraries in the area.  This information is also available on the FSI Library’s webpage on FSI Web at

 

There are many libraries throughout the U.S. with similar links for legal residents of those areas. Be aware that many local libraries have reciprocal privileges with other area libraries; check with your local library for their policy.

 

The following public library systems located throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area offer foreign language programs:

 

Alexandria - Multimedia language programs available for check-out. Downloadable language programs are also available through Net Library.  Alexandria Library  

 

Arlington - Multimedia language programs available for check-out. A variety of audio language-learning programs from Pimsleur are available as a part of their downloadable audio books from Recorded Books and Net Library. Select eAudiobooks from the ‘Get It Done Online’ box on the Arlington Library homepage.

 

DC - Multimedia language programs available for check-out. DC Library 

 

Fairfax - Multimedia language programs available for check-out. Downloadable language programs also available through Overdrive and Net Library.  Fairfax County Libraries  

 

Falls Church - Multimedia language programs available for check-out. Mary Riley Styles Public Library, City of Falls Church, Virginia.   

 

Frederick - Multimedia language programs available for check-out. Downloadable language programs available through Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium and Net Library.  Frederick County Public Libraries

 

Loudoun - Pimsleur audio books available for download through NetLibrary. Multimedia language programs are available for check-out.  Loudoun County Library

 

Montgomery County- Rosetta Stone Foreign Language Online Access Downloadable language programs also available through Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium and Net Library. Multimedia language programs also available for check-out. Montgomery County Library

 

Prince George's - Downloadable language programs available through Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium and NetLibrary.  Multimedia language programs are also available for check-out.  Prince George's County Library

 

Prince William - Multimedia language programs available for check-out.  Prince William County Library

 

Takoma Park  - Multimedia language programs available for check-out.  City of Takoma Park Library

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FSI's Rosetta Stone Now Available for DOS Employees Based in the U.S.

This Fall, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) announced the purchase of passwords to Rosetta Stone, a commercial foreign language learning software which provides access to 28 foreign language resources.

 

First priority for the passwords was given to Department of State employees and their eligible family member spouses serving abroad.  FSI has issued hundreds of passwords and is now processing requests from the domestically-based Department of State Foreign Service employees and their spouses and Civil Service Employees who have a job-related need for language ability.

 

The Rosetta Stone resources are training aids, and are not considered as substitutes for formal, mentored training--but rather as resource and learning materials to supplement formal curricula.  They can provide an excellent way to build basic language skills and review key vocabulary.  Since the Rosetta materials are self-guides, they are not officially recorded on personnel records or official transcripts. 

 

Each password is good for 90 days, which, depending on the number of interested applicants, may be extended. For individuals who have not opened the materials for 30 days or more, we may reassign the password.

 

For a complete listing of languages, please visit . The entire library is available on the FSI LearnCenter, FSI’s Internet-based learning management system, which allows for 24/7 access from any Internet connection.

 

To enroll, visit and click on "Apply Now." The DS-755 will automatically route through the usual approval process (Bureau training officers or if in connection with an assignment, HR Career Development Officers). If the Foreign Service employee’s spouse is not employed by State, the employee may complete the DS755 on behalf of the spouse. The system automatically fills in the space for the supervisor, with the Distance Learning Coordinator's information; the employee’s Career Development Officer would approve as Training Officer.

 

For information on FSI's other formal distance learning language courses (which are mentored and do result in official credit) please visit the following link .

 

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OBC Online Post Information

The Anecdote to Stressed-out Spouses and Impatient Employees!

Bidding season is here… make sure you access ALL of the resources available to you.

Employees:

• Go to the NEW Overseas Briefing Center Electronic Post Boxes. E-mail files home with the click of a button – definitely worth a few seconds of your time! (Check the “PPI” box to provide your better half with the best information.)

• Fill out a Personal Post Insight survey on your current post—and check out what people are saying about your fantasy future.

• Visit the extensive links in OBC’s Country Information section. Be sure to research pet travel regulations, schools, and more, in addition to focusing on your career-enhancing rise to the top.

Access all of these resources via the OBC intranet site: , click on “Overseas Briefing Center.”

Family Members:

• Remind your spouse or partner to send you documents from the Electronic Post Boxes, including Personal Post Insights.

• If you are married to a slow learner, make a trip to the embassy or consulate yourself and use the intranet kiosk to access the Electronic Post Boxes and Personal Post Insights. You will feel SO much better once you have lots and lots of information…

• Take maximum advantage of Internet resources, including OBC’s links at .

MED log-in = user name: statedept, password: 4re$ted.

Culture Grams log-in = user name: OBC, password: countries.

"OBC...Be in the know before you go!"

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Take Note

Call for AFSA Award Nominations

AFSA is requesting your help in publicizing our annual awards program. Our purpose is to recognize and honor those individuals and family members who are serving overseas, often at great risk or hardship, for their loyalty, courage and dedication to the highest ideals of the service.

Information on nomination procedures and guidelines are on the AFSA website: , and in the AFSANEWS section of the December 2006 Foreign Service Journal. Your help in spreading the word at your post and encouraging nominations is invaluable in keeping this program vibrant and strong. It is critical that we demonstrate the importance of intellectual honesty, integrity and courage to challenge the system from within, as well as highlight the extraordinary contributions to professionalism, effectiveness and morale made by our OMSs, CLOs, and family members.

The procedures for nominating someone for one of the constructive dissent awards are outlined below. The criteria are the same for each of the four awards offered:

▪ The Tex Harris Award for Foreign Service Specialists;

▪ The W. Averell Harriman Award for junior officers (FS 6-4);

▪ The William R. Rivkin Award for mid-career officers (FS 3-1);

▪ The Christian A. Herter Award for senior officers ( FE OC-CA).

The nomination should include the following:

▪ Part I—the name of the award for which the person is being nominated; the nominee’s name, grade, agency and position.

▪ Part II—the nominator’s name, grade, agency and position, and a description of the association with the nominee.

▪ Part III—the justification for the nomination. This narrative should discuss the actions and qualities which the nominator believes qualify the nominee for the award, giving specific examples of accomplishments that fulfill the criteria stated in the previous paragraph. Part III should not exceed 700 words.

The constructive dissent awards are not for performance of assigned duties, however exceptional. Submissions which do not meet the above criteria of initiative, integrity and intellectual courage which contributes to constructive dissent, as determined by our judges and the Awards & Plaque Committee, will not be considered.

All winners receive a monetary award of $2, 500 and a framed certificate and are honored at a reception in late June at the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room. The Secretary of State is invited to participate in the ceremony.

AFSA also offers three awards recognizing exemplary performance of assigned duties or voluntary activities at an overseas post that demonstrate extraordinary contributions to effectiveness, professionalism and morale.

▪ The Delavan Award acknowledges the work of a Foreign Service Office Management Specialist who contributes significantly to post or office effectiveness and morale.

▪ The M. Juanita Guess Award is presented to a Community Liaison Officer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, initiative and imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving abroad.

▪ The Avis Bohlen Award recognizes the accomplishments of a family member of a Foreign Service employee whose relations with the American and foreign communities have greatly advanced U. S. interests.

The M. Juanita Guess Award was first awarded in 1995, and was established by Clements & Company to honor Community Liaison Officers for their valuable work in assisting Foreign Service members, their families and the local embassy community with a multitude of issues regarding relocation and living overseas. Their efforts have contributed dramatically to improving the lives of Foreign Service communities worldwide, and AFSA is proud to recognize their achievements. The work of the Community Liaison Officer has become much more multi-faceted and complex during these turbulent and dangerous times, but many posts continue to maintain a high morale and a strong sense of community due to the outstanding work of the CLO.

Further details on nomination procedures, additional guidelines and a nomination form can be found on the AFSA web site at awards.cfm. You can also link to articles about the AFSA awards and find a comprehensive listing of past award winners.

Any questions should be directed to Barbara Berger, Coordinator for Professional Issues, at berger@., or by telephone at 202-338-4045, ext. 521. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 28, 2007.

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Beware of False Emails Regarding Your SDFCU Account

We have been made aware of false e-mails circulating to our customers, with the message stating that your account data has been suspended. This e-mail is NOT from the State Department Federal Credit Union. Your account data is safe. Under NO circumstances will SDFCU contact you and ask you for your Social Security Number, personal ID numbers (PINS) or any other type of account security code information. Should you receive any type of communication appearing to be from us in which this information is solicited, please contact us immediately.

Should you require immediate assistance, please call SDFCU Member Service at (800)296-8882 or at (703)706-5000, and we will be glad to help you.

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IQ: Information Quest Services Are Now Easier to Access and Accessible to More Employees

| |

|Life can be challenging. That's why we’d like to remind you about IQ:Information Quest, an agency-paid benefit that offers assistance with child care|

|& parenting, adult care & aging, health & wellness, financial & legal concerns, pet care, education…and much, much more to all full-time, part-time, |

|permanent and temporary (including “When Actually Employed”) Department of State employees! |

|And now, logging on to the IQ:Information Quest Web site is even easier than ever before! We no longer require each new user to register, and you |

|won’t have to create and remember your own Screen Name and Password to access the web site. Starting immediately, everyone can log on to the site |

|using Screen Name: statedepartment and Password: infoquest (both codes are case sensitive). And you can still access all of your favorite features: |

|Search for child care, adult care, cleaning services, realtors, schools, and fitness centers nationwide |

|Read thousands of pages of educational content and download free guides |

|Access interactive health tools including 3-D medical animations, a comprehensive health encyclopedia, and more |

|Participate in online seminars on topics ranging from stress management, to child and adult care, nutrition, adoption, and a host of other issues |

|Access self-service legal forms and interactive financial calculators |

|Request free legal and financial consultations |

|Learn about college financing options, and even apply for educational loans online |

|Request free Infant Care, Child Safety and Adult Care Kits packed with valuable safety and educational items |

|And much more! |

|If you currently have any case information or articles saved in your online Message Center, be sure to print them out before December 1. With the new|

|agency-wide login procedures, personal case information can no longer be saved. If you forget, don’t worry; you can still call IQ:Information Quest |

|toll-free to request copies of your referrals. |

|Explore InfoQuest’s Web Site Today; no registration, no passwords! |

|To explore the IQ web site, log on to and look for the “Registered Users” box (do not click on the “New User” link). Simply |

|enter Screen Name: statedepartment and Password: infoquest (codes are case-sensitive). For assistance logging on to the web site, contact the Help |

|Desk at 888-604-9565. |

|You can call a Specialist on our new easy-to-remember Toll-Free number, or email your request directly! |

|IQ:Information Quest has a new easy-to-remember toll-free number too, which you can use any time of the day or night to discuss your specific needs |

|with a specialist. Just call 1-866-552-IQ4U (4748), or TTY/TDD 800-873-1322; or you can email the specialist directly at Specialist@. |

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FS Direct

Direct Communication to Foreign Service Employees and Family Members

Published by the Family Liaison Office, U.S. Department of State

November/December 2006

What’s Inside

2007 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season Soon Ends

EDUCATION AND YOUTH

Do Your Homework!

SUPPORT SERVICES

Working through Personal Setbacks

TRAINING

From FSI: Foreign Language Resources in the DC Area

FSI's Rosetta Stone Now Available to More Employees

RESOURCES

OBC Online Post Information

TAKE NOTE: Events, Information

Call for AFSA Award Nominations

Beware of False Emails Regarding Your SDFCU Account

IQ: Information Quest Services

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