FMA Highlights from Recent Events

Suquamish, Washington played host to members of the Federal Managers Association (FMA) Zones 6, 7 and 8 on September 19 as the groups assembled together during their annual joint Zone Conference. Stephanie Schmittler, Leonard Lew and Winford Sartin, Presidents of Zones 6,7 and 8 respectively, drew a strong gathering for the day-long event centering on FMA internal business, training for members serving under the Department of Defense’s (DOD) National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and the Association’s recent activity on Capitol Hill. FMA President Emeritus Mike Styles also participated in the weekend’s events, providing contagious enthusiasm and support for FMA and the work the Association conducts on a daily basis.

Following opening introductions, Rear Admiral James Symonds, Commander of the Northwest Region for the United States Navy, addressed attendees, providing a glimpse into his role in the Navy and the vital work performed by members of the civil service who work along his side. Discussing many of the challenges facing the Navyand DOD as a whole, Admiral Symonds underscored the importance of unleashing the expertise of those serving on the front lines, including civilian managers and their employees, to advance innovation and transform the way DOD works. Admiral Symonds emphasized the need to embody the core principles of effective leadership, particularly the ability to check your ego at the door while listening, focusing and reacting to good or bad news in a calm and collected manner, to promote efficiency and productivity in the workplace. The Admiral concluded his address with thrilling stories of his most memorable carrier landings during his long flying career. Many of these stories, which the Admiral called “exciting” and “interesting,” captivated the attention of FMA members in attendance.

FMA National Treasurer Sherie Lewis provided attendees with an update of issues in the Association’s National Office upon the Admiral’s departure, providing a behind the scenes look into many of FMA’s operations. Patricia Niehaus, President of FMA Chapter 167, took the stage next to provide training on how to write the self assessments that play a critical role in the NSPS rating cycle. In her role as the Labor Relations Officer for Travis Air Force Base, Niehaus has provided extensive NSPS training while also serving as the Pay Pool facilitator for two of the five pay pools at Travis. Her presentation to the crowd touched on a myriad of topics relating to the self assessment, from the content that should be included to the style in which information should be displayed. Conference attendees were extremely grateful to receive this information from a fellow member with such vast experience in the area.

FMA’s Government Affairs Assistant Karl Gruss engaged the audience in a look at where many of the legislative issues critical to the Association’s membership stand on Capitol Hill. Focusing primarily on the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2647/S. 1390), which contains many of FMA’s top legislative priorities and currently sits in conference, Gruss discussed how important it was for FMA members to remain engaged in the legislative process by reaching out to their Congressmen through action letters and phone calls. FMA National President Darryl Perkinson joined Gruss in a dialogue on NSPS, highlighting the role the Association has played and will continue to play in moving forward with future personnel system reforms.

The day concluded with a discussion on the state of FMA led by Perkinson and Lewis. With a focus on the Association’s budget, the pair discussed how FMA has reached new heights in the federal community, boosting its presence in the media and in the halls of Congress. Perkinson presented attendees with various pictures of FMA’s future, asking each member to evaluate their expectations of the services they expect from the Association and the steps they are willing to take to make sure FMA continues down the path to success.

Throughout the weekend, conference attendees assembled in a hospitality room equipped with food and refreshments provided in large part by Tom Butler, FMA Chapter 14 President, and his wife. A special thanks for his and others’ efforts in providing an inviting setting for two nights. Additionally, the folks who attended the conference donated $1143 to FMA-PAC, and we thank them for their generosity.

On September 18 and 19, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) Zone 3 took to the streets in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for its annual Zone Conference, organized by FMAChapter 21. Led by Zone President George Smith, seven FMA chapters participated in the ambitious one and a half day event. Recruitment and finding new ways to grow the zone were common themes throughout the weekend.

After calling the group to order, the audience heard from FMA member Melissa Drummond on the “National Labor Partnership Team Barriers and Executive Order.” Drummond is the Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) Corporate Operations Group Head at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina. She provided the delegates with an in depth analysis of the Labor Management Partnership Executive Order under the Clinton administration and the steps NAVAIR headquarters took to retain the Partnership after President George Bush rescinded the Order. As Drummond continued her presentation, the delegates in the audience shared their experiences with the Partnership and speculated how the Order would affect them if reinstated by President Obama.

Later in the morning, each FMA Chapter President present provided the group with a report on the ongoings of their chapter. Recruitment efforts and exploring new ways to recruit members were a common theme throughout the reports and chapters shared successes they have had with certain programs amongst one another. Several chapters also shared their efforts to create a scholarship fund for college-age children of the chapter members, which have helped to recruit new members.

After lunch, FMA’s Government Affairs Director Jessica Klement presented the group with a “Government 101” tutorial, giving the audience an overview on the interworkings of Capitol Hill. Afterwards, Klement provided the delegates with FMA’s legislative agenda for the year and recent accomplishments FMA has seen on the Hill. As all the delegates have a stake in the outcome of the FY10 National Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 2647/S. 1390) currently in conference, Klement’s presentation generated a good discussion among the group on how they can help advance their interests in the bill. The first day then ended with new and old business before the delegates headed to the hospitality room for Country and Western night.

The second day of the conference kicked off with a presentation by FMA member Terry Yandle on “NSPS Compensation for Supervisors.” Yandle is in the Total Force Consultant and Management Department at FRCE. Despite having a formal PowerPoint for the group, the presentation quickly evolved into an informal discussion on how the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) has impacted the Defense Department employees in the room. The attendees departed with a greater understanding of their roles under NSPS, as well as specific action to take with certain circumstances arise.

FMA National President Darryl Perkinson joined the group via webinar to talk about the state of the Association. Joined by FMA President Emeritus Mike Styles and Zone 7 President Leonard Lew, Perkinson spoke on FMA’s presence on Capitol Hill as well as the overall future of the organization. The webinar feature allowed Perkinson to engage face-to-face with the Zone while he was physically present at the FMA Zone 6/7/8 Conference.

After adjourning shortly before lunch, the group reconvened in the evening for a Hawaiian night at a nearby park, complete with a pig roast organized by Chapter 21 member Donnie McCall. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the members of FMA Chapter 21 for organizing this highly successful weekend.

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) kicked off its 71st annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar on Monday, March 16, in Arlington, Virginia. The theme for this year’s Convention, Transitions in Government: Rising to the Challenge, sought to encapsulate the unique obstacles and opportunities presented by the transition to a new administration and its effect on the civil service.

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Cali.), Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, provided the introductory keynote address Monday morning, discussing with Convention delegates his view of where the federal workforce is headed in the post 9/11 world. Retaining federal managers in government service is critical, Issa told his audience, especially as they reach retirement eligibility. Among other topics discussed was the need to promote recruiting tools and incentives, such as telework, to attract an evolving workforce and steer them towards public service.

The majority of the first day focused on internal business, with an emphasis on establishing greater lines of communication within the Association and translating FMA’s legislative success into greater membership numbers. Following reports provided by the Association’s National Officers, several Capitol Hill staffers engaged delegates in a discussion concerning the most effective means of presenting Members of Congress and their staffers with FMA’s legislative priorities.

National Security Personnel System (NSPS) Program Executive Officer Brad Bunn joined the Convention in the afternoon to discuss the current implementation of the Defense Department ’s pay-for-performance personnel system, addressing many of the concerns held by FMA members enrolled in the program. Bunn discussed how NSPS leadership is calling a “time out” to review the system, assuring delegates that many of FMA’s concerns would play prominently in the discussion.

Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service (PPS), delivered the keynote address on Tuesday, energizing FMA members with his call to rethink and re-imagine the impact managers can have on the civil service during this transition period. Stier’s address proved the perfect introduction to the day’s training seminar featuring several panels of good-government leaders invested in the success of the civil service. Jonathan Breul, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government , and John Palguta, Vice President for Policy at PPS, headlined the first panel, discussing with delegates the changes federal managers and supervisors can expect in the next few years with the Obama administration in the White House. Casey Wilson, author of The Cornerstones of Engaging Leadership and a partner of Management Concepts, followed with a look at how managers can properly connect and engage their employees to create a productive work environment.

Following a membership luncheon featuring guest speaker Rear Admiral Mark Hugel, Deputy Commander of Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations for the Naval Sea Systems Command, the training continued with two more presentations conducted by Stewart Liff, an author and recognized leader in the field of Human Resources Management, and Mariama Liverpool, an attorney at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. Liff addressed the challenges many managers face when confronted with difficult or underperforming employees, offering his insight into techniques for turning these employees into productive members of the workforce or cleaning them out of office. Liverpool took the stage next, tackling much of the confusion associated with engagement in proper political conduct under the Hatch Act. Liverpool ’s presentation and the ensuing discussion proved valuable for FMA members in attendance as well as members of the National Office who engage in the Association’s political action committee (PAC).

Wednesday, March 18th, afforded Convention delegates the opportunity to meet with their Members of Congress and staff during FMA’s annual lobbying day, Day on the Hill. The Association’s national advocacy day allowed members to engage lawmakers on issues of importance to FMA, both on a national and local level. A reception hosted by FMA-PAC capped off a very successful venture into the nation’s capitol.

Dr. Rayshad Holmes, Director of Human Resources Development for the Veterans’ Health Administration within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, ushered in the final day of the Convention with a discussion of how to attract, manage, and retain the new generation of federal employees. FMA members followed the morning presentation with zone breakout meetings, affording individual zones the opportunity to discuss internal business. Zone presidents discussed any business resulting from these meetings during the Association’s awards luncheon.

During the annual awards luncheon, FMA National President Darryl Perkinson and FMA National Secretary Dick Oppedisano honored three recipients with the association’s most prestigious awards:

Somers Point , New Jersey once again played host to the Federal Managers Association’s (FMA) annual Zone 1 Conference. Held on January 31, this year’s conference covered agency specific issues, but the FMA members present representing seven individual chapters also sought to develop a concrete stance on pay-for-performance personnel systems in advance of any action taken by the Obama administration. Zone 1 President Mike Donovan led the discussions throughout the day, and both FMA National Vice-President Jim Mahlmann and Government Affairs Assistant Karl Gruss were on hand to provide reports on the Association’s national efforts.

Following a brief introduction by Mike Donovan of the day’s events, Jim Mahlmann provided the national officers’ report, with his theme centering on the need for greater communication within FMA. Mahlmann encouraged the group to utilize the Association’s Web site to a greater extent, highlighting it as a valuable resource of information.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program Account Manager Gail Irby was gracious enough to accept FMA’s invitation to address the audience, and she presented attendees with valuable information regarding Blue Cross’ Health and Wellness Program. Irby discussed efforts underway at Blue Cross to disseminate medical information in a more effective manner, and the FMA members in attendance greatly appreciated her insight on federal employee health issues.

Karl Gruss followed Irby’s presentation with a synopsis of FMA’s legislative accomplishments in the 110th Congress and an overview of FMA’s 2009 draft Issue Briefs. Donovan then opened the floor for the chapter representatives to discuss agency specific issues, and the ensuing discussion illuminated information that will prove extremely valuable for the National Office as it sets its legislative agenda for the 111th Congress.

Donovan set aside much of the afternoon to discuss FMA’s response to the current implementation of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), the Department of Defense’s pay-for-performance personnel program, which has earned mixed reviews since its inception in 2004. FMA National President Darryl Perkinson participated in the discussion via teleconference. Resulting from a lengthy debate of the pros and cons involved with the system, the conference participants reached a consensus on an overall assessment of NSPS to date, drafting a letter of recommendation for the National Office outlining their proposed action with the presence of a new administration that will most likely add its own touch to the program.

Mahlmann commented on the NSPS discussion, noting, “It is through meetings such as this, where FMA members connect with each other and the National Office, that our Association formulates its legislative agenda to meet the needs of the men and women who have devoted their lives to public service. I applaud Zone 1 for continuing to demonstrate their commitment to the Federal Managers Association, and I hope that dialogue generated among our other zones will serve to advance our Association’s mission as well.”

On October 14, the Coalition for Effective Change (CEC), an alliance of non-partisan associations representing current and former federal leadership of which the Federal Managers Association (FMA) is a member, hosted a forum celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA). The forum, attended by FMA National President Darryl Perkinson, provided an opportunity for panel members and audience alike to discuss the foundations of the CSRA and the direction needed in order to advance the federal workforce in the future. Paul Light, a Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service professor at New York University, headlined the event, with two subsequent panels organized to offer insight into the topic from a multitude of perspectives.

In his opening address, Light noted that the upcoming presidential transition, while no doubt presenting a challenge, will create an opportunity for government leadership to extend greater attention to the state of public service. Light argued that the federal service is in a crisis, compounded by a series of natural disasters and the financial meltdown. Acknowledging that many of the principles espoused in the Civil Service Reform Act are not fully realized is critical if the civil service is to adapt to a changing climate and appeal to a younger workforce, Light continued. Strengthening the mission of government, and communicating that mission to the younger generation, must be on any President’s agenda during the next administration.

Reestablishing the motivation for joining the federal workforce and fostering relationships of trust across all levels of government will provide the building blocks for a more successful civil service, Light concluded.

The first panel featured: Robert Tobias, director of public sector executive education at American University; Nancy Kingsbury, Government Accountability Office managing director for applied research and methods; and, Doris Hausser, former Office of Personnel Management senior policy advisor to the director. The second panel consisted of John Palguta, vice president of the Partnership for Public Service; Steve Ressler, founder of Young Government Leaders and GovLoop; and Naomi Earp, chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Palguta discussed with the audience how times of crises often reconnect the public with the work of federal employees, as individuals recognize that the federal government holds the tools necessary to address many of the challenges we face today. With the spotlight on government, he continued, people experience first-hand the critical nature of the work entrusted to many of the brightest individuals in the federal workforce. To best serve the public, Palguta continued, it is essential that we look to the past as a teaching tool to determine what reforms to civil service provided the greatest benefits and how best to continue to reform the system to ensure productivity in the future. Earp followed Palguta by praising federal employees for the hard work and dedication they have displayed over the years, countering Light’s claims that benefits and job security, versus the a sense of pride in their work, provide individuals with the motivation to join the federal workforce. She argued that the civil service is not a failing system, and that we must commit to preserving components that continue to serve us well.

Ressler provided the audience with a perspective from the younger generation of federal employees, those who have recently joined or are considering joining the civil service. Ressler keyed on the need for the government to increase its marketing efforts by expanding the use of technology to communicate the valuable missions undertaken by members of the federal workforce each day. The government is often slow to adapt to changing environments, Ressler continued, severely inhibiting its chances of recruiting and retaining the highly-skilled workforce it requires. As an example, Ressler noted that members of the younger generations do not want to be pinned down to a single job for their entire lives, instead preferring to move around and take on new challenges. If the government continues to impede movement of individuals across agencies, many valuable federal employees may choose to work elsewhere.

On August 20, FMA Chapter 381, Beale Air Force Base, held its monthly chapter meeting at the Recce Club on base. This was no ordinary meeting for the chapter, as top base leadership was present, the District Director from the local Congressman’s office, FMA Zone 7 President Leonard Lew and FMA Government Affairs Director Jessica Klement.

Chapter President Dennis Tolliver began the meeting with inspiring and heartfelt words about what it means to be a member of the Federal Managers Association. The message rang especially true for the potential members in the audience, most of whom joined the organization at the close of the meeting. In touting the successes of the relatively small chapter, Tolliver commented, “In 2004, we put together a very impressive package on locality pay issues at Beale that secured Air Staff and Congressional Support and made its way to the Federal Salary Council. The stories circulating in the D.C. press about the little Chapter presented a very strong argument in favor of our efforts. Today, Beale employees are in Sacramento area for locality pay.”

After Tolliver’s remarks, Lew and Klement presented the group with an overview of FMA, including membership levels, organizational structure, benefits and corporate sponsors. The duo continued to keep the group engaged by speaking on FMA’s most recent legislative accomplishments, including House passage of a credit for unused sick leave for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees, recent testimony before Congress and proposed pay raise for federal employees in 2009. Lew also informed the group on the work of the FederalEmployee Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund and the work it does for and with FMA. Upon completion of the luncheon, several Chapter members escorted Lew and Klement on a tour of the Air Force’s new Global Hawk plane.

On the following day, Lew and Klement traveled to FMA Chapter 167, Travis Air Force, for its monthly chapter meeting at the Delta Breeze on base. Chapter President Pat Niehaus kicked off the meeting with a synopsis of the chapter’s current affairs. Several members in attendance serve in both the military and civilian sides of the base, making for a diversified group.

Much of the duo’s presentation was similar to the day before. Klement focused her presentation on FMA’s recent legislative accomplishments and fielded many questions from the audience on the legislation crediting FERS employees for unused sick leave. Klement and Lew, who also serves as Chairman of FMA’s Political Action Committee, finished their presentation with a push for FMA-PAC. Lew also spoke on the importance of donating to FEEA and shared a personal story on the role FEEA plays for federal employees.

Upon completion of the luncheon, several Chapter members escorted Lew and Klement on a tour of the Air Force’s C-5 plane, which is currently undergoing an internal overall at Travis. “I want to thank Executive Board Members Dave Garrison and Lynn Rollin for escorting Jessie, Leonard and me on our C-5 tour,” commented Niehaus. “We were awed by all the information you guys shared with us, not to mention the size of the plane!”

“These meetings provided our members, most of whom are unable to travel to FMA’s yearly conventions, with direct contact with the FMA Board and National Office staff. Valuable information was provided that these members otherwise would not have had access to,” commented Lew. “I encourage other chapters to do the same.”

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) held its 17th annual Mid-Year Conference for the first time in the city of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, August 6-9, 2008.

FMA Chapter 208 , Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), hosted the Association’s second annual meeting of the year, along with support from various chapters in FMA’s Zone 1. Chapter 208 President Tony Armentani and a team of Chapter 208 volunteers did an outstanding job of coordinating the event from beginning to end. Among the many highlights were the special after-hours hospitality room, a Phillies baseball game at Citizens Bank Park and a special behind-the-scenes look at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. FMA Zone 1 President Mike Donovan also greatly assisted with the conference logistics.

Gilbert Montoya , Deputy Commander at DSCP, welcomed the delegates on the opening day of the meeting with an uplifting address about the value of public service. Later that day, delegates heard from members of FMA’s National Executive Board and National Office staff on FMA’s priorities and future. FMA National President Darryl Perkinson spoke candidly with the delegates regarding his vision for the future of the association.

Friday, August 8, marked the Association’s training day, Re-energize Your Career: Explore Your Talents and Discover New Techniques. Marie Tomasso, District Director of the Philadelphia Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, kicked off the day with an impassioned speech on diversity in the federal workforce. In the morning, the audience first heard from Dr. Robert Shick on tools managers can use to develop knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed. Following Dr. Shick, several employees from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared with the delegates practices to obtaining a greener workplace, while lowering costs. In the afternoon, Larry Doyle gave two rousing and interactive presentations on organizing yourself, renewing enthusiasm and beating burnout. Doyle kept the audience engaged and energized with practical, real world examples of managing stress and multiple priorities.

On Saturday, August 9, FMA members heard from Joan Melanson, Director of Program Promotion at Long Term Care Partners, on protecting your retirement and understanding the impact of long term care. Melanson detailed the impact long term care can have on one’s retirement and some of the programs offered by the government to prepare for long term care.

Each year, the prestigious FMA Manager of the Year Award is presented at the Mid-Year Conference to an outstanding manager or supervisor in the federal government who is a current member of the Federal Managers Association. This year’s FMA Manager of the Year Award was given to Mrs. Dora Quinlan of Chapter 11, Fleet Readiness Center, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida. Dora currently serves as the Industrial Business Operations Director where she advises the Commanding Officer and other top-level executives on ways to achieve organizational goals while balancing application of resources. Dora has led the way in private/public partnerships, with the goal of providing increased readiness while reducing total ownership costs. Dora also serves at the President of FMA’s Chapter 11.

“With her many years of dedicated service to her country and to FMA, Dora is an example to us all,” commented FMA National President Darryl Perkinson. “As a nominee last year and now the winner this year, I am honored to present this award to Dora in recognition of her dynamic talents and exemplary leadership.”

Theodore A. Wheeler from FMA Chapter 14, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington, was also nominated for this prestigious award. Mr. Wheeler provides direction to many facets of Shipyard Management, supporting both the Production Resources Department and the mission of the shipyard. He has been a Shop Superintendent since 2000 and recently became the Group Superintendent for the Structural Group, Code 920.

The 17 th Mid-Year Conference, building on the momentum from the National Convention, was yet another fine example of how the camaraderie of TEAM FMA can produce immense results on behalf of both the Association and the federal government. Be sure to mark your calendars now for the FMA 71st annual National Convention at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City-National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, March 16-19, 2008!

The Federal Managers Association’s (FMA) 70th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar was held the week of March 9 in Arlington, Virginia. This year’s Convention theme, Empowering America’s Workforce to Meet the Challenges of Today, Tomorrow and Beyond, addressed the current dilemmas confronting federal managers and how managers can optimize these challenges to establish a better tomorrow.

The Convention kicked off with a keynote address by Representative Jim Moran (D-Va.) discussing the current and future state of America, as well as his new Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) sick leave legislation (H.R. 5573), cosponsored by Representatives Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va.).

The remainder of the first day focused on internal business including discussion on membership and the direction of the association. FMA National President Darryl Perkinson and FMA National Secretary Dick Oppedisano were unanimously reelected to serve another two year term. Several Capitol Hill staffers joined the group to give attendees insights on the best methods to effectively communicate FMA’s legislative priorities to Members of Congress and congressional staffers.

Patricia McGinnis , President and CEO of the non-partisan Council for Excellence in Government delivered the keynote on Tuesday, beginning the Management Training Seminar. McGinnis discussed various ways to improve government performance. Following McGinnis, Mark Leheney from Management Concepts shared his Five Commitments of a Leader to ensure success for the self, an employer and the public. Ms. Trish Zemple, Associate Director for the Program Services Division at the U.S. Office of Government Ethics presented next, raising awareness of ethics in the federal workplace and building an ethical culture. Topics of interest by the members present were the federal law that delineates federal employee political activities in the workplace, the Hatch Act, and limitations on receiving gifts.

In the afternoon, training continued with consecutive panel discussions. The National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC) organized a panel to discuss the looming retirement tsunami in the federal government by casting it as an opportunity, not a catastrophe. The discussion was poignantly entitled, Workforce Trends: the Upside to Our Silver Tsunami. Greg Merrill, President and CEO of NOWCC; Al Ressler, Human Resources Director for non-appropriated fund employees at the U.S. Army base, Fort Belvoir in Virginia; Dr. Joel Reaser, NOWCC’s Senior Vice President for Business Operations and Strategies; and Jack Everett, NOWCC’s Corporate Vice-President and Director of Eastern Field Operations highlighted the number of federal employees eligible to retire and emphasized the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) warning that 193,000 mission-critical federal employees will be eligible for retirement in the next two years. The NOWCC panelists reiterated the need to fill federal jobs with experienced workers and to view retirees as a solution to the human capital crisis.

Closing out the day was a panel discussion on performance-based pay systems at various federal agencies. An eclectic collection of agencies were represented on the panel which included: John Crum, Acting Director, Policy and Evaluation, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); Robert Kirkner, Chief Human Capital Officer, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Mary Lacy, Program Executive Officer, National Security Personnel System (NSPS); Kevin Mahoney, Associate Director, Center for Merit System Accountability, Human Capital Leadership and Merit System Accountability, Office of Personnel Management (OPM); and, Richard Whitford, Assistant Administrator for Human Capital, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The panel elaborated on the variety of approaches agencies may embark upon to create a performance-based pay system. The audience was engrossed in the discussion with the majority of the queries and comments concerning pay-for-performance based pay systems were directed toward Ms. Lacey.

Wednesday ushered in FMA’s annual advocacy day, Day on the Hill, and as usual, it was a great success with participants. FMA’s national advocacy day allows members to bring FMA’s concerns to their representatives on Capitol Hill where they have the opportunity to engage policymakers on national and local issues. The day came to a close with a reception held by FMA’s political action committee.

The Convention closed on Thursday, March 13, but not before finishing up crucial business. The day began with a discussion on retirement planning led by Tony Nichols from Benefit Planning, Inc. The presentation was geared toward federal employees with an emphasis on estate planning. Afterwards, FMA’s Public Relations & Marketing Director Todd Wells and Greg Little from One Big Planet unveiled FMA’s latest member benefit. The new venture allows members the opportunity to obtain discounts on movie tickets, restaurants, vacation packages, airline tickets, tires and much more. Thousands of retailers from large multi-nationals to local businesses are participating in the program.

At the annual awards luncheon, FMA National President Perkinson and FMA National Secretary Oppedisano honored three recipients with the association’s most prestigious awards:

The momentum from this year’s Convention will undoubtedly carry over into the Mid-Year Conference. Information on FMA’s 17th annual Mid-Year Conference in Philadelphia, from August 6 - 9, 2008, will be available at www.fedmanagers.org/.

On September 12, 2007, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) Chapter 216 Member Michael O’Leary represented FMA on a panel of experts entitled Envisioning the Government Workforce of Tomorrow at the 2007 Telework Exchange Town Hall Meeting.

Using his background as a Program Manager in Operations Support at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C., O’Leary spoke on the future of the government’s workforce and how to bring about cultural change in agencies so that managers may embrace alternative work approaches and environments. He also provided the group with a managerial perspective on utilizing telework.

O’Leary began his presentation by stating, “As managers and supervisors in the federal government, we at FMA are committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Telework is a tool that will revolutionize federal agency operations and is a vital resource in meeting the expectations of both agencies and employees.”

The Telework Exchange’s 2nd Annual Town Hall Meeting focused on government telework and next steps to establishing telework as a mainstream standard operating procedure across government agencies. The event brought together a diverse set of stakeholders, including government agency telework proponents, government telework managers, government teleworkers, industry supporters, and affiliated organizations.

O’Leary also spoke on the steps the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took to implement a telework program. He concluded his presentation by stating, “ All of us present here today have an opportunity to promote telework with benefits that far outweigh the costs. This venue gives the federal manager insight and ability to initiate the cultural changes, necessary for successful implementation inside federal agencies. The old paradigm of managers can not stand in the way of the evolution and expansion of telework.”

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) recently completed its 16th annual Mid-Year Conference for the first time in San Francisco, August 22-25. FMA Chapter 307 hosted the Association’s second annual meeting of the year, along with FMA Chapter 167. Chapter 307 President Diana Smith-Reed, her husband Bruce Reed and a team of chapter 307 and 167 volunteers did an outstanding job of coordinating the event from beginning to end. Among the many highlights were the special after-hours hospitality room put on by Chapter 167 and a San Francisco Giants baseball game at AT&T Park. FMA Zone 7 President Leonard Lew also greatly assisted with the conference logistics.

“The conference could not have run more efficiently,” FMA National President Darryl Perkinson commented. “The substance of the training sessions was relevant to some of the many challenges facing managers and the evening events gave the delegates a chance to have some fun. The entire week was a great success!”

Peter Spencer , Regional Commissioner for the Social Security Administration’s San Francisco Region, welcomed the delegates on the opening day of the conference with an uplifting address about the value of public service. Over the next day and a half, delegates participated in management training seminars. On Friday, August 24th, the audience heard from Merit Systems Protection Board Judge Franklin Kang regarding the top mistakes managers make. Later, Janene Frahm, from the City College of San Francisco, spoke on the varying interpretations of body language. Mark Gross, of Leadership Services, closed the day with an interactive discussion on “360 Degree Leadership.”

The next day, FMA members heard from Judy Snow of SnowCap, Inc. Snow, who also presented at FMA’s National Convention in March, was well-received by the group as she offered advice on how to best utilize Thrift Savings Plan investment options. Kyle Thornton, of the City College of San Francisco, closed the training portion of the conference with a presentation on legal and ethical issues when making health care decisions.

Each year, the prestigious FMA Manager of the Year Award is presented at the Mid-Year Conference to an outstanding manager or supervisor in the federal government who is a current member of the Federal Managers Association. Selection criteria for award finalists were weighed in the following order of importance:

This year’s FMA Manager of the Year Award was given to Ms. Ileen Wong of Chapter 19, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNS). Ms. Wong recently retired as Nuclear Director for Code 740 (Crane & Rigging Operations) at the shipyard. Wong’s distinguished federal career began in 1972 as a file clerk at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. She rose to many challenging positions there, and in 1994, was selected as the first female nuclear director at any U.S. naval shipyard. She was an instructor for Nuclear Supervisor Interactive Training, and worked with the Middle Management Group to help supervisors’ in their ability to recognize their potential and improve processes. Within her community, Ileen volunteers several days a week at a ranch where she assists physically and mentally handicapped children through therapeutic horseback riding. She is also involved with the Cancer Society Relay for Life.

“Ileen, with her many years of dedicated service to her country, is an example to each and every one of us,” Perkinson stated of the winner. “I’m proud to honor Ileen Wong with this esteemed award in recognition of her dynamic talents and admirable leadership.”

The other award finalists included: Mr. Dean Jicha, Production Controller at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Norfolk, Virginia, Chapter 3; and, Ms. Dora L. Quinlan, Industrial Business Operations Director for the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, Naval Air Depot, Jacksonville, Florida, Chapter 11.

The 16th Mid-Year Conference, building on the momentum from the National Convention in March, was yet another fine example of how the camaraderie of TEAM FMA can produce immense results on behalf of both the Association and the federal government. Be sure to mark your calendars now for the FMA 70th annual National Convention at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, March 9 -13, 2008, and the 17th annual Mid-Year Conference in Philadelphia, August 6-9, 2008!

For more information on upcoming events, please visit FMA online at: www.fedmanagers.org.

On June 12, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) presented testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia,advocating an increase in teleworking opportunities across all government agencies. Tom Davison, a Trustee of FMA Chapter 275 and a manager with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), presented the testimony on behalf of FMA. Davison sat on one of two panels the Subcommittee called upon to detail personal experiences with teleworking and offer insight on how to best advance telework in the future.

In his opening statement, Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-Haw.) expressed his belief that telework is a vital tool to recruit and retain talented workers, reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and is “a necessary component of federal agencies in addressing continuity of operation plans (COOP).” Akaka went on to say that he hoped this hearing would eliminate some of the trepidation stalling the advancement of telework. Telework, a program through which employees work at home or in satellite offices removed from headquarters, is not a novel concept; for nearly two decades workers have engaged in the system. Yet today, only 19 percent of eligible federal employees take part in teleworking.

As Davison told the Subcommittee, “Telework has the potential to revolutionize federal agency operations and is a vital resource in meeting the challenges of retaining experienced professional and enticing talented workers.” Managers’ fears of lower productivity associated with teleworkers, Davison stated, is the main obstacle impeding the evolution of teleworking. The Subcommittee has a duty, Davison went on, to enact the cultural change necessary to expand telework government-wide.

Davison’s own agency, EPA, ranked in the top-ten best places to work in the federal government, according to a report by the Partnership for Public Service and American University’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation. The high ranking is due in large part to the telework opportunities available to its employees.

On February 14, Federal Managers Association (FMA) Chapter 275 President Jim Fell testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security on the current disability backlogs at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Fell is also the vice chairman of FMA’s Social Security Conference and has spent the last 33 years working for SSA, the last 27 in SSA management.

The hearing focused on the disability claims backlog, including how the delays impact individuals who have applied for disability benefits; the effect on other critical agency workloads, including program integrity activities; steps SSA has taken to date to resolve the backlogs; and options for addressing the problem. Subcommittee Chairman Michael McNulty (D-N.Y.) commented when announcing the hearing, “ The current delays in receiving disability benefits are completely unacceptable. Americans who have worked hard and paid into the system should not have to wait for years to get benefits they have earned and desperately need. SSA must have sufficient resources to give the American people the service they deserve.”

Fell appeared on the second panel of witnesses along with Sylvester J. Schieber, Chairman, Social Security Advisory Board; Nancy Shor, Executive Director, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives; and Rick Warsinskey, President, National Council of Social Security Management Associations, Cleveland, Ohio.

Fell began his opening statement by detailing the current problem at the SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), “In the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, however, there currently exists a backlog of over 717,000 requests for a hearing. It now takes an average of 500 work days to process a typical request for hearing and these delays tarnish SSA’s otherwise strong record of service to the American public. At the beginning of 2002, SSA had 468,262 pending hearing requests. In five years, that number increased to over 717,000, despite the fact that dispositions are at record levels. Unless something is done to reverse this trend, the backlog could realistically reach one million by 2010.”

Newly-confirmed Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael Astrue was the sole witness on the first panel. In his opening statement, Astrue boasted the accomplishments and increase in productivity at SSA over the last five years. However, he also acknowledged, “Despite this record, we are keenly aware of how much more we could have accomplished had we received the President’s budget requests in past years. In the last five years, reductions to the President’s budget request have totaled $720 million, equivalent to approximately 8,000 work years.” He noted that if this trend continued, the American people can expect diminished service from the agency.

Fell also spoke of the staffing shortages at SSA and the current limitations do not allow ODAR to handle the 46,500 new cases they receive each month. He called on Congress to pass the President’s full budget request of $9.6 billion for SSA salaries and expenses as a start to fixing the problem. Fell commented, “By fully funding the President’s request, we can continue the tradition of employing a well-trained, dedicated staff of federal employees willing to avert a crisis in the coming years.”

Fell concluded his oral statements by saying, “In this era of shrinking budgets, SSA has attempted to maximize its use of scarce resources to provide the best possible service to the American public. The challenges faced by the managers and supervisors are not short term; they are a demographic reality. The same citizens putting stress on the Social Security trust funds because they are approaching retirement age are also entering the most disability-prone years. ODAR is struggling to handle the current workload and will be hard pressed to manage the anticipated increase in hearing requests without additional staff.”

Please visit FMA online at www.fedmanager.org to view Fell’s full oral and written statements.

On February 9, FMA Zone 3 held its annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia. FMA Chapter 322 hosted the event with over 20 FMA members in attendance, including FMA National Vice President Jim Mahlmann, Zone 3 President George Smith and Government Affairs Assistant Josh Russin.

After a brief welcoming from Zone 3 President George Smith, the audience heard from Michael Weiss, Attorney Advisor for the Fleet Readiness Center, Southeast at the Naval Air Station in Jackson, Florida. The discussion focused on the current version of the Hatch Act, which was amended in 1993. Mr. Weiss relayed to the conferees their rights and limitations as federal employees to participate in political campaigns and their rights in the workplace under the Hatch Act. A majority of federal employees are able to participate in partisan campaigns as long as it is on their own time and without the use of any federal resources. Weiss specified that federal employees can only run for office in non-partisan elections. He also highlighted the severe repercussions for federal employees who are found in violation of the Act. When in doubt, Weiss implored members to consult the Office of Special Counsel about questions pertaining to permissible political expression in the workplace. Mr. Weiss cited a couple of cases where federal employees were reprimanded or fired under the Hatch Act. The presentation generated much discussion by the group and Weiss was peppered with questions by FMA members pertaining to the Act.

Later in the day, each of the Chapter Presidents and members in attendance talked about what’s going on at their facilities. FMA National Vice President Jim Mahlmann presented to the group the current state of FMA and offered creative methods to engage current and new members. Innovative membership recruitment ideas were discussed at length. Some initiatives practiced by the chapters include hosting community-oriented events such as toy drives, scholarship competitions and golf tournaments. Josh Russin presented the group with an overview of the first session of the 110th Congress, FMA’s recent legislative accomplishments and a look at FMA’s draft 2008 Issue Briefs. The presentation triggered discussion on the National Security Personnel System as well as the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. Many of the Zone 3 members will be operating NSPS in the near future and will be affected by these Social Security offsets once they retire. The conference concluded with FMA Chapter 21 hosting the Zone members in a hospitality room, complete with North Carolina barbecue.

“Once again, the turn out and the energy generated by the Zone 3 conference was spectacular,” Mahlmann said after the event. “We are pushing forward with an ambitious agenda to improve the association, and I believe the success of the Zone 3 conference is part of our overall effort to strengthen the value and participation in this organization.”

Also on February 9, FMA Zone 2 held its annual conference in Baltimore. Maryland. FMA Zone 2 President Jackie Bell, along with Zone Vice President Andy Anderson, led a jam-packed day with nearly 15 delegates in attendance. FMA’s National President, Darryl Perkinson was able to join the group via teleconference, where he updated the group on his recent trip to Washington, D.C. He also spoke on the many benefits FMA offers to its members and the importance of recruiting the younger generation to join FMA. As a supervisor at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Perkinson also stated his views on NSPS, which was on the minds of several in attendance.

Zone business and chapter updates dominated the remainder of the morning. The Zone approved a new budget with which to use for various zone activities. Each chapter president in attendance was then asked to update the group on their recent activities. A common theme among the delegates was the ability to recruit new members, while experiencing difficulties in retaining retirees.

After lunch, Bill Gray from Blue Cross Blue Shield addressed the conference on how the various Medicare options apply to federal employees, as well as the company’s offerings. Dave Cavanagh from ID Theft Assist spoke next on the perils of identity theft and how his product can aid in the recovery of assets in the event of identity theft. Jessica Klement, FMA’s Government Affairs Director, concluded the day with a presentation on FMA’s 2008 Issue Briefs.

“It’s amazing what a group of dedicated, motivated people can accomplish in one day,” commented FMA National President Darryl Perkinson. “I applaud Jackie and Andy for bringing together such a strong group of members for this significant conference.”

On February 2, FMA Zone 1 held its annual zone conference in Somers Point, New Jersey. Nearly 20 FMA members attended the event including FMA National Secretary Richard Oppedisano and Zone 1 President Mike Donovan. FMA’s Government Affairs Assistant, Josh Russin, was also on hand.

After a brief welcoming from Zone President Mike Donovan, the audience heard from ID Theft Assist representative Dave Cavanaugh. The discussion focused on the importance of protecting one’s personal and financial information from criminal intent to bankrupt a person both financially and mentally. Mr. Cavanaugh requested members to present any personal stories of identity theft. This new member benefit received a warm reception by the conferees present at the event.

Later in the day, each of the Chapter Presidents and members in attendance talked about what’s going on at their facility. The National Security Personnel System (NSPS) was a hot topic of discussion, as many FMA members are in the system or will be in the coming months. FMA National Secretary Richard Oppedisano presented to the group the current state of FMA and offered creative methods to engage members. Innovative membership recruitment ideas were discussed at length. Some initiatives practiced by the chapters are the establishment of a retiree liaison, hosting annual membership events, and holding monthly meetings. Josh Russin presented the group with an overview of the first session of the 110th Congress, FMA’s recent legislative accomplishments and a look at FMA’s draft 2008 Issue Briefs. As a result of the discussions that followed, FMA is sure to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda this year.

The conference concluded with an update from Chapter 208 concerning the upcoming FMA Mid-Year Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 6 - 9, 2008.

On January 20, FMA Zones 6, 7, and 8 held their annual joint zone conference in Pala, California, home to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Over 25 FMA members attended the event including FMA National Treasurer Sherie Lewis, Zone 6 President Stephanie Schmittler, Zone 7 President Leonard Lew and Zone 8 President Red Sartin. FMA’s Government Affairs Director, Jessica Klement, was also on hand.

After a brief welcoming from the Zone Presidents, the audience heard from Marine Corps Reserve Colonel Gary W. Storey. Colonel Storey currently serves as Head, Infrastructure Plans Branch and as the Assistant Chief of Staff Facilities at Camp Pendleton. The Colonel spoke on some of the challenges at the base, which is one of the busiest Defense Department Installations, covering 125,000 acres and housing 38,000 Marines and their families. Management, in the Colonel’s view, is “the art of getting things done through people” and encompasses many duties, including planning, organizing, leading and communicating.

Later in the day, each of the Chapter Presidents in attendance talked about what’s going on at their facility. The National Security Personnel System (NSPS) was a hot topic of discussion, as many FMA members are in the system or will be in the coming months. Jessica Klement presented the group with an overview of the first session of the 110 th Congress, FMA’s recent legislative accomplishments and a look at FMA’s draft 2008 Issue Briefs. As result of the discussions that followed, FMA is sure to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda this year.

The conference concluded with a hospitality room hosted by FMA Chapter 143, Camp Pendleton.

On February 9, Zone 1 of the Federal Managers Association held its annual Conference along the friendly shores of New Jersey with 20 delegates representing 10 chapters. Along with Zone 1 President Michael Donovan, FMA National President Darryl Perkinson, National Vice President Jim Mahlmann, National Secretary Richard Oppedisano, and President Emeritus Michael Styles were in attendance. New FMA member Brian Tallmedge of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Philadelphia also made the trip in order to solicit ideas to grow a new chapter.

President Perkinson kicked off the day by sharing his FMA Vision 2012 presentation. A lively discussion followed with Zone 1 members asked several questions and shared comments on the presentation that were captured for further discussions by the national leadership. Styles and Perkinson then led the group through a synopsis of FMA’s legislative accomplishments in the 109 th Congress and FMA’s 2007 draft issue briefs. An energetic discussion followed on FMA’s position on issues such as personnel reform systems and the FERS Sick leave credit proposal being addressed by the FMA National Office. Secretary Oppedisano wrapped up the legislative session by stressing the importance of contributing to FMA-PAC.

As at previous conferences, Mahlmann presented his call to membership, Together We Will Grow One by One, complete with ideas for recruitment efforts at the local chapters and beyond. He advised the delegates on how communication and follow up is vitally important when recruiting new members. Additionally, the delegates were provided a demonstration of the FMA Web page.

Chapter 208 President Tony Armentani gave the group a preview of what to expect during the upcoming 2008 Mid-Year Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Several of the delegates offered their assistance when needed over the next year. The Conference concluded with the reelection of Michael Donovan as Zone 1 President and Gene Kelly of Chapter 6 as the Zone Vice President.

“It’s always great to hear feedback from our members, and this conference was no exception,” commented Perkinson. “I would like to thank those who traveled to be with us and Mike Donovan for putting together this event.”

On January 22, over 25 members representing 8 chapters in Newport News, Virginia participated in the FMA Zone 2 Conference organized by Zone President Jackie Bell and FMA National Vice President Jim Mahlmann. Also on hand were FMA National President Darryl Perkinson, Executive Director Thomas Richards and Government Affairs Director Jessica Klement.

As in previous conferences, Perkinson presented his FMA Vision 2012 to the delegates for discussion. Afterwards, an energetic debate occurred among the group on ideas to improve membership and retention. Vice President Mahlmann followed in a presentation with a call to recruit more members into the association, “Together we will grow one by one.” He advised the delegates on how communication is the most effective tool when recruiting FMA members and concluded his presentation with a plug for FMA’s upcoming 69th annual National Convention.

Richards and Klement presented the group with a synopsis of FMA’s legislative accomplishments in the 109th Congress and outlined FMA’s 2007 draft Issue Briefs. Two of FMA’s corporate partners – Wright and Co. and BlueCross BlueShield – also gave short presentations on the benefits FMA members receive through their respective companies. Jackie Bell wrapped up the day with an update of chapter and zone activities. New chapter officials were recognized and each chapter present spoke on recent chapter activities and ideas for recruiting.

“It’s amazing what a group of dedicated, motivated people can accomplish in one day,” commented FMA National President Darryl Perkinson after the event. “I applaud Jim and Jackie for bringing together such a strong group of members for this significant conference.”

FMA Zone 7, led by Zone President Leonard Lew, hosted an exciting and busy joint 6/7/8 zone conference this past weekend in Sacramento, California. FMA members from across the west coast joined over 40 delegates in Sacramento to discuss how to make the association “the best it can be.”

Lew set out an aggressive agenda for the day, starting with a report from Darryl Perkinson, FMA National President. Perkinson spoke candidly with the delegates, outlining his “forward vision” for the association. Encouraging an open dialogue, Perkinson solicited the ideas from delegates on where the association should be five years from now, particularly in the area of membership.

Jessica Klement , FMA’s Acting Government Affairs Director followed Perkinson with a recap of FMA’s legislative accomplishments in the 109 th Congress, and set forth FMA’s legislative agenda for the 110th Congress. Afterwards, a lively debate ensued regarding FMA’s 2007 Issue Briefs, which will be released at the 69th National Convention in March.

Keynote speaker Chris Norem, District Director for Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Cali.), addressed the Joint Zone Meeting on “Communicating Effectively with Members of Congress.” He emphasized that timing of correspondence is important and most effective when it arrives just before a vote on the issue. He spoke of the high volume of letters and e-mail a congressional office receives each day, and stressed the importance of stating your position briefly in one or two pages. Norem also suggested meeting with a district office staffer as a way to communicate effectively with your Member of Congress.

BlueCross BlueShield Representative Shirley Bolden spoke to the group on the new Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) dental and vision plans, including an overview of the different plans, eligibility and the costs to join.

“I was so fortunate to be able to work with such an incredible group as this one,” Perkinson commented. “We were able to get a considerable amount of work done in one day, but most importantly we were able to get a handle on the amount of work we still need to do. I am truly excited about the coming year, and encouraged by the robust dialogue that took place at the conference. I want to thank Zone 7 for hosting and all the conference attendees for making the event so successful for TEAM FMA!”

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) Zone 3 held its annual conference this past weekend in Charleston, South Carolina. Hosted by Chapter 121 and organized by Chapter President Christine Parker, seven FMA chapters sent delegates to represent their interests and participate in the leadership development training and internal business of the association.

The conference featured workshops by Mrs. Patsy Reeves, Director of Contracting at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia and a member of the senior executive service. She presented a morning workshop on leading through mentorship and an afternoon workshop on managing change.

FMA Acting Executive Director Thomas Richards presented the audience with a legislative update on the activities of the 109 th Congress and an outlook for the 110th Congress. In addition, he facilitated a robust discussion on FMA’s draft legislative agenda and new format changes to the 2007 Issue Briefs. FMA National Vice President Jim Mahlmann then presented National President Darryl Perkinson’s five year vision plan for FMA entitled, FMA Vision 2012 and discussed the upcoming 69th annual National Convention. Also in attendance were Zone 3 President George Smith, Zone 3 Vice President Donnie McCall, and Zone 3 Treasurer Dora Quinlan. A seafood dinner at a local crab restaurant capped off the event.

“I’m thrilled at the turn out and the energy generated by the Zone 3 conference this year,” Mahlmann said after the event. “We are pushing forward with an ambitious agenda to improve the association, and I believe the success of the Zone 3 conference is part of our overall effort to strengthen the value and participation in this organization.”

In the first of two trips to Washington this month, FMA National President Darryl Perkinson and FMA National Vice President Jim Mahlmann kept busy attending various meetings around town.

Perkinson and Mahlmann, along with FMA National Office staff Thomas Richards and Jessica Klement, attended the seventh forum in a series entitled, Taking the Leap: Innovation and Results Through a New Public Service . The topic of the discussion was a new study, “ What the Best & Brightest Want and What it Will Take for Government to Compete,” by the Council for Excellence in Government (CEG) and the Gallup Organization. Speakers included CEG President and CEO Patricia McGinnis, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda Springer and Warren Wright and Darby Miller Steiger of the Gallup Organization.

With 60% of the federal workforce eligible for retirement in the next few years, the study focused on the attitudes and perceptions of those the federal government is targeting for employment – Generation Y (current 18-29 year olds), Government Go-Gets or G3s (individuals with knowledge in science, engineering, law/public policy or social services), and current managers in the private sector.

Across the board, the three groups perceive the federal government as a better provider of benefits and job security when compared to the private sector. On the flip side, the private sector scored better in terms of pay, innovation and creativity and ability to attract the best and the brightest. OPM Director Springer commented she was surprised by the results as she believes federal employees would respond that their jobs are innovative and creative. However, since perception is reality, Springer noted that the federal government must make strides to improve this perception.

Despite dismal results in terms of public perception, there is some good news for federal agencies. For example, 34% of Generation Y respondents reported an interest in working for the government. Steiger commented these results suggest that as many as 15 million young Americans might have an interest in a federal career, more than enough to fill openings in the federal workforce. Thirty percent of the G3s said they have an interest in working for the government, another encouraging response considering global competition to hire from this group is high.

The study also showed a high level of awareness of most agencies, but that didn’t necessarily translate into interest in working there. For example, nearly all respondents (96%) were aware of the mission of the United States Postal Service, but only a small number thought it would be an interesting place to work. However, agencies such as NASA, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) enjoyed both high rates of awareness and interest. Conversely, OPM, the Department of Interior (DOI) and the Department of Commerce rated low both in terms of awareness and interest.

“While it’s encouraging to see so many young people interested in becoming part of the federal workforce, we must also do what we can to change the negative perceptions surrounding the challenging and stimulating work we do,” commented Perkinson after the forum.

Also during their visit to Washington, Perkinson and Mahlmann met with FMA members from the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Rural Development to discuss the 2007 Farm Bill. The two groups were in town meeting with agency officials.

On Tuesday, December 12, 2006, FMA National President Darryl Perkinson, FMA National Vice President Jim Mahlmann and FMA Membership Coordinator Marissa Rivera attended a Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA) Board of Directors meeting. The meeting took place at UBS Investment Services.

At the meeting, a motion was passed to elect the National Active and Retired Federal Employee Association (NARFE) Vice President Bill Austin to replace former-NARFE Vice President Dan Galvan on the FEEA Board of Directors and to consider the appointment of Blacks in Government President Darlene Young to the. Randall Cone of the Cone Group reviewed FEEA’s investment accounts in detail with members of the board and provided options on improving the potential returns on investments. Fortunately, returns and contributions have been sufficient for FEEA to meets its operational and charitable giving requirements without having to dip into investments set aside for future growth and sustainability.

Craig Bowman of Common Ground Consulting made a short presentation on FEEA’s marketing strategy for 2007. He proposed that FEEA develop an operations manual for incoming FEEA employees. Bowman will continue to work on making FEEA more visible in the community. Contributions to FEEA are made easy enough through the Combined Federal Campaign #1234.

Meanwhile, the annual FMA scholarship program eligibility guidelines and application procedures will be available in the Winter 2007 issue of The Federal Manager magazine due out in January 2007. The deadline for scholarship application submissions is March 31, 2006.

The Public Employees Roundtable (PER) held its Board of Directors meeting later that day, again attended by Perkinson and Mahlmann as well as FMA Acting Executive Director Thomas Richards. The Board discussed the specifics of continuing its affiliation with the Council for Excellence in Government and held elections for the PER Executive Committee for 2007.

PHILADELPHIA-Over 90 members were in attendance at the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia’s Chapter 208 Federal Managers Association (FMA) annual Fall Luncheon. The luncheon was held at the Naval Support Activity’s Officers’ Club on November 28, 2006.

FMA Chapter 208 President Anthony Armentani welcomed members and thanked them for participating in the annual luncheon. Additionally, he discussed the FMA scholarship fund and congratulated FMA member Robin Durie’s daughter for receiving one of this year’s FMA-FEEA national scholarships. He also congratulated FMA member, Linda Ferraro’s son on receiving the first Chapter 208 FMA scholarship.

The Chapter recently held a very successful recruitment and Armentani welcomed several new members to the association and encouraged their participation.

The FMA 2008 Midyear Conference will be held Philadelphia. Planning for the conference is in the beginning stages and there will be several subcommittees for planning and executing the conference. Armentani encouraged all to participate and ensured that more information will be available in the upcoming months.

Guest speakers for the luncheon were Army Lt. Col. Mary Martin and Air Force Maj. Mary Garbowski. Both work in the Medical supply chain and shared their recent deployment experiences.

Martin discussed her deployment to Baghdad in Iraq to work with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Ministry of Health. She worked with a small team and their objective was to formulate a plan to get the CPA and Iraqi Health Ministry out of the crisis management mode and into a planned supply chain management business process for the acquisition and distribution of medical supplies.

“Basically, there was no automated system for ordering and managing their medical supplies,” said Martin. She explained that in many cases the shelves in the healthcare facilities were bare. While the team faced numerous challenges, they worked with the ministry to help set up the frame work and get them started on an acquisition system for ordering, maintaining and distributing supplies.

Air Force Maj. Mary Garbowski discussed her experiences in deploying with the Navy hospital ship, USNS Mercy on She discussed about having to learn the Navy lingo. “I had to learn to use terms like skivvies,” joked Garbowski.

The Mercy was deployed on a proactive humanitarian mission to Southeast Asia. Garbowski explained her role in the deployment and the various medical treatments she facilitated and administered.

The Mercy, which is basically a floating hospital, has all the capabilities of a major medical treatment facility. There is the capability to do basic medical evaluation and treatment, dental and optometry screening, eyewear distribution, preventive medicine treatment, general and ophthalmology surgery and public health services.

Both Martin and Garbowski clearly convened the importance of their deployments and how it relates back to improving their roles as medical logisticians.

For more information about Chapter 208 of the Federal Managers Association, please visit our website at https://dscpweb.dscp.dla.mil/fma/fma208.htm.

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) Chapter 128 at the Denver Mint hosted the 15th annual Mid-Year Conference this year in Denver, Colorado from August 9-12.

With the assistance of FMA Chapter 21 President Donnie McCall and Army Conference Chair Joe Guzman, Chapter 128 President Dennis Haberstumpf and a team of chapter volunteers from the Denver Mint did an outstanding job of coordinating the event from beginning to end. Among the many highlights were the special after-hours tour of the Denver Mint that was guided by the chapter members and the Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field.

“The conference couldn’t have run more smoothly,” FMA National President Darryl Perkinson commented. “The substance of the training sessions was relevant to some of the many challenges facing managers and the evening events gave the delegates a chance to have some fun. The entire week was a great success!”

Denver Mayor John W . Hickenlooper welcomed the delegates on the opening day of the meeting with an uplifting address about the value of public service and the important relationship between local, state and federal managers. The training day was divided into two half-day sessions on performance management: the first focused on collaborative coaching offered by the Department of Defense’s National Security Personnel System Program Executive Office; and the afternoon dealt with the problem employee, conducted by William Bransford, partner at the law firm of Shaw, Bransford, Veilleux and Roth, LLC and General Counsel for the Senior Executive Association.

A recurring theme in the meeting was the need for improved recruitment efforts and the challenge facing a federal workforce on the brink of a retirement tsunami. To reinforce FMA’s current membership campaign, Senior Membership Manager Kris Webster and Membership Recruitment Manager Shaney Sanders of the Denver-based Medical Group Management Association gave an informative presentation on effective tools for member recruitment and retention. In addition, a few of our chapter leaders moderated a robust and interactive discussion on how to keep members active and involved at the local level. Chapter Presidents Patricia Niehaus (Ch. 167, Travis Air Force Base), Jim Fell (Ch. 275, Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, Social Security Administration) and Jim Mahlmann (Ch. 3, Norfolk Naval Shipyard) gave tips and pointers on methods they’ve used over the years to maintain a vibrant chapter. Many delegates came away from the session equipped with new ideas for increasing grassroots activity at their own chapter and facility.

The FMA Manager of the Year Award was also presented at the meeting to an outstanding manager or supervisor in the federal government who is a current member of the Federal Managers Association. Chapters nominate one member to their respective Zone President, and that officer submits the name of nominee(s) and supporting documentation for consideration of the award. The selection committee reviews three main categories in determining the winner:

This year’s prestigious FMA Manager of the Year Award was given to Ms. Linda Johnson of Chapter 14, Puget Sounds Naval Shipyard (PSNS), in a crowded field of deserving finalists. Johnson serves as the Weapons Repair Department (WRD) Superintendent, where she is directly responsible for managing all phases of WRD daily operations including the administration of department civilian/military personnel, budget, security, payroll, technical issues and correspondence through direct supervision of four division heads and six staff codes. Johnson currently sits on the Executive Board of FMA Chapter 14.

For the 2006 FMA Manager of the Year Award, the selection committee reviewed the qualifications of five other strong finalists:

Perkinson said, “The selection committee was faced with a highly qualified group of outstanding nominees, and it was certainly a challenge to pick just one winner. I want to commend the significant achievements of our nominees and congratulate our award recipient, Linda Johnson. I encourage all of them to continue to demonstrate the type of leadership that allowed them to be finalists for this distinguished honor.”

The 15th Mid-Year Conference showed once again how the networking and camaraderie of TEAM FMA can produce great results on behalf of both the Association and the federal government at large. Be sure to mark your calendars now for the FMA 69th annual National Convention at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va. March 26-29, 2007 and the 16th annual Mid-Year Conference at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, Ca. August 22-25, 2007!

On Tuesday, May 9, 2006, National Vice President Donnie McCall represented the Federal Managers Association (FMA) at a meeting of the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council chaired by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda Springer. FMA, along with other employee representative groups (Senior Executives Association, American Federation of Government Employees, and National Treasury Employees Union) and community stakeholders are invited to meet with the Council and discuss current human capital management issues.

Chairman Springer led off the meeting by showing the four new commercials being aired in certain markets promoting federal employment. She then discussed the Council’s role in the federal government’s pandemic flu response and urged the CHCOs to inform their workforces about the steps being taken by the federal government.

Also in attendance were Dan Blair, Deputy Director, OPM; Nancy Kichak, Associate Director, OPM Strategic Human Resource Policy Division; Nanci Langley, Minority Deputy Staff Director, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on the Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia; Ron Martinson, Staff Director, House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization; and other congressional staff and federal community representation.

Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, gave the keynote address. He discussed the legislation he is preparing to introduce, the Federal Workforce Performance Appraisal and Management Improvement Act, which would require annual written performance reviews and eliminate pass/fail rating systems. It would also direct OPM to approve each agency’s evaluation system and emphasize training for managers on how to properly review employee performance. Further, employees would only earn the annual across-the-board pay increase or any within-grade increase with a “fully successful” rating. However, agencies would have to effectively conduct appraisals for at least one year before the evaluations could be used to make any pay determinations.

McCall addressed the Council with prepared remarks, and specifically mentioned Senator Voinovich’s proposal stating, “ We agree that a “pass/fail” system does not meet the threshold for a modern workforce, and would support an OPM certification process on an agency-by-agency basis. As we have stated previously in our testimony before your committee, performance management systems are only as good as their performance evaluation processes. Toward that end, we at FMA must remind the CHCO Council that a significant shift will have to take place in tasking managers to become human resources practitioners. In my organization, where supervisors oversee upwards of 50 employees, executing a rigid performance management system while still meeting the expectations of our own bosses may not be so obvious. In these cases, I hope that OPM, Congress, and the Council will keep in mind the varying demands of managers within their respective agencies so that supervisors are not tied up in paperwork doing their old job and that of an HR professional.”

Ms. Langley spoke on behalf of Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Haw.) about the recent field hearing in Honolulu on training for the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), which FMA testified at. She also expressed the Senator’s ongoing concerns about adequate training and funding of NSPS and MAX HR. Mr. Martinson spoke on behalf of Representative Jon Porter (R-Nev.) – Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization – who plans to continue to examine streamlining the appeals process for employees as well as modernizing health records to reduce medical errors and deaths that are caused by them.

For more information on the meeting and the discussion, please visit FMA online at www.fedmanagers.org.

FMA National President Darryl Perkinson and Director of Government and Public Affairs Thomas Richards joined host Bob Leins of the National Institute of Transition Planning for its weekly radio show, For Your Benefit, this past Saturday morning.

The show typically focuses on a specific area of retirement planning, from financial security, taxes, federal benefits, estate planning, to life after retirement and the latest rumors. Perkinson addressed many of the necessary reform efforts being pushed in Congress that deal with active-duty and retiree benefits.

Perkinson and Richards updated listeners on the status of a range of legislative issues, including measures to repeal of the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision (H.R. 147; S. 619), which reduce benefits for federal retirees and their surviving spouses. Additionally, they discussed the need for parity in the average annual pay raise between civilian and military personnel, in the tax treatment of federal civilians and military members serving in combat zones, and between active-duty and retired employees in contributing to their Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premiums with pre-tax dollars. The show participants also discussed movement on reforming the “use-it-or-lose-it” policy for federal employees’ sick leave under the Federal Employees Retirement System.

“The success of recruitment and retention efforts across government depends heavily on the appeal of the benefits being offered by the prospective employer,” Perkinson said after the show. “It’s important to work with Congress to enhance employee benefits to make the federal government an attractive option for the best and the brightest seeking employment. I’m so pleased to be able to discuss these issues in an open forum. I’d like to thank Bob and NITP for inviting FMA to be on the show.”

In concurrence with Public Service Recognition Week, the Council for Excellence in Government and the Washington Post headed a forum with Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) entitled, “Taking the Leap: Innovation and Results Through a New Public Service,” the fifth in an ongoing series. The event was moderated by the Council’s President and CEO Patricia McGinnis. FMA National Vice President Donnie McCall attended the briefing, along with FMA’s Government Affairs team.

Senator Voinovich, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, addressed several challenges to recruiting the best and the brightest to the civil service. He also spoke of the need for tools and flexibilities managers must have in order to hire the best. These flexibilities are becoming increasingly necessary as we begin to address the latest human capital crisis – the retirement of the “baby boomer” generation.

At the breakfast, Sen. Voinovich announced his plans to introduce a bill to transform the government's performance-appraisal system. Asked by McGinnis why he was not pursuing the administration's draft Working for America legislative proposal, Voinovich said the government needs to walk, rather than run, when installing performance-based pay systems. Voinovich pointed out that most employees do not understand performance appraisal systems, and by concentrating on performance first, any new system will be more effective.

“The open forum provided an excellent opportunity for the federal community to interact with one of the key players in Congress who deals with federal employee concerns,” FMA National Vice President McCall remarked.

Perkinson started his visit by attending the Week’s kick-off breakfast sponsored by GEICO and the Public Employees Roundtable at the Council for Excellence in Government, where Postmaster General John E. Potter, the event’s keynote speaker, thanked public servants for their devotion and extended the call to serve in government. U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Haw.), Office of Personnel Management Director Linda M. Springer, GEICO Chairman and President Tony Nicely , and Council for Excellence in Government President and CEO Patricia McGinnis also praised public employees in remarks at the breakfast.

Perkinson then joined the FMA National Office staff for the annual celebration on the National Mall, where over 100 federal civilian and military agencies exhibited the incredible work they do on behalf of our nation. There, he spoke with several government employees about what they do and why they chose a career in public service. Perkinson spent the rest of his short and busy time in Washington meeting with select Members of Congress and other members of the federal community.

Earlier in the week, the FMA Government Affairs staff attended a briefing with Senator Akaka, as well as a panel of distinguished experts, on the challenges of recruiting and retaining foreign language skills in the federal government. Currently, the government has a shortage of employees with foreign language skills – in particular Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Farsi and Pashto – that are critical to the government’s ability to operate effectively in today’s global environment. The panelists spoke on the challenges this shortage presents for agencies and offered new ways to recruit those who possess these critical skills to public service.

FMA Government Affairs staff also attended a briefing sponsored by the National Academy of Public Administration, where several Academy fellows spoke on how they utilized their leadership roles to leverage employee commitment to public service. In addition, several employees new to the federal government offered their experience and suggestions on how to recruit and retain young people to federal service.

“I am so fortunate to spend time in our nation’s capital recognizing the crucial work public servants perform for our communities and our country,” commented Perkinson. “With so many public employees set to retire in the next few years, this week was an excellent opportunity to promote avenues for serving our nation as well as dispel negative perceptions of public servants.”

Public Service Recognition Week, celebrated the first Monday through Sunday in May since 1985, is a time set aside each year to honor the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees. Throughout the nation and around the world, public employees use the week to educate citizens about the many ways in which government serves the people and how government services make life better for all of us.

On the afternoon of Wednesday April 12, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on the Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia held a field hearing in Honolulu, HI on the training, preparation and pending implementation of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) within the Department of Defense (DOD). John Priolo, former president of FMA Chapter 19, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard/Area and FMA Zone 7, presented FMA’s views on the build-up to implementation of the new system, which is scheduled for rollout at the end of this month.

Chairman George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Ranking Member Daniel Akaka (D-Haw.) presided over the two-and-a-half hour hearing and were the only subcommittee members present. This marked the third oversight hearing on the development and implementation of NSPS, with a fourth hearing scheduled for later this year.

Since November 2005, the final regulations for the NSPS have been in effect, and DOD has spent the better part of the last five months developing implementing issuances that detail the various components of the system. The original schedule and scope of the system was scaled back in January 2006, which had been the initial date of implementation, after questions were raised about the capabilities of the Department in moving forward so quickly. The implementation of the first wave of employees, Spiral 1.1, is now scheduled for April 30 th and plans to include some 11,000 people across the Department.

In his opening statement, Chairman Voinovich commented on the rollout schedule, “I was concerned right from the start that the implementation schedule for NSPS was much too fast. In fact, when it appeared that the Defense Department might try to put NSPS into effect by October 2004, less than a year after it was authorized, I scheduled a meeting with the Department’s top leaders.”

On the first panel of witnesses were representatives from the DOD installations set to bring employees under the new system in Spiral 1.1 at the end of this month:

Their message was a unified confirmation to the senators that they are prepared with the resources to roll out the new system, and that the outline of the final regulations matched the minutia of the implementing issuances, including adherence to provisions such as veteran’s preference and merit system principles.

Union representatives Benjamin Toyama, the International Vice President of the International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers, and Don Bongo, the newly elected Vice President of the Hawaii Federal Area Metal Trades Council of the AFL-CIO, testified on the second panel along with Priolo. This represented the fifth time FMA has testified on the issue of the NSPS before Congress, and the message remained the same. Proper communication, training and funding are essential to the eventual rollout of the new system. The front-line managers and supervisors are the ones who will make or break the system, and it is up to the leadership of the Department to give them adequate resources to be successful.

Priolo said in his opening statement, “ Managers, supervisors and employees throughout the Department of Defense await a system that many question whether it will actually come to fruition. Their skepticism is rooted in a lack of adequate communication that clearly indicates the expectations and timeframe for training and enrolling employees in the new system. Despite such concerns, the men and women of the defense workforce are committed to meet any challenge head on, and we are still optimistic that the new personnel system may help bring together the mission and goals of the Department with its on-the-ground functions.”

Senator Akaka echoed many of the same sentiments as FMA’s Priolo in his opening statement, highlighting the need for training to accomplish the task. He summed up the challenge by saying, “DOD civilian managers – who are the backbone of this new system – must have training that will provide them with the skills and understanding to foster collaborative relationships with their employees, especially in areas like developing what NSPS calls ‘shared expectations of performance.’ We must make certain that managers – over half of whom are eligible for retirement – are given the support and resources necessary to carry out the implementation of NSPS, including access to additional training and funding.”

To see a full copy of Priolo’s testimony, please visit FMA online at www.fedmanagers.org.

FMA members from across the country came together the week of March 26th in Crystal City, Va. for the 68th annual National Convention. This year’s Convention theme, “The Dawn of a New Civil Service: Forging Ahead,” provoked practical discussion about changes in the civil service in the wake of new personnel reforms and the impact these changes will have on America’s workforce.

The Convention started off on a bittersweet note, as this was the last official meeting for 16-year FMA National President Michael B. Styles in his capacity as president. FMA National Vice President Darryl Perkinson was elected to serve as President, effective at the conclusion of the Convention. Styles was appointed President Emeritus of the Association upon his retirement from the National Executive Board. FMA Zone 3 President Donnie McCall was also chosen to fill the Vice President seat until a special election is held at the FMA 15th annual Mid-Year Conference in August.

Chuck Maloney and Barbara Beach of Management Concepts led an interactive session on leadership principles in the federal sector, where they shared work and life experiences with delegates.

The theme of the training day was “Preparing for the Future: Human Capital Strategies.” Kicking off the training day was Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Deputy Director Dan Blair, who covered OPM’s recently released Strategic and Operational Plan for 2006-2010. Following the keynote address, four different panels of experts spoke to delegates on trends and challenges in the current human capital management environment. Topics for the panels were: Recruitment Management, Learning Management, Performance Management, and Workforce Management. In particular, the Performance Management panel – representing the Department of Defense’s National Security Personnel System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service – gathered strong interest, as those agencies have implemented or are considering implementing new “pay-for-performance” compensation reforms.

As usual, the annual Day on the Hill was action-packed, as FMA members bumped into one another all day long across the Capitol grounds. This exhilarating day was topped off with a farewell dinner to Styles, where friends throughout the federal community recognized his contributions to the civil service during his remarkable 16-year tenure as FMA national president. The signature award presented at the FMA National Convention is the announcement of the Gilbert N. Guidry Award winner. This annual award is presented to the outstanding Federal Managers Association Chapter President. In recognition of his/her excellent leadership and dedication to FMA, the Gil Guidry Award winner receives a gold lifetime membership card with our Association. The Gil Guidry Award winner for the year 2005 is George J. Smith, President of Chapter 11, Zone 3, NAVAIR Depot in Jacksonville, Fl. Also presented was the President’s Award, which acknowledges the FMA Chapter that displayed outstanding leadership and service to its facility, community, agency and nation during the past year. The 2005 winner was Chapter 216, Bureau of Engraving & Printing, Washington, DC. Lastly, the Odell GreenAward recognizes excellence by a member of the General Executive Board in the preceding year. The Odell Green Award recipient for 2005 was Michael B. Styles.

Last week, FMA was invited by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to attend a briefing unveiling the details of the OPM Fiscal Year 2007 Budget. FMA Government Affairs Assistant Jessica Klement attended this important session on behalf of the organization.

Clarence Crawford , OPM Chief Financial Officer, laid out OPM’s “Budget Themes,” reflective of Director LindaSpringer’s priorities for FY07 to the small group of invitees. On top of OPM’s list is an improvement of retirement benefits administration for federal employees. Other priorities include personnel reform and performance management, the introduction of a dental/vision benefits program, and expanded options for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), among others.

Don Winstead , OPM Deputy Associate Director for Pay and Performance Policy, discussed the Administration’s proposed 2.2% pay raise and how it will be implemented. The amount of the proposed increase is equal to the increase in the Employment Cost Index for the 12-month period ending September 2005, thus keeping the federal government relative to the overall labor market. This portion of the budget includes a proposal to give the President the flexibility to allocate a portion of the pay raise to special rate increases. However, Congress will ultimately decide whether or not to give the President this authority. In addition, the budget includes $2.1 million in new funding for market-based compensation and performance appraisal systems.

Nancy Kichak , OPM Associate Director for Strategic Human Resources Policy, discussed retirement and health care improvement with the group. The FY07 budget requests $26.7 million to continue the conversion of paper retirement records to an electronic system. The budget also proposes adding a high-deductible plan to the options offered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Assuming 200,000 participants enter the new plan, the proposal would reduce mandatory spending by $3.4 billion over 10 years.

Overall, OPM requested roughly $36.6 billion in spending for FY07, 99% of which is mandatory. This is about a $1 million increase over fiscal year 2006.