-----Original Message----- From: Gregory, Joe - Smithfield, NC [mailto:Joe.Gregory@nc.usda.gov] Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:25 PM To: Atkinson, Denise - Wilson, NC; Beneville, Karen - Hillsborough, NC; Best, Evalena - Smithfield, NC; Fink, Martha - Raleigh, NC; Flood, Suzie - Wilson, NC; Fulcher, Adele - Roxboro, NC; Gardner, Gina - Smithfield, NC; Hight, Denise - Henderson, NC; Hinnant, Vickie - Wilson, NC; Matthews, Annette - Smithfield, NC; McBryde, David - Wilson, NC; Miller, Keith - Statesville, NC; Newby, Nancy - Oxford, NC; Peedin, Lisa - Smithfield, NC; Price, Beth - Smithfield, NC; Rice, Sally - Raleigh, NC; Satterfield, Robert - Roxboro, NC; Sturdivant, Tina - Hillsborough, NC; Surles, Nora - Smithfield, NC; Weatherly, Melissa - Raleigh, NC; Williams, Jane - Louisburg, NC; Williamson, Lib - Roxboro, NC Subject: FW: Letter to Membership Importance: High -----Original Message----- From: Pollard, Pamela - Albemarle, NC [mailto:Pamela.Pollard@nc.usda.gov] Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 1:56 PM To: Bradshaw, Virginia - Hendersonville, NC; Burnette, Neil - Wentworth, NC; Cox, Diane - Jacksonville, NC; Davis2, William - Dallas, NC; Davis3, Dianne - Rutherfordton, NC; Dillard, Lorraine - Asheboro, NC; Fulcher, Adele - Roxboro, NC; Gardner, Brad - Windsor, NC; Goodrich, William - Clinton, NC; Gregory, Denise - Elizabeth City, NC; Gregory, Joe - Smithfield, NC; Johnson, Kenny - Tarboro, NC; Johnson, Vickie - Winston Salem, NC; Krauss, Cheryl - Alliance, NC; Lail, Keith - Shelby, NC; Leffelman, Dale - Greenville, NC; McBryde, David - Wilson, NC; Modlin, Wendy - Gatesville, NC; Rawls, Lesa - Jacksonville, NC; Rose, Bobby - Williamston, NC; Rumfelt, Kim - Morganton, NC; Satterfield, Robert - Roxboro, NC; Smith, Bud - Boone, NC; Smith, Walter - Yadkinville, NC; Speas, Rodney - Greensboro, NC; Thomason, Henry - Fayetteville, NC; Wooten, Kevin - Columbia, NC Cc: Setser, Jeanie - Washington, NC; Mills, Martha - Waynesville, NC Subject: FW: Letter to Membership Importance: High -----Original Message----- From: Fussell, Cliff - Fitzgerald, GA [mailto:Cliff.Fussell@ga.usda.gov] Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:49 AM Importance: High Hello NASCOE Members: West Virginia woke up this morning to continued frigid temperatures and new accumulation of snow. The snow is pretty, but I'm ready for tulips and green grass! Some information for you: NASCOE's Reorg Task Force Meeting - I know many of you are very interested in this project. The task force met this past weekend and will be providing a report as soon as possible. The group was adamant that any reorganization efforts by NASCOE would be membership-driven. Communication from members will be the driving force of this effort. We will be establishing a "Reorg" web page where information will be posted, Frequently Asked Questions will be answered, research materials, and a conduit for you to submit your questions, comments, and ideas. Stay tuned! The Awards policy has been issued in Notice PM-2631. As expected there are many questions about this policy. Some states are providing some training through district meetings. If you have questions that you feel NASCOE should address, please provide those questions through your state association to the Area Exec. Leasing - We are all aware of the problems with getting service center leases approved. Notice AO-1404 announces 16 positions for Real Property Leasing Officers. These positions will be scattered amongst the states and headquartered in STO's. Some will cover only one state, some will cover several states, and I believe the entire NEA will be covered out of WDC. As far as I know, the original language for CO leasing did not make it back into the Farm Bill although some folks still have hopes that it will be included in conference. My understanding is that even if the language had been re-inserted more oversight of CO leasing would still be required. It is my understanding that some additional training is being scheduled for EO/AO on current leasing rules (GSA rules). When you consider the hiring process, the training required, etc. - it may be up to a year before the 16 new RPLOs are fully functional in leasing. Hopefully, all of this will relieve some of the hold up in getting leases signed and in place. MIDAS - The new head of MIDAS Patrick Hanley seems to have swung into action to get this project off the grouond. I have not personally met him, but have heard only good things about him. The MIDAS folks have selected 6 or 8 CO sites to visit. Some of you may have been invited to participate. The process of "Lean Six Sigma" is being used to facilitate gaining information and identifying where efficiencies might be realized in administering our programs while maintaining productivity. There is some classification of participants in training such as "green belt", "black belt" etc. Even with the "belts" this sounds like a very positive start for this project. I know we sent in streamlining suggestions a few years ago and almost all suggestions were "shot down" for one reason or another. However, I can't help but be optimistic about this project! I hope to be able to attend a few days of one of the sessions. CPTs - There has been some discussion of downgrading some CPTs. Criteria for downgrading is in 27-PM. Downgrading of CPTs does not result in any money savings for the first three years and very little money saving after three years. At this time there is no provision for grandfathering of CPTs. PT and CED Classification - WDC assures me that they are not ignoring the need to review the PT classification, they just have limited resources, as everyone through the agency does, and therefore they had to prioritize projects. It is my understanding that completing the CED classification review was determined to be the first priority for CO classification. Once that is completed the PT review will begin. Currently they are continuing the CED classification with the task group's recommend matrix. They have all the data now and have completed approximately 30%. The hope is to have the rest completed by the end of March. Once that is completed they will start on the review of future PT classification. With the new ARS reporting system, Report 14 will not be avialable and the process for classifying PTs has to be changed. I have been assured that the position descriptions submitted by NASCOE will be a part of the review of the PT Classification process. I have asked to have NASCOE representatives participating in that review. Mark VanHoose has agreed to provide some basics on classification. The NASCOE work group will also be looking at some additional PDs. Negotiations FSA/NASCOE - The Negotiation Consultants have been working to write up the NASCOE positions on issues identified by membership. States will be receiving some surveys on specific issues. By returning the completed survey you can assist us in presenting a true picture of the issue to management. The Negotiation meeting will be the end of April in WDC. A news article brought forth a question, "Does FSA take any money from program dollars for administrative expenses?" The short answer is NO. My understanding is that FSA receives its administrative expenses from four main sources of funds; 1. Direct Salaries and Expenses (S&E) appropriation. 2. Transfers from separately appropriated credit reform accounts for administratives expenses associated with implementing those programs (i.e., agricultural credit insurance fund, CCC export credit programs and farm storage facility loans) 3. Reimbursements from other agencies for services provided. 4. Authorized transfers for collections of approved user fees such as measurment, loan and warehouse fees. Again it is my understanding that FSA does not have the legal authority to nor has it ever used funds from earmarked accounts to fund associated administrative expenses necessary to implement approved earmarked programs. NASCOE Web site - I again would encourage you to visit the NASCOE Web often for current information. You can subscribe to receive an e-mail when updates are made. The e-mail lists the subjects updated to help you determine if you want to check them out. Communication is one area that I think we can always improve. One new feature on the web site is "Ask Me". Each of the web pages of officers, execs, and committe chairs have an "Ask Me" button. The purpose of this is to provide an easy access to members or anyone who has a question about NASCOE to contact one of us. PII - A letter from Administrator Lasseter was received yesterday. Please be careful that you are following the guidelines to protect PII. A misstep in this process hurts all of us with lost time, lost funds, and can have devastating consequences to our customers. Sometimes the guidelines for protecting PII seem redundant or silly. That perception changes very quickly if there is a breach of the protection of information that has been entrusted to us. AgLearn - I hesitate to even broach this subject with you after the recent required training, and all that went along with it. I just want to tell you that the frustration with it is shared by all as everyone had to complete the training. Our Administrator is doing everything she can to improve not only this process but all of the IT issues. Remember the IT problems developed over a long period of time, and can't be resolved quickly. Does that mean we have to accept it as broken? No, please continue to identify problems with the system to continue to raise the awareness of the problems. Thank you for your membership and your interest in the success of our organization. I encourage you to contact me if I can be of assistance to you. Bonnie