A Message From President Foster
There is a book titled “Who Moved My Cheese” that emphasizes the importance of adapting to change while four characters navigate a maze looking for the cheese. Our cheese is moving daily, creating anxiety and uncertainty as we navigate the maze. It is easier said than done, but the key to navigating the USDA/FPAC/FSA maze is to concentrate on the things we can control while trusting our leadership.
There have been several twists in the maze as of late including media reports that specifically mention USDA, FPAC, and FSA being restructured. The latest media reports indicate a plan to implement a smaller footprint of FSA county offices. There are articles and emails from USDA that refer to relocating staff to hubs closer in proximity to the USDA customers. Congress passed the budget resolution that potentially affects the benefits of federal employees and retirees. All these articles suggest changes at all levels of USDA, FPAC, and FSA.
Not all the social media and traditional media reports are 100% accurate. The truth is always in the middle. NASCOE has been working every day to separate fact from fiction whether it be communicating directly with the National Office or working with our Legislative Consultant, Hunter Moorhead. The NASCOE Legislative Team will be providing information within the next few days to help clarify the current events.
NASCOE made in-person visits to Washington, DC in early December to meet with Senators and Representatives. In addition, we met with National Office staff to emphasize that NASCOE wants to be part of the solution and to have input into the decisions affecting not only our members but all FSA employees. There has been constant communication with the National Office expressing the concerns of NASCOE membership. NASCOE is making plans to make additional in-person visits to our Senators and Representatives along with USDA, FPAC, and FSA leadership. NASCOE will continue to educate the decision makers on the FSA mission and importance of the County Committee system.
It is important to remember plans are subject to change and will evolve. I have confidence our National Office leadership team is doing everything in their power to protect the infrastructure of how we deliver assistance to our customers, including situations where we need to adapt to provide staff coverage in those offices with employees voluntarily selecting options such as the DRP. This leadership team, many of which have come up through the ranks, are invested and passionate in our mission and always have the employees’ best interest at heart.
There are people that believe in the mission of FSA and the services that we provide. The one thing we can control is to continue to provide excellent customer service to our friends and neighbors in their time of need in this downward ag economy. We need to continue proving the importance of our mission by delivering our traditional programs along with the ad hoc programs such as ECAP to the best of our abilities.
The cheese is moving daily, change is inevitable, and how we react to those changes is completely in our own control. For those items we cannot control, you can be assured that we have great leadership helping us navigate this USDA/FPAC/FSA maze. This is not the first time NASCOE and FSA have faced uncertainty, and it will not be the last time.
The organizational structure of USDA/FPAC/FSA has changed several times over the years. Through all these changes and evolution, there has been one constant, NASCOE, the only association that can negotiate with USDA/FPAC/FSA Management on your behalf.
There is strength in numbers, and having a high membership percentage is more important than ever. NASCOE having strong membership is very influential when we are meeting with USDA, FPAC, and FSA management. It also enables our Legislative Consultant, Hunter Moorhead, to have a strong voice on our behalf.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to NASCOE leadership as our contact information is on the NASCOE website at National Association of FSA County Office Employees. The NASCOE email is just like our work emails with firstname.lastname@nascoe.org. My NASCOE email address is joel.foster@nascoe.org and my personal cell phone is 605-949-2303. You may also contact any of the Officers or your Area Executives. The NASCOE legislative Team can provide guidance on the appropriate tools to use in the event you are in contact with your Senators and Representatives.
Best Regards,
Joel Foster
NASCOE President