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                            NASCOE Organizational Meeting Report
                                       September 29, 2007

NASCOE Officers, Executive Committeepersons, and National Committee Chairpersons met September 23 and 24 in Omaha, Nebraska for the annual organizational meeting. This year the meeting was especially important because of the large number of new people serving on these committees.

Much of the meeting was spent reviewing all the leadership team�s responsibilities and acting on the recommendations of the committees that were set at the national convention in Myrtle Beach. Members should expect to see committee reports on the NASCOE website detailing the actions taken on the recommendations.

Considerable time was also spent on the following topics:

� NASCOE�s Annual Operating Budget � Unfortunately NASCOE�s income stream relies solely on the $40 per member dues with very little opportunity for more income because of the fairly constant membership base of about 8000. This year�s budget projects a deficit of $8000 or more, and even though our sizeable reserve will allow us to operate for several years without requesting a dues increase, concern with unexpected expenses involving legislative costs and legal fees makes a future decision about a dues increase or service decrease likely.

The method of distribution of the quarterly NASCOE newsletter is a prime example of this fiscal decision. Currently the printing and mailing costs are projected to be almost $40,000 annually or about $5 per member. If the newsletter were distributed electronically to FSA county offices, more than $1000 in postage costs alone could be saved on each issue. Your NASCOE leadership will need membership�s input on potential cost saving plans like electronic newsletter distribution.

NASCOE�s legislative efforts have become our largest single expense, with the cost expected to escalate to well over $10 per member in the next few years. Again we need to hear from membership on the need for such a substantial expenditure.

� PT Classification � NASCOE has hired Marilyn Pate, a retired classifier, to help write some position descriptions for new county office positions that would provide upward mobility opportunities for at least some PTs. NASCOE has been trying for years to have management re-classify the PT position to provide advancement opportunities. Very soon, NASCOE plans to request that FSA management consider our newly proposed positions hoping to re-open a dialog with management on these PT positions and higher grades.

� Safe Communications � Recently all employees were warned about using government equipment to lobby. In the past NASCOE has also been cautioned not to solicit membership using government equipment or email addresses.

Your NASCOE leadership has recently taken steps to be certain that we remain compliant with the communication restrictions. For example, all of the leadership team�s internal email communication will be from non-government computers to non-government email addresses. Additionally much of my communication to state presidents and area committee chairs will be to their non-government email.

It is NASCOE�s plan to continue the vital communication with our members through our newsletter, �NASCOE Now�, the NASCOE website, and emails sent to members� government email addresses from our non-government computers and our non-government email accounts.

Never forward email from a government computer or government email address if it contains legislative or membership solicitation subject matter.

� Legislative Activity � During the second week of September, about 30 NASCOE   members were asked to fly in to Washington to deliver our message on conservation program administration to key members of the Senate. We are still hopeful that the Senate version of the new farm bill will have language supporting our position.

We are not planning a NASCOE legislative conference this year, but we need to continue working legislatively by increasing the number of our members involved with Cap Wiz and the PAC. I am asking our NEA state associations to make this a priority.

� November Meeting � In early November, NASCOE Officers and Executive Committeepersons will be in Washington meeting with FSA management to follow up on the items negotiated earlier this year and to discuss other current issues.

New items of concern and member issues can be forwarded through the NEA state association presidents to me.