The 2^nd Annual All South Rally recently took place March 9-12, 2006 in beautiful downtown San Antonio, Texas.  TASCOE did a remarkable job executing this enormous task, and the southern Texas hospitality was fabulous!  The weather was quite warm with temperatures hovering around the 90+ degree mark. 

and hearing FSA Administrator Teresa Lasseter speak, as well as Deputy Administrator of Farm Operations Steve Connelly, and Assistant Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs Craig Trimm.  Our very own Myron Stroup was present as well serving as the SWA Executive and complimenting him from the SEA was Executive Morris O’Quinn.  Jim Mace from J M Marketing was present too.

The following is excerpted information from notes compiled by KASCOE VP-Sean Rafferty, Secretary/Treasurer-Norma McConkey and myself of the meetings attended.  We learned so much from the speakers and believe the following expounds on the high points that each of them shared: 

Dan Root, President, NASCOE
Explained that the time involved serving as a NASCOE officer was very demanding.  Last year, NASCOE activities consumed approximately 32 weekends of our officers’ personal time, which didn’t include state convention visits.  He clarified that NASCOE implemented a 1-year trial to travel policy which asked Area Executives to visit state conventions and speak on their behalf.  He indicated receiving both positive and negative comments regarding this travel policy change.  He welcomes comments from the membership on their opinions regarding this policy’s future.

Larry Segars, Secretary/Treasurer, NASCOE
Along with the temporary travel policy change NASCOE also made some changes trying to cut back on spending.  He explained that NASCOE has approximately $450,000 of funds available for FY 2006, adding that about $372,000 was actually needed to operate with annually.  It was the Board’s intent to try and keep at least 1-year of operating funds in reserve for future uses, including times of emergency.  To date, NASCOE has about $300,000 in bonds which only the President and Vice-President have access to.    

Because the Area Executives have been taking on additional duties NASCOE will now compensate them fully for travel expenses, while Area Executive Alternates will only receive $250 compensation when attending a rally or convention.

NASCOE membership is down from 9,500 members to about 8,900 members.  As more money is being spent on increased fuel, hotel, airfare, and etc. expenses, funds in NASCOE’s reserve may decrease as less money is coming in from membership dues.

Jim Mace, J M Marketing
State associations need to be aware that they have been mailing letters out to those members who haven’t been paying their dues which has delayed JMM programs from being implemented and/or benefits from being paid.  Additionally, he was quite pleased with the participation numbers in JMM’s new Dental program.  He shared that this program is the most popular they have with ‘zero’ complaints on it.  Also, he was happy to share that to date approximately $22 million dollars has been paid out to participating members for cancer/stroke policy benefits.  Mr. Mace then shared that JMM was currently offering a Guaranteed Life Insurance policy which would guarantee acceptance without any pre-qualifying questions being asked.  He added that associate members could be eligible for this insurance as well.  Remember, anyone who pays NASCOE associate membership dues could qualify as an ‘associate’, (i.e. family members, COC members, friends, etc.).

But as NASCOE and many other groups are suffering from budget crunching, JMM indicated that they were trying to cut costs too and would start allowing members to access and print off forms from their website:  www.jmmarketing.biz.  He pointed out that the annual mailing he sends out to COFs costs $13,000 of which 80% of COF’s immediately dump in the trash.  Additionally, applications/accounts would only be accessible through voice-print technology.  Simply put, Mr. Mace shared that the voice actually has a more secured print characteristics than finger prints did.  Interesting sounding technology!

Teresa Lasseter, Administrator, FSA-WDC
Mrs. Lasseter shared her personal history as she started out in 1977 as Program Technician, then became a CED, a DD, a COR, an SED, and then started working in WDC.  After several years there her and her husband thought they’d retire, but one of her Senator’s contacted her asking that she come back to FSA and help restore its original strength in agriculture by pulling everyone together.  She added that she hoped to make things better and expressed great appreciation for her ‘family’ relationships she built during her earlier career with the FSA employees and members of NASCOE.

The most important thing she shared which complimented the belief of everyone in the audience was that the Customer is the reason we all exist.  Without them, none of us have a job.

Mrs. Lasseter then addressed the former FSA Tomorrow plan by stating that it was ‘dead’.  She continued by pointing out that the new FSA Optimization initiative is a much more ‘transparent’ approach to allow each State to develop on their own plans that make sense for their own situations.  In a memo sent to all SEDs she instructed them to form a committee to identify what the optimum network of FSA facilities, staffing, training, and technology should be for their respective State within existing budgetary resources and staffing ceilings.  Furthermore, SEDs should explore potential joint-effort opportunities with other USDA Agencies.  She added that she strongly encouraged SEDs and STCs to invite all applicable stakeholders and employee agencies to participate on the committee.  Basically, to give the audience direction on how they should approach this task, she stated that they should ‘turn over every rock’ when trying to discover ideas and plans that could achieve the task.

She reminded everyone on the importance that they each should focus their own personal lives towards:  1^st-Family, 2^nd-Self, 3^rd-Faith, 4^th-Job.

Steve Connelly, Deputy Administrator of Farm Operations (DAFO), FSA-WDC
Mr. Connelly came to FSA about four years ago from a dairy farm operation in Maryland.  He expressed an enormous appreciation for the current relationship that NASCOE had with FSA.  He believes the open communications that the current NASCOE leadership was maintaining would not only benefit FSA’s mission but the farmers and ranchers we all serve.

He pointed out that work on the next farm bill had just started and it was interesting to realize that 92% of the program payments go to only 5 crops:  wheat, corn, cotton, rice, soybeans.  He expects that the 2007 farm bill might have an additional focus on specialty/value added crops as well, which will bring more players to the table.

Since 2003, FSA’s budget has not been funded as requested and unfunded mandates (i.e. tobacco buyout, disaster, pay raises, etc.) has forced the Agency to dip into Salaries & Expenses to pay for them.  [NASCOE made sure this detail was shared with the Congressional representatives that were visited during the 2006 Legislative Conference in WDC last week (Feb.27-Mar.2).]

Mr. Connelly reiterated that the FSA Tomorrow plan was ‘dead’.  He clarified though that the problems haven’t gone away and important changes were still needed.  A plan needs to be developed that will address the needs with the resources we have available.  Nationally, 11 COFs were closed / consolidated in 2003, in 2004 – 12, in 2005 – 12.  Additionally, there are approximately 1,000 COFs with 3 or less employees, 560 COFs with 3 employees, 370 COFs with 2 or less employees, 144 COFs with 1 employee, and 266 COFs that are Shared-Management.     

In regards to the FSA Optimization plans, Mr. Connelly pointed out that FSA needs to get the right people in the right place.  He clarified that the SEDs have not been given a specific time line that they must adhere to when developing plans through their own respective State Review Committee.  However, it’s hoped that there will be a 30-day turn around time from when WDC receives the plans to reviewing and approving them and returning them back to SEDs for implementation.  He added that the plans were required to be reviewed with congressional representatives as well before final approval.  Once plans were returned to the States, SEDs would be required to host public meetings in proposed counties where office(s) were targeted for closure/consolidation.  Mr. Connelly mentioned that it was FSA’s plan to ensure that producers impacted by any such decisions be accommodated as much as possible including allowing them to transfer their records to a contiguous COF of their choice.  To date, only two states have submitted final plans, Virginia & Wyoming. 

Craig Trimm, Assistant Deputy Administrator of Farm Programs (DAFP), FSA-WDC
Mr. Trimm was a former DD from Texas who fit right in with the majority of members in attendance at the rally.  Believes it is very important that FSA ‘do the right thing’.  DAFP is committed, along with FSA, to ensuring that FSA maintains the value of accountability with the programs we deliver and the budget we are required to work with.  FSA must learn to work smarter with fewer resources because private businesses that continue to survive today have already done that.  Those who have failed are no longer in business.  This cannot happen to FSA, we must change.  eGov is one avenue that needs to be improved upon.

Myron Stroup, Southwest Area Executive, NASCOE
Myron did a good job reenergizing the members on remaining positive in the face of adversity.  Adding that it was important that we sell our capabilities and performance record to Congress and those who believe it’s important to get more value for each dollar expended.  He encouraged each to remain vigilant and to get active in working with the SED on the State Review Committee.