Vice President's Report

October 2011

Not sure where this summer went, but I think I missed it! I also missed the NWA Rally and
NASCOE Convention, but this year I needed to spend time with sisters. I did truly miss not
attending, but I did enjoy spending time with family. I am fortunate to have 3 sisters and my
parents and when one is in need the others will be there. They are very important to me.
As a new membership year of SDASCOE/NASCOE comes around it is time to once again put the
push on the importance of our employee organization. We need all of you and you need
SDASCOE/NASCOE with all the things going on. The same as my family by blood FSA
employees have a strong bond as a family and we need to be there for each other in order to
survive and do the job efficiently for our customers. There are many things that will affect each of
us from:

Budget cuts running our number of employees in an office vs the staff to get the job done,
The mood of congress on cutting salary, benefits and programs
Will management look for an excuse to close offices using the budget as their tool
Will they try to change the county committee system so that they only hear appeals – we
have lost so much already with conference calls and only 4 face to face meetings a year

This brings me to my point! We need you! Have you signed up for the PAC? It is my
understanding that enrollment is 4% of the members. What would $3 a pay period hurt (2 bottles
of pop)? What would it help? …..Our NASCOE PAC is the single best tool we have to help us get
things done in Washington, DC. It delivers our message outlining the priorities necessary for our
employees and agency to serve rural America. Do YOU care enough about YOUR job, benefits
and your FSA family to give your support to the NASCOE PAC? It is easy to do and I would be
happy to help you or please contact your SD Legislative team Bill Chase and E. J. Goetz. This is
when it is important to be #1 or in the top ten of the nation’s PAC as Congress takes notice. It is
achievable to be the #1 PAC with your contribution!

Another tool is CAP WIZ – are you signed up? Nationally there are 4,000 signed up but recent
alerts have shown our mood in FSA and it is low. The responses have been very low – I need
your support as an employee as everyone needs your support. Please do not sit back and think
others will send the alerts – it takes very little of your time and it helps all of our FSA family! Most
importantly it helps our customers who are our family, friends and neighbors. Let’s get inspired
and take the time to do such a small part. We are going to need all of your support with the next
farm bill and with the protection of our salaries and benefits.

Other things you could do is consider joining NAFEC and talking to your County Committee about
NAFEC and assist them in joining. They potentially can be a strong voice for FSA programs.

Get to know your local congressional aids; let them and others know what FSA is and what we
can do for the farmers and ranchers of rural America!

Last but not least – I thank you for being a member of SDASCOE/NASCOE and if you are one of
the few that are not a member please consider becoming a member today! We need your
support! As always; if you have any questions please ask.

Becky Zirpel
flyingz@gwtc.net
C) 605.999.2290
H) 605.775.3028
O) 605.775.9122 X 104

Vice President's Report

Notes From the Vice President

sdascoe@yahoo.com

SDASCOE