bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 1 (2012) — Winter 2012 // Hiver 2012, p. 13
Established in 1976, the Foreign Service Community Association (FSCA/ACSE) is a volunteer-based organization fostering a sense of community among members from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) headquarters employees, other Canadian public servants working abroad, and their spouses.
The FSCA seeks to maintain a balance among elected members of its Executive Committee, drawing on a wide range of individuals with connections to DFAIT and beyond. These include employees of DFAIT and other departments represented abroad, spouses, and retirees; some have extensive experience at missions (either as employees or spouses), others have yet to enjoy their first foreign assignment. A list of members of the Executive Committee for 2012/13 can be found on the FSCA web site, www.fsca-acse.org.
J’ai a été élue Présidente de l’ACSE en mai 2011. Après 35 ans de service à la centrale et à l’étranger, notamment à Georgetown, Bruxelles, Lima, La Havane, Islamabad et Kuala Lumpur, j’ai pris ma retraite en mars 2012, ce qui me permet de donner plus de temps aux activités de l’ACSE.
Glen Dixon became Executive Director of the FSCA in 2009. She has extensive international experience — most recently as the Executive Director of the American Business Group (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) in Abu Dhabi where she was on posting with her DFAIT spouse. Glen has lived in Turkey and has been on postings in Iran and Abu Dhabi.
The FSCA enables peer-to-peer networking and advocates for positive change. Members abroad and at headquarters are encouraged to use the FSCA website online forums to meet other members, share experience, exchange ideas, offer assistance, become involved in issues that affect members of the foreign service community, and to add their voice and expertise to improve life at home and abroad.
We liaise and cooperate with DFAIT’s Human Resources Bureau on spousal issues, making representations at the Deputy and Assistant Deputy Minister levels. We seek to improve conditions of service — changes occurring across Federal Government are expected to introduce additional challenges for members of the foreign service community in 2012/13. The latter includes proposed amendments to Bill C-37 of the Citizenship Act to safeguard the citizenship of future generations of children born abroad to foreign service employees.
En 2011/12, environ 400 membres de l’ACSE, ainsi que des époux/épouses et des employé(e)s ont participé a une série de séances a l’heure du midi, organisées par PACSE. La plupart de ces séances ont pris la forme de conseils financiers, pour aider les employés à se préparer à partir en poste à l’étranger, à comprendre les risques et implications d’un investissement immobilier aux Etats-Unis, les options d’investissements sans impôts pour la retraite, la planification successorale, les investissements immobiliers, et le départ à la retraite de la Fonction publique. En plus, une fois par année, l’auteure bien connue et épouse d’un Chef de Mission à la retraite, Margaret Dickenson, offre une séance qui traite de l’étiquette et du protocole.
The FSCA offers assistance to employees and spouses adapting to life in Ottawa or are new to Canada. We facilitate ad hoc meetings with groups of foreign-born spouses. Participation in this group generally increases in the Fall when employees return from assignments abroad and diminishes over the Winter as spouses settle in and find employment.
L’ACSE réunit un sentiment de communauté avec des activités de réseautage, de volontariat et de philanthropie. La Vente d’artisanat en décembre et la Vente du printemps, en mai, offrent des opportunités aux employé(e)s et époux/épouses de vendre leurs objets d’artisanat, que ce soient des bijoux faits main, des bouquets originaux ou des gâteaux sans gluten, et d’aider ainsi la Banque alimentaire d’Ottawa. Au mois de mars chaque année, des bénévoles de l’ACSE vendent des jonquilles au bénéfice de la Société canadienne du Cancer, et en octobre et novembre organisent une Exposition d’art et un Vernissage. Ils participent aussi à d’autres activités tout au long de l’année.
The FSCA has received grants from DFAIT, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency and works to maintain and expand the number of supporting departments. There is a modest membership fee. Benefits of membership include access to on-line forums, advance notice of and registration for activities and events, and discounted fees for certain events.
The FSCA office is located in the Pearson Building at 125 Sussex Drive (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays). Given the new security procedures at the Pearson Building, visitors without a valid DFAIT pass are encouraged to send an email to arrange an appointment and to facilitate access.
Helen Boutilier-Inglis is recently retired Management Consular Officer and the President of the FSCA.
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Originally published in / Publié à l’origine dans bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 1 (2012) — Winter 2012 // Hiver 2012, p. 13. Read the rest of this issue / Lire le reste de ce numéro →
