NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 

FOR OFFICE 

PROFESSIONALS 

AND 

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL 

ADVISORY COUNCILS 

ANNUAL REPORT — 2004 

Prepared By 

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 

OFFICE PROFESSIONALS 

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE PROFESSIONALS 

 ANNUAL MEETING..........................................................................................................1 

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS .................................................................................................. 1-2 

 FY-04 GOALS................................................................................................................. 2-3 

 SECRETARIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM .................................................................4 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL ADVISORY COUNCILS 

 BELTSVILLE AREA.................................................................................................... 5 - 6 

 

 HEADQUARTERS ........................................................................................................ 7- 8 

 

 MID SOUTH AREA.................................................................................................... 9 - 11 

 

 MIDWEST AREA..................................................................................................... 12 - 13 

 

 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY ....................................................................14 

 

 NORTH ATLANTIC AREA.............................................................................................15 

 

 NORTHERN PLAINS AREA................................................................................... 16 - 17 

 

 PACIFIC WEST AREA ............................................................................................ 18 - 19 

 

 SOUTH ATLANTIC AREA ..................................................................................... 20 - 21 

 

 SOUTHERN PLAINS AREA ...........................................................................................22 

 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Overview: 

The Council met in June at Albany, California. At our June meeting the Council hosted the 

previous Council Members to celebrate their 10 year anniversary and to seek their vision for the 

future initiatives for Office Professionals. During a breakout session with current and former 

members, groups were asked to provide their input to two questions: What do you see the 

strongest challenges that the ARS Office Professional must meet as we strive to manage and 

support research in the near future and How can NACOP help prepare the office professional to 

meet these challenges? The responses were reviewed and prioritized, defining short and long 

term goals. Teams were then established implement these ideas. In conjunction with this 

milestone of NACOP history, a pin was designed commemorating our 10 years and distributed to 

all ARS Office Professionals. Additionally, a pictorial history book was developed and 

distributed at the 10 year anniversary. 

The Council continued to conduct monthly teleconferences to work on priorities and continued 

to update the webpage to aid in helping us to become more visible. In addition, the group began 

to work on the 2006 National Meeting. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Sherri Buxton, Co-Chair 

Debra Duckworth, Co-Chair 

 

 
Members of the 2004 

National Advisory Council: 

Sherri Buxton, MWA, Co-Chair 

Debra Duckworth, SAA, Co-Chair 

Barbie Ballengee, PWA, Ex-Officio 

Olivia Pedraza, SPA, Recorder 

Rhonda Horton, HRD, Technical Advisor 

Cathy Lonaberger, OA, Technical Advisor 

Terry Henrichs, NAL, Webmaster 

Jan Cline, HQ 

Sheila Messineo, BA 

Louise Dalton, NPA 

Debra Duckworth, SAA 

Madeline Hall, MSA 

Terry Henrichs, NAL 

Stephanie Lively, NAA 

Olivia Pedraza, SPA 

Iris Rosa, HQ 

Veronica Cullum, PWA 

 

 
Former members of the NSAC/NACOSP/NACOP are: 

KATHY ARAGON, NPA 

MARIA ARCHER, NAL 

BRENDA AYSENNE, MSA 

PRUNELLA BRANISH, NAA 

KAY CARR, SAA 

CARMELA CARRICK, HQ 

JOYCE CRAIG, HQ 

PHYLLIS DAVIS, NAA 

TAMMY DURFEE BLAIR, PWA 

BRENDA ELSTON, HQ 

JANET FERST, HQ 

LIBBY FOUSE, PWA 

RHEA FRYAR-CALVERT, SPA 

NADINE HEIRS, BA 

BONNIE INGRAM, MWA 

MARCIA JENKINS, MWA 

OLGA LEE, NPA 

ANGIE MARCHETTI, HQ 

ELAINE MCGUIRE, BA 

LINDA NEUENHAHN, HQ 

JANNETTE SHUFORD-REEVES, NAL 

BETTY SIGLER, NPA 

MARY SILVA, NAL 

FRANKEE SIMPSON, SAA 

JOYCE SMITH, NAA 

MICHELLE SNOWDEN, HQ 

KRISTEN SOTER, BA 

QUEEN SPRIGGS, HQ 

ANNE STEELE, SPA 

CECELIA STORTZUM, TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

GENEVIEVE SWARTZBERG, MSA 

KATHY TOWNSON, BA 

SUE THORNBURG, NPA 

RUTH TREAT, SPA 

LORI WILSON-VOSS, MWA 

TONI WALLS, TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

SANDRA WARREN, MSA 
1 

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS 

ANNUAL MEETING 

Date: July14-18, 2004 

Location: Albany, CA 

Host: Pacific West Area

FY-04 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

• NACOP Exhibit/Booth Display

The NACOP Booth was displayed and brochures given out at the National 

Administrative Officers Meeting in May, the Administrator’s Office, the 10 year 

Anniversary meeting in California and the MWA Secretarial Conference. A second 

compact booth was purchased and designed for distribution at local council’s 

activities. 

• Web Page 

The Council continues to update the Web page to keep it current with useful 

information. 

• NACOP Brochure

Brochure was reviewed and updated in June, 2004 for dissemination at the various 

meetings that our Booth was displayed. 

• Expand the Newsletter

The Council decided to expand the newsletter to include things such as training, tips, 

new procedures and updates and to encourage the Area Councils to submit articles as 

well. The newsletter was enhanced and published on a quarterly basis. This was 

distributed electronically to all Council representatives for distribute in their Area. 

• Orientation Package

Council updated an orientation package for new members assigned to the Council. 

This was developed to give the incoming member information on what the Council 

has been working on prior to them coming on board. 

• Charter

Council members reviewed and discussed the charter section by section with minor to 

substantial changes. 

Telecommunications & Management Services. Information was gathered and 

published in the NACOP Newsletter. 

• Quick Reference/Training & Planning Guides

Both guides have been updated and converted to Web site guides and tools. 
2 

• NACOP 10th Anniversary

In conjunction with ARS’ 50 year anniversary, NACOP hosted a one day meeting 

will all of the past members to celebrate their 10th Anniversary in coordination with 

their annual meeting held in Albany, CA, June 2004. NACOP 10th Anniversary pin 

was designed by the members to commemorate this event and disseminated to all 

Office Professionals throughout the Agency. During the Anniversary, a breakout 

session was held with the previous members to solicit their input into future 

initiatives. 

FY-05 GOALS 

• Travel Tips 

The Council decided that they would include a new section in their newsletter 

highlighting travel tips. 

• Scrapbook

The scrapbook that was created for the 10 year anniversary will be continuously updated 

to include pictures from our meetings as well as the National meetings and be posted on 

the web. 

• Webpage 

Continue to enhance and update our webpage so the information is always current. 

• Newsletter 

The Newsletter will be distributed quarterly and all members will take an active role in 

contributing relevant articles. It will widely distributed to the Office Professionals as 

well as RLs, LAO’s and members of the Administrators Council. 

• Brochure 

This will continue to be an ongoing effort to promote the Council and will be updated 

semi-annually. 

• Resource List 

A resource list will be compiled and displayed on the Web. This list will include subject 

matter experts with their, Name, E-Mail address and phone number so that if you need 

assistance in completing your daily tasks, you can call on one of these individuals for 

help. 

• 2006 Conference 

Plan and organize the third conference for office professionals. 
3 

• Update the Quick Reference Guide 

This is a list of resources available to the Office Professionals for guidance in completing 

everyday tasks. We will update this on a yearly basis to assure that it is current. 

• Timeline 

Enhance the current timeline depicting the history of the Council. 

 

 
4 

SECRETARIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM 

Recipients for 2004 are: 

ARS Secretary of the Year 2004: 

Name: Stephanie Brennan 

Area: Midwest Area 

Beltsville (BA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: Wendy Jacobs 

Location: Plant Sciences Institute 

Name: Elaine McGuire 

Location: Beltsville Area Office 

Midsouth Area (MSA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: Janell Becker 

Location: Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 

Name: Edye LaBarre 

Location: Crop Genetics and production Research Unit, Stoneville, MS 

 

Midwest Area (MWA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: Marcia Ebener 

Location: National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL 

North Atlantic Area (NAA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: None 

Location: 

Pacific West Area (PWA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: Stefani Morgan 

Location: Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR 

South Atlantic Area (SAA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: Donna Young 

Location: Canal Point, Florida 

Southern Plains Area (SPA) Secretary of the Year: 

Name: None 

Location: 
5 

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL ADVISORY COUNCILS

Area: Beltsville 

Current Members:

Mary Dailey, PSI, MPPL (Senior Co-Chair) 

Jennifer Klemens, Area Director’s Office (Junior Co-Chair) 

Sheila Messineo, BHNRC, FCL (Technical Advisor) 

Angela Whitman, FMOD (Co-Recorder) 

Tina Hunter, Area Administrative Office (Co-Recorder)

Donna Geiman, ANRI, HRSL 

Kate Baker, USNA, FNPRU 

Annette Cook, FMOD 

Stephanie Lahocki, BHNRC, NDL 

Kathleen McCue, Area Director’s Office 

Linda Nix, BHNRC, CNRG 

Zina Owens, PSI, BL 

Wendy Jacobs, PSI, Institute Office 

Monica Fair, PSI, IBL 

Nina Basiliko, ANRI, SASL 

Laura O’Hare, ANRI, HRSL 

Accomplishments:

Presentation entitled, “How You Can Make a Difference in the Peer Review Process” given by 

Ms. Marcia Moore, ARS Peer Review Program Coordinator, on February 19, 2004 

Distributed pins from the National Advisory Council for Office Professionals to all Beltsville 

Area administrative support personnel in recognition of Office Professionals Day on April 16, 

2004 

Team Building Luncheon at the Olive Garden on May 6, 2004 in recognition of Office 

Professionals Week; all Beltsville Area administrative support staff were invited; excellent turnout with approximately 35 employees in attendance 

Seminar presented by Mr. Dan Thessen, BA Physical Security Officer, and Ms. Sandra 

Matteson, BA Technology Transfer Assistant, on a wide variety of security issues and on 

procedures for processing non-federal personnel as well as non-citizen visitors; this seminar, 

“Unlock the Key to Good Security,” was held on September 22, 2004 

Team Building meeting at the Whitten Building on November 2, 2004 entitled, “Strengthening 

BAASAC through the ABC’s: Attitude, Balance, and Commitment.” Guest speakers were Ms. 
6 

Cathy Lonaberger, Secretary for the Administrator’s Office, and Ms. Patricia A. Frick, Human 

Resources Specialist, AFM 

Seminar on “Emergency Preparedness and Shelter in the Workplace” given by Ms. Mary 

Winkler of Safety and Health on November 9, 2004. 

Revised the BAASAC Charter; increased the Council membership from 7 to 16. 

Goals:

Celebration of BAASAC’s 10-Year Anniversary 

Working on the Desk Reference 

RPES Training for Support Staff 

Travel Training 

Grants and Agreements Training 

Outlook Training 

ARMPS Training 

Working on “Ask the Expert” for Beltsville Area 

Developing a logo for BAASAC (target date of May 2005) 

Target date of April 2005 for Web page 

Target date of May 2005 for Brochure and 1st issue of newsletter 

Secretary of the Year:

Wendy Jacobs of the Plant Sciences Institute and Elaine McGuire of the 

Beltsville Area Office 
7 

HEADQUARTERS ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE PROFESSIONALS 

(AFM/NPS/OA) 

Current Members

Everyone in the GS- 318, GS-326, and GS-303 series are members of HACOSP from the 

following areas: Office of the Administrator; National Program Staff (NPS); Office of 

International Research Programs; Office of Technology Transfer; Budget and Program 

Management Staff; Homeland Security; Civil Rights; Information Staff; Office of the Chief 

Information Officer; Office of Scientific Quality Review; Recruitment Office; Legislative 

Office, and the Administrative and Financial Management (AFM). 

All HACOSP members are invited and encouraged to attend all meeting and events sponsored by 

HACOSP. 

2004 Council Members: Kathleen Townson, Chairperson; Lynn Booker, CoChairperson; Charlene Brown, Recorder; Jan Cline and Iris Rosa Technical Advisors. 

HACOSP=s 2004 Representatives to NACOSP: Iris Rosa, AFM and Jan Cline, NPS. 

In accordance to HACOSP by laws HACOSP has two representatives on the National Advisory 

Council for Office Support Professionals (NACOP): one from AFM and the other from one of 

the above organizations previously listed. 

Accomplishments

HACOSP held its annual meeting on Thursday, August 5, 2004, at 1:30 p.m. at the GWCC, 

Conference Room 4-2223. Excellent Guest Speaker Patrice Wood from the NPS office support 

staff. 

HACOSP members were introduced to Crystal Lewis the new secretary for the Associate 

Administrator, ARS, was informed about happening with HACOSP, and met Jan Cline and Iris 

Rosa NACOP Reps for HACOSP. HACOSP members were encouraged to sign up to work on 

the WEB-Page and the Brown Bag Lunch Meetings. 

On Monday, November 22, 2004, HACOSP provided a questions and answer seminar to all 

members about training questions they had with guest speaker Linda Mahoney one area covered 

was eTravel and changes for the upcoming year. 

HACOSP continues to update its mailing list to keep the members informed. 

Goals
8 

$ Continue to provide training and information to all of HACOSP members. 

$ Continue updating Web Page 

$ Continue Brown Bag Lunch Training 

$ Get more people involved in HACOSP 

$ Try to find out “How HACOSP members can help other HACOSP members.” 

HACOSP will continue its objectives to serve the Office of the Administrator in an advisory 

capacity on new initiatives that impact Headquarters office support personnel. Encourage 

ongoing communication among office support personnel, NACOP, HACOSP, and the 

administration, and to advise the Office of the Administrator on matters relating to development, 

advancement, and recognition of Headquarters office support personnel. 

Secretary of the Year

HACOSP does not have a Secretary of the Year Program 
9 

MIDSOUTH AREA (MSA) 

Members of the 2004 Council included: 

Janell Becker, Senior Chair, New Orleans, LA 

Telecia Burton, Junior Chair, Oxford, MS 

Tammy Dorman, Recorder, Auburn, AL 

Kay Bolen, Bowling Green, KY 

Janice Boyd, New Orleans, LA 

Marlene Coley, Stoneville, MS 

Julie Cuevas, Poplarville, MS 

Drusilla Fratesi, Stoneville, MS 

Linda Fulton, Mississippi State, MS 

Sandra Hineman, Baton Rouge, LA 

Alice Redditt, Stoneville, MS 

Lucienne Savell, Web-Master, Oxford, MS 

Emily Willis, Lexington, KY 

Madeline Hall, Technical Advisor 

Jennifer Roberson, Ex-Officio 

Accomplishments 

• 2004 was new growth period for the Mid South Area Council. Dr. Deborah Brennan, 

Associate Area Director, MSA was appointed as the MSACOSP Sponsor. 

• Recruited five new members to the Council bringing the 2004 Membership to fifteen. 

The MSACOP did not have any members rotating off in 2004. Lucienne Savell was 

recruited as our webmaster. 

• Our annual meeting was held at the Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, 

Louisiana, April 27-28, 2004. The meeting enhanced personal and professional growth 

and the sessions were informative and allowed opportunities to share ideas along with 

personal experiences. 

• The MSACOP Charter was revised and updated to better reflect the needs of our 

members to more closely resemble that of the National Council. The Charter was 

approved by all Council members. 

• Our Website has been updated and is now available at: 

http://msa.ars.usda.gov/osp/index.htm. 
10 

• A memo was sent to the National Advisory Council for Office Professionals (NACOP) 

regarding the outdated ARS File Management Manual. The manual, published in 1985, 

has not be updated in 20 years and has become obsolete with much of today’s 

correspondence being handled through other mediums (e-mail). In response, NACOP 

formed a task group to look into the issues brought forth to the committee. Since funds 

are not available at this time, a proposal was made to Mr. Steve Pollard, REE Records 

Officer, to have the 1985 manual scanned and placed on the Agency’s website for users 

to reference. 

• Newsletter is now distributed semi-annually and can be found on our website. Articles of 

interest include helpful websites, software tips, ARIS info, prioritizing tasks, advice on 

stress relief, etc. 

• Mid South Area Welcome Packet has was revised and updated to include more timely 

information. 

Goals 

• Continue to provide a resource for the Area Director and management for matters relating 

to office professionals (training, networking, mentoring, and recognition). 

• Maintain MSACOP website. 

• Host MSACOP Annual Meeting in Auburn, Alabama. 

• Continue to conduct regular teleconferences. 

• Increase visibility and continue to market ourselves. 

• Update and modify webpage as needed. 

• Council will hold teleconferences on a more regular basis. 

• Address requirements and requests from NACOP 

Office Professionals of the Year: 

 

Janell Becker (GS-06 and above) 

Program Assistant 

Food & Feed Safety Research Unit 

Southern Regional Research Center 

New Orleans, LA 
11 

Edye LaBarre (GS-05 and below) 

Office Automation Assistant 

Crop Genetics and Production Research Unit 

Stoneville, MS 
12 

MIDWEST AREA (MWA) 

Membership

• Sherri Buxton, Co-Chair and National Council Representative 

• Melissa Stiefel, Co-Chair 

• Jaci Weese, Recorder/Information Coordinator 

• Ginger Walker 

• Brittney Mernick 

• Debbie Bitner 

• Stephanie Brennan 

• Sandy Groneberg, Ex-Officio, Web Master 

• Heather Lewandowski, Ex-Officio, SOP Editor 

Accomplishments

• The PASTG planned and conducted the third MWA Professional Office Support 

Personnel meeting entitled, “Discover Tools to Build a Better You” that was held 

October 18-21, 2004, in St. Louis, Missouri. 85 individuals attended from the MWA 

locations as well as invited guests from NACOP. General session topics included 

personal safety awareness, Myers-Briggs evaluations, cross-cultural communications, 

documenting performance accomplishments, foreign travel, and a final motivational 

presentation. Breakout sessions included topics on ARMPS, correspondence, RPES, 

Word/Adobe instruction, retirement planning, and the new ARS website format. 

• The PASTG has taken a leadership role in creating a Standard Operating Procedures 

(SOP) manual, a compendium of approved Agency procedures with examples, to assist 

the Midwest Area secretarial and administrative support staff. The manual is an excellent 

training tool for recently hired and seasoned support staff, as well as an invaluable 

resource for new, revised, and current procedures. Other ARS areas regularly use the 

MWA SOP as a reference tool and have also used it to assist them in developing their 

own manuals. 

• The MWA Mentoring program: The PASTG composed a guide for mentors and 

appointed experienced mentors for new secretaries in the Area. All new MWA secretaries 

are assigned a mentor for a minimum of one year although the relationships usually 

continue beyond that time creating lasting support networks among MWA secretaries. All 

new support staff are brought into Peoria for training, organized and led by the PASTG. 

Key Area personnel also meet with the group to provide additional specialized training. 

• Temporary Assistance Program: The PASTG temporary support program was organized 

to provide support to units with secretarial vacancies. This program ensures that 

management unit offices operate smoothly when a permanent support position is vacated. 
13 

The PASTG recruits volunteers from the secretarial team in the Area to serve in 

administrative assistance roles in the interim. This service has been recognized within the 

Area as essential to maintaining administrative workflow and research progress. Four 

PASTG members assisted the Urbana, Illinois location with travel, SCAs, ARS-115s, 

ARS-425s, and ARS-421s. 

• We continue to disseminate quarterly newsletters to all the secretaries in MWA. 

• 2003 marked the seventh year of the MWA Secretary of the Year program. Marsha 

Ebener of the Fermentation Biotechnology Research Unit, Peoria, Illinois was selected as 

the 2003 MWA Secretary of the Year and was recognized at the MWA Professional 

Office Support Personnel in October 2004 at the MWA Professional Office Support 

Personnel Meeting. 

• The training scholarship program is continuing to be utilized to a great extent within the 

Midwest Area. This program provides funding for training from the Area Office allowing 

employees to benefit from training that may not be possible due to financial constraints 

within their units. The scholarship application and information is available on the PASTG 

homepage. 

Goals:

• Continue to update the Midwest Area PASTG Home Page and SOP Manual. 

• Continue quarterly newsletter. 

• Continue Training Scholarship Program. 

• Continue Temporary Assistance Program. 
14 

 NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY (NAL)

The National Agricultural Library (NAL) Support Staff Advisory Council (NALSSAC) 

continues to work toward its goal of ensuring that NAL has highly skilled professionals working 

in partnership with management to meet its secretarial and administrative needs. 

Council members for 2004: 

Maria Archer, Office of Director, Chair 

Terry Henrichs, Public Services Division 

Helen McAllister, Technical Services Division 

Jannette Shuford-Reeves, Office of the Director 

Departing Members: 

Cruz Angelo, Information Systems Division 

Accomplishments 

• Continue efforts to develop and update electronic NALSSAC Handbook, to include a 

myriad of information useful at all levels of office support. 

• Continue development of the NALSSAC website linked to the NAL and eventually the 

ARS websites to encourage better communication between councils. 

• Continue the development of a shadowing/mentoring program for new office support 

professionals at NAL to review in-depth activities at NAL, such as budget procedures, 

programs and services, etc. 

• Continue our tradition of convening quarterly >working= luncheons to share information 

with the NAL support staff. 

2005 Goals 

• Complete design and implementation of electronic handbook. 

• Increase membership of the Council with the addition of two more members. 

• Review and update Council charter. 

• Develop new activities to involve all NAL support staff in NALSSAC. 
15 

NORTH ATLANTIC AREA (NAA) 

Current Members

Denise Madden, Diane Koch, Joyce Smith, Linda Hopp, Phyllis Davis, Stephanie Lively 

(NACOP Representative) 

Accomplishments

Utilizing a new Position Description available from Human Resources Division, and reviewed 

by the local NAA COP, several NAA secretaries were upgraded in their position as secretaries to 

Program Support Assistants (PSA). 

New office support staff continues to be included in an orientation, shadowing and mentoring 

program which includes a visit to the Area Office in Wyndmoor, PA. Many topics are covered 

in the 1-week visit with reference material and contact points to be perused/used after the visit. 

Outside of formal COP meetings, members are in frequent contact regarding changes in many 

areas of work, supporting those in field sites, as well as locally. 

After developing a new streamlined electronic performance appraisal process, this has been 

successfully refined to result in a very efficient evaluation method. 

The revised criteria for the Office Staff Recognition Award are in place. 

Goals

Place the Secretarial Handbook and checklist on the web. 

Prepare an agenda for office support staff at the forthcoming NAA Leadership meeting. 

Restructure the NAA COP because of loss of membership (retirement), and to better address the 

current needs and for a fresh perspective. 

Secretary of the Year

2004 NAA winner under consideration. 
16 

NORTHERN PLAINS AREA (NPA)

The Northern Plains Area Secretarial Advisory Council (NPASAC) consists of the 

following members: 

Diona Austill, Miles City, Montana - Website Master 

Louise Dalton, Fort Collins, Colorado - Technical Advisor and NACOP Member 

Marsha Grunewald, Manhattan, Kansas - Chair 

Sue Hurd, Manhattan, Kansas - Recorder 

Cody Jensen, Grand Forks, North Dakota - Secretary Welcome Packet 

Olga Lee, Fort Collins, Colorado - Ex-Officio Member 

Polly McMichael, Fargo, North Dakota 

Accomplishments 

• A representative from the Council served on the NPA Leadership Planning Committee 

and assisted with coordination of the secretarial session. 

• The November 2004 version of the NPASAC Quick Reference Guide was up-dated and 

will be posted on the NPASAC’s website. 

• The NPASAC met in November 2004. Two council members, Marsha Grunewald and 

Polly McMichael, rotated off the Council. The two vacancies were filled with Audrey 

Myers, Mandan, North Dakota, and Jill Miller, Sidney, Montana. Cody Jensen assumed 

duties as Chair and Sue Hurd will continue as recorder. 

• The NPASAC charter was revised and signed by council members. 

• The NPASAC website was updated to the new ARS format by Diona Austill and will 

continue this responsibility. 

• NPASAC goals and action items were reviewed and revised. 

• Cody Jensen continued to update/revise the New Secretary Packet and distributed it to 

new NPA secretaries. Audrey Myers will assume this responsibility. On behalf of our 

Council, Audrey will telephone new secretaries to welcome them prior to sending them a 

New Secretary Packet. 

• Jill Miller will take on the Media Public Relations responsibilities. 

• The Resource Assistant List was updated. This listing of secretaries, who voluntarily 

serve as mentors to other secretaries in specialized areas, is included in the New 

Secretary Packet and is available to everyone on our Webpage. 

Goals 
17 

• Increase awareness of NPASAC activities by making personal contact with all new NPA 

secretaries. 

• Maintain/update secretarial resources (i.e., the Quick Reference Guide and webpage) 

provided by the NPASAC and send a New Secretary Packet to each new NPA secretary. 

• Address requirements and requests from NACOP. 

• Provide NACOP with information for their quarterly newsletter. 

• Provide Council input into the Secretarial Session of the 2005 NPA Leadership 

Conference. 

• New secretary orientation will be conducted in September 2005. 

• Jill Miller will periodically submit items on NPASAC activities and Diona Austill will 

submit helpful tips related to Word/Adobe to the Area Office for inclusion in the 

Northern Highlights (NPA weekly briefing). 

• Annual reports and Secretary Welcome Packets available on the NPASAC website. 

• Complete the NPASAC brochure and distribute at the 2005 Leadership Conference. 

• Identify and provide Adobe Acrobat resources to secretaries. 

• Distribute a mouse pad with the NPASAC logo to all secretaries at the NPA Leadership 

Conference in April 2005. 

• Identify a grammar resource and distribute to secretaries. 

Secretary of the Year 

• Linda Kelly from the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay 

Center, Nebraska received the Secretary of the Year Award. Linda is the secretary to the 

Center Director. 
18 

PACIFIC WEST AREA (PWA) 

The PWA Office Support Advisory Council continues to work toward its goal of ensuring that 

PWA has highly skilled professional office support staff working as part of the location 

leadership team to meet the program/administrative goals of the Agency. The PWA Council 

conducted its annual meeting in Pullman, Washington, in April 2004. PWA annual council 

meetings are held at ARS locations in an effort to network and gather important information 

from office support personnel in the field. 

2004 Council Members and Positions: 

Judy Overstreet, Parlier, CA - Senior Co-Chair 

Patsy Wood, Pullman, WA - Junior Co-Chair 

Deborah Penick, Burns, OR - Recorder 

Mary Edwards, Dubois, ID - Information Coordinator 

Patricia Frank, Pendleton, OR - Handbook Coordinator 

Melanie Wilson, Prosser, WA - Web Page Coordinator 

Veronica Cullum, Albany, CA - Technical Advisor/National Council Representative 

 Dr. Andrew C. Hammond, Albany, CA - PWA Associate Director and 

 Area Office Advisor/Coordinator 

Accomplishments

Updated and distributed PWA Office Support Advisory Council Information Booklets to 

Research Leaders and new office support employees. 

Issued the PWA Office Support Advisory Council newsletter in November 2004. 

Accomplishments of individual personnel were highlighted, and the 2004 PWA Secretary of the 

Year was announced. Training and other educational opportunities were announced. 

Redesigned the PWA Office Support Advisory Council’s website, in accordance with Agency 

guidelines on website development. 
19 

Updated and issued the Pacific West Area Directory on a quarterly basis. The Directory contains 

contact information and mission statements for all PWA management units. 

Secretary of the Year

Stefani Morgan, Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR 
20 

SOUTH ATLANTIC AREA (SAA) 

The mission of the South Atlantic Area Advisory Council for Office Professionals (SAA-ACOP) 

is to serve the Office Professional, Research Leaders and Area Management in an advisory 

capacity. Our goal is to strengthen the professional bond between Office Professionals and 

management through improved communication, enhanced training, and establishment of a 

working mentoring and orientation program. 

2005 COUNCIL MEMBERS: 

Debra Duckworth - Athens, GA - National Technical Advisor 

Shelia Jackson - Athens, GA - Chair 

Sue Keusch - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Co- Chair 

Penny Wilms - Ft. Pierce, FL - Recorder 

Donna Young - Canal Point, FL -Historian 

Wanda Rohrer - Miami, FL - Information/Training/Webpage Coordinator 

Debbie Roland - Dawson, GA - Member 3 Year 

George Lee - Brooksville, FL - Member 2 Year 

Connie Bryant – Raleigh, NC-Alternate 2 Year 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2004 

• Reimplemented the Mentoring/Orientation Program: 

Memo to Debbie Perry requesting we be notified of new office professionals 

• Filled vacancies with two new members: George Lee and Connie Bryant. The SAAACOP council consists of eight members and the Technical Advisor 

• Presented the “2004 Office Professional of the Year Award” - Donna Young, Canal Point, 

FL 

• Drafted “Welcome letter” for all new office support professionals 

• Revised and updated the SAA Advisory Council for Office Professionals webpage 

• Reviewed and signed 2005 Charter 

• Developed the Office Professional Scholarship criteria and application form 

• Purchased and developed Presentation Board for Council 

• Participated in planning of the 2005 SAA Leadership Program 

• Developed a list of names, phone numbers and addresses of SAA ACOP members for 

distribution to all locations in the South Atlantic Area. 
21 

• Revised existing agenda for training & informational meeting for all office professionals 

this fiscal year. 

 GOALS: February 2005 - February 2006 

• Redesign “It’s Your Turn” - Penny 

• Ask for volunteers in “It’s Your Turn” to assist new office professionals with training and 

information from the field level, pertinent to their jobs 

• Update the SAA-ACOP pamphlet for distribution to the South Atlantic area employees 

• Receive approval from the SAA Director to hold training for all office professionals in 

the Area in 2005. The format for the training and agenda has been developed by the 

Council for approval with the Area. 

• Organize a 10 year reunion to include all previous members of the council to be held in 

conjunction with the 2006 Annual Meeting 

• Design a logo for the council 
22 

SOUTHERN PLAINS AREA (SPA)

Area: Southern Plains 

Current Members: 

Karen Wilcox – Chair 

Barbara Hodges – Co-Chair 

Beverly Tucker – Recorder 

Carole Perryman – Training Coordinator 

Noelia Martinez – Information Coordinator 

Jacque Stone – Member-at-Large 

Wanda Paradowski – Permanent Member 

Olivia Pedraza – NACOP Representative 

Accomplishments: 

SPA ACOP Scholarship Program was promoted and made available. 

SPA ACOP Shadowing Program was promoted. One application was received. 

Networking with other office professionals throughout the Area was promoted. 

Teleconferences for all Council members were held quarterly. 

Revised SPA ACOP Charter and obtained signatures. 

Annual meeting held in Weslaco, TX, in July 2004. Two new members were welcomed – 

Barbara Hodges and Beverly Tucker. 

New display board was purchased and all Council members are submitting ideas for the new 

display. 

A newsletter has been published with good reviews from all. New features/columns were added 

which provide useful information to all staff. 

Established “roles and responsibilities” for all Council positions. 

Copies of the SPA ACOP brochure were mailed to all office professionals within the Area. 

Goals

Promote SPA ACOP! 

Network, network, network! 

Provide all SPA office professionals with a CD containing useful travel information and forms. 

Update handbook. 

Update website. 

Secretary of the Year

Nothing to report. Southern Plains Area nominates a secretary of the year every two years. 
The United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) prohibits discrimination in its 

programs on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political 

beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all 

prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means for communication to 

program information (Braille, large print, audio 

tape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of 

Communications at (202) 720-5581 (voice) or 

(202) 720-7808 (TDD). 

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of 

Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Washington, DC, 20250, or call (202) 720-

7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA 

is an equal employment opportunity employer.