EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Year 2001 was a building year for ARS National Advisory Council for Office

Support Professionals (NACOSP). Several members rotated off and new members took

their place. We have a lot of “new blood” on the council which means we will be

working on many new projects. The main focus remains--to maintain excellence in

program development, career enhancement, and employee dedication to the mission of

ARS. 

NACOSP projects which extend year to year include: the Home Page,

Newsletter, Updates to the Quick Reference Guide, Quarterly Teleconferences, and

responses to specific requests of the Agency. The NACOSP HomePage

(http://www.ars.usda.gov/afm/nsac/) has been under major construction this past year. 

We have new people working on the web page and it will continue to provide helpful

information to assist all Office Support Professionals in their performing their day-to-day

tasks.

The following report includes the activities, past accomplishments, and current

and future goals of the National Council and of ARS Organizational Councils as well. 

Members of the 2001-2002 Council were:

PRUNELLA BRASHICH, NAA

BARBIE BALLENGEE, PWA

CLARICE FLEMING, AFM

KATHY ARAGON, NPA

CATHY LONABERGER, OA

LINDA NEUENHAHN, NPS

JANNETTE SHUFORD-REEVES, NAL

KATHY TOWNSON, BA

RHEA FRYAR, SPA

TONI WALLS, HRD

BRENDA AYSENNE, MSA

SABRINA WHITLEY-FERRELL, SAA

LORI WILSON-VOSS, MWA
NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

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Former members of the NSAC/NACOSP are:

MARIA ARCHER, NAL

KAY CARR, SAA

CARMELA CARRICK, NPS

JOYCE CRAIG, AFM

PHYLLIS DAVIS, NAA

TAMMY DURFEE, PWA

JANET FERST,OA

LIBBY FOUSE, PWA

NADINE HIERS, BA

MARCIA JENKINS, MWA

OLGA LEE, NPA

ANGIE MARCHETTI, AFM

ELAINE MCGUIRE, BA

MARY SILVA, NAL

FRANKEE SIMPSON, SAA

JOYCE SMITH, NAA

MICHELLE SNOWDEN, OA

QUEEN SPRIGGS, OA

ANNE STEELE, SPA

CECELIA STORTZUM, HRD

GENEVIEVE SWARTZBERG, MSA

SUE THORNBURG, NPA

RUTH TREAT, SPA

SANDRA WARREN, MSA
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

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

ACCOMPLISHMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

FY-02 GOALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SECRETARIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

REE SECRETARIAL AND CLERICAL COORDINATING COUNCIL 3

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL ADVISORY COUNCILS

HEADQUARTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Accomplishments ..............................6

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

BELTSVILLE AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Accomplishments ...............................

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MID SOUTH AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Accomplishments ..............................6

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

MIDWEST AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Accomplishments ..............................8

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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

Accomplishments ...............................

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

NORTHERN PLAINS AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

PACIFIC WEST AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

SOUTH ATLANTIC AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

SOUTHERN PLAINS AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

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ANNUAL MEETING

We met in Athens, GA where Sabrina served as the hostess to the Council. We

definitely learned the meaning of “southern hospitality.”

The Council was charged with the task of developing a questionnaire to be

completed by Office Support Professionals throughout ARS. This questionnaire would

then be used to develop a standardized position description for the 318 series, GS-07. 

Much time was spent on our role and how the questionnaire would be distributed. 

The next annual meeting will be hosted by Kathy Aragon and the NPA Council, in

Fort Collins, Colorado in early May.

Outgoing members were presented with tokens of appreciation. Leaving us were

Ruth Treat, SPA, Phyllis Davis, NAA and Tammy Durfee, PWA.

Accomplishments

Priority Training Guide

The Priority Training Guide developed during the previous year is still undergoing

review by the staff of HRD. Future efforts will focus on working with HRD to accomplish

a portion of these identified training goals.

The NACOSP objective for this project was to establish standard secretarial

training on some issues for use across the board in ARS. Such a program will enable

ARS secretaries to increase their knowledge and make them more effective.

In developing this list of training issues, we took the perspective of a new

secretary, i.e. what information is most important to quickly become familiar with routine

functions and what tasks are likely to be encountered next? Where possible, we have

utilized or made reference to existing training materials. We have specifically avoided

systems software training that should be developed and provided by other persons or

groups. The majority of these training issues have been recommended for video

presentations -- this will allow the information to be available at locations whenever

needed. 

Home Page

The Home Page has been under major revisions. Some of the items to be

included are:

Directives to Policies & Procedures

Linking throughout the Page
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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Color Changes

Bios for Members

Quick Reference Manual

Newsletter

The NACOSP Newsletter will continue to be distributed. This past year we were

unable to compose the quarterly newsletter as desirbed the Council. New members are

responsible for the distribution and we look forward to resuming our schedule.

Teleconference Calls

The council aims to hold quarterly teleconference calls to discuss issues and plan

methods and processes towards achieving the goals set. Many will be held in future in

planning the 2003 national conference. 

Year 2003 National Conference for ARS Office Support Staff

Talk of the next national conference have begun. Preliminary plans have been

made. We established subcommittees to begin formalizing many of these plans. The

date has been set for the first week in April, 2003. 

FY-02 GOALS

• Update the NACOSP Home Page, Newsletter, and Quick Reference Guide.

• Continue with review and implementation of the Priority Training Guide, and expand

on newly identified areas for training.

Contact: Sabrina Whitley Ferrell or Barbie Ballengee, Co-Chairs, ARS NACOSP.

 Internet: sabrinawf@mindspring.com; bdballengee@ucdavis.edu

SECRETARIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Recipients for 2000/2001 are: 

MSA Secretary of the Year, Betty Hoogerwerf, Assistant to the Center Director, SRRC,

New Orleans, LA. 

Midwest Area Secretary of the Year, 2001, Jean Sparks, Columbia, MO.

North Atlantic Area Secretary of the Year, 2002, Donita Gibboney, Pasture Systems

Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA.
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Pacific West Area Secretary of the Year, 2001, Tammy Blair, Animal Disease Research

Unit, Pullman, WA.

South Atlantic Area Secretary of the Year, 2001 was Margaret Martin, Gainesville, FL.

REE SECRETARIAL AND CLERICAL COORDINATING

COUNCIL

The REE-SCCC continued efforts for sharing information and improving

communication among the secretarial and clerical employees throughout the REE

mission area. 
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL

ADVISORY COUNCILS

HEADQUARTERS ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE

SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

Members of the 2000-2001 Council included:

Loureatha Gibson - Chair

Lynn Booker - Co-Chair

Martha Hollenbeck - Recorder

Brenda Elston - NACOSP/Technical Advisor, (HQ)

Iris Rosa - NACOSP/Technical Advisor, (AFM)

Accomplishments

• AFM Secretarial Council and the National Program Staff Council as well as the

Office of the Administrator formed a partnership by consolidating as one council. On

April 5, 2001, approval was granted by Dr. Horn and the new council gave birth to

Headquarters Advisory Council for Office Support Professionals.

• Secretaries Day Reception was held on April 26, 2001, at the George Washington

Carver Center (GWCC).

• The council was successful in procuring a yearly assignment to decorate the Deputy

Administrator for Administrative and Financial Management, Bulletin Board at

GWCC for the month of May.

• First meeting of the new council was held on May 24, 2001.

• The council published it’s first newsletter in November 2001.

BELTSVILLE AREA

Accomplishments
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Goals
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MID SOUTH AREA

Members of the Mid South Area Council for Office Professionals for 2001 are:

Vivian Collins - Stoneville, MS, Chair

Myra Shaw - Oxford, MS, Vice Chair

Linda Althen - Mississippi State, MS

Janell Becker - New Orleans, LA

Madeline Hall - Baton Rouge, LA

Pat Hodnett - Auburn, AL

Brenda Aysenne - Houma, LA - Technical Advisor

Accomplishments

• We started out the year with the announcement of the MSA Secretary of the Year,

Betty Hoogerwerf, Assistant to the Center Director, SRRC, New Orleans, LA. 

• A Secretarial Training Workshop was held November 7-8, 2001 at the Jamie

Whitten Delta States Research Center in Stoneville, MS. Thirty RL and CD

secretaries were in attendance. We officially welcomed Pat Brown as the new

Executive Assistant to the Area Director at this time. Dr. King, Area Director, and 

Area Administrative Section Heads were all part of the workshop. Agenda items

were:

ARMPS

RMIS/ARIS

Travel

OSQR

Leave Donor Program

Leave Audits

Contracts and Agreements

PCMS

Computer Hints

Some of our Research Leaders agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion. We

were given a tour of the National Warmwater Aquaculture Research Center in

Stoneville, MS. We distributed the new MSA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to

each Office Professional for her office. A Spot Award was given for the “Best

Management Practice” submitted by attendees. Marva Nesbit was our guest speaker

and motivated us all. 

A list of ACCOMPLISHMENTS was prepared by the attendees and the Council was

empowered to address the following ISSUES:
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Grade Levels and Titles

Office Automation Assistants 

Make them feel appreciated and include them in actions take by Council and

Area

Look for ways to increase interaction between Council and Administrative

Professionals in the MSA (Promote networking and teamwork)

Recommit ourselves to Goals

Communication

• We have made our first rotation off and on the Council. We said goodbye to three

members and welcomed three new members. We have a new Web Editor and hope

to do more with our website to distribute information to the MSA and beyond! 

• We welcomed seven new Administrative Professionals to the MSA with our

Welcome Kits. 

• Our mentors are providing assistance, as requested. 

• On Administrative Professionals Day, the card provided by the National Council was

distributed to all Secretaries, Program Assistants and Office Automation Assistants

in the Area .

Goals

• Continue with Mentoring Program.

• Organize secretarial “share sessions” at multi-locations during the year.

• Utilize our web site and newsletter to promote communication.

• Visit all locations in the Mid South Area to meet with Administrative Professionals,

Research Leaders, and Scientists.

• Support all Administrative Professionals.
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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MIDWEST AREA

The MWA PASTG met 3 times in person, and held 7 conference calls during the past

year. Members and the locations they represent for 2001 are:

Sherri Buxton, Co-Chair, Peoria, IL

Sandy Groneberg, Co-Chair, St. Paul & Morris, MN & Madison, WI

Diane Cronk, Ames, IA

Sedina Lowe, Columbus, Coshocton & Wooster, OH & East Lansing, MI

Heather Pace, Columbia, MO, Urbana, IL & West Lafayette, IN

Georgetta Stonewall, NCAUR, Peoria, IL

Lori Wilson-Voss, Technical Advisor, Ames, IA

Accomplishments

• The MWA Program Administrative Support Task Group held it’s second meeting for

all secretarial support employees. The theme of the meeting was, “A Commitment

to Administrative Excellence for the 21st Century.” 

• Continue to update the MWA Standard Operating Procedures Manual which serves

as a desk reference for secretarial positions in the MWA. Updates are done during

the PASTG meetings to keep the manual current. The SOP is online and updated at

least annually.

• 2001 marked the fifth year of the MWA Secretary of Year program. A panel

unanimously selected Jean Sparks, Columbia, Missouri. Jean was honored at the

PASTG’s second meeting on June 20, 2001 at Peoria, Illinois. 

• The PASTG continued to utilize the mentoring program for all new secretaries. 

Mentees work with their mentor for a minimum of one year. This program is having

continual success with five mentees and mentors currently working together. 

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

• 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. Ten individuals benefitted from this program this year

with the Area Office contributing $8600.00 in support of their training. The

scholarship application and information is available on the PASTG homepage.
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Goals

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

C Continue quarterly newsletters to MWA Secretaries.

C Continue to visit the MWA Research sites and interact with location secretaries.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY

NORTH ATLANTIC AREA
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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NORTHERN PLAINS AREA

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

members:

Kathleen Aragon, Laramie, Wyoming – Technical Advisor and NACOSP Member

Louise Dalton, Fort Collins, Colorado

Marsha Grunewald, Manhattan, Kansas

Linda Kelly, Clay Center, Nebraska - Chair

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

Cheri Marshall, Lincoln, Nebraska – Recorder and Website Chair

Polly McMichael, Brookings, South Dakota

Accomplishments

• The NPASAC met in November 2001. One original council member (Sharon

Peterson, Grand Forks, North Dakota) rotated off the council, and one council

member (Linda Sundstrom) accepted the NPA Travel Assistant position and is no

longer in the secretarial series. The two vacancies were filled with Marsha

Grunewald, Manhattan, Kansas, and Polly McMichael, Brooking, South Dakota. 

• Each council member was assigned specific locations to act as a liaison between the

NPASAC and location secretaries.

• Developing a website for NPASAC was one of our primary goals for 2001. The

website was comprised of the home page at our November 2000 Council meeting. 

The following sections were completed, on-line ready for use in time for the

Leadership Conference January 30, 2001: Charter and Mission, Council Members,

Annual Reports (link to National Reports, Hot Links, New Secretary Orientation,

Acronyms and Agency Abbreviations, Reminder Calendar, and Resource

Assistants. The NPASAC On-Line Quick Reference Guide was scanned and on-line

prior to our November 2001 Council Meeting. Revisions and updates for 2002 were

discussed at our November 2001 meeting and should be completed by March 1,

2002.

• Arrangements were reviewed for the NACOSP Annual Meeting to be hosted by the

Northern Plains Area in Fort Collins, Colorado, May 6-10, 2002. Kathy Aragon will

serve as host. Polly McMichael will issue a request for items for the goody bags of 

NPA research unit by-products.

• The New Secretary Packet was reviewed, and Marsha Grunewald assumed

responsibility for updating and mailing the new packets.

• The Resource Assistant List was updated. This is a listing of secretaries who

voluntarily serve as mentors to other secretaries in specialized areas.
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• Area Office staff Jan Jones and Nita Williams (HRD), Marcie Currie-Gross

(ARIS/RMIS, Agreements), Harriet Rector (OSQR process and On-Site Reviews),

and Linda Sundstrom (Travel) provided overviews and helpful information on their

assigned areas for the Council members. 

Goals

• Increase awareness of NPASAC activities, provide a more effective support

mechanism, and encourage training for NPA Secretaries.

• Maintain/update secretarial resources provided by the NPASAC.

• Address requirements and requests from National Secretarial Advisory Council
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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PACIFIC WEST AREA 

The PWA Office Support Advisory Council continues to work toward their 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 it’s 2001 annual meeting at the Pacific West Area, ARS,

Area Office in Albany, California March 26-29, 2001. PWA annual council meetings are

held at ARS locations to network and gather important information from the office

support personnel at the locations.

Council members and their positions for 2001 are:

Judy Litster, Parlier, CA - Co-Chair

Kara Vander Linden, Kimberly, ID - Co-Chair

Jeannette Seward, Pullman, WA - Recorder

Marla Lawrence, Phoenix, AZ - Handbook Coordinator

Tammy Blair, Pullman, WA - Information Coordinator

Veronica Cullum, Albany, CA - Area Office Representative

Barbie Ballengee, Shafter, CA - Technical Advisor

Dr. Michael Shannon, PWA Associate Director

Area Office Advisor/Coordinator - Albany, CA

Accomplishments

• Update PWA-OSAC information packet and distribute to Research Leaders to

continue to promote the PWA Council.

• PWA-OSAC Newsletter developed and distributed in January and August 2001.

• Finalized and distributed Pacific West Area Directory. The directory includes location

names, mission statements, mailing and FedEx addresses and employee names,

email addresses, telephone and fax numbers.

• PWA Office Support Handbook updated and revisions distributed in April 2001.

• Updated PWA-OSAC Website as needed including addition of PWA-OSAC

Newsletter.

• Developed and distributed a PWA-OSAC information packet to Location

Administration Officers at the annual ARMP reviews. The packet included: 1) Who

We Are, 2) Our Mission, 3) Our Goals for 2001, 4) Our Accomplishments, 5) Our

Web Address, and 6) the latest copy of the Newsletter.
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• Council member Marla Lawrence traveled to the Western Regional Research Center

in Albany, California, to mentor Karen Mallinen, a new secretary. Implemented

Mentoring Program. Mentoring included annual reports, RMIS, (now ARIS) travel,

troubleshooting, and fiscal year end instructions.

Goals

• Update and distribute PWA-OSAC information packet to Location Administrative

Officers for inclusion in FY03 ARMP review to promote the PWA Council.

• Continue to motivate interest in the Mentoring Program & the “PWA New Secretary

Training Program”.

• Continue to maintain and update Website.

• Add directory to PWA Website and continue to update and maintain with link to PWA

Council’s Website.

• Update Handbook and add to Council’s Website.

• Continue to increase visibility of PWA Council through Website, Newsletter,

Mentoring Program, and updating Council display for 2002 Leadership Conference

and display in Area Office after Leadership Conference.

• Continue to provide assistance to the National Advisory Council for Office Support

Professionals.
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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SOUTH ATLANTIC AREA

The South Atlantic Area Advisory Council for Office Support Professionals (SAAACOSP) strives to maintain an urgent Agency goal – to ensure that highly skilled, office

support professionals are provided for the Area. An Orientation/Training Program is in

place to provide professionals working in partnership with management to meet office

support professionals and administrative needs.

Council members for 2001 are:

Debra Duckworth, Athens, GA – Chair

Valerie Malcolm, Gainesville, FL – Co-Chair

Bonnie Ebel, Gainesville, FL – Historian

Shelia Jackson, Athens, GA – Information/Training Coordinator/Webpage 

Lorraine Sonoda, Ft. Pierce, FL - Recorder

Sue Keusch, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Member

Cindy Davies, Clemson, SC – Member

Vacant – Alternate

Sabrina Whitley-Ferrell, Raleigh, NC – Technical Advisor NACOSP

Accomplishments:

Finalized the SAA Directory (Green Book) and added to webpage.

Reimplemented the Mentoring/Orientation Program and added to webpage:

Feedback Sheet

Checklist

Composed and distributed semi-annually “It’s Your Turn” letter to the SAA Office

Professionals and Administrative Officers and Technicians. See attached example.

Filled vacancies with three new members: Bonnie Ebel, Shelia Jackson and Donna

Hinson. Due to personal circumstances, Donna Hinson had to resign. The SAAACOSP now consists of seven members, one vacancy and a technical advisor.

Presented the “2001 Secretary of the Year Award” - Margaret Martin, Gainesville, FL.

Updated the SAA-ACOSP pamphlet for distribution to the South Atlantic area

employees.

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

Council Members for 2002:

Debra Duckworth, Athens, GA - Chair (05/02) 2 years

Valerie Malcolm, Gainesville, FL – Co-Chair (05/02) 2 years
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Shelia Jackson, Athens, Ga - Information/Training Coordinator/Webpage (05/02) 2

years 

Lorraine Sonoda, Ft. Pierce, FL – Historian (03/02) 2 years

Cindy Davies, Clemson, SC – Member (05/01) 3 years

Sue Keusch, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Member (10/01) 2 years

Bonnie Ebel – Gainesville, FL Member (05/02) 2 years

Vacant – Alternate 2 years

Sabrina Whitley-Ferrell, Raleigh, NC – Technical Advisor NACOSP

Distribute “Fact Finding Questionnaire” for NACOSP.

Goals: 

• Redesign “It’s Your Turn” - Lorraine

• Update Webpage - Shelia

• Distribute list of names, phone numbers and addresses of NACOSP members to all

locations in the South Atlantic Area

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

training and information from the field level, pertinent to their jobs. 

• Fill the vacant “Alternate Member” position. Ask for volunteers and nominations for

new members on the council in “It’s Your Turn.” 

• Propose to Area Director to institute a training & informational meeting for all office

support professionals in the next fiscal year.

• Draft letter to Dr. Narang requesting an Office Professional Continuing Education

Seminar in November of 2002.
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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SOUTHERN PLAINS AREA

The Southern Plains Area Advisory Council for Office Support Professionals continues

to fine tune accomplishments and update information as needed so that support staff

throughout the Area are informed of all the latest and greatest changes affecting their

job responsibilities. This is an on-going task and one that the Council will certainly carry

out. 

Members of the 2001-2002 SPA Secretarial/Program Support Council are:

Olivia Pedraza, Weslaco, Texas, Chair

Sharon Sheffield, Lane, Oklahoma, Co-Chair

Sandy Sims, College Station, Texas, Recorder

Davee Crowell, Beaumont, Texas, Information Coordinator

Justine Flowers, Little Rock, Arkansas, Training Coordinator

Phyllis Hoffman, Temple, Texas, Member

Rhea Fryar, Lubbock, Texas, National Advisory Council for Office Support

Professionals Technical Advisor

Accomplishments

• The Council had its annual face-to face meeting in Austin in June 2001. Two new

members were welcomed, Sandy Sims and Davee Crowell. Rhea Fryar, Technical

Advisor, gave the Council an update of what the National Council is doing.

• Continued to produce and distribute the Councils’ newsletter. 

• A secretarial handbook was developed and a draft sent to the Area Office. Upon

approval, the handbook will be distributed to all Southern Plains Office Support

Professionals. 

• A scholarship program for Office Support Professionals was developed and set in

place. The scholarships will be used to assist in professional development of the

secretarial/office support individual through funding for conferences, workshops,

short courses, or other appropriate educational opportunities. 

• Council developed an orientation packet for new support staff. Council will work with

Area Office to obtain names of any new support staff.

• The Shadowing Program continues to be promoted. Very positive feedback was

received from one location who had their office support professional participate in the

program.
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• The home page continues to be updated. The homepage includes our Charter,

Scholarship, Directory, Handbook, Actual Subsistence, Orientation and links to

Agency sites, travel sites, forms sites and training opportunities.

• The directory for the Southern Plains Area was completed and distribution made at

the SPA Leadership Conference in Lubbock.

• The SPA Advisory Secretarial Council for Office Support Professionals’ poster and

brochures were displayed at the 2001 SPA Leadership Conference. 

• A contest for the design of a logo for the SPA Council was held and a spot award

given to the winner. A committee was established and a winner was selected from

all entries within the Area. 

• Once again, the Council planned and facilitated the breakout session for Office

Support Professionals at our 2001 SPA Leadership Conference. The Council invited

Mike Ruff, Technology Transfer Coordinator, Office of Technology Transfer; Karen

Kinney, Computer Specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer; and Jim Bradley,

Director, Human Resources Division to be guest speakers for our session.

• Council received a donation of a laptop computer and portable printer from the Food

and Feed Safety Research Unit in College Station. The Council was very excited to

receive this recognition and support from a location.

• The Council spoke to SPA office support professionals at the ARIS training about

who the Council is and the assistance the Council provides. Two members from the

Council will be coming off this year and an announcement was made to solicit

volunteers to serve on the Council.

Goals

• Continue to maintain communications through the newsletter and through more

personal one-on-one interactions such as site visits and forums for sharing

information.

• Continue to maintain and update the SPA directory.

• Continue to administer and promote the Shadowing Program.

• Promote professional development through the scholarship program.

• Continue to maintain and update our home page and update links.
2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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• The Council will work on implementing a “Rescue Squad,” if approved by the Area

Director. The “Rescue Squad” will come to the rescue of an Office Support

Professional who applies and is accepted to a detail within ARS. In addition, it will

also be available to any location that has support personnel out for extended periods

of time (i.e. sick or annual leave).
NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OFFICE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

20

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

FOR OFFICE SUPPORT

PROFESSIONALS

AND

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAL

ADVISORY COUNCILS

ANNUAL REPORT — 2001

Prepared By

NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 

OFFICE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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.