The Farm Service Agency values the developmental opportunities provided by the National Special Emphasis Program (SEP) Conferences and continues to support and provide for participation. However, budget constraints have required the Agency to take specific steps to reduce the number of conference attendees for National Conferences such as, Blacks In Government (BIG) and Federally Employed Women (FEW) and any other popular conference that tends to attract requests for participation in large numbers.
The following guidelines have been approved for the selection of participants to attend national conferences. A concerted effort has been made to ensure that Washington, D.C. and KC/STL are consistent in providing the most cost effective support and feasible participation for the National Conferences.
An open lottery will be held by The Office of the Administrator and each Deputy Administrator to select employees to attend the BIG and FEW Conferences and other conferences as needed each year. Information on the date, time, and place of the lottery drawing will be announced by each officiating office to all employees.
- The Office of the Administrator and each Deputy Administrator will hold a lottery drawing no later than the deadline indicated in emails addressed to the Agency Officials. The announcements will provide the details of each training conference. Employees selected will be notified.
- The Office of the Administrator and each Deputy Administrator shall be responsible for submitting a list of the selections from their offices along with the SF-182's directly to the appropriate training office. Only those names submitted by officials above, with the approved SF-182, will be processed.
- The agency will pay for only the CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE, TRAVEL and PER DIEM.
- Current FSA Officers in the positions of President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of Chapters sponsoring the specific SEP National Conference.
- FSA employees holding one of the following National positions:
- The Special Emphasis Program Managers (SEPM's) and SEP Council Chairs who provide leadership in the coordination of the Special Emphasis Programs. SEPM's and SEP Council Chairs shall be allowed to attend one National Conference per year relevant to position held and/or the specific SEP area of responsibility.
LOTTERY ELIGIBILITY- Employees eligible for the lottery shall be:
- Permanent Full Time Employees who:
- Did not attend last year's national conference.
- Who have indicated a specific conference on their Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Conference Delegates "Will Not Be Exempt" from the lottery system. In person must personally sponsor their desired participation at their own expense and take annual leave.
- No one will be eligible to participate in any conference that is currently on an Opportunity To Improve or on leave restriction. This will be confirmed with Employee and Labor Relations Branch (ELRB).
- No employee will be pre-selected.
- The level of participation may be increased when National Conferences are held locally, but increases shall be subject to budget constraints and at the discretion of the Office of the Administrator and each Deputy Administrator.
- Employees shall only be allowed to attend ONE National Conference per year, though they may enter all lotteries.
The Office of the Administrator and each Deputy Administrator are allowed lottery allocations proportionate with size of office workforce. The table below gives the break down of the lottery allocations per office:
Office (Includes DC, KC, and STL) | FEW Participant Lottery Allocation | BIG Participant Lottery Allocation |
|---|
OA | 3 | 3 |
|---|
DAFP | 2 | 2 |
|---|
DAFLP | 2 | 2 |
|---|
DAFO | 1 | 1 |
|---|
DACO | 3 | 3 |
|---|
DAM | 5 | 5 |
|---|
Total No. Slots Allocated | 14 | 14 |
|---|
Updated on 3/26/2008
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