My Travels: 2003 Year in Review

Highlights:

Completed the major undertaking of transferring accounting data for 109 embassies from a home-grown WIN/DATEL and conversion to the new overseas Regional Financial Management System (RFMS) to be serviced by Comptroller Global Finance Services (CGFS) in Charleston, SC and the Financial Service Center (FSC) in Bangkok.. Many hours of conference calls with individual embassy financial management staff were required to not only effect the transfer of data to RFMS but to train local staff in the new system and tracking individual post progress in making the initial countdown to conversion with data and transaction cleanup the weekend of March 29th followed by others May 3rd, 31st and June 28th and final wrap up August 2nd.

Closed FSC operations in Paris and moved to Charleston for an assignment at the Comptroller Global Finance Services (CGFS) center on the old Naval Base. Paris was the second finance center to move to Charleston after Mexico in 1995 to provide accounting, disbursing, payroll and systems support for our embassies overseas not only in the Americas but also then Europe and Africa.

Thanks to our Director, Rob McAnneny, 16 senior Foreign Service National (FSN) employees, including Accountants, Cashier Monitors, FSN Payroll and Systems staff were retained and established the Financial Support and Training Office (FSTO) office.

In late January we were visited by CFO Chris Burnham (January 2002-February 2005). Actually his title was the Assistant Secretary of Resource Management who did a walk through of our facility. Chris was previously a three-term member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. After the Department he went on to be an executive with Deutsch Bank.

The Managing Director of RM/Financial Management Systems, Alan Evans, visited us May 8-9 and I accompanied him to the embassy where he could see first hand how RFMS was working with initial input of payment vouchers and accounting. Alan an I came into FMP, RM (then CGFS) about the same time and stayed in touch on systems issues. I participated with Alan on the review of the proposals for the new travel management system that ended up being awarded to Carlson Wagon-Lit Travel and the implementation of E2 Solutions program for official travel authorization and voucher claims..

The new associate Comptroller to DAS Jim Millette, Charlie Grover, visited us July 7 for consultations. Charlie came from London where he was FMO and before that Brazil. His last tour was as the U.S. Olympic Coordinator in Rio de Janeiro. Following retirement he went to work for the Organization of American States as the Secretary for Administration and Finance. We still stay in touch and has a house here on James Island.

September 20-24 I was in Washington D.C. according to my Day Timer calendar but don't recall the reason.

Favorite Memories:

I loved my apartment in the 17th arrondissement on Avenue Colonel Carnot just down from the Arc de Triomphe but not as much as when I lived in the 16th, but I did get used to the market on Rue Poncelet.

Celebrated my 60th birthday with cousin Bob Porter who was visiting Paris at the time. Had an excellent dinner of leg of lamb at Restaurant George.

Annual leave April 11-21, 2003 to visit family.

Jeffrey stayed for a couple of months with me in the summer and worked with the Public Affairs office. Fond memories of cooking dinners and rotating meals between pasta, chicken and fish. My wife and Patrick visited August 8-18

Continued excursions outside Paris on my bike on the weekends.

Playing tennis with Laurent Potash at the tennis club in the 16th. Laurent had his own Land Rover dealership from his father and then went to work for Cartier.

Travelled to Washington D.C. April 10-21 to visit family.

Diana Krall live in Paris at the Olympia.

The French Open at Roland Garros had Justin Henin defeating Kim Clijsters after defeating Serena Williams in the semi final.

Jim and Judith Paravonian wedding June 22, 2003 on board one of the tourist boats along the Seine.

July 9th we were invited to the Ambassador's residence for a reception. Howard Leech was the Ambassador from 2001-05. Originally from Salinas, California, he was a major shareholder in Tejon Ranch Company, invested in Royal Packing Company and President of Foley Timber and Land Company. According to Wikipedia he refused to learn a word of French. I did have an exit briefing with him October 10th.

Friday, July 18 we had TGIF with the Brits at the Embassy.

Ordered my 2004 Ford Mustang through Diplomatic Auto Sales at the SHAPE headquarters base in Belgium. Special order including five speed transmission and custom leather interior and upgraded sound (40th Anniversary model). Scheduled delivery from factory to Charleston.

Departed Paris October 21, 2003 to Charleston and had my first staff meeting October 31st.

Purchase of Townhouse on Daniel Island (DI) and delivery of household effects November 19 followed by installation of window coverings by Blinds Plus.

Joined the Family Circle Tennis Center on DI and started playing tennis after work and even joined a team the "Viagra Boys".

U.S. Events

·         Bush signs ten-year, $350-billion tax cut package, the third-largest tax cut in U.S. history (May 28).
·         In California Governor Gray Davis ousted in recall vote; actor Arnold Schwarzenegger elected in his place (Oct. 7).
·         Space shuttle Columbia explodes, killing all 7 astronauts (Feb. 1).
· One of the most important rulings on the issue of affirmative action in twenty-five years-the Supreme Court decisively upholds the right of affirmative action in higher education (June 23).
·   Investigation into the loss of space shuttle Columbia cites egregious organizational problems at NASA (Aug. 25).
·         Congressional Budget Office predicts federal deficit of $480 billion in 2004 and $5.8 trillion by 2013 (Aug. 26).
·         President Bush signs $87.5 billion emergency package for post-war Iraq reconstruction; this supplements $79 billion approved in April. (Nov. 5).
·         John A. Muhammad, convicted in the 2002 Washington, DC, area shootings, receives death sentence (Nov. 24).
·         President Bush eliminates steel tariffs after WTO says U.S. violated trade laws (Dec. 4).

World Events

·      U.S. Secretary of State Powell presents Iraq war rationale to UN, citing its WMD as imminent threat to world security (Feb. 5).
·         In State of the Union address, Bush announces that he is ready to attack Iraq even without a UN mandate (Jan. 28). (For an account of the U.S. build-up to war in Iraq, see News of the Nation, 2003.)
·         U.S. and Britain launch war against Iraq (March 19). See also Iraq war timeline.
·         The Bush administration reverses policy, agreeing to transfer power to an interim Iraqi government in early 2004 (Nov. 14).
·         North Korea withdraws from treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons (Jan. 10).
·         After Israel retaliates for suicide bombing by killing top member of Hamas, militant Palestinian groups formally withdraw from cease-fire in effect since June 29 (Aug. 24).
·         Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem kills 20 Israelis, including 6 children (Aug. 19).
·         Suicide bombing destroys UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing 24, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello (Aug. 19).
·         Libya accepts blame for 1988 bombing of flight over Lockerbie, Scotland; agrees to pay $2.7 billion to the families of the 270 victims (Aug. 15).
·         NATO assumes control of peacekeeping force in Afghanistan (Aug. 11). Background
·         Liberia's autocratic president Charles Taylor forced to leave civil-war ravaged country (Aug. 11). Background
·         Palestinian militant groups announce ceasefire toward Israel (June 29).
·         International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovers Iran's concealed nuclear activities and calls for intensified inspections (June 18).
·         Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi again placed under house arrest by military regime (May 30).
·         Terrorists strike in Saudi Arabia, killing 34 at Western compound; Al-Qaeda suspected (May 12).
·         The U.S. declares official end to combat operations in Iraq (May 1).
·         U.S.-backed "road map" for peace proposed for Middle East (April 30). Background
·         First Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, sworn in (April 29).
·         Baghdad falls to U.S. troops (April 9).
·         Nine-week general strike in Venezuela calling for President Chavez's resignation ends in defeat (Feb. 2).
·         Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi announces he will give up weapons program (Dec. 19).
·         Saddam Hussein is captured by American troops (Dec. 13).
·         Paul Martin succeeds Jean Chretien as Canadian prime minister (Dec. 12).
·         Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze resigns after weeks of protests (Nov. 23).
·         Another terrorist attack in Istanbul kills 26 (Nov. 20). Al-Qaeda suspected in both. See suspected al-Qaeda terrorist attacks.
·         Suicide bombers attack two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 (Nov. 15).
·         Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas resigns; "road map" to peace effectively collapses (Sept. 6). Background
·         Ariel Sharon elected Israeli prime minister (Jan. 29).

Movies:

" Chicago" won the Oscar for best picture at the 75h Academy Awards. Adrian Brody won lead actor award for "The Pianist”, and the lead actress Oscar went to Nicole Kidman "The Hours". Catherine Zetta-Jones, "Chicago" and Chris Cooper, "Adaptation" won for supporting actress and supporting actor. Directing Roman Polanski, "The Pianist".

Super Bowl:

Super Bowl 37 pitted the Oakland Raiders against Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders by the score of 48–21. This was the first Super Bowl in which the league's number one-ranked offense (Raiders) faced the league's number one-ranked defense (Buccaneers). The game sometimes is referred to as the "Gruden Bowl", because the primary storyline surrounding the game revolved around Jon Gruden. Gruden was the Raiders' head coach from 1998 to 2001, and as a result of a trade then became the Buccaneers head coach in 2002. Tampa Bay, "Gruden's new team", made their first Super Bowl appearance in team history after posting a 12–4 regular season record. Oakland, "Gruden's old team", advanced to their fifth Super Bowl after an 11–5 regular season. The Raiders came into the game as four-point favorites. However, the Tampa Bay defense dominated the contest. Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon threw a Super Bowl record five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. The Buccaneers also sacked Gannon five times, and scored 34 consecutive points to build a 34–3 lead late in the third quarter. Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson, who had two of those interceptions and returned them for 34 yards, was named Super Bowl MVP. Jackson became only the second safety and third defensive back named Super Bowl MVP.

World Series:

The 2003 World Series was between the National League champion Florida Marlins and the American League champion New York Yankees; the Marlins upset the heavily-favored Yankees, four games to two. The series was played from October 18 to 25, 2003. This is the most recent Series in which the losing team outscored the winning team; the Yankees lost, despite outscoring the Marlins 21–17 in the Series. This was the Marlins' second World Series championship win, having won their first in 1997. As of 2019, this is the last time the Marlins have appeared not only in the World Series, but in the postseason at all. Josh Beckett was the series MVP who retired after.