Help Now through the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program

(January 17, 2023) —Former union steward Jason Ahsenmacher at the Fairbanks Weather Forecast Office is in need of assistance. Jason was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood condition called POEMS Syndrome (learn more here), which afflicts approximately 1 in 1 million people per year. Due to the rarity of this disease, Jason’s care is provided at specialized clinics.

Alaska’s lack of specialized facilities requires Jason's care to take place at the Rochester, MN Mayo Clinic. Treatment includes several rounds of chemotherapy, and debilitating neuropathy from the disease requires inpatient care.

Jason is looking for assistance toward completing this treatment and getting back to being strong and healthy again. As his type of treatment has quickly depleted his leave, any help can make a huge difference in Jason’s recovery.  “Thank you very much for any assistance,” says Jason. “I appreciate it, and I am excited to get back to good health.”

Jason has been accepted and enrolled into the NOAA Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP), which allows for NWSEO members to donate their own accrued annual leave hours to others in need. If you are interested in donating leave for Jason, VLTP donations can now be done 100% through WebTA.  Jason has been added to the list of recipients. To do this:

1. Click on "Leave Donations" in the bottom right corner of the WebTA main menu. 
2. Click "Add Donation."
3. Fill out the form.
4. Select Jason Ahsenmacher from the "Search LTP Account" box.

You may also complete a 630A form here. Please make sure the form is signed by you, and Jason Ahsenmacher  is named as the recipient when you submit it to your ASA.

What is the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program?

VLTP allows federal employees to donate annual leave to other federal employees who are experiencing a medical emergency and have exhausted their available paid leave. There is no limit on the amount of donated annual leave a leave recipient may receive from leave donor(s). However, any unused donated leave must be returned to the leave donor(s) when the medical emergency ends.

A person does not have to wait until their leave is exhausted before applying to be a recipient of VLTP. To become accepted, applicants must present medical documentation showing they anticipate that they will be on unpaid status for at least 24 hours, then complete the required paperwork, have it processed, and receive notification that they are accepted as a VLTP recipient.

If you know of an NWSEO member in need of a medical leave donation and would like us to inform members, please have them contact NWSEO.

Thank you for your generosity and care!