Steadfast at 250

Retiree VP Voice

BY JOHN O’KEEFE

July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and as we celebrate this milestone, we should remember that while we proclaimed independence in 1776, it was anything but. It took years until the Treaty of Paris, and another six years until we settled on a workable constitution.

Our country and U.S. diplomacy are now experiencing a rocky time. We stand steadfast in the face of these troubles. The nonpartisan and professional profile of our Foreign Service is diminished, in both fact and in attitude of leadership.

Only today I reviewed candidates for AFSA’s Delavan Award, which recognizes outstanding office management specialists (OMS). Of the highly accomplished nominees, there were multiple serving in high-threat posts.

They risk their lives every day. They directly support our country’s interests in fraught regions. And they do it willingly, with deep care in carrying out this vital work, as do their colleagues. We at AFSA appreciate what they do.

So, what has this to do with us retirees?

Now, as never before, we are the bulwark that protects our active-duty colleagues. Imagine sending a dissent cable. Imagine, as many of us have done, working with groups not basking in the sunlight of official blessing.

We retirees are able to do things our colleagues can’t. We can warn against the dangerous trend of treating unwelcome information—the very information that leaders need to make good decisions—as unpatriotic. We can remind people that dissent is patriotic. We can talk to our members of Congress. We can inform our communities. We can get the message out on social media. The list goes on.

But the most important action is being an AFSA member. If you are reading this, you likely are. However, with the new system requiring direct payment of dues to AFSA, remember to pay attention to your renewal date so your membership doesn’t expire, or, better yet, sign up for our autopay option.

But we also need to encourage other retirees to join. At this moment, retirees are likely the most effective element of AFSA membership. Without our dues, the engine that protects your interests would sputter.

As an example, last year’s reconciliation bill in Congress initially contained provisions detrimental to AFSA members’ interests. Those elements ultimately did not survive the legislative process.

But this is Washington, and more reconciliation bills could pop up this summer. You can only imagine what they could target. Our superb director of congressional advocacy, Kim Sullivan, and her staff are working with committee staff to track developments and protect your benefits.

Just as independence in 1776 was only the beginning of a long, uncertain effort, our work today is sustained by one member, one voice, one renewed dues payment at a time.

Two hundred fifty years on, the experiment still depends on people willing to stand up for it. Our FS retirees are among the best positioned to do exactly that.