The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2014

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 57 AFSA NEWS 2014 AFSA Dues Rates Hike BY JANET HEDRICK, DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES In accordance with AFSA’s bylaws, AFSA has increased dues for 2014 by 1.5 percent for all individual membership catego- ries. This increase will provide the association with a stable and predictable income source, which allows AFSA to con- tinue offering excellent member services and benefits. This modest adjustment, just pennies per pay period, correlates to the 3rd-quarter Consumer Price Index increase published by the Department of Labor and used by the Social Security Administration to calculate the 2014 Cost-of-Living Adjust- ment increases. Active-duty and retired members paying dues via payroll and annuity deduction will see a small, automatic increase in the amount deducted from their paychecks and annuities. Those paying annually will be billed the new rate on their regu- larly scheduled renewal date. The new rates are as follows: Active-Duty Foreign Service Grades 2014 Annual 2014 Biweekly SFS $390.95 $15.05 FS 1-3 $302.25 $11.65 FS 4-6 $173.05 $6.65 FS 7-9 $91.50 $3.50 Retiree Annuity Levels 2014 Annual 2014 Monthly Under $25,000 $67.15 $5.60 $25,000-50,000 $105.50 $8.80 $50,000-75,000 $140.90 $11.75 Over $75,000 $176.40 $14.70 Retiree Spouse/Partner $52.75 $4.40 Associate Category 2014 Annual Associate Membership $108.40 Retired Associate $66.35 Nominate a Colleague for a Constructive Dissent Award The American Foreign Ser- vice Association is seeking nominations for its Con- structive Dissent Awards Program. For more than 40 years, these awards have recognized Foreign Service employees who work within the system to change policies or management regulations for the better. AFSA’s dissent awards are unique in the federal government. Foreign Ser- vice employees who have expressed dissent to effect change—without going pub- lic—through conversations, meetings, e-mails to superi- ors, memoranda, cables or other formats, are eligible.  While the Foreign Service values professionalism and consensus, these same intel- lectual and personal qualities have led some of our most qualified employees to dis- sent. Many of those who have been singled out for a dissent award have risen to the high- est ranks, We urge all members of the Foreign Service to now consider nominating a col- league who has shown intel- lectual and moral courage to improve policy or manage- ment in furthering United States diplomacy.  Recipients will be rec- ognized at AFSA’s annual awards ceremony held in BY PERRI GREEN, COORDINATOR FOR SPECIAL AWARDS AND OUTREACH the department’s Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Recep- tion Room in June.  This year the awards ceremony will also be part of our broader program to recognize the 90th  anniversary of the U. S. Foreign Service. Please help AFSA con- tinue to honor and recognize honesty and independent thinking by nominating a Foreign Service employee for an AFSA dissent award. There are four awards: The Christian A. Herter Award for senior officers; the William R. Rivkin Award for mid-level officers; the W. Averell Harriman Award for entry-level officers and the F. Allen "Tex" Harris Award for specialists. Learn more at www.afsa.org/dissent. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28. We are pleased to announce that the Una Chap- man Cox Foundation (www. uccoxfoundation.org) is the new sponsor of the W. Averell Harriman Award. We greatly appreciate their support to help to ensure the ongoing viability of our constructive dissent awards program. AFSA is grateful for the continued sponsorship from the Rivkin family for the Wil- liam R. Rivkin award, and the Delavan Foundation for the F. Allen “Tex” Harris award. n