The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2017

52 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS Important Dates: February 1, 2017 Deadline for nominations February 9, 2017 Informational meeting for candidates— optional February 15, 2017 Committee on Elections announces candidates’ names April 17, 2017 Ballots and candidate statements mailed June 8, 2017 Ballots counted July 15, 2017 New Governing Board takes office AFSA’s Governing Board needs you! By standing for elec- tion to the AFSA Governing Board, you can help lead the association dedicated to furthering the profession of diplomacy and the career Foreign Service. AFSA is seeking dedi- cated active-duty and retired professionals from all Foreign Service agencies to serve in leadership positions. There are many benefits to joining the AFSA Govern- ing Board: • A significant role in advancing your profession; • Access to up-to-date information about the chal- lenges facing your agency and your profession • An opportunity to enhance the value of AFSA membership to the foreign affairs community; • Managing a multimillion- dollar organization with a large professional staff and • The chance to exchange ideas and perspectives with other volunteer leaders. AFSA values and seeks diverse leadership as defined by professional level, skill code, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gen- der identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, etc. Consider joining the next AFSA leadership team by running for a position on the 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board. Election Call Election of AFSA Officers and Constituency Repre- sentatives. This election call, issued in accordance with Article VII (2)(a) of the AFSA bylaws, constitutes a formal notice to all AFSA members of the opportunity to partici- pate in the nomination and election of a new Governing Board. Call for Nominations Available Positions. The following positions will be filled in this election: Officers • President • Secretary • Treasurer • Vice President for State • Vice President for USAID • Vice President for FCS • Vice President for FAS • Vice President for Retirees Constituency Representatives • State Department Repre- sentatives (5) • USAID Representative (1) • Alternate FCS Representa- tive (1) • Alternate FAS Representa- tive (1) • BBG Representative (1) • APHIS Representative (1) • Retired Member Represen- tatives (2) Note: As per the bylaw amendments approved by the membership in the 2015 AFSA election, the AFSA Governing Board will be reduced from 29 mem- bers to 18 voting members. Each constituency with 100 members will have one Vice President and is entitled to one representative per 2,000 members or fraction thereof, provided that the fraction is greater than half. Constitu- encies with fewer than 100 members are entitled to one representative. The positions listed above have two-year terms begin- ning July 15, 2017. AFSA bylaws require that all Gov- erning Board members must be resident in the Washing- ton D.C. area within 60 days of taking office on July 15, 2017, and must remain resi- dent in the Washington D.C. area throughout their term in office. The president and State, USAID, FCS and FAS vice presidents are full-time posi- tions detailed to AFSA. These employees are assigned over complement and are eligible for time-in-class extensions. The active-duty repre- sentative positions are not full time, but they are given a reasonable amount of official time to attend meetings regarding labor management issues. Governing Board mem- bers are required to attend board meetings, tradition- ally on the first Wednesday of each month at lunchtime and may volunteer to serve on additional committees. For position descriptions for all officer positions, see the AFSA website: www.afsa.org/ board. Nomination Procedures Nominating Candidates. Any AFSA regular member in good standing (i.e., a member whose dues are automatically deducted or who has paid dues as of Feb. 1, 2017) may nominate any person (including them- selves) for any of the avail- Call for Nominations: 2017-2019 AFSA Governing Board