The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2017

6 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 7 President’s Views Dear S: You Can Count on Us By Ba r ba r a S t e p h e n s o n 9 Letter from the Editor The Diplomacy Brief By Sh awn Do rma n 15 Speaking Out Why U.S. Ambassadors Should Be Career Professionals By Edwa rd L . Pe c k 97 Reflections Rip Van Winkle in the Foreign Service By Do n n a Sc a r ama s t r a Go rma n 98 Local Lens Mestia, Georgia By Fr a n c e s c a Ke l l y 48 AFSAThanks Outreach Participants 49 State VP Voice—Speaking of Elections 50 FCS VP Voice—Results Matter 50 AFSA 2017 Dues Change 51 Retiree VP Voice—“To Support and Defend the Constitution” 52 Call for Nominations: 2017-2019 Governing Board 55 An In-Depth Look at the New MSI Process 56 AFSA Bylaw Amendments 58 AFSA Governing Board Meeting Notes 58 AFSAWelcomes New BBG Rep 59 The Foreign Service Networks at AFSA 59 AThank You to Ambassador Farrand 60 AFSAApplauds JSP Graduates 61 Congress Passes FY17 State Authorization Bill 62 2016 AFSATax Guide AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION On the Cover: Design by Gemma Dvorak. Departments 10 Letters 11 Talking Points 83 In Memory 89 Books Marketplace 91 Classifieds 94 Real Estate 96 Index to Advertisers 98 Perspectives FOREIGN SERVICE 60 62