The Foreign Service Journal - January/February 2018

72 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA Rings in the Holiday Season On Dec. 13, more than 100 AFSA members and guests gathered at AFSA headquar- ters to celebrate the holiday season at our annual Holiday Happy Hour. Guests mingled, catching up with friends and colleagues from previous posts and comparing notes about holiday plans and onward assignments. column,“Foreign ServiceWish List” for 2018, which includes hopes for a return to normal promotion numbers and a lift- ing of the hiring freeze. Amb. Stephenson also noted the large turnout at the event, saying it was indica- tive of the “silver lining of the tough year the Foreign Service has had.” She reminded the crowd of the good news from 2017: “Our Foreign Service family is united,” said Amb. Stephenson, while “members of Congress from both parties are rallying behind the need for a strong professional, career Foreign Service,” and the media has “focused on maintaining America’s core diplomatic capacity.” We at AFSA look forward to working with you and for you in 2018. n DONNAGORMAN/AFSA Current and past AFSA leadership was on hand as AFSA President Ambas- sador Barbara Stephenson welcomed the crowd, reflect- ing on AFSA’s achievements in 2017 and the organiza- tion’s goals for the new year. Amb. Stephenson shared an advance copy of her January- February President’s Views