The Foreign Service Journal, January 2003

JANUARY 2003 • AFSA NEWS 3 America’s interests. AFSA’s constructive dissent awards offer anopportunity to rec- ognize the critical contributions of our col- leagues and to honor their courage. AFSAalsooffers three awards for extra- ordinary contributions toeffectiveness, pro- fessionalism and morale: to a Foreign Serviceofficemanagement specialist, acom- munity liaison officer, and a Foreign Service family member. Information on submitting a nomina- tion was detailed in the December 2002 AFSANews , and is on the AFSAWeb site at www.afsa.org/nominations.html. Nominations should be sent to the AFSAAwardsCommittee, to the attention of Barbara Berger, by mail: 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037; by fax to (202) 338-6820; by AFSA Channel cable; or by e-mail to berger@afsa.org. Th edead- line for nominations is Feb. 12. We need your involvement inorder to continue this valuable program. ▫ A FSA Governing Boards come and go, but the AFSA staff stays on to support each new board and keep AFSA functioning smoothly. AFSA’s Executive Director Susan Reardon and General Counsel Sharon Papp both came to work at AFSA 10 years ago. Although many AFSA members have never met them, both have made significant contri- butions to AFSA. Susan and Sharon joined AFSA within one month of eachother. Susantellsus, “It’s been a great partnership: Sharon looks after themem- bers’ rights while I look after theorganization’s operational stability.” Their long tenure with AFSA also adds stabili- ty to the organization, which, by theway, tends tokeep staff for many years. Most AFSA staff members do not stay withAFSAbecauseof thepay, but because of their dedica- tion and the positive work environment. Susandeserves much credit for the highmorale at AFSA. Susan came to AFSA from the League of Women Voters of the U.S., where she was the director of finance and adminis- tration for seven years. She and her hus- band, KevinReardon, have two sons, ages 14 and 18. Susan finds the work at AFSA to be interesting and challenging, and says she especially appreciates the “fantastic staff.” She believes AFSA “serves a good cause” and she values the chance to sup- port the Foreign Service. Having worked withsixconsecutiveAFSApresidents, Susan explains that everyAFSAGoverningBoard bringsnewideas andanewperspective. She enjoys the chance to re-evaluate the direc- tion of the organizationwith each incom- ing board, and sees herself as the bridge between the staff and the governing board. She is there to help the board learn about AFSAoperations and tohelp the staff han- dle change and remain flexible and respon- sive. While SusanmanagesAFSAoperations from the AFSA headquarters on 21st St., Sharon’s “legal practice” is based inAFSA’s labor management office in the Truman Building. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and The George Washington University Law School, Sharon came to AFSA from an employment-side civil rights and employment law firm in Washington,where shehadworked for five years. She spent 18 years in Saudi Arabia, where her parentsworked for theArabian AmericanOil Company. That experience has givenher anaffinity towardpeoplewho liveoverseas andhelpedherunderstand the unique challenges and rewards of the Foreign Service lifestyle. Sharon says the work at AFSA is “extremely inter- esting and challenging,” and new issues are always arising. “There’s never a dull moment,” she says. The Foreign Service mem- bers she works with are “verybright andvery appre- ciative of the help we give them,” Sharon says, and it is a pleasure working with them. “I feel like I am able to help people,” she adds, noting that this is one key reason the job is meaning- ful for her. Sharon tells AFSA News her high job satisfaction also relates to the peo- ple she works with at AFSA and in State Department management, as well as the good working environment. Sharon and her husband, Rick Philbin, have two daughters, ages 6 and 8. ▫ Awards • Continued from page 1 AFSA’s Executive Director and General Counsel Reach 10-Year Mark BY SHAWN DORMAN Susan Reardon (left) and Sharon Papp