The Foreign Service Journal, March 2007

76 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / MA R CH 2 0 0 7 A F S A N E W S AFSA Annual Report 2006 AFSA BY THE NUMBERS IN 2006 4 Names added to the AFSA Memorial Plaque during Foreign Affairs Day 31 New Lifetime AFSA members 70 AFSA articles and letters placed in media nationwide 104 AFSAnets sent in 2006 143 Embassies and missions overseas that have an AFSA rep to serve members 400 Retirees who received AFSA’s direct assistance 985 New active and retired members 520 AFSA speaker programs nationwide 1,200 Number of Elderhostel participants 5,660 Copies of Inside a U.S. Embassy sold this year 8,558 Subscribers to AFSAnet 13,700 AFSA members at year’s end 34,500 Attendance at AFSA speaker programs nationwide 152,500 Financial Aid Scholarship dollars awarded to 75 students 157,900 Dollar amount of scholarship fund donation from the Brockman M. Moore Charitable Reminder Trust 300,000 Number of visitors to the AFSA Web site Benefits of AFSA Membership LABOR-MANAGEMENTRELATIONS: AFSAnegotiates the regulations affectingemployees’ careers. We work to make the Foreign Service a better place in which to work, live and raise a family. Our network of AFSA post representatives provides on-site assistance to overseas members. CONGRESSIONAL ADVOCACY: AFSA is your advocate beforeCongress on issues affecting the careers of active members and the annuities of retired members. OMBUDSMAN: We work to resolve member problems with pay, allowances, claims, annu- ities, health care and many other issues. VOICE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE: As the professional association of the Foreign Service since 1924, AFSAworks to strengthenour professionand is ever vigilant for threats to the career Foreign Service. GRIEVANCE REPRESENTATION: AFSA’s legal staff provides hands-on assistance with griev- ance proceedings when your rights are violated. OUTREACH: AFSA communicates the views of the Foreign Service on professional issues to the news media and directly to the general public. FOREIGNSERVICE JOURNAL: Ourmonthlymagazine offers provocative articles that will keep you current on developments in the foreign affairs profession. AFSA NEWS: AFSA’s monthly newsletter, inside the Foreign Service Journal , highlights issues affecting your daily life. AFSAWEB SITE: Our onlinemember area includes amember directory andmember forums. AFSANET: Regular e-mail updates keepyoucurrent on issues of importance to theForeignService community. LEGAL SERVICES: We offer free legal advice and representationon employment issues, includ- ing security and OIG investigations, discipline cases and security clearance proceedings. INSURANCE PROGRAMS: You can choose among competitively priced insurance programs designed for the ForeignService community, including professional liability insurance, accident, dental and personal property/transit. AFSA SCHOLARSHIPS: Approximately 100 merit-based and financial-need scholarships are granted every year to Foreign Service familymembers. Since 1926, AFSAhas awarded approx- imately $4,450,000 in scholarships. AFSA AWARDS: This unique awards program honors constructive dissent and outstanding performance. RETIREE NEWSLETTER: This bimonthly newsletter is exclusively for retired members. DIRECTORY OF RETIRED MEMBERS: This invaluable annual listing, by state, of contact infor- mation for retired members is provided to all retired AFSAmembers. MAGAZINE DISCOUNTS: AFSAmembers are eligible for special discounts on subscriptions to major foreign affairs journals. ESPRIT DE CORPS: Wework tobuild a sense of common cause andprofessional pride among all Foreign Service members: active and retired; officer and specialist; entry- to senior-level. AFSA MEMORIAL PLAQUE: Established in 1933, and maintained by AFSA, the plaques in the Truman Building lobby honor members of the Foreign Service who lost their lives overseas in the line of duty. AFSA Core Values THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION Established in 1924. MISSION Tomake the ForeignService amore effec- tive agent of United States international leadership. VISION We work to make the Foreign Service a better-supported, more respected, more satisfying place inwhich to spend a career and raise a family. — RESPONSIVENESS: We listen to our members and actively promote their interests. — EFFECTIVENESS: We act with a sense of urgency, get results andmake adifference. — INTEGRITY: We demonstrate openness, honesty and fairness in everythingwe do. — EFFICIENCY: We carefully expend our resourceswhere they canhavemaximum impact. — COMMUNITY: We foster teamwork, respect each other, and enjoy our time together. — COURAGE: We encourage responsible risk-taking in order to achieve results. — PATRIOTISM: We are faithful to the grand and enduring ideals that gave our nation birth. — EMPOWERMENT: We trust each other togiveour best efforts guidedby these core values.