The Foreign Service Journal, March 2009

Benefits of AFSA Membership 66 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / MA R CH 2 0 0 9 A F S A N E W S AFSA Annual Report 2008 AFSA BY THE NUMBERS IN 2008 9 AFSA press releases. 33 New lifetime members. 65 AFSAnets sent. 70 AFSA interviews, articles, letters, op-eds published in media nationwide. 78 Percentage of posts that have an AFSA representative. 250 Students participating in AFSA’s National High School Essay Contest. 470 AFSA Speaker programs nationwide. 8,485 Subscribers to AFSAnet listserv. 13,905 AFSAmembers at year’s end. 30,500 Total academic and professional audiences attending AFSA programs nationwide. 37,500 The size in dollars of the donation made to FEEA (with a 100-percent match by FEEA) to pay for the college education of FS children who lost parents in terrorist attacks. 188,274 The amount of scholarship assistance provided to 95 Foreign Service children (in dollars). 652,177 The amount of a bequest added to the Martha and George Newman Scholarship (in dollars). 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 actwith 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. LABORMANAGEMENTRELATIONS: AFSA negotiates the regulations affecting employees’ careers. We work tomake the Foreign Service a better place in which to work, live and raise a family. Our network of AFSA post repre- sentatives provides on-site assistance tooverseas members. CONGRESSIONAL ADVOCACY: AFSA is your advocate beforeCongress on issues affect- ing the careers of activemembers and the annu- ities of retired members. OMBUDSMAN: Wework to resolvemem- berproblemswithpay,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 pro- fessionandisevervigilantforthreatstothecareer Foreign Service. GRIEVANCE REPRESENTATION: AFSA’s legal staff provides hands-on assistance with grievanceproceedingswhenyour rights are vio- lated. OUTREACH: AFSAcommunicatestheviews of the Foreign Service on professional issues to the newsmedia anddirectly to the general pub- lic. FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL: Our monthlymagazineoffersprovocativearticlesthat will keep you current on developments in the foreign affairs profession. AFSA NEWS: AFSA’smonthly newsletter, insidethe ForeignServiceJournal, highlightsissues affecting your daily life. AFSAWEB SITE: Our onlinemember area includes a member directory and member forums. AFSANET: Regular e-mail updates keepyou current on issues of importance to the Foreign Service community. LEGALSERVICES: We offer free legal advice and representation on employment issues, including security andOIG investigations, dis- cipline cases and security clearanceproceedings. INSURANCEPROGRAMS: You can choose amongcompetitivelypricedinsuranceprograms designed for the Foreign Service community, including professional liability, long-termcare, accident, dental and personal property/transit. AFSASCHOLARSHIPS: Approximately100 merit-basedand financial-need scholarships are granted every year to Foreign Service family members. Since 1926, AFSA has awarded approximately $4,450,000 in scholarships. AFSA AWARDS: This unique awards pro- gram honors constructive dissent and out- standing performance. RETIREE NEWSLETTER: This bimonthly newsletter is exclusively for retired members. DIRECTORY OF RETIREDMEMBERS: This invaluable annual listing, by state, of contact information for retiredmembers is provided to all retired AFSAmembers. MAGAZINE DISCOUNTS: AFSA members are eligible for special discounts on subscriptions to major foreign affairs journals. ESPRIT DE CORPS: We work to build a sense of common cause andprofessional pride among all ForeignServicemembers: active-duty andretired;generalists and specialists; entry-level and senior. AFSAMEMORIALPLAQUES: Established in 1933, and maintained by AFSA, these plaques in theTrumanBuilding lobby honormembers of the Foreign Servicewho lost their lives over- seas in the line of duty.