The Foreign Service Journal, March 2016

68 MARCH 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS Consent Agenda: On a motion from Retiree Vice President Tom Boyatt, the board approved all consent agenda items. These included (1) the Nov. 4 Governing Board minutes; (2) the appointment of AFSA Executive Assistant Patrick Bradley as keeper of records for AFSA’s political action committee; (3) consent to the amendment to internal AFSA guidance governing the appropriate use of “officer” and “specialist” when referring to members of the Foreign Service in each of AFSA’s five constituent agencies/departments; and (4) consent to the AFSAAwards and Plaques Committee’s rec- ommendation that the Governing Board not add two names to the AFSAMemorial Plaques based on the fact that neither person qualified for inclusion under the criteria in place at the time of their death. The motion passed unanimously. AFSA Outreach Efforts: Executive Director Ian Houston briefed the board on AFSA’s enhanced public outreach on the critical role of the Foreign Service in promoting America’s national security, economic prosperity and values. Progress has been made on partnering with the Una Chapman Cox Foundation to bolster the association’s outreach efforts. In addition, AFSA is collaborating with the United States Institute of Peace on the annual high school essay contest, exploring the idea of creating a Foreign Service unit for inclusion in A.P. history and U.S. government curricula, and leveraging key partnerships to reach a broader audience at the grassroots level, among other efforts. U.S. Diplomacy Center: Ambassador (ret.) Bill Harrop briefed the board on how construction of the museum, cura- tion of exhibit content and establishment of a governance structure are progressing. He thanked AFSA for its support to date and expressed a desire for the association’s continued involvement going forward. n Consent Agenda: On a motion from State Vice President Angie Bryan, the board approved all consent agenda items. These included (1) the Dec. 2 Governing Board minutes; (2) the appointment of Information Management Specialist Susan Danewitz and Foreign Service Officer Ramón Escobar to replace outgoing State representatives Samuel Thielman and Philip Laidlaw on the AFSA Govern- ing Board; and (3) the AFSA Awards and Plaques Com- mittee’s recommendation that the Governing Board add Steven Farley’s name to the AFSA Memorial Plaques in the C Street Lobby of the Department of State. The motion passed unanimously. AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, January 6, 2016 Applicant to the Committee on the Foreign Service Profes- sion and Ethics: On a motion from Retiree Representative Al La Porta, the board approved the appointment of State Foreign Service Officer Tim Haynes to serve on the AFSA Committee on the Foreign Service Profession and Ethics. The motion passed unanimously. Overseas Development Program: On a motion made by AFSA State Representative Nini Hawthorne, the board agreed to refine and reconsider at its next meeting AFSA’s response to the Department of State’s evaluation of the Overseas Devel- opment Program. n AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, December 2, 2015