The Foreign Service Journal, April 2008

58 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / A P R I L 2 0 0 8 A F S A N E W S 2008 Foreign Service Youth Newsletters Foreign Service high school and middle school students write and publish two quarterly worldwide newsletters. The 2008 winter editions are available online at www.fsyf.org/newsletter/newsletters.html. Foreign Service kids are invited to submit articles for the spring 2008 edition. Paid opportunities available for overseas teen correspondents. For more information or to submit an article, e-mail: newsletter@fsyf.org . 2008 Clements International Community Service Award FSYF calls for nominations for the Clements Interna- tional Foreign Service Youth Award for Community Service. The Clements Award honors Foreign Service youth in grades 7 through 12 who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer efforts overseas, either in community service or in service to their peers, while facing the chal- lenges of growing up in an internationally mobile family. The two first-place winners will receive a certificate of recognition and a $1,500 savings bond. All award winners will be invited to the Youth Awards Ceremony at the Department of State. Please visit www.fsyf.org for a nomination form or contact the Family Liaison Office. AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Thanks for Supporting the Legal Defense Fund AFSA is delighted to report strong member support for the new Legal Defense Fund recently set up to provide financial assistance to members for legal cases involving issues of significant insti- tutional importance to the Foreign Service. In response to a fall mailing to all members, AFSA has received over $17,000 so far in contributions from approximately 275 donors. AFSA thanks all who have contributed so gen- erously to the fund. In October 2007, the AFSA Governing Board named the fund after Richard C. Scissors, a retired Foreign Service officer and beloved AFSA colleague who passed away in September. (See the Apprecia- tion in the December Foreign Service Journal , p. 51.) Those who wish to make a donation should send a check made out to “Richard C. Scissors Legal Defense Fund at AFSA” to: Richard C. Scissors Legal Defense Fund, American Foreign Service Association, P.O. Box 98026, Washing- ton DC 20090-8026. At present, contri- butions are not tax deductible. AFSA is exploring the possibility of obtaining 501(c)(3) status from the IRS in the future, and will keep you advised of our progress. Thanks for your support for this important initiative. Opportunities for Foreign Service Youth 2008 Foreign Service High School and Middle School Young Diplomat’s Essay Contest The Foreign Service Youth Foundation and Diplomatic Auto Sales sponsor the Young Diplomat’s Essay Contest for high school and middle school Foreign Service youth. For the high schoolers, first prize is $1,000 and second prize is $500. For middle schoolers, first prize is $250 and second prize is $100. The 2008 essay contest topic for the high schoolers is: analyze and explain what challenges will face the U.S. Foreign Service in the 21st century, in 750 to 1,000 words. Middle schoolers are asked to explain, in 500 to 750 words, “What current international issue would you feel compelled to address if you were a U.S. diplomat? What do you think should be done and why?” The deadline for receipt of essays is April 15. For full rules, guidelines and entry form, please visit www.fsyf.org or e-mail fsyf@fsyf.org . State Department Federal Credit Union and Foreign Service Youth Foundation Youth Art Contest The FSYF and the SDFCU announce the opening of the Worldwide Foreign Service Youth Art contest. This year’s theme is: My Life, My World, My Dreams. All Foreign Service youth in age groups 5 to 8, 9 to 12 and 13 to 18 are eligible. First-place winners in each age group receive $500; second place, $250; and honorary mention, $100. The deadline is April 30. For full details and entry form, visit www.fsyf.org or e-mail: fsyf@fsyf.org. Seeking Board Members for the FSYF If you would like to support Foreign Service families, the Board of Directors of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation is an ideal way for dynamic, busy people to fit community service into their schedules. The Foreign Service Youth Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by a volunteer board of directors. The board collaborates with the executive director to provide leadership and governance to the FSYF. The foundation seeks to maintain a skillful and diverse board: Foreign Service employees, former FS youth, retirees and Civil Service employees living in the Washington, D.C., area are all invited to apply to serve. Experience with nonprofit board leadership is preferred but not required. Please consider this networking opportunity to join your Foreign Service colleagues in a rewarding and meaningful project. A full job description and board application is available at www.fsyf.org (click on board information), or contact Executive Director Melanie Newhouse at fsyf@fsyf.org or (301) 404-6655. Various positions are also available within the organization.