THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2024 51 AFSA NEWS First Happy Hour of the Next 100 Years On Feb. 21, AFSA invited members and friends to join the centennial kicko happy hour at AFSA headquarters. More than 150 members turned out for what some are calling AFSA’s best happy hour ever. New hires and retirees mingled. Friends and colleagues reunited to chat, snack, enjoy a variety of special beverages, and enter a ra²e for AFSA’s new Foreign Service swag. AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi oered welcoming remarks. Clements sponsored the event and had representatives on hand to help members with insurance questions. Just about the entire AFSA team was on hand to greet members. Everyone had a great time catching up with old friends and new. n This year, Foreign Service Day will be held on Friday, May 3. The AFSA Memorial Plaque Ceremony will also take place on that day. Each year AFSA commemorates Foreign Service Day through a series of events and activities throughout the week. We ask embassies and consulates to participate in a rolling moment of silence to recognize those lost in the line of service.We also ask our members to take to social media to draw attention to the work of the Foreign Service using the hashtags #FSProud and #ForeignServiceDay. On Thursday, May 2, as has become tradition, members are invited to stop by AFSA headquarters during our Open House. We’ll have food trucks and a professional photographer on hand to take free professional headshots. AFSA sta will also be available to answer questions. Come meet up with friends and colleagues! In the evening, AFSA will co-host a reception for members with DACOR. AFSA members will receive more information about all these initiatives later this month.In our centennial year we look forward to a special celebration. Members interested in receiving information about events taking place at the State Department on May 3 should email foreignaairsday@state.gov. n Save the Dates: May 2 & 3 AFSA’s Foreign Service Day Programming NEWS BRIEF AFSA/ ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON AFSA’s centennial happy hour on Feb. 21 drew the largest crowd ever. High school buddies Maggie Hug, who works at the State Department, and Shawn Dorman, editor in chief of The Foreign Service Journal, reunite at the happy hour. Foreign Service swag was raed o—details on AFSA’s new online storefront coming soon. AFSA/JULIE NUTTER AFSA/DONNA GORMAN
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