The Foreign Service Journal, May 2020

62 MAY 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA Welcomes Incoming LNA Class On March 10, AFSA wel- comed 34 members of the 20th LNA (limited noncareer appointees) class to its head- quarters in Washington, D.C., for a luncheon and overview of AFSA’s role in support- ing members of the Foreign Service. The class represents Consular Fellows recruited AFSA/CAMERONWOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERONWOODWORTH AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, March 18, 2020 Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social-distancing recommendations, the AFSA Governing Board on March 18 met via teleconference, for the first time in its history. The board made the following decisions, which will need to be ratified in person at the next possible Govern- ing Board meeting, according to AFSA bylaws. Recognizing Impeachment Witnesses: The board approved the retiree vice president’s proposal to autho- rize $5,000 for a luncheon to recognize State Department witnesses in the impeachment hearings. Foreign Service Grievance Board: The board authorized supporting reappointment of Frank Almaguer, Charles Car- ron, David Clark and Lino Gutierrez to the FSGB. The board also approved the retiree vice president’s recommendation to support the appointment of two (non-FS) Foreign Service Grievance Board members. The board approved the retiree vice president’s recommenda- tion regarding supporting the appointment of two Foreign Service annuitants to the FSGB. Awards and Plaques Committee: The board adopted the Awards and Plaques Committee recommendation for the 2020 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award recipient. Legal Defense Fund: The board approved the Legal Defense Fund Committee recommendation regarding final payment of $36,000 to a Foreign Service member’s attor- neys for legal services in 2019 related to impeachment proceedings. n AFSA State Vice President Tom Yazdgerdi (back right) talks with members of the 20th LNA class on March 10 at AFSA headquarters in Washington, D.C. AFSA Director of Professional Policy Issues Julie Nutter (back right) speaks with members of the 20th LNA class. for their language skills, Con- sular Affairs–Appointment Eligible Family Members and Civil Service Limited Nonca- reer Appointees. Members of the class include former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, for- mer Peace Corps Volunteers and former employees of various government agencies. Individual class members can boast of many accom- plishments, including: • Playing one year of base- ball in the Peruvian major leagues. • Hiking a remote section of the Great Wall of China. • Sailing across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. • Climbing Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom. • Flying across the Atlantic twice in the same day, on the same plane. • Learning Catalan by listen- ing to soccer matches on the radio. • Flying airplanes as a teen- ager. • Spending a total of three years living on the ocean. AFSA State Vice President Tom Yazdgerdi hosted the luncheon. Former Assistant Secretary of State for Con- sular Affairs Janice Jacobs, AFSA Director of Professional Policy Issues Julie Nutter and AFSA Coordinator of Member Relations and Events Ashley Baine were table hosts. Twenty members of the class chose to join AFSA. Welcome to the Foreign Service! n