The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2008

J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 0 8 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 67 A F S A N E W S Avis Bohlen Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER Victor D. Williams V ictor D. Williams has served as an inspiration to those with whom he has interacted during the past three years in Pretoria. Through his extraordinary volunteer activities he has made exceptional contribu- tions that will live on well beyond his tour in South Africa. Embassy Pretoria’s Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum said it best: “Simply put, Victor has changed lives.” For his tireless commitment to the youth of South Africa and his contributions to the diplomatic community in Pretoria, he was selected for the Avis Bohlen Award. Williams’s tenure in Pretoria has been dedicated to support- ing South African students, and he has enlisted foundations and organizations in support of his educational efforts. He worked with the Arthur Robbins Foundation to enable 15 students from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend a Global Youth Leadership Summit in San Diego, developing their leadership skills and enhancing bicultural under- standing. He identified commu- nity members with education and counseling backgrounds and convinced them to partici- pate in a successful one-day workshop for 50 South African students, which has resulted in a permanent tutoring program. As his nominator notes, “Williams is a master at match- making the strengths of organizations and people.” Williams also founded Douglas Diplomatic Services.com, a business that provides services to newly arrived diplomats, mili- tary personnel and expatriates. Designed to ease the transition to a new life in a foreign country, the firm provides services and information ranging from obtaining a vehicle or cell phone to securing a home or apartment. Douglas Diplomatic Services was featured in the September 2007 issue of State magazine. Williams’ business became so successful he was able to found a charitable organization, the Douglas Foundation, which focus- es on education and community development, and creating educational opportunities for South African students. Williams’s enthusiasm and creativity in finding opportunities for the youth of South Africa and his efforts to build strong, last- ing relationships between the U.S. and the host country are clear. Indeed he has ensured that the programs he created will contin- ue after his departure from post. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Victor Williams attended the University of Cincinnati, and is the proud parent of a daughter, Victoria, and a son, Douglas. Williams arrived in Pretoria in 2004, accompanying his wife, Marilyn T. Williams, the assistant legal attaché at Embassy Pretoria. Previously the family served in Bridgetown. Delavan Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Virginia M. Gregory V irginia M. Gregory has made it a top priority to boost embassy morale in one of the most dangerous posts in the southern hemisphere, Caracas. She embraced the challenges the city posed and found numerous opportunities to improve the mission well beyond her responsibilities as an office management special- ist. For her effort to educate herself and those around her about Venezuelan politics and culture, and her seemingly tire- less ability to get embassy staff involved in local life, Gregory was selected as winner of the 2008 Delavan Award. For the Foreign Service com- munity at Embassy Caracas crime is a daily reality, basic food items can be scarce and anti- U.S. sentiment abounds. Gregory sought to ease those daily challenges in both small and far-reaching ways. She founded the “Embassy Caracas Road Runners,” a group of over 40 members that included both American and local staff, which allowed members to interact and run safely though the streets of Caracas. She also served as the Federal Women’s Program Coordinator, producing a monthly newsletter to share news, events and success stories of women within the mission. Gregory secured several interesting and useful feature stories including interviews with the principal deputy assistant secretary for human resources and the current U.S. ambassador to Zambia. As testament to her zeal for understanding Venezuelan poli- tics, Gregory volunteered as an election observer in December for the constitutional reform referendum, and was able to talk her way into several polling stations, thus enabling her to provide valuable information that contributed to embassy reporting on the election. When she was assigned to administer the deputy chief of mission’s entry-level mentoring program, she was able to suggest several prominent Venezuelan speakers, because of her familiarity with the country’s political scene. Gregory continually worked to perfect her Spanish language skills, organized socials, excursions and trips on a regular basis, recommended local restaurants and encouraged embassy mem- bers to enjoy all Caracas has to offer. The nomination from Embassy Caracus describes Gregory as the “social dymano of the embassy” and the nominator stated that in 28 years in the Foreign Service, he had never encountered “a more dynam- ic, positive and influential OMS.” Gregory joined the Foreign Service in 2006 from Silverton, Colo. She is preparing for her next post, Bogotá, where she will no doubt demonstrate the same enthusiasm and dedication. 2008 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS Williams at the celebration of the donation of 150 pounds of books to the Berakah Educational Foundation. Embassy Caracas Road Runners at a 10K race. From left: Phil French (DCM), Robin Holzhauer (Public Affairs), Col. E. Passmore, Gregory, Cristina Camacho (Consular), Heather Rome (USAID), Mora Paiva (Foreign Agricultural Service). WilliamsataChristmaspartydonat- ing toys to South African kids. Gregory with two capibara, which are common in the south- eastern parts of Venezuela.