The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2011

A F S A N E W S J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 1 1 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 43 2011 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS “Y ou couldn’t pay me enough to be the CLO,” is a response frequently heard when a Community Liaison Office coordinator position is advertised at posts around the world. Fortunately for Embassy Ulaanbaatar, Mike Vining had a different response. Being a CLO coordinator is not an easy job. Howmany posi- tions have eight areas of responsibility that range from crisis man- agement to event planning, with employment liaison, guidance and referral, education liaison, welcoming and orientation, infor- mation and resource management, and community liaison in between? The list of duties is enough to leave the faint-hearted in the dust. Within weeks of his arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Vining’s positive attitude and enthusiasm brought about a perceptible change in the level of energy at post. He used his cheery outlook to make the embassy’s newsletter a lively snapshot of life at post, using fresharticles, lots of photos and up-to-date information. By encouraging community members to contribute articles on their knowledge and experiences of Ulaanbaatar and the rest of Mongolia, he expanded the information base, while creating part- nerships within the community. In addition to working on the newsletter, Vining started orga- nizing outings and adventures. Soon, more and more people were joining in. “I sort of fell into the position. The previous CLO had left, and so the position was empty when we arrived at post. When the position was re-advertised, with a little encour- agement, I decided to apply. I was the only applicant,” he said. Vining’s personal goal for his time in Mongolia was to be a stay-at-home dad. Vining’s wife, Lisa, serves with the U.S. Army, and this was their first FS tour. “I was really looking for- ward to spending time with our daughter,” said Vining. “Part of my reasons for taking the CLO position was the opportunity to learn more about Mongolia and to share that learning experi- ence with her.” That’s when Vining turned into a whirling dervish, the only way to describe the breadth of activity he unleashed in his com- munity. The Fourth of July community event is big at every post, but there aren’t many CLOs who, along with volunteers, will actually make hundreds of “brats” by hand to ensure their fellow Americans will have hot dogs on the day. Contacts with local businesses turned into opportunities for community adventures in Vining’s capable hands. Jet-boat river excursions, long weekend camping trips and tours of chocolate and beer factories, are among the activities that he arranged. Soon the post’s decrepit “community center” was on Vining’s hit list of things to do. He successfully lobbied for funding to turn a dismal basement into a lively facility enjoyed by the entire community. Family movie nights, happy hours, streamed-in sporting events and even homework sessions and extracurricular activities are now on the center’s calendar. Every fall around the world, CLOs in remote posts are think- ing about turkeys: how and where to get them. The situation has gotten so bad that the department’s Family Liaison Office’s CLO training programwarns CLOs not to get into the turkey business. That advice fell on deaf ears in Ulaanbaatar. Vining and his CLO assistant, Stephen Burnett, had a plan. But it took many months and manymeetings with local busi- nesspeople before they convinced a local company that there was a market for turkeys in Ulaanbaatar. That November, an entire container of frozen turkeys arrived at post. The American com- munity, including the mission, international school, Peace Corps Volunteers and private companies, all sat down to a proper Thanksgiving dinner. Today, turkeys are available in many local markets, with one Mongolian catering company offering pre- roasted turkey dinners. “We have a very proactive community, with everyone pitch- ing in to help. Stephen has provided enormous support. We are also lucky to have Tumenbayer, our Locally Engaged Staff assis- tant, in the office. He is pivotal in facilitating cultural events, which help bring Americans andMongolians closer together,” says Vining. Vining is often asked whether he would be a CLO again at another post. His answer is always yes. “I could see myself being a CLO again; what better way to learn about the people at post, both American and host country nationals? It is a job filled with amazing opportunities for discov- ery.” It is obvious the CLO bug has bitten him. The nomination for the M. Juanita Guess Award states: “Mike believes anything is possible.” The M. Juanita Guess Award FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICE COORDINATOR Mike Vining Mike Vining (front right) and the embassy team he organized for a Habitat for Humanity project.