The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2014

AFSA NEWS CALENDAR THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AFSA Hosts Gala Dinner Celebration Continued on page 54 THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 45 90TH ANN I VERSARY OF THE FORE I GN SERV I CE On May 22, AFSA hosted a dinner celebrating 90 years of the U.S. Foreign Service and AFSA in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room at the Department of State. With NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspon- dent Andrea Mitchell serving as the master of ceremo- nies, the evening’s speakers included Secretary of State John Kerry, former Senator Richard Lugar, Representa- tive Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Among the 215 attendees were many current and retired members of the For- eign Service; Deputy Secretaries of State William Burns and Heather Higginbot- tom, and other senior officials of the State Department, U.S. Agency for Interna- tional Development, Foreign Commercial Service and Foreign Agricultural Service. The families of Anne Smedinghoff and Antoinette Toma- sek, two AFSAmem- bers who recently died while on duty overseas, were in attendance. The youngest (Stephanie Parenti) and oldest members of the Foreign Service (Joan Clark, Bruce Laingen and Al Lukens, each more senior than the Foreign Service July 9 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting July 24 2-3:30 p.m. AFSA Book Notes: Seriously Not All Right Ron Capps August 4 2-3:30 p.m. AFSA Book Notes: More Than Just Diplomacy George Gedda August 6 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting August 21 2-3:30 p.m. Writing in the Foreign Service: A Conversation with FSO and Author Matthew Palmer August 27 3-4:30 p.m. Adair Lecture at American University: Ambassador Thomas Miller September 1 Labor Day: AFSA Offices Closed September 3 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting itself) were also present. Owing to ticket sales, the dinner event broke even in terms of budget cost to AFSA. As guests mingled prior to being seated for dinner, Virginia State Assembly Delegate Alfonso Lopez (49th District) paid tribute to AFSA and the Foreign Service. He presented a framed copy of House Joint Resolution 406 passed by the State Assembly to AFSA officials, which com- mends AFSA and honors the Foreign Service on its 90th anniversary. Opening the dinner pro- gram, AFSA President Robert J. Silverman welcomed the guests. “Ninety years makes us a young profession that has much to be proud of, and can build on its successes as we continue to expand and redefine ourselves,” stated Silverman. He dedicated the evening to celebrating the Foreign Service’s past—and, more importantly, to recom- mitting to ensure a profes- sional, diverse and effec- tive diplomatic service for America’s future. Secretary Kerry spoke of an evolving Foreign Service that Former Senator Richard Lugar addresses guests at the gala dinner celebrating the 90th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service. In the audience, from left, Ambassador John Negroponte, Mary Beth Smedinghoff, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. JOAQUINSOSA/AFSA Gala attendees included Paula Jakub (left), chief executive officer of the American Foreign Service Protective Association, and Joan Clark, a retired FSO. A former ambassador and winner of AFSA’s 2007 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award, Ms. Clark is one of the oldest members of the Foreign Service. JOAQUINSOSA/AFSA