The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2023

AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2023 59 Results: 2023-2025 AFSA Governing Board Election and Bylaw Amendments The AFSA Committee on Elections is pleased to announce the results of the 2023-2025 AFSA Governing Board election and bylaw amendments vote. A total of 2,555 valid ballots were received (2,512 online and 43 paper). This represents 16 percent of the eligible voting membership. The following AFSAmembers have been elected: Board Officer Positions President: Thomas Yazdgerdi Secretary: Sue Saarnio Treasurer: Hon. John O’Keefe State Vice President: Hui Jun TinaWong USAID Vice President: Randy Chester FCS Vice President: Joshua Burke FAS Vice President: Lisa Ahramjian Retiree Vice President: John K. Naland Board Constituency Representatives Full-Time State Representative: Gregory Floyd State Representatives: Lynette Behnke Kimberly Harrington David Josar C. LoganWheeler Whitney Wiedeman USAID Representative: Christopher Saenger Alternate FCS Representative: Jay Carreiro Alternate FAS Representative: Zeke Spears APHIS Representative: Joseph Ragole USAGM Representative: Steven L. Herman Retiree Representatives: Mary Daly, Edward G. Stafford (1) On the amendment to shorten the AFSA Governing Board election voting period: Total Votes Cast 2,429 Yes/Approve 2,225 No/Do Not Approve 204 (2) On the amendment to change procedures for accepting write-in candidates in Governing Board elections: Total Votes Cast 2,330 Yes/Approve 2,097 No/Do Not Approve 233 (3) On the amendment to change Governing Board residency and participation requirements to allow for virtual participation by some members: Total Votes Cast 2,474 Yes/Approve 2,307 No/Do Not Approve 167 (4) On the amendment to change requirements for Committee on Elections membership, and make the Governance Committee and Legal Defense Committee permanent committees: Total Votes Cast 2,427 Yes/Approve 2,326 No/Do Not Approve 101 (5) On the amendment to constrain the Governing Board’s ability to enter into nonessential multiyear financial commitments: Total Votes Cast 2,348 Yes/Approve 2,032 No/Do Not Approve 316 (6) On the amendment to change the threshold for member- initiated referenda and bylaw amendments: Total Votes Cast 2,311 Yes/Approve 2,013 No/Do Not Approve 298 (7) On the amendment to remove the requirement for Governing Board approval of AFSA associate members: Total Votes Cast 2,334 Yes/Approve 2,054 No/Do Not Approve 280 (8) On the amendment to streamline wording on post representatives and AFSA chapters: Total Votes Cast 2,359 Yes/Approve 2,295 No/Do Not Approve 64 (9) On the amendment to allow the Governing Board to meet and cast votes virtually during public emergencies: Total Votes Cast 2,368 Yes/Approve 2,306 No/Do Not Approve 62 All amendments go into effect immediately. Questions regarding the results should be referred to the AFSA Committee on Elections at elections@afsa.org. Congratulations to all those who were elected and to those who demonstrated their dedication to AFSA by declaring as candidates. The new Governing Board will be sworn in on July 15. Bylaw Amendments The Governing Board proposed nine bylaw amendments to be voted on during the 2023 AFSA Election cycle. The results are as follows: