The Foreign Service Journal, September 2007

S E P T EMB E R 2 0 0 7 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 69 A F S A N E W S 2007 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS Avis Bohlen Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER Judi Marquardt F or her exceptional contributions to the advancement of U.S. interests in Cameroon, which have made a difference in the lives of both Cameroonians and Americans, Judi Marquardt was selected for the Avis Bohlen Award. She used her time, energy and creativity to improve the U.S. mission as a place to work for both American and Foreign Service National staff. Marquardt focused her volunteer work on women’s and children’s rights and literacy. She organized the women of the embassy to participate in the annual Women’s Day Parade for the first time. Formerly, only Cameroonians had participated in this important event, which attracts 40,000 women from across the country. Other embassies followed her lead and began to take part in the event, making it a more international demonstration of support for women’s rights. In her many speeches to women’s groups and schools throughout the coun- try, Marquardt stressed the importance of education, the empowerment of women and the need to nurture the nation’s children as the future of the country. She devoted much of her time and effort to working with groups assisting HIV/AIDS victims and orphaned chil- dren, and was the featured speaker at a women’s HIV/AIDS conference attend- ed by over 400 people. She developed a program in which students of the American school made books on tape that were then given to Cameroonian schools. She helped set up and spon- sored a fashion show and handicraft fair for the benefit of former victims of child labor, who produced all the items for sale. This resulted in wide, positive media coverage that gave needed atten- tion to this issue. Marquardt’s genuine concern for the Cameroonian people and their culture and her enthusiasm to use her position as the ambassador’s wife to reach out to various communities contributed to the building of stronger relations between the U.S. and Cameroon. Surprised by the Bohlen Award, Marquardt said, “After 26 years as a Foreign Service spouse, I am particularly encouraged, not just for myself, but for all of the other spouses and family members who give freely of their time and energy to promote a better understanding of the United States abroad. I dedicate this award to all of them!” Judi Marquardt has helped represent the U.S. since joining the Foreign Service community in 1981, serving in Brazzaville, Bangkok (twice), Paris, Bonn, Yaounde, Malabo andWashington, D.C. She served in Paris when Avis Bohlen was deputy chief of mission there, making the award even more meaningful. She and her husband Niels have raised four daughters. With degrees from Chapel Hill and Thunderbird, Marquardt has reinvented herself repeatedly in response to changing opportunities and circumstances, creating a varied and ful- filling career. This summer, she and her family moved to Madagascar, where her husband is the new ambassador. She will, no doubt, continue to make a differ- ence, both inside and outside the U.S. mission. M. Juanita Guess Award FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER Linda Lockwood L inda Lockwood was selected as winner of the M. Juanita Guess Award for a community liai- son officer for her work at one of Africa’s largest posts, Embassy Pretoria. Lockwood’s efforts as co-CLO during the last 3 1 / 2 years have had a far-reaching impact throughout the embassy community. Post morale has been greatly enhanced through her outstanding leadership, dedica- tion, initiative and imagination in assisting American families at post, as well as her excellent listening skills and “ironclad discretion,” her nomination states. Co- CLO Lucy Neher, who accepted the award on her behalf at the ceremony, called Lockwood a “CLO to the world,” commenting on her “uncanny ability to anticipate people’s needs, sometimes before they even know” what they need. Concern for post morale in connection with the high rate of crime in Pretoria led Lockwood to a cooperative project with the regional security office to design and implement a carjacking awareness course for both employees and family members. She also organized town meetings, together with the RSO and regional psychiatrist, to discuss crime and safety issues. Lockwood’s concern for the health and welfare of the embassy community also led to collaboration with the Health Unit to organize a successful Breast Cancer Awareness and Cholesterol Screening Health Fair. When the vendor for the embassy cafeteria left, she chaired a cafeteria committee and was instrumental in finding a new vendor. While that search continued, she organized a team of volunteer cooks to serve lunch and used the proceeds to benefit a local charity. She has also helped numerous families of children with special needs, enhancing the reputation of Embassy Pretoria as a post with good special needs services. Outside the embassy, Lockwood also made a dif- ference by working with charitable organizations. She has served as a member of the Hearts and Hands organization since it was founded several years ago by members of the embassy community. For two years, Lockwood served as its chair, overseeing a major reorganization, and winning a grant from the J. Kirby Simon Trust to paint the Twilight Children’s Center, a shelter for street boys in Johannesburg. The painting event was a true community effort involving embassy employees and their families. Lockwood has lived overseas for most of the past 35 years, always finding rewarding and challenging employment. She served in the Peace Corps in India and stayed for seven years. With the Foreign Service, she has served in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Korea, Belgium and South Africa. She was the CLO for Embassies Dhaka, Nairobi and Harare. Lockwood and her husband have two grown children and one grandchild. She and her husband are getting ready for a post-Foreign Service chapter of life in Florida beginning in August 2008. Judi Marquardt visiting with the Lamido of the Mbororo people of Sabga, North- west Province, Cameroon, in May 2007. Marquardt participating in the 2007 International Women’s Day march in Garoua, North Province, Cameroon.