AFSA NEWS 60 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Minnesota Retirees Recognized for State Tax Exemption Win From left: State Department retirees William F. Davnie and Judy Marcouiller, Representative Matt Norris, and retiree Karl Olson. EXCELSIOR/ERIK STREED AFSA recently presented three Certificates of Appreciation to Minnesota legislators in recognition of their leadership in securing a full state tax exemption on retirement income for Foreign Service retirees living in Minnesota. The exemption was enacted through the 2025 Omnibus Tax Bill (HF1632 and SF211), a bipartisan accomplishment that delivers meaningful relief to retirees in the state and sets an important precedent for similar efforts elsewhere. AFSA member and Minnesota native, retired FSO Karl Olson traveled from Washington, D.C., to personally deliver the certificates to legislators at the Minnesota State Capitol. On May 7, he presented the award to Representative Matt Norris, and on June 15, he delivered the award to Senator Matt D. Klein. With Olson’s delivery of the final certificate to Representative Jeff Witte on July 11 in AFSA Marks 30 Years of Chautauqua Partnership AFSA marked the 30th anniversary of its collaboration with Road Scholar and the Chautauqua Institution on June 7, opening the first of two annual programs held at the Chautauqua’s western New York campus. Nestled on the western shore of Lake Chautauqua in southwestern New York state, about 15 miles from Lake Erie, the campus is a wonderful place to spend a week immersed in study. AFSA offered a six-day program, “Foreign Policy Through the Eyes of the Foreign Service.” Six distinguished veteran diplomats delivered 12 lectures to the 91 attendees, including “The Diplomacy of Water,” “Why Taiwan Matters to the U.S.,” and “The ‘Donroe’ Doctrine and Latin America.” AFSA thanks the speakers for their participation and willingness to engage with attendees: John Creamer, Nancy Eslick, Ambassador Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, Ambassador Eric Whitaker, Molly Williamson, and Jane Zimmerman. AFSA President John Dinkelman was on site for the first two days of the program and kicked off the week with an introductory lecture on the Foreign Service. As always, the program received high marks. In a letter to Dinkelman following the week, one attendee wrote that it had been “the best intellectual experience in 20 years” for him and his wife. AFSA’s next program at Chautauqua is scheduled for September 27–October 2. Learn more about the history of AFSA’s collaboration with Chautauqua at https://afsa.org/chautauqua.aspx. n From left: John Creamer, Molly Williamson, Jane Zimmerman, Amb. Jennifer Galt, John Dinkelman, Nancy Eslick, and Amb. Eric Whitaker. AFSA/ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON
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