The Foreign Service Journal, September 2015

AFSA NEWS CALENDAR THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION New AFSA Governing Board Sworn In THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2015 53 September 2 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting September 2 3-4:30 p.m. 9th Annual Adair Lecture at American University featuring Ambassador (ret.) Johnny Young September 7 Labor Day: AFSA Offices Closed September 27-October 2 AFSA Road Scholar Program Chautauqua, N.Y. October 7 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting October 8 2-3:30 p.m. Benefits Speaker Series: Retirement Planning (TBC) October 9-19 AAFSW’s Art & BookFair State Department Exhibit Hall October 12 Columbus Day: AFSA Offices Closed October 18-22 AFSA Road Scholar Program Washington, D.C. November 11 Veterans Day: AFSA Offices Closed November 15-19 AFSA Road Scholar Program Washington, D.C. November 19 AFSA Second Annual Book Market On July 15, incoming officers and representatives of the 2015-2017 American Foreign Service Association Govern- ing Board gathered at AFSA headquarters for a swearing- in ceremony and a luncheon with the 183rd A-100 class. The new board marked the occasion by taking an oath of office before officially assuming its responsibilities (see sidebar on p. 74). For AFSA President Barbara Ste- phenson, the oath captures both AFSA’s maturing as an organization and the board’s commitment to govern trans- parently and accountably for the benefit of members and the Foreign Service. Stephenson expressed her pleasure that one of the In her welcoming remarks, the new president signaled the intentions of the Govern- ing Board to leave the Foreign Service stronger than they found it. For Stephenson, that means ensuring the Foreign Service is fit for pur- pose: that purpose, she made clear, is to lead America’s foreign policy. “That’s what the Foreign Service is all about. And we can do that only if we are able to attract and retain America’s very best talent.” Stephenson concluded by pledging to do her best, as AFSA president, to help the incoming class grow into professionals who can lead America’s foreign policy board’s very first acts was to welcome the newest A-100 class to AFSA headquarters, as it signaled the importance of ensuring the Foreign Ser- vice remains a strong, healthy organization for future gen- erations of Foreign Service professionals. “I cannot think of a better way to spend our first hours in office than welcoming the 183rd A-100 class,” Stephen- son wrote on AFSA’s Face- book wall after the event. “Talking to these smart, sophisticated, spirited new officers reminded me how important it is that we suc- ceed at our central task of ensuring a healthy, attractive career path for the decades to come.” AFSA/MARIAC.LIVINGSTON Continued on page 74 AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson takes the oath of office in front of other members of the 2015- 2017 AFSA Governing Board. In back, from left: Retiree Vice President Tom Boyatt, Sam Thielman, Eric Geelan, Dean Haas, Patricia Butenis, John Dinkelman, State VP Angie Bryan, Lawrence Casselle, Philip Laidlaw and Peter Neisuler.