The Foreign Service Journal, September 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2016 65 AFSA NEWS who has made a significant contribution to post or office effectiveness and morale beyond the framework of their job responsibilities. Accepting the award, Ms. Kula said: “Becoming involved with the embassy community is the best way to not only integrate into life at post, but to also get to know the locals and their country.” Jon Clements, CEO and chairman of Clements World- wide, presented the M. Juanita Guess Award for a Community Liaison Officer to Sara Locke of U.S. Embassy Beirut. This award, created and sponsored by Clements Worldwide, cel- ebrates a Community Liaison Officer whose commitment substantially aided the fami- lies of Americans serving at posts overseas. In receiving the award, Ms. Locke noted that, in an embassy environment that is highly restricted, the role of the CLO is deeply impor- tant for maintaining morale. Acknowledging her Beirut colleagues, she also thanked AFSA for recognizing the work of CLOs across the world. Mr. Clements also con- Top row (l-r)–Amy Clutter, Mike Honigstein, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, Jefferson Smith, John Naland and Joseph Carnes (representing Karn Carlson). Bottom row (l-r)–Shawn Akard, Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Ambassador Ruth Davis, Sara Locke and Toni Kula. Sara Locke receives the M. Juanita Guess Award from Jon Clements. Avis Bohlen Award recipient Shawn Akard with her daughter Claire. Ambassador Ruth Davis with two former recipients of the Lifetime Contributions Award; former Senator Richard Lugar (left) and Ambassador (ret.) Thomas Boyatt (right). AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA gratulated runner-up Berna Keen of U.S. Embassy Dhaka. Ambassador (ret.) Avis T. Bohlen presented the Avis Bohlen Award for a Foreign Service Family Member , named for her mother, to Shawn Akard of U.S. Embassy Amman. This award, made possible by the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, honors a Foreign Service family mem- ber who has advanced U.S. interests with American and foreign communities at post. While working in Jordan, Ms. Akard helped to triple family member employ- ment in the country, as well as running more than 100 workshops on professional skills for Jordanian university graduates. The runner-up for this award was Amy Clutter, of U.S. Embassy Accra. The final award was presented to the Post Rep- resentative of the Year , Karn Carlson of U.S. Consulate Nuevo Laredo. Although he was unable to attend, his colleague Joseph Carnes accepted the award on his behalf from AFSA Secretary William Haugh. Mr. Carlson sent his thanks to AFSA. Highlight- ing the theme Amb. Davis presented in her opening speech, Carlson urged the Foreign Service to “continu- ally work to take care of our most important resource— the people.” The hundreds of guests then enjoyed a champagne reception, where they could mingle and congratulate this year’s winners. AFSA looks forward to continuing the tradition of honoring the best of the For- eign Service, and we encour- age our members to think ahead to November, when we will start accepting nomina- tions for the 2017 awards. Learn more at www.afsa. org/awards. You may watch the entire awards ceremony at www.afsa.org/video, and see photos at www.flickr.com/ americanforeignservice. n —Gemma Dvorak, Associate Editor, with Awards Intern Eunice Ajayi and Communications Intern Martin Vasev AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA