The Foreign Service Journal, September 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 51 AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION New AFSA Board Takes Office On July 15, AFSA’s newly elected Governing Board, under the leadership of Ambassador Eric Rubin, took office. Outgoing AFSA Pres- ident Ambassador Barbara Stephenson swore Ambassador Rubin into office, and he then swore in the other members of the new board. (See bios, p. 57. ) Consisting of 20 elected representatives from all of AFSA’s constituencies, the new board will serve a two- year term of office ending July 15, 2021. AFSA President Rubin swore in his new colleagues with the following oath: “As a member of the Govern- ing Board of the American Foreign Service Association, I hereby pledge to do my best to carry out the associa- tion’s mission to represent the members of the Foreign Service of the United States in accordance with the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and to strengthen the ability of the foreign affairs commu- nity to contribute to effective foreign policies. “As I perform my duties to the best of my ability, I will abide by applicable federal and District of Columbia laws and regulations; follow the association’s bylaws, policies and standard operating pro- cedures; maintain the fiscal integrity of the association; September 2 Labor Day – AFSA Offices Closed September 4 12 p.m. “An Expert’s Take on the TSP, New Tax Laws and Developments in Federal Benefits” September 13 7:05 p.m. Fourth Annual Foreign Service Night at Nationals Park September 15-20 AFSA Road Scholar Program at Chautauqua, N.Y. September 18 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting September 26 4:30-6:30 p.m. AFSA’s Fall Happy Hour October 3 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Luncheon: 154th Specialist Class October 9 12-1:30 p.m. Luncheon: 200th A-100 Class October 14 Columbus Day – AFSA Offices Closed October 16 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting October 16 4-6 p.m. Annual AFSA Awards Ceremony November 1 12-1 p.m. Job Search Program Graduation Reception at FSI CALENDAR safeguard the association’s property; respect the con- fidentiality of board discus- sions and deliberations; and Outgoing AFSA President Barbara Stephenson swears in incoming AFSA President Eric Rubin. AFSA/ÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON AFSA/ÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON Members of the new AFSA Governing Board. New AFSA President Eric Rubin. AFSA/ÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON conduct myself in a manner that does credit to the asso- ciation and to the American Foreign Service.” Two days later, on July 17, the new board held its first monthly meeting and began the serious work of running the association, including forming the committees that will do much of the heavy lifting between board ses- sions. n