The Foreign Service Journal, October 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2019 55 AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AFSA and the Foreign Service Play Ball! October 1 AFSA Governing Board Retreat October 2 4-5:30 p.m. Reception: Incoming USAID Class 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 November 11 Veterans Day – AFSA Offices Closed November 19 12-2 p.m. “The Coordination of FEHB and Medicare” with Paula Jakub November 20 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting November 28-29 Thanksgiving – AFSA Offices Closed CALENDAR AFSA/CAMERONWOODWORTH On Sept. 13, AFSA and the Washington Nationals teamed up for the fourth annual Foreign Service Night at Nationals Park. More than 400 members of the Foreign Service and their families attended to catch up with friends and colleagues as the Washing- ton Nationals played the Atlanta Braves. Before the game, AFSA President Ambassador Eric Rubin, AFSA State VP Tom Yazdgerdi and his wife Julia Reed, AFSA Director for Pro- fessional Policy Issues and retired FSO Julie Nutter, and AFSA State Representative Kristin Roberts and her son, Elias took to the field to be recognized with the Nation- als’ Spirit Awards, while the park announcer talked about America’s diplomats to the 39,730 people in attendance. After the Spirit Awards Pictured on the field at Nationals Stadium (from left) are Spirit Award winners AFSA President Ambassador Eric Rubin, AFSA Director for PPI and retired FSO Julie Nutter, AFSA State VP Tom Yazdgerdi and his wife Julia Reed, and FSO Kristin Roberts and her son, Elias. Fans take in the Washington Nationals-Atlanta Braves game on Foreign Service Night Sept. 13. AFSA/CAMERONWOODWORTH ceremony, Ambassador Rubin said he was thrilled with the occasion. “I missed the first three as I was in Bulgaria, but I am glad to be able to be here this year because it’s just such a positive, all-American experi- ence. Sharing with tens of thousands of our fellow Americans the experiences of the real people of the Foreign Service, and their families, is priceless in terms of getting people to under- stand the importance of diplomacy. I can’t wait until next year’s game!” The Nationals were shut out by the Braves, 5-0. Both teams were expected to reach the playoffs. n