The Foreign Service Journal, October 2022

AFSA was pleased to welcome new members of the Foreign Service in a series of meetings in July. This included a new class of USAID officers, who met with AFSA virtually, and the State Department Foreign Service Orientation 165-211 class, a very large group that was divided into two lunch events at AFSA headquarters. AFSA’s State Vice President Tom Yazdgerdi welcomed all groups and outlined the association’s current work and priorities in support of members. October 10 Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day: AFSA offices closed October 12 12:15-1 p.m. Job Search Transition Program Virtual Event October 19 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting October 19 4-6 p.m. AFSA Awards Ceremony November 9 Time TBD Webinar: 2023 FEHB Insurance and Benefits, including Medicare coordination November 14- December 12 Federal Health Benefits Open Season November 11 Veterans Day: AFSA offices closed November 16 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting November 24-25 Thanksgiving Holiday: AFSA offices closed January 18 Governing Board Election Cycle for 2023-2025 Board Begins AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION AFSAWelcomes New Foreign Service Hires CALENDAR Continued on page 58 THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2022 53 ANNOUNC I NG THE 2022 AFSA AWARD REC I P I ENTS Look for profiles of all the recipients, and an interview with the Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy awardee, in the December edition of The Foreign Service Journal. LIFETIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN DIPLOMACY Ambassador Anne W. Patterson FOREIGN SERVICE CHAMPIONS Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT Steven May F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award for a Foreign Service Specialist Michael White W. Averell Harriman Award for an Entry-Level Officer Benjamin Dille Christian A. Herter Award for a Senior Foreign Service Officer Anton Cooper William R. Rivkin Award for a Mid-Level Officer Jennifer Davis William R. Rivkin Award for a Mid-Level Officer Elisabeth Zentos William R. Rivkin Award for a Mid-Level Officer EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE Virginia Carlson Avis Bohlen Award for an Eligible Family Member Christine Peterson M. Juanita Guess Award for a Community Liaison Officer Denis Rajic Nelson B. Delavan Award for an Office Management Specialist Runner-Up: Judit Kaczor Jacob Surface Mark Palmer Award for Advancement of Democracy RaeJean Stokes Mark Palmer Award for Advancement of Democracy Jeff Osweiler Post Representative of the Year Award Susan Johnson AFSA Achievement and Contributions to the Association Award Sharon Papp AFSA Special Achievements Award Please check www.afsa.org for the most up-to-date information. Meeting with the USAID C3-30 class on Google Meet on July 19, AFSA USAID Vice President Jason Singer spoke about his role and the work of AFSA’s Labor Management Office, and AFSA staff mem- bers gave an overview of how to join the association. The USAID class is made up of 34 officers across 11 different specialties, or backstops. Twelve have previous USAID experience, and 25 join the agency with a professional background in nonprofit and humanitar- ian organizations. In total, they speak 27 languages and have worked and studied in 55 different countries. One participant is a former Sesame Street star, while another has a group of Maasai warriors to thank for being saved from a black mamba in East Africa. On July 21 and 22, AFSA hosted two lunches for the 191 members of the FS Orientation 165-211 class, seating new hires with table hosts, including active-duty