The Foreign Service Journal, November 2005

8 AFSA NEWS • NOVEMBER 2005 against official U.S. government policy, to 2,500 European Jews (including many prominent cultural figures) at great per- sonal risk and cost to his career. He received a posthumous dissent award from AFSA in 2002, presented by Secretary of State Colin Powell to Bingham’s children at the awards ceremo- ny. We understand that next year, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a series of six stamps honoring U.S. diplomats, and HiramBinghamwill be among them. It has taken over 60 years, but his story is finally being told. However, AFSAwants to tell the story of our most heroic dis- senters today, while these brave employ- ees are still serving their country in the Foreign Service. Our country continues to face extra- ordinary challenges in the conduct of international affairs. Foreign Service employees at all grades and in all agen- cies put their lives and the lives of their families at risk every day to advance America’s interests abroad. AFSA’s dis- sent awards offer anopportunity to recog- nize the critical contributionsmade by our colleagues who have demonstrated the courage to stand up for what they believe, just as Harry Bingham did in 1942 in Marseilles. AFSA asks that you help us honor ForeignService colleagueswhohave followed in his path and have taken risks for their convictions, demonstrated inde- pendent thinkingor dared toask the tough questions that no one else will ask. Please give some thought now to iden- tifying colleagues who have had the courage to challenge the system—on any subject. Success is not a requirement. The willingness to ask the tough questions despite the circumstances is what counts. The official call for dissent awardnomina- tions will be in theDecember AFSANews. The four dissent awards are: the Herter Award for senior officers, the Rivkin Award for mid-level officers, the HarrimanAward for junior officers and the Harris Award for specialists. For more information, please contact BarbaraBerger at berger@afsa.org or (202) 338-4045, ext. 251. Fornomination instructions andaddi- tional information on AFSA’s dissent and other awards, please go to www. afsa.org/awards.cfm. W e are counting on you tohelpus maintain this proud tradi- tion of dissent. o T he Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide has moved to Northern Virginia, on Columbia Pike just east of Carlin Springs. AAFSW invites AFSA members to stop by for a visit. The locationmay be new, but AAFSW is as dedicated as ever to connecting the Foreign Service community at home and abroad. Over 1,400 members of the ForeignService communityworldwide are connected through AAFSW’s Livelines e- mail discussion group, which is free to all. Eachmonth, thousands visit www.aafsw.org for helpful links, housing andbook reviews, articles and tips on living the FS life. Over 800 AAFSW members contribute time, money and energy to support the associ- ation’s publications, special interest groups, online resources, outreach efforts, annual BOOKFAIR and the Secretary of State’s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. Founded in 1960, AAFSW is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an indepen- dent advocate for its membership — spouses, partners, and active and retired employees of all U.S. foreign affairs agencies. AAFSW is not affiliatedwith the State Department, although it works closely with State representatives and helped found the Family Liaison Office and the Overseas Briefing Center. You can join AAFSW at www. aafsw.org. Th e $40 annual membership fee includes: • Ten issues of the Global Link news- letter. • Access to the members-only section of www.aafsw.org. • Ability to post ads onAAFSW’s pop- ular online classified ads. • Invitations to AAFSW’s guest speaker programseries in the 8th-floor Diplomatic Reception Rooms of Main State. • Access to AAFSW’s special interest groups: Playgroup, Foreign-Born Spouses Group, French Group and others. • Eligibility for AAFSW’s college scholarship program. • Volunteer opportunities to benefit the FS community. • A community of like-minded peo- ple who “speak your language.” AAFSW 5555 Columbia Pike, Suite 208 Arlington, VA 22204 Phone: (703) 820-5420 Fax: (703) 820-5421 office@aafsw.org www.aafsw.org o A MESSAGE FROM AAFSW New Address, Same Mission Dissent • Continued from page 1 Please give some thought now to identifying colleagues who have had the courage to challenge the system — on any subject.