The Foreign Service Journal, November 2012

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2012 67 AFSA NEWS WOMEN IN SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AFSA NEWS AFSA’s Constructive Dissent Awards are truly unique and often misunderstood for that reason. Unlike other awards in the federal government, they are not presented for exemplary performance of assigned responsibilities. They recognize Foreign Service employees who embrace the difficult task of challenging a policy or management issue. By ask- ing the hard questions, and offering solutions or alterna- tive approaches, their efforts have encouraged decision- makers to reconsider, and frequently change their position. AFSA’s dissent awards are distinct. Not to be confused with the State Department’s commendable Dissent Chan- nel, which provides employ- ees with a formalized process for submitting suggestions or dissenting views on policy, an AFSA dissent award recog- nizes a dissenting employee’s continued personal involve- ment and efforts to secure implementation of their recommended changes. Since 1968, AFSA’s dis- sent winners have exhibited courage and conviction by presenting their beliefs in an intelligent and construc- tive way. For many award winners, these personal attributes have resulted in their ability to achieve higher promotion rates than their class averages. Past dissent award win- ners include Jeffrey Feltman, currently United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, who won the Herter Award for Construc- tive Dissent by a senior FSO in 2008; two-time ambas- sador Thomas Boyatt, who won the Rivkin Award in 1970 and the Herter award in 1979 and is now, in retirement, founder and president of the Foreign Affairs Council; and Ryan Crocker, recipient of the Rivkin Award in 1985, who went on to become ambas- sador to Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghani- stan and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Now through Feb. 28, any member of any foreign affairs Recognize Courage, Integrity, Conviction and Intelligence: Nominate a Colleague for a 2013 AFSA Dissent Award agency may nominate any other member who has dem- onstrated the willingness, ability and courage to speak truth to power in a construc- tive manner. AFSA Constructive Dis- sent Award categories are: the F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award for a Foreign Service Specialist; the W. Averell Harriman Award for an entry- level officer (FS 6-4); the William R. Rivkin Award for a mid-level officer (FS 3-1); and the Christian A. Herter Award for a senior officer (Senior Foreign Service). Information on nomina- tion procedures, guidelines and the nomination form, as well as a list of all past award winners, can be found at www.afsa.org/awards. The deadline for submitting DONNAAYERST CALENDAR 11/6/2012 – 11/9/2012 AFSA Road Scholar Program 11/7/2012 12:00 - 2:00 PM AFSA Governing Board Meeting 11/12/2012 Veterans Day: AFSA Offices Closed 11/19/2012 2:00 - 3:30 PM Seminar: “Federal Health Benefits” 11/22/2012 – 11/23/2012 Thanksgiving: AFSA Offices Closed 12/5/2012 AFSA Governing Board Meeting 12/25/2012 Christmas Day: AFSA Offices Closed THE OFFICIAL R CORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION (Left to Right) Robert S. Rivkin presents the 2012 William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive Dissent to Joshua Polachek on June 26. BY AMBASSADOR EDWARD L. PECK nominations is Feb. 28, 2013. For more information, please contact Perri Green, AFSA Special Awards and Outreach Coordinator, at (202) 719-9700 or green@ afsa.org. ■