The Foreign Service Journal, November 2015

78 NOVEMBER 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS Call for Nominations: AFSA Exemplary Performance Awards DEADL I NE : FEBRUARY 28 , 20 16 AFSA highlights the exem- plary performance of its members in a number of awards given each year. Nominations for these awards are now being accepted. The Nelson B. Delavan Award recognizes the work of a Foreign Service office management specialist who has made a significant contribution to post or office effectiveness and morale beyond the framework of her or his job responsibilities. The M. Juanita Guess Award is conferred on a community liaison office coordinator who has demon- strated outstanding leader- ship, dedication, initiative or imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving at an overseas post. The Avis Bohlen Award honors the accomplishments of a family member of a For- eign Service employee whose relations with the American and foreign communities at post have done the most to advance the interests of the United States. The Mark Palmer Award for the Advancement of Democracy is bestowed on a member of the Foreign Ser- vice who advances the ideals of democracy and freedom abroad with commitment and ingenuity. Recipients of the Delavan, Guess, Bohlen and Palmer awards are each presented with a prize of $2,500. The AFSA Achievement and Contributions to the Association Award rec- ognizes an active-duty or retiree AFSA member of any of the foreign affairs agen- cies represented by AFSA (i.e., State, USAID, FCS, FAS, APHIS or BBG) who has made a significant (non- monetary) contribution to AFSA in its role either as the professional association of practitioners of diplomacy or as a labor union representing Foreign Service members. The AFSA Post Repre- sentative of the Year Award is presented to an exemplary AFSA post representative who has demonstrated sustained and success- ful engagement with AFSA membership at post and post management to advance the strategic priorities of the association. Recipients are presented with a personal award of $1,000 and a $500 stipend for AFSA-sponsored activities at post. All award recipients are honored at a ceremony in June in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the State Department. NOMI NAT I ON PROCEDURES Nominations for any of the awards may be submitted by anyone with knowledge of the nominee’s accomplish- ments. The nomination must be 700 words or fewer, and must include all of the follow- ing elements: • The name of the award for which the person is being nominated, along with the nominee’s grade, agency and position (or, for the Bohlen Award, the family relationship). • The nominator’s name, grade, agency and position, if applicable, along with a description of his or her asso- ciation with the nominee. • A justification for nomi- nation that should discuss the actions and qualities that qualify the nominee for the award, with specific exam- ples of accomplishments. For more details and to nominate online, visit www. afsa.org/performance. Also, see the October AFSA News to learn about AFSA’s dissent awards. If you have questions, contact Foreign Service Profession Awards Coordinator Perri Green at green@afsa.org or (202) 719-9700. n Sinclaire Language Awards Nominations DEADL I NE : JANUARY 1 5 , 20 16 Proficiency in foreign lan- guages is one of the most valuable and important skills in today’s Foreign Ser- vice. The AFSA Matilda W. Sinclaire Language Award recognizes outstanding study of Category III or IV languages and their associ- ated cultures. Candidates may be nominated by their language training supervisors at the Foreign Service Institute, by instructors in field schools or post language officers. Awardees will receive a $1,000 prize. AFSA is now accepting nominations of students who excelled at the study of Cat. III or IV languages in 2015. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2016. For more information, contact Foreign Service Profession Awards Coordinator Perri Green at green@ afsa.org or (202) 719-9700. n JOSH