The Foreign Service Journal, November 2020

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2020 85 AFSA NEWS AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, Sept. 16, 2020 Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFSA Governing Board met via Zoom conference on Sept. 16. The board made the following decisions, which will need to be ratified at the next in-person Gov- erning Board meeting, according to AFSA bylaws. Legal Defense Fund: The board approved dis- bursal of $11,439 from the Legal Defense Fund in connection with a USAID gender discrimination pay equity case. The board also approved dis- bursal of $24,070 from the Legal Defense Fund for the legal fees of a member who testified before a Senate Committee on events in Ukraine. Memorial Plaques: The board approved placing the name of a Foreign Service officer on the AFSA memorial plaques. Associate Members: The board approved the admission of four people as associate members of the association. n FS Retirees Visit Vineyards AFSA Retiree Vice President John Naland led 55 masked and socially distancing Foreign Service retirees on a Sept. 17 visit to the Muse Vineyards in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The vineyards are owned by Ambassador (ret.) Sally Grooms Cowal and her husband, Robert Muse. Amb. Cowal (pictured on right in white shirt) explained the grape-growing and wine-making processes and then led a tour of the grounds and the processing building. Participants then spread out at tables on the large patio to sample the award-winning wines and enjoy lunch. The event was organized by the Foreign Affairs Retirees of Northern Virginia. Joining them were several members of the Foreign Affairs Retirees of Maryland and the District of Columbia. n 2021 FEHB Insurance and Benefits Presentation AFSA welcomes Paula Jakub, CEO and Executive Vice Pres- ident of the American Foreign Service Protective Associa- tion, for a Zoom presentation on Friday, November 13. She will speak about the 2021 Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Insurance Program and Benefits. Open Season for the FEHB runs from Monday, November 9 to Monday, December 14, 2020. (Note that AFSPA is not con- nected to AFSA.) Visit bit.ly/ afsa-openseason to register. Ms. Jakub is a repeat and valued participant in AFSA’s Federal Benefits Speakers Series. She has 37 years of experience in the insurance field, and received her under- writing certification from American College. She is formally recognized as a sub- ject matter expert in federal health benefits by the Foreign Service Institute, where she serves on the adjunct faculty. She also serves on the board of the Association of Federal Health Organizations. n