AFSA NEWS 62 NOVEMBER 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Having begun their tenure this past August, AFSA’s USAID representatives—Vice President Randy Chester, Representative Christopher Saenger, and Labor Management Adviser Sue Bremner—arranged a series of virtual meetups for USAID Foreign Service officers to discuss progress and challenges in engaging with agency leadership. These sessions serve as a platform for Foreign Service and Foreign Service Limited officers to share concerns, perspectives, and suggestions, and for AFSA to provide an update on priority issues. The next meetup calls are open to all and will take place on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7-8 a.m. EST and again at 12-1 p.m. EST. Members can join the call via Google Meet or by phone. Visit https://bit.ly/AFSA-USAID-calls for links, phone numbers, and access PINs. If you wish to participate but are unable, write to member@afsa.org or contact Randy Chester directly at chester@afsa.org with your concerns and suggestions. n USAID Monthly Meetups NEWS BRIEF AFSA Welcomes USAID’s Newest Members to HQ On Aug. 28, AFSA hosted USAID’s newest Career Candidate Corps class. Randy Chester, AFSA’s USAID vice president, joined us in welcoming Class 37, along with USAID Representative Christopher Saenger and Sue Bremner, AFSA’s USAID labor management adviser. It’s an impressive group! The 12 class members combined speak 10 foreign languages and have worked or studied in 58 countries. They include a cricket player, a former child model, and a yoga instructor. One class member won a blue ribbon for best homemade jam at the D.C. State Fair, another climbed Mount Kenya, and a third swam in Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls. Please join us in welcoming Class 37 to the Foreign Service. n Ronald Acuña became the first player in 17 years to join the “40-40 club” of players to post 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Despite the loss, FS members had a terrific time catching up with old friends and dancing with Screech, the Nationals team mascot. AFSA would like to thank the Washington Nationals team for making this event possible. Foreign Service Night at Nationals Park was first held in 2016 as part of AFSA’s strategic outreach initiative. n FS Night Continued from page 59 PHOTOS BY AFSA/DONNA GORMAN
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