AFSA NEWS Thank You, Sue We meet new people throughout our careers, adding friends and professional contacts before moving on to the next assignment, the next group of friends, the next set of contacts, and the next set of farewells. An important farewell is coming my way this fall, when my friend, colleague, coach, and mentor Sue Bremner departs AFSA to begin her well-deserved retirement. Sue joined AFSA as USAID Labor Management adviser in 2019 after more than 30 years in the Foreign Service. While at the State Department, she rose through the ranks to the Senior Foreign Service, served as chief of mission at two embassies, and worked in Asia, Europe, Africa, and here at home. Throughout her career, Sue has supported colleagues who have felt themselves to be victims of institutional inflexibility or bias, helping them identify formal and informal remedies. She has been a proud member of AFSA since her first days as an FSO. Like many of you, I met Sue in less-than-ideal circumstances. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the first time since joining USAID and AFSA, I needed support. In a fevered pitch of anger, angst, and frustration, I sent a long rambling email with attachments to Sue and USAID VP Jason Singer. A few hours later, Sue replied with an invitation to call later that night. She listened to me sound off on how the agency was letting me down and my desire to fight for what I thought I was due. Once I was done, she said: “Well, I hear and understand your frustration. Unfortunately, what USAID is doing is their right.” It’s not what I had hoped to hear, but it is what I needed to hear. She calmly laid out the policy and identified ways I could push back and ask for some relief. I would not get what I thought I was due, but I did get solid direction and solutions to ensure I was protected and recognized. Her advice worked. A week later, we talked again by phone. Not only was there a resolution, but my situation was much improved. Three years later, as the new AFSA USAID vice president, I met Sue in person for the first time. I don’t know if she remembered our earlier discussion or not, but her approach hadn’t changed. She was still listening, still providing that reality check, and still offering solutions. When I started in this new position, I had ideas and expectations. Sue helped channel my energy, set an approach for working with agency leaders to advance AFSA interests, and grounded it all within the history of the association, current policy, and the successes and failures of previous VPs. Without her coaching and mentoring, the past year would have been different. Mind you, all of that was just her side gig. Her main job supporting 1,600-plus USAID AFSA members kept her busy day and night, on weekends, holidays, and during vacation. Sue never hesitated to take a call or respond to an email, logging contact with some 60-100 members per month. Some member issues were resolved with a single email; others took more work. Regardless, everyone received her respect, compassion, time, and the best professional advice. Whether shaking loose a stalled reimbursement, defending an allegation of misconduct, or supporting the filing of a grievance, Sue made you feel like you were her only client and that it was personal to her, too. I am not sure how relaxing Sue’s retirement will be—between translating Chinese poetry into English, serving on various arts boards, editing manuscripts, and traveling with her partner, it sounds as though she’ll be busy. But it’s a busy centered on fulfillment and enrichment. On behalf of USAID Foreign Service and Foreign Service Limited officers, I want to thank you, Sue, for all your hard work and unwavering support for USAID FSOs and AFSA. You will be missed. Take care and enjoy your retirement. Farewell, Sue. n USAID VP VOICE | BY RANDY CHESTER AFSA NEWS Contact: chester@afsa.org | (202) 712-5267 THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2024 65 Join us on November 14 at AFSA Headquarters for a special Centennial Book Market and Publishing Panel. Don’t miss this chance to explore new titles and learn more about the art and business of getting published from industry professionals. AFSA BOOK MARKET! ISTOCK.COM/ALENA DZIVINA
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