The Foreign Service Journal, December 2004

DECEMBER 2004 • AFSA NEWS 5 courage,” Richardson stressed in his remarks. “All of us, I think, believe that the Foreign Service as a whole represents the best in public service,” then-AFSA President Perry Shankle noted in the October 1988 Foreign Service Journal. “Those who originally established and endowed these awards certainly believed that. .... To put it in the vernacular, the awards aremeant to recognize those who were prepared to stick their necks out in a way that involves some risk. .... The awards recognize the kind of demonstrat- ed service and a capacity for creative dis- sent that marks an exceptionally able and productive public servant.” AFSA believes that these qualities not only still exist in our men and women who serve today, but deserve to be rec- ognized and honored by their colleagues. We believe that the members of today’s Foreign Service are brave, dedicated and proud to serve their country during these extremely dangerous and turbulent times. And we believe that they continue to demonstrate the courage of their convic- tions by going against conventional wis- dom, taking a stand, or questioning the status quo. A PROUD TRADITION Help us continue to carry on the proud tradition of dissent. Here’s how: nominate someone for a constructive dissent award. Constructive dissent awards are offered in the following categories: • THE TEX HARRIS AWARD for a Foreign Service Specialist • THE W. AVERELL HARRIMANAWARD for a Junior Officer (FS-4, 5 or 6) • THEWILLIAMR. RIVKINAWARD for aMid- level Officer (FS-1, 2 or 3) • THE CHRISTIAN A. HERTER AWARD for a Senior Officer (FE-CA to OC). These prestigious awards serve to rec- ognize and reward those individuals who have promoted critical and constructive solutions to foreign policy problems, management issues, consular policies or any other area which affects the work of the Foreign Service. Any Foreign Service employee who has exhibited extraordinary accomplish- ment involving initiative, integrity and intellectual courage contributing to con- structive dissent can be nominated. AFSA Constructive Dissent Awards are unique for the following reasons: • They are not based on superior per- formance of assigned duties, but on the willingness to stand up for what you believe is right. • No other government agency pre- sents similar awards. These awards are not for whistle-blowers or for those who have resigned from the Foreign Service in protest, but for those who are commit- ted to creatively and positively working for change within the system. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS AFSA also offers three awards recog- nizing exemplary performance of assigned duties or voluntary activities at an over- seas post, performance that demonstrates extraordinary contributions to effective- ness, professionalism and morale. • THE NELSON B. DELAVAN AWARD for an office management specialist. This award recognizes the work of an OMS who hasmade a significant contribution to post or office effectiveness and morale, beyond the framework of her/his job responsibilities. • THE M. JUANITA GUESS AWARD for a community liaison officer. This award recognizes a CLOwho has demonstrat- ed outstanding leadership, dedication, initiative and imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving at an over- seas post. • THE AVIS BOHLEN AWARD for a Foreign Service familymember. This award rec- ognizes the accomplishments of a fam- ily member whose relations with the American and foreign communities have done themost to advance the inter- ests of the United States. NOMINATION PROCESS The nominationmust include the fol- lowing elements: PART I: Name of the award for which the person is being nominated; the nominee’s name, grade, agency and position (or for the Bohlen Award, the family relationship). PART II: Nominator’s name, grade, agency and position and description of association with the nominee. PART III: Justification for the nomina- tion. The narrative should discuss the actions and qualities that qualify the nom- inee for the award, with specific examples of accomplishments that fulfill the crite- ria above. Part III should not exceed 700 words. The Constructive Dissent Awards are not for performance of assigned duties, however exceptional. Rather, they offer an opportunity to publicly recognize and honor the courageous and thought- ful actions of our colleagues, over and above their responsibilities. Submissions that do not meet the dissent criteria, as determined by our judges, will not be con- sidered. All winners receive a monetary prize of $2,500 and a framed certificate, and are honored at a reception in late June in the Benjamin FranklinDiplomatic Reception Roomat the State Department. Secretary of State Colin Powell participated in the 2002 and 2003 ceremonies. Further details on nomination proce- dures, additional guidelines and a nom- ination form can be found on the AFSA Web site at www.afsa.org/awards.cfm. From there, you can also link to articles about the AFSA awards and the AFSA 2004 award winners, as well as find a list- ing of past award winners. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 25, 2005. Questions should be directed to Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger, by telephone: (202) 338-4045, ext. 521, or e-mail: berger@afsa.org. Yo umay also contact AFSAPresident John Limbert by telephone: (202) 338-4045, ext. 502, or e-mail: limbert@afsa.org; or Awards Committee Chairman Bruce Laingen by telephone: (202) 331-3722, or e-mail: aad@aol.com. Th ey are happy to respond to your questions, suggestions or con- cerns. ▫ Awards • Continued from page 1