The Foreign Service Journal, December 2005

themnowmore than ever. AFSAbelieves that the courage to ask ‘why’ or ‘why not’ or suggest ideas thatmaybeconsideredcon- troversial or against popular wisdom is a true indicationof loyalty—toour Service, toour oathof office, toour profession and to the American values upon which our country was founded. “Just as AFSA believes it has a solemn responsibility to advocate for our Foreign Service colleagues,”Limbert added, “we also believe that each of us has the responsibil- ity to stand up for our convictions, to give the best possible counsel we are qualified to give, and to recognize those colleagues who stick their necks out, who challenge the status quo, who dare to ask the tough questions.” CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARDS • The TexHarris Award for a Foreign Service Specialist • TheW.AverellHarrimanAward for a Junior Officer (FS-4, 5 or 6) • The WilliamR. Rivkin Award for a Mid-level Officer (FS-1, 2 or 3) • TheChristianA.HerterAward for a Senior Officer (FE-CA or OC) These prestigious awards recognize individuals “who have exhibited extraor- dinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity, intellectual courage andconstruc- tive dissent.” They rewardForeignService memberswhohave promoted critical and constructive solutions to foreign policy problems, management issues, consular policies or any other areawhich affects the workof the ForeignService. The construc- tive dissent awards are not for performance of assigned duties, however exceptional. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS AFSA offers three awards recognizing exemplary performance of assignedduties or voluntary activities at an overseas post, performance that demonstrates extraordi- nary contributions to effectiveness, profes- sionalism and morale. The outstanding performance awards are: • TheNelsonB.DelavanAward for an office management specialist. This award recognizes the work of an OMS who has made a significant contribution to post or office effectiveness andmorale, beyond the framework of her/his job responsibilities. • The M. Juanita Guess Award for a community liaisonofficer. This award rec- ognizes aCLOwhohas demonstratedout- standing leadership, dedication, initiative and imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving at an overseas post. • TheAvisBohlenAward for a Foreign Service family member. This award rec- ognizes the accomplishments of a family memberwhose relationswith theAmerican and foreign communities have done the most to advance the interests of the United States. NOMINATION PROCEDURES Please submit the following informa- tion to AFSA by Feb. 24, 2006: Part I — The name of the award for which the person is being nominated; the nominee’s name, grade, agency and posi- tion. (For the BohlenAward, also include the family relationship.) Part II—Thenominator’sname, grade, agency and position, and a description of the association with the nominee. Part III—The justification for thenom- ination. This narrative should discuss the actions andqualitieswhich the nominator believes qualify the nominee for the award, giving specific examples of accomplish- ments that fulfill the criteria stated above. Part III should not exceed 700 words. All winners receive a monetary award of $2,500 and a framed certificate and are honored at a reception in late June at the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room. The Secretary of State is invited to participate in the ceremony. Further details on nomination proce- dures, additional guidelines andanomina- tion formcanbe foundon theAFSAWeb site at www.afsa.org/awards.cfm . Fr om there, you canalso link to articles about the AFSAawards and findacomprehensive list- ing of past award winners. Questions shouldbedirected toBarbara Berger, Coordinator forProfessional Issues, by e-mail: berger@afsa.org, o r phone: (202) 338-4045, ext. 521. For reference on dissent in theForeignService, go to the June 2002 ForeignService Journal ( www.afsa.org/ fsj/2002.cfm ), wh ich features several arti- cles on the topic. The deadline for submit- ting nominations is Feb. 24, 2006. Perhaps Thomas Jefferson said it best: “Dissent is thehighest formof patriotism.” HelpAFSAhonor our fellowpatriots,who have stoodup forwhat they think is right, by nominating a worthy candidate for a dissent award. o DECEMBER 2005 • AFSA NEWS 7 AFSA Group Accident Plan AFSA Group Accidental Death Coverage has been expanded to include Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Costs (up to $75,000). Terrorism is covered everywhere in the world and at full policy limits. The policy is not expensive, at $1 per $1,000 of coverage. Choose limits from $50,000 to $500,000. For more information, call toll-free: 1 (800) 242-8221, e-mail afsainfo@hirshorn.com or visit www.hirshorn.com/AFSA-gro up- accident.html. o Dissent Awards • Continued from page 1 AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Briefs • Continued from page 5 JOSH