The Foreign Service Journal, December 2010

A Moment for Reflection BY IAN HOUSTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR With Thanksgiving just behind us, the holidays approaching, and the year drawing to a close, I have a deep sense of gratitude for the spirit of volunteerism that permeates AFSA. It is a unique organization for many reasons, not the least of which is that many of our members voluntarily step forward to serve on a committee (and sometimes two or three) or a board, at an event, etc. Much of our strength and success is built upon that spirit of service. On behalf of the professional staff that is here to serve our members, please accept my sincere thanks to all those who have volunteered time, expertise and resources to AFSA over this successful year. I appreciate your example and the opportunity to learn from you. It has been a plea- sure working with you this past year and serving AFSA. I am also very appreciative of the multiple ways the professional staff has rendered ser- vice to advance the mission of AFSA and assist its members. Thank you again for the multiple ways you support our association. I look forward to implementing our resolutions for the new year, but a moment of reflective gratitude is always appropriate at this time of year. 52 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / DE C EMB E R 2 0 1 0 A F S A N E W S AFSA NEWS BRIEFS Staff: Executive Director Ian Houston: houston@afsa.org Business Department Director of Finance Femi Oshobukola: oshobukola@afsa.org Controller Kalpna Srimal: srimal@afsa.org Assistant Controller Cory Nishi: cnishi@afsa.org Labor Management General Counsel Sharon Papp: papps@state.gov Deputy General Counsel Zlatana Badrich: badrichz@state.gov Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: yorkej@state.gov Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: parikhna@state.gov Staff Attorney Michael Willats: willatsmr@state.gov Office Manager Christine Warren: warrenc@state.gov USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: dbroome@usaid.gov USAID Staff Assistant Patrick Bradley: bradley@afsa.org Member Services Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: hedrick@afsa.org Member Services Representative Richard Buscemi: buscemi@afsa.org Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Ana Lopez: lopez@afsa.org Communications, Marketing and Outreach Retiree Counseling & Legislation Coordinator Bonnie Brown: brown@afsa.org Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: switzer@afsa.org Legislative Director Casey Frary: frary@afsa.org Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: tracy@afsa.org Scholarship Director Lori Dec: dec@afsa.org Scholarship Program Assistant Jonathan Crawford: crawford@afsa.org Road Scholar Administrator Bernard Alter: alter@afsa.org Marketing & Outreach Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: sigfusson@afsa.org Special Awards & Outreach Coordinator Perri Green: green@afsa.org AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 PRESIDENT: johnson@afsa.org STATE VP: hirschdm@state.gov RETIREE VP: rghoudek@aol.com USAID VP: fzamora@usaid.gov FAS VP: henry.schmick@fas.usda.gov FCS VP: keith.curtis@mail.doc.gov AFSA News Editor Amy McKeever: mckeever@afsa.org (202) 338-4045, ext. 516; Fax: (202) 338-8244 Foreign Service Journal FSJ: journal@afsa.org Editor Steven Alan Honley: honley@afsa.org Senior Editor Susan Maitra: maitra@afsa.org Associate Editor Shawn Dorman: dorman@afsa.org Ad & Circulation Manager Ed Miltenberger: miltenberger@afsa.org Art Director Caryn Suko Smith: journaldesign@comcast.net On the Web AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org FSJ: www.afsa.org/fsj and www.fsjournal.org How to Contact Us: Governing Board: PRESIDENT: Susan R. Johnson STATE VP: Daniel Hirsch USAID VP: Francisco Zamora FAS VP: Henry Schmick FCS VP: Keith Curtis RETIREE VP: Robert Houdek SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris TREASURER: Andrew Winter STATE REPS: Carleton Bulkin Ako Cromwell Mary Glantz Mike Haughey Les Hickman Bruce Matthews Raymond Maxwell Joyce Namde Lynn Nelson Sharon White USAID REPS: Michael Henning Glenn Rogers FCS REP: Stephen Morrison FAS REP: Melinda Sallyards IBB REP: Al Pessin RETIREE REPS: Janice Bay Robert (Bill) Farrand Molly Williamson AFSA Appoints New Governing Board Members The AFSA Governing Board approved the appointment of two newmembers at its Oct. 6 meeting. StephenMorrison joins Vice President Keith Curtis in representing the Foreign Commercial Service on the Governing Board. While he is currently on assignment to the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Baltimore, Morrison was first appointed to the Foreign Service in 1991 and has served in various capacities in Dakar, Paris and Madrid. State Representative RaymondMaxwell , who draws on a U.S. Navy background, became a Foreign Service management officer in 1992. He is the director of the Office of Regional Affairs in the Near Eastern Bureau, but has also served as deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires in Damascus and post management officer for East Africa, his all-time favorite job. Foreign Service Journal Welcomes New Editorial Board Member Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board member May Baptista tendered her resignation from the board in October to pursue language training at FSI for an overseas assignment early next year. Former FSO Jim Seevers , whose nomination the Governing Board had pre-approved last summer, has agreed to fill the remainder of May’s term, which runs through August 2011. Jim currently serves as Director of Studies and Training at the Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. The board and Journal staff join in thanking May for her service and welcoming Jim.