The Foreign Service Journal, December 2011

68 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 1 A F S A N E W S AFSA Welcomes New Foreign Service Employees BY JANET HEDRICK, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP A FSAhas beenwelcoming incoming classes to the Foreign Service for more than 25 years. In fact, more than 10,000 FS employees have attended AFSA’s luncheons for new entrants. So far this year, AFSAheadquarters has hosted20of these events, withmore sched- uledbefore the endof the year. The incom- ing classes typically joinus for lunch toward the end of their orientation session. Over the course of the meal, the asso- ciationhas the opportunity to congratulate the newmembers of the FS on their career choice and successful completion of the stringent entrance requirements. In addi- tion toprovidingparticipantswithvaluable career information, we answer their questions, address their concerns and note their experiences with the new entry process. They are introduced to AFSAPresident Susan John- son, the constituency vice presidents,GoverningBoard members andAFSAstaffers, before we offer them the opportunity to join our ranks. AFSA Deputy General Counsel Zlatana Badrich is a frequent speaker and tablehost at the lun- cheons. During her presentation, she iden- tifies some of the pitfalls employees may face during their career in the Foreign Service and answers questions. When an employee asks what he should do if con- fronted with a Diplomatic Security or Office of the Inspector General investi- gation, Badrich advises: “Call, e-mail or drop by AFSA’s offices first! You likely will have to participate in the interview, but you have the right to have us there and it’s best to have us with you from the beginning.” AFSA staff members discuss current issues facing the ForeignService as awhole, as well as specific factors that may affect the attendees’ career paths. Legislative updates, public outreach activities and cur- rent labor-management negotiations top the list of items of importance to new members. During the event heldon Oct. 13 for the123rdSpecial- ist Class, one employee said she joined because “We are so new, and AFSA gives us the opportunity to be a part of an organization that has our back— that advocates for us on all the unknown issues.” New members not only bring new strengths and abilities to the Foreign Service, but give AFSA a fresh look at the concerns of the next generation of Foreign Service employees. If youmissed signing up at your own new member luncheon — or if your membership has lapsed — please visit us at www.afsa.org/become_ a_member.aspx to see what membership can offer you. Please note that AFSA’s first-floor reception roomis available to allmembers for private events, free of charge. Formore information, please contact Ana Lopez at (202) 338-4045, ext. 520, or e-mail lopez@ afsa.org. Greeted at AFSA headquarters are (L to R) Hector Orellana, Justin Yuda, Edith Vargas, Matthew Frazier, Leila Medelovici, Gaylord Swaby, Virginia Lindberg, AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston, Noel Dietrich, Andrew Calvin and Narinder Kumar. (L to R) Jillian Stirling, RachelWatson and Edward Partridge converse over lunch with AFSA State VP Daniel Hirsch. Signing up to become a member of AFSA. PHOTOS BY DONNA AYERST Virginia Lindberg looks through AFSA’s information folder. Brian Runzel asks AFSA staff a question.