The Foreign Service Journal - December 2017

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2017 49 From left, USAID Counselor Thomas Staal, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, USAID Administrator Mark Green and AFSA USAID Vice President Ann Posner. USAID/SHAMIKAWILLIAMS On Oct. 6, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Ste- phenson and AFSAUSAID Vice President Ann Posner met with recently appointed USAID Administrator Mark Green. AFSA and USAIDWelcome Collaboration December 13 4:30-6:30 p.m. AFSA Holiday Happy Hour December 20 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting December 25 Christmas: AFSA Offices Closed January 1 New Year’s Day: AFSA Offices Closed January 15 Martin Luther King Day: AFSA Offices Closed January 16 Deadline: Sinclaire Language Award Nominations January 17 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting January 25 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Book Notes: Peacemakers by Ambassador James Pardew February 19 Presidents Day: AFSA Offices Closed February 21 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting March 5 Deadline: AFSA Scholarship Applications May 4 Foreign Service Day/ AFSA Memorial Ceremony CALENDAR AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION Among the topics under discussion were the drop in USAID hiring and the need for close and effec- tive collaboration between USAID and the Department of State. Amb. Stephenson and Administrator Green also talked about the recent deployment of USAID disaster relief teams to those countries hit by earthquakes and hurricanes. Also in October, Amb. Stephenson met with Sec- retary of State Rex Tillerson regarding the risks members take to fulfill their missions, including in challenging envi- ronments such as Havana. n Making the Case for the Foreign Service On Oct. 17, AFSA hosted a discussion on “making the case for the Foreign Service.” The session focused on how AFSA members can educate congressional and public audiences on the vital work of the U.S. Foreign Service and the necessity for support for diplomacy. Led by AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, participants reviewed congressional tes- timony submitted by AFSA and then saw those materials in action as bipartisan con- gressional allies gave state- ments and asked questions at hearings on Capitol Hill. Following the presenta- tion, participants split into small groups to role-play the best ways to advocate for the Foreign Service and to share their experiences in a way that helps audiences make a personal connection to the Foreign Service and the work that its members do around the world every day. n AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson speaks to participants at the Oct. 17 event, “Making the Case for the Foreign Service.” AFSA/GEMMADVORAK