The Foreign Service Journal, December 2018

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2018 71 AFSA NEWS Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale presents the Christian A. Herter Award to former Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon. AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA our team. I took risks in Kara- chi, and I needed motorpool, Diplomatic Security, local staff, colleagues and leader- ship to take those risks with me.” The Nelson B. Delavan Award recognizes the work of a Foreign Service office man- Dr. Sushma Palmer, Kelly Billingsley, David Bargueño and AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson at the awards ceremony. AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA agement specialist who has made a significant contribu- tion to post or office effective- ness and morale beyond the framework of her or his job responsibilities. This year’s winner was Margaret Kennett , an OMS in the Regional Security Office in Kampala who was recognized for her commitment to vol- unteerism within and beyond the mission. Maria Delfina Valentine was the runner-up. The M. Juanita Guess Award is conferred on a community liaison office coordinator who has demon- strated outstanding leader- ship, dedication, initiative or imagination and assisting the families of Americans serving at an overseas post. This year’s award was given to Marisol Garcia , who worked to keep post morale up during a turbulent and violent time in Rio de Janeiro. Runners-up were Lori Doutrich and Karen Fifield . The Avis Bohlen Award honors the accomplishments of a family member of a For- eign Service employee whose relations with the American and foreign communities at post have done the most to advance the interests of the United States. This year’s award was given to John Warner, who took on full-time volunteer support for a nongovernmen- tal organization in Swazi- land. Judith Martin was the runner-up. The AFSA Achievement and Contributions to the Association Award rec- ognizes an active duty or retired AFSA member of any His example to younger Foreign and Civil Service officers challenges them—in fact, all of us—to think critically, consult openly and act decisively. –David Hale of the foreign affairs agen- cies represented by AFSA who has made a significant (nonmonetary) contribution to the association in its role as a professional association or its role as a labor union representing Foreign Service members. This year Ambassador (ret.) Patricia Butenis received the award for her work to bring AFSA’s out- reach efforts to a new level and for her tireless advo- cacy on behalf of the Foreign Service. In accepting her award, Amb. Butenis asked the audience: “How many times do we complain that Ameri- cans—our friends, neigh- bors, even family—don’t understand what we do, in the most difficult, danger- ous places in the world, to promote American policies, interests and values? That outside the Beltway we remain unknown, unsung; that everyone knows what the U.S. military does. What about us? The solution is not to keep wondering and complaining, but to take action in our own communi- ties by telling our fascinat- ing stories.” Read more about each of these winners on the follow- ing pages. n