The Foreign Service Journal, December 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2021 73 AFSA NEWS AFSA Dues Increase for 2022 AFSA has increased dues for 2022 by 5.9 percent for all individual membership categories. In concrete terms, this amounts to an increase of between 25 cents and $1.02 per pay period, depending on an individual’s membership category. In accordance with Article IV of the AFSA bylaws, the Governing Board can increase dues by up to but no more than the cumulative increase in the national Consumer Price Index, published by the Department of Labor, since the effective date of the previous dues increase. AFSA last increased its membership dues rate in January 2021. Active-duty and retired mem- bers paying dues via payroll and annuity deduction will see a small increase in the amount automati- cally deducted from their pay- checks and annuities. Those pay- ing annually will be billed the new rate on their regularly scheduled renewal date. n Grade 2021 Annual 2021 Bi- Weekly 2022 Annual 2022 Bi- Weekly Annual Increase Deduction Increase SFS $448.28 $17.24 $474.73 $18.26 $24.65 $1.02 1-3 $349.57 $13.45 $370.19 $14.24 $20.62 $0.79 4-6 $199.20 $7.66 $210.95 $8.11 $11.75 $0.45 7-9 $108.43 $4.17 $114.83 $4.42 $6.40 $0.25 Active Duty Retiree Annuity Level 2021 Annual 2021 Monthly 2022 Annual 2022 Monthly Annual Increase Deduction Increase Under $25K $64.79 $5.40 $68.61 $5.72 $3.85 $0.32 $25-$50K $80.81 $6.73 $85.58 $7.13 $4.77 $0.40 $50-$75K $168.98 $14.08 $178.95 $14.91 $9.97 $0.83 Over $75K $208.50 $17.38 $220.80 $18.40 $12.30 $1.02 Retiree Spouse $58.71 $4.89 $62.17 $5.18 $3.46 $0.29 Category 2021 Annual 2022 Annual Annual Increase Associate Member $120.66 $127.78 $7.12 Associate AFSAGoverning Board Meeting October 20, 2021 The Governing Board met by videoconference on Oct. 20 due to concerns over the COVID-19 delta variant. The board made the following decisions, which must be ratified at the next in-person meeting, according to AFSA bylaws: Member Dues: Governing Board members approved a 5.9 percent dues increase for members for 2022, in accordance with the consumer price index, as is done on an annual basis. New FAS VP: Lisa Ahramjian was appointed to serve as AFSA Foreign Agricultural Service Vice President. Board Member Resignation: Russell Duncan resigned from his position as APHIS representative and member of the Governing Board due to an upcoming assignment in Tokyo. AFSA bylaws require board members to be resident in the Washington, D.C., area. Publications: The board approved a proposal from Publica- tions Director Shawn Dorman to commission and publish an updated edition of The Voice of the Foreign Service: A History of the American Foreign Service Association , for release in 2024 for the AFSA centenary. Governance Committee: The board approved creation of a Governance Committee to address bylaw reform. This body will consist of at least five AFSAmembers appointed by the AFSA president. Committee members will appoint a chair from among themselves. Disputes Panel: Mary Brett Rogers-Springs and Jay Raman were appointed to serve on the Foreign Service Impasse Disputes Panel. n