48 DECEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA Post Representative of the Year Award Dinah Zeltser-Winant and Anne Martin-Montgomery Advocating for Members at U.S. Mission Thailand Foreign Service Officer Dinah Zeltser-Winant and Diplomatic Courier Anne Martin-Montgomery, joint AFSA representatives at the U.S. embassy in Bangkok, have been recognized with the 2024 AFSA Post Representative of the Year Award for their exceptional dedication to advancing AFSA’s mission at one of the largest embassies in the world. Their sustained efforts—both together and individually—to support colleagues, address pressing issues, and advocate for institutional improvements have left a lasting effect at post and across the entire East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. The pair played a pivotal role in the March 2024 first- and secondtour (FAST) officers’ regional conference, which brought together FAST officers from 21 different posts, working tirelessly to ensure AFSA’s presence was front and center throughout the event. They gave a joint presentation to the attendees on AFSA’s accomplishments and the benefits of joining the organization and provided a consistent presence by staffing a desk to answer questions and offer guidance. Both made it a point to personally connect with as many participants as possible, ensuring officers felt welcome and informed about AFSA’s role in their professional lives. Beyond their work at the conference, Zeltser-Winant and Martin-Montgomery focused on supporting a diverse range of officers and specialists at post. They took the lead in identifying critical gaps in onboarding and promotion processes, especially for FAST officers and specialists, helping to highlight areas that had been previously overlooked. By addressing these concerns, they contributed to improving the overall work environment and career trajectories of many officers. Zeltser-Winant’s advocacy for financial planning resources was also instrumental in their recognition. Understanding the unique financial challenges faced by Foreign Service families, they worked to promote education and access to resources that help officers succeed during their careers and prepare them for a secure retirement. Both have expanded their focus to engage with various interest groups and employee resource groups (ERGs) within the embassy, such as the Federal Women’s Program. This targeted engagement ensured that AFSA’s presence was felt across different segments of the embassy community. At the same time, Zeltser-Winant focused on working with USAID’s 40-plus Foreign Service officers at post, offering guidance on labor management issues and ensuring that USAID officers felt represented and supported. Zeltser-Winant’s depth of expertise in labor management issues has been particularly relevant in providing timely and comprehensive feedback to queries from officers at post as well as supporting the development of her corep Martin-Montgomery in the role. Dinah Zeltser-Winant Dinah Zeltser-Winant engages in “plov diplomacy” at post in Kyrgyzstan. Anne MartinMontgomery
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