2016 SOSA Awardees To Be Honored on November 10

This year we received nineteen SOSA nominations from posts in all of the six geographic regions. AAFSW thanks those posts and individuals who took the time to nominate these
volunteers. All the nominees’ remarkable activities have had a profound impact on Mission and host-country communities overseas.

AAFSW is pleased to announce the 2016 winners of the SOSA Award:

AF Ronit and Craig Gerard, Dakar

EAP Sofia Blake, Jakarta

EUR Miriam Engstrom, Ankara

NEA Bob Castro, Manama

SCA Jennifer Heemstra, Kolkata

WHA Farah Vinnedge, Brasilia

Project summaries and photos will be posted on aafsw.org this month, so be sure to visit the
website and check them out! The annual AAFSW Awards Program will take place on Thursday,
November 10, 2016. Other awards presented at the ceremony include the Champions for Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members (CCE-EFM) Award, the Tragen Award (administered by DACOR), and the Lesley Dorman Award (administered by AAFSW).

The awards ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and refreshments will not be served until completion of the program at 11:30. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon members and guests
can mingle and take the opportunity to personally chat with the 2016 award winners. The
program is free to all AAFSW members, Department of State employees and guests of winners. Outside guests will be asked to pay $18. Please RSVP for the ceremony by Tuesday, November 1 by emailing office@aafsw.org or calling us at 703-820- 5420. We hope you can join us to honor these incredible members of the Foreign Service community!

Karen Mehring
SOSA Coordinator