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November 4, 2021 by content editor

Announcing the 2021 Awards Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 18 for the SOSA, Tragen, CCE-EFM and Dorman Awards

 

The Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) will be presented by AAFSW on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 10:30 to noon along with the Champions of Career Enhancement for EFMs (CCE-EFM) and Lesley Dorman Awards. DACOR, an association of foreign affairs professionals, will present the 2021 Eleanor Dodson Tragen Award. Find out more about the awards here:  https://www.aafsw.org/awards/ and http://www.dacorbacon.org/dacor_awards.php

 

The ceremony will be hosted by DACOR at the historic DACOR-Bacon House, built in 1825, just two blocks from the White House, with a limited number of people present. The event will be live-streamed and recorded using GoToWebinar. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has agreed to present remarks congratulating the winners.

 

To receive an invitation to attend virtually, please RSVP to office@aafsw.org .

 

Meet the 2021 Winners

 

SOSA AF Bureau, Keri E. Dziuban

 

While posted in Namibia, Keri used her training as an expert in special needs education to turn around a struggling international school. On a volunteer basis, she took extensive action to identify and resolve gaps in the curriculum, improve the physical security of the campus, and recruit a highly qualified Educational Director.

 

SOSA EAP Bureau, Sean P. Doyle 

 

As a “citizen diplomat” volunteering in Shenyang, Eligible Family Member Sean P. Doyle created and implemented innovative and effective cultural outreach initiatives to the Chinese public, including social media campaigns, in-person events and videos, such as a livestreamed Thanksgiving cooking demonstration that reached nearly one million viewers.

 

SOSA NEA Bureau, Sari Heidenreich and Layla S. Murphy 

 

Posted as diplomatic family members in Kuwait and the UAE, Sari and Layla (a college junior) supported the repatriation of Sierra Leonean domestic workers who had been trafficked to and/or exploited in Oman. They helped raise nearly $30,000, which supported 43 victims of trafficking and exploitation to see home again; organized repatriations logistics; provided direct education and empowerment to hundreds of women and conducted research to help the international community better understand how to address the underlying issues.

 

SOSA SCA Bureau, Muliani T. Lyng

 

During her three-year assignment in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, family member Muliani T. Lyng undertook a broad range of highly impactful efforts, including supporting Embassy families during the pandemic; helping operate a soup kitchen for the needy and summer camps for local children; supporting a fledgling animal shelter; and providing much-needed support to autistic children and their parents at a rehabilitation center.



SOSA WHA Bureau, Janeth Pena-Heredia 

 

Janeth established the English for the Guards program in São Paulo and English for Facilities Staff in Rio de Janeiro to build more inclusive Consulate communities, which created a space for meaningful conversations about systemic racism following the murder of George Floyd.  In Rio, she also led the Community Engagement Committee, which supported activities at a local orphanage, organized beach cleanups, and secured food donations for residents of a local community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

SOSA Honorable Mentions

 

AF  Ian Arzeni 

 

Tanzania, Ian Arzeni started a skateboard club and taught 30 young Tanzanians the basics of the sport.  Donations from Weekend Skateboards and Nike supported the club with decks and shoes.  Skateboarding classes became an excellent diversion and opportunity for young people to learn a new sport. 

 

 

EAP Jennie Linton

 

Jennie organized a group of over 40 women in Shanghai China to sew reusable menstrual kits for girls who don’t have adequate supplies in developing countries.  These kits allow girls to go to school during their periods.  They were able to deliver kits to girls in India and Kenya.  She says, “This was a small thing that had a big impact not only on the girls who received them, but on those of us who created them.  We felt more gratitude, purpose and connection.”

 

NEA Team Vaccine 

 

Honorable Mention for the NEA Bureau was awarded to Embassy Amman for its outstanding Vaccine Task Force, in which over 70 volunteers, trained over the weekend, vaccinated more than 1,000 mission personnel against COVID-19 in just 1.5 days.



WHA Amy J. Duhamel 

 

Amy started a volunteer group in Bogotá, Colombia during the pandemic. They provided groceries, baby supplies, warm clothes, blankets and other necessities to locals and Venezuelan refugees who were struggling due to the strict quarantine. The group continues to assist those in need. 



Eleanor Dodson Tragen Award, Fabiula Maughan

 

Fabiula was selected for her innovative and timely efforts to help Mission Brazil address issues of racism and social injustice following the 2020 protests that heightened awareness of these problems in Brazil and in the United States.  Fabi’s vehicle for creating enduring change was embRACE, a group of roughly 40 U.S. direct hires and local staff dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.  As chairwoman of the embRACE steering committee, Fabi led members through biweekly coordination meetings and created subcommittees to organize consulate-wide activities.  Fabi was such a force for positive change that embRACE soon inspired likeminded chapters across Mission Brazil, which now function autonomously, adapting to local realities to promote social justice and equity. 

 

Champions of Career Enhancement for EFMs (CCE-EFM), Timothy Stufft

 

Eligible Family Member Tim Stufft is an engineer and company vice president who has worked tirelessly to connect his fellow EFMs with remote, private-sector work opportunities in the fields of engineering and defense technology. While posted in Chisinau, he also founded a co-working group for mutual support among EFMs working remotely. His efforts have positively impacted perceptions about the work opportunities for EFMs as they accompany foreign affairs personnel at posts around the world.



Lesley Dorman Award, Cathy Salvaterra 

With her husband and three daughters, Cathy served overseas during 17 consecutive years, working as a CLO Coordinator, ESL teacher and human resources professional. In DC, she served as the CLO Program Coordinator at FLO. Upon her retirement in 2003, she became SOSA Chair for AAFSW, establishing first-time SOPs for the program and spearheading the on-line SOSA history project written by Sarah Genton. Since 2004, she has been a key volunteer for AAFSW’s Art and Book Fair, working every week to price donated books and staff the Book Room, as well as volunteering for the annual event.



Filed Under: AAFSW Tagged With: aafsw, AAFSW Events, SOSA

June 11, 2021 by content editor

AAFSW’s Response to FLO Name Change Proposal

Last month, AAFSW was notified about the proposed name change of the Family Liaison Office.  In early May, the DG Digest and FLO publicly announced this initiative stating ” To better reflect the advocacy, programs, and services the Family Liaison Office (FLO) provides to all employees and family members from over 50 U.S. federal government agencies serving overseas under Chief of Mission authority and returning to the U.S., the office is gearing up for a name change.”

Please see the letter AAFSW sent to the Director General expressing our concern about the rush to change the name of a well-established office that specifically supports Foreign Service Family Members.

Sincerely

Lara Center

President

AAFSW letter to Director General Perez regarding FLO Name Change

Filed Under: AAFSW Tagged With: aafsw

December 15, 2019 by AAFSW Content Manager

January Wellness Workshop: New Year, New Habits

strong armGet ready for a fresh, healthy start in the New Year! In this 90-minute interactive workshop, you’ll develop your own personal plan to take your well-being to the next level. You’ll learn powerful
techniques to overcome barriers and make your new habits enjoyable and sustainable.

Whether you’re trying to reduce stress, sleep better, get more exercise, lose weight, improve your relationships, or be more effective at work, you’ll gain something from this workshop that you can implement NOW to create positive change.

Your workshop leader is certified health coach and AAFSW volunteer Patricia Linderman. Find out more about her work at www.fierceafter45.com.

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 14
Time: 1 – 2:30 pm
Cost: Free with optional contribution to the presenter

Place: AAFSW Community Room, Level G-1, 4001 North Ninth Street, Arlington, VA, 22203, RSVP to office@aafsw.org or 703-820-5420.

This is part of a series of wellness workshops organized by AAFSW Program Chair Sheila Switzer. We hope to see you there!

Filed Under: AAFSW, aafsw events Tagged With: aafsw, wellness workshop

October 15, 2019 by AAFSW Content Manager

“What’s Next for the Windsors?” Program

“What’s Next for the Windsors?
Harry, Meghan, and the Future of the Crown”
Monday, November 4th at 10:30 am
Burns Auditorium, George Marshall Center
Department of State

The Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW), in collaboration with the Welcome to Washington International Club (W2W), cordially invites you to join us at an enchanting program entitled: “What’s next for the Windsors? Harry, Meghan and the Future of the Crown,” on Monday, November 4 at 10:30 a.m. in the Burns Auditorium in the State Department’s George Marshall Center, next to the 21st Street entrance.

The speaker will be Patrick Jephson, a consultant, journalist, broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author, and Former Chief of Staff to Diana, Princess of Wales.

He is a published authority on corporate and personal branding, addressing conferences worldwide and appearing on every major U.S. network as well as international broadcast, print and online media. Patrick also advises film and TV productions and is currently historical consultant on Netflix’s The Crown.

He is a founding partner in JephsonBeaman, a boutique communications consultancy specializing in international high-profile, sensitive, cross-cultural and UHNW services. He has also worked on reputation and legacy briefs with European, Middle Eastern and Asian families and individuals, including royalty.

Patrick owes much of his practical communications experience to Princess Diana, who chose him to be her equerry and only private secretary/chief of staff. He served the Princess for eight years (1988-96), responsible for every aspect of her public life, worldwide humanitarian initiatives, and private organization.

Patrick was born and raised in Ireland and holds a master’s degree in Political Science from Cambridge University. A keen amateur historian, his ancestors include notable courtiers to Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and William III. As an officer in the British Royal Navy he served all over the world before being selected for royal duty. In March 2015 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

RSVP by Wednesday, October 30 to office@aafsw.org or 703-820-5420 to register. All attendees without a State Department badge will need to provide a diplomatic ID, driver’s license or passport number and date of birth to submit to the Office of Security at the State Department. In addition, please send a check made out to AAFSW for $20 to AAFSW Reservations, 4001 Ninth Street North, Suite 214, Arlington,VA 22203, to defray the cost of coffee and tea service and the speaker’s fee.

You may also pay by PayPal on the AAFSW website, www.aafsw.org. Scroll down the home page to find the PayPal “Donate” button on the right sidebar. On the PayPal page, enter the amount you wish to pay, then click on “Donate with Debit or Credit Card. ” You will have the option to “Write a note” – e.g., “Payment for November 4th AAFSW program”.You do not need to have a PayPal account, you may pay as a guest with your credit card.

We will have an informal coffee and tea social time, which begins at 10:30 AM, followed by the presentation beginning at 11:00 AM and ending approximately by noon.

Please come to the 21st Street NW entrance of the Department of State (between C Street and Virginia Avenue NW). There is no number on the building, but if you put “330 21st Street NW” in your GPS, the location will appear. After going through security, you will be directed to the left side where we will be checking people in.

The closest metro is Foggy Bottom (Blue, Orange, Silver lines). Parking: Columbia Plaza – on the corner of Virginia Avenue and 23rd Street. Columbia Plaza may be entered from Virginia Avenue or E Street. Expensive – $25 for more than 2 hours. There is a small parking garage at 2112 F Street NW, which is less expensive than Columbia Plaza, but space is limited.

We look forward to seeing you.

Warm regards,

Sheila Switzer
AAFSW Program Chair

Filed Under: AAFSW Tagged With: aafsw, AAFSW Events

October 15, 2019 by AAFSW Content Manager

AAFSW’s 2019 Halloween Party

AAFSW’s Annual Fun Halloween Party
Saturday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m.
At a member’s residence
Falls Church, VA

AAFSW cordially invites you and your spouse (or friend), to a fun and festive Halloween party. Get your costumes ready!

Costumes are optional, but we will have prizes for the best, the most original, and the most colorful outfits!

Please be prepared to make a short presentation about the meaning of your costume.

RSVP by Thursday, October 24 to office@aafsw.org to get the address. Please bring a dish to share and let us know what you plan to bring.

We look forward to seeing you!

Sheila Switzer
AAFSW Program Chair

 

Filed Under: AAFSW Tagged With: aafsw, AAFSW Events, Foreign-Born Spouses

October 15, 2019 by AAFSW Content Manager

Meeting of Under Secretary Bulatao with the Foreign Affairs Council

Thursday, September 19, 2019
DACOR Bacon House

 

The Foreign Service Council (FAC), comprised of at least twelve organizations that support the American Foreign Service, including AAFSW, meets every three months to discuss all the current information regarding the American Foreign Service.

The FAC met again on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at the DACOR Bacon House to present its agenda for the 2019-2020 year to Under Secretary for Management Bulatao.

 

Under Secretary Bulatao discussed with the FAC the Department of State’s policy outlook for the fiscal year 2019-2020. U/S Bulatao keeps an open door policy regarding issues that concern the FAC.

Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen, PhD
AAFSW President

Filed Under: AAFSW Tagged With: aafsw

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