The 2022 AAFSW Awards Ceremony, Including the 32nd Annual Secretary of State Awards for Outstanding Volunteering Abroad

On November 17, 2022, The Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) hosted the 32nd Annual Secretary of State Awards (SOSA) Ceremony for Outstanding Volunteering Abroad in the sumptuous Benjamin Franklin Room. Deputy Secretary of State Brian P. McKeon commended the winners’ exemplary service and presented the awards at the ceremony, saying: “SOSA awards recognize U.S. government employees, family members, and other members of household at embassies and consulates who performed exceptional volunteer service to their communities, mission, or host country, or rendered outstanding assistance in emergencies. I stand in awe of those of you who sign up for this life and undertake it. Those of you who are doing this volunteer work, you’re creating a community or contributing to… Read More

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Meet Mikell Reed Carroll, 2022 SOSA Nominee

It wasn’t until about a month after arriving in Serbia and completing a Royal Compound tour that Mikell even realized Serbia had a royal family. After a tour of the Royal Palace and learning about a number of charitable endeavors the Royal Family of Serbia was involved in, Mikell reached out to the Crown Princess Katherine Foundation, run by Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, to see if they needed any help.  When researching the royal family, Mikell was struck by the work the Crown Princess Katherine Foundation was doing with local orphanages and domestic violence shelters and wished to somehow get involved. Mikell herself and her family had been recipients… Read More

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Meet 2022 SOSA Nominee Zinat A. Kemper

Every Service Matters: Volunteering During the Pandemic Zinat A. Kemper was nominated for 2022 SOSA award from the Africa Bureau for her dedicated work supporting her community in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during the pandemic. There were eight nominations in the AF Bureau (the most of any bureau), and at least four, including Zinat’s, were recognized by the selection committee (representatives from the AF Bureau, from GCLO, and from AAFSW) as deserving of a SOSA Award. Zinat is an Eligible Family Member (EFM) working under a Family Member Appointment (FMA) in the Executive Office of USAID/Tanzania. She and her family have been living in Tanzania since August 2019. During the… Read More

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Honor an Overseas Volunteer: Nominate Someone for the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA)! Deadline: April 29

Do you know an exceptional overseas volunteer who has made a positive and lasting impact in their host country, supported morale and well-being within the Embassy or Consulate community, or helped others in an emergency?  Please consider recognizing their work and inspiring others by submitting a nomination for this prestigious award administered by AAFSW! Volunteer opportunities are a key to good morale and a sense of purpose at many overseas missions. And volunteers within the U.S. foreign affairs community consistently demonstrate remarkable achievements, even during a few short years at post.  Examples from the 2021 SOSA award winners include assisting victims of human trafficking in the Middle East; leading a… Read More

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Supporting Ukraine and Evacuees from Kyiv

I’ve been touched by the outpouring of support I have witnessed for Kyiv; whether it be directed at US embassy personnel and families or the people of Ukraine.  On March 4, AAFSW was invited to attend a meet and greet for evacuees of Mission Ukraine at the Department of State hosted by EUR EDGE.  EUR EDGE is a midlevel employee affinity group within the EUR Bureau. The event was geared towards officers on ordered departure and provided a chance to chat with DC based colleagues and hear from the Department.  Deputy Assistant Secretary Robin Dunnigan and Under Secretary for Management John Bass both gave brief remarks.  During DAS Dunnigan’s remarks… Read More

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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… Read More

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