Congratulations to Dr. Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen for receiving the 2022 AAFSW Dorman Award. An active AAFSW Art and Book Fair Volunteer since 2014, Dr. Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen served as the elected AAFSW President from 2016 to 2020. As a trained geophysicist, gemologist, and environmental management consultant who seeks collaboration with local universities at post, Joanna appreciates the importance of eligible family member (EFM) employment and, in 2017-2018, she successfully advocated for a sound solution to safeguard EFM and EPAP work opportunities. In 2018, Joanna conceived and implemented AAFSW’s “Twice Exceptional” Merit Scholarship, designed to reward academic excellence annually to two Foreign Affairs’ students who, despite special needs, have overcome adversity.… Read More
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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
Continue ReadingMeet the 2021 Dorman Award Winner, Cathy Salvaterra
The 2021 winner of the Lesley Dorman Award for lifetime service to AAFSW is Cathy Salvaterra, unanimously chosen by the selection committee consisting of previous Dorman Award recipients. Among many other contributions to AAFSW and the Foreign Service community, Cathy Salvaterra served as Chair of the Secretary of State’s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) for four years, establishing standard operating procedures for the administration of the SOSA program and spearheading an online history of the award written by Sarah Genton. In 2010, Cathy began volunteering for AAFSW’s annual Art and BookFair, working weekly in the BookRoom and during the Fair itself. Since 2011, she has worked in the Department… Read More
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More About 2020 CCE-EFM Award Winner Janet Heg
We wanted to hear more from our 2020 award recipients — what contributed to the actions that led them to receive the award, advice for others, and more. Read more about the 2020 CCE-EFM Award winner Janet Heg below. What inspired you? I used to be an EFM and it was through EFM employment that I learned about the wide range of opportunities available in the Foreign Service. Until then I hadn’t realized the potential to work in management or one of the specialist fields. I really enjoyed the feeling of a shared mission with my spouse; it felt fantastic to get in the car with him in the mornings… Read More
Continue ReadingDeadline EXTENDED for nominations for SOSA, CCE-EFM and Tragen Awards!
Deadline EXTENDED for nominations for SOSA, CCE-EFM and Tragen Awards! New Deadline May 31, 2020 30 Years of SOSA! Would you like to be recognized for your selfless contributions to post morale or your host country? Would you like to nominate someone at post for their tireless efforts to bring about positive change? If you answer YES, please submit a nomination for the 2020 SOSA Award. Nominees can be Foreign Service Officers, spouses, family members, or Members of Household. All members of the Foreign Service are encouraged to present nominations. A panel selects recipients from each of the six regional bureaus. Winners will receive a certificate signed by the Secretary… Read More
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2019 Secretary of State Award Recipients
This year, five of the six geographical bureaus submitted nominations for the Secretary of State Award for outstanding volunteerism abroad. The winners and their projects are: 2019 Winner for Bureau of African Affairs, Marcus W. Lamb Marcus, an Information Programs Officer, was part of the IRM team while posted to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Marcus worked closely with a local organization, Apps and Girls, which promotes IT skill building for Tanzanian girls ages 14-24 who cannot continue their traditional education. Marcus volunteered during his free time, at night and during the weekends for over a year. And taught two classes in IT fundamentals, and coding and networking. However, after teaching… Read More
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