22-748: American Foreign Service Association ( AFSA ), established in 1924, is the professional association of the United States Foreign Service . With over 15,000 due-paying members, AFSA represents 28,000 active and retired Foreign Service employees of the Department of State and Agency for International Development (AID) , as well as smaller groups in the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) , Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) , and International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) . American Foreign Service Association's principal missions are to enhance
44-597: A professional body , professional organization , or professional society ) is a group that usually seeks to further a particular profession , the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and the public interest . In the United States, such an association is typically a nonprofit business league for tax purposes. In the UK, they may take a variety of legal forms. The roles of professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in
66-457: A learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation;" also a body acting "to safeguard the public interest;" organizations which "represent the interest of the professional practitioners," and so "act to maintain their own privileged and powerful position as a controlling body." Professional associations are ill defined although often have commonality in purpose and activities. In
88-443: A profession or group of professions and protect the use of professional titles" and professional bodies that "are independent membership organisations that oversee the activities of a particular profession and represent the interests of [their] members" and which "may offer registration or certification of unregulated occupations on a voluntary basis." Many professional bodies are involved in accrediting degrees, defining and examining
110-640: A solemn ceremony on Foreign Affairs Day. The National High School Essay Contest is available to all High School students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and to U.S. citizens pursuing high school education abroad. The competition awards a $ 2,500 cash prize, a paid trip to Washington, D.C., to meet the Secretary of State and a tuition-free Semester at Sea upon enrollment at an accredited post-secondary institution. Professional association A professional association (also called
132-692: Is elected by the membership every two years. The board 's constitution is governed by the American Foreign Service Association's bylaws . The board has 21 members for the 2019-2021 term. AFSA's president is Ambassador Eric S. Rubin , a career Foreign Service Officer and member of the Senior Foreign Service who served as U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria from 2016-2019. AFSA maintains its headquarters building at 2101 E Street NW in Washington, DC. There are also smaller offices within
154-591: Is invited to present this award. If the Secretary is unable to attend, a distinguished individual who has worked with the recipient is asked to present the award. Colin Powell presented the award to Thomas Pickering and to George Shultz ; Elliot Richardson presented the award to Frank Carlucci ; Mr. Carlucci presented it to Lee Hamilton ; Robert Zoellick presented it to Richard Lugar ; Senator Lugar presented to award to Senator Nunn ; and Lawrence Eagleburger presented
176-511: The UK the Science Council defines a professional body as "an organisation with individual members practicing a profession or occupation in which the organisation maintains an oversight of the knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation". The Quality Assurance Agency distinguishes between statutory bodies and regulators that "have powers mandated by Parliament to regulate
198-458: The American Foreign Service Association agenda. American Foreign Service Association works closely with retired Foreign Service personnel on legislative issues related to retiree pensions and benefits. Retirees, individually and through independent retiree groups around the country, actively promote the Foreign Service and international engagement in their communities. In its efforts to explain
220-666: The Department of State, USAID, and the Department of Commerce. Since 1968, American Foreign Service Association has honored achievement, performance, courage and sacrifice within the Foreign Service community through their awards program. All of American Foreign Service Association's awards programs, as well the American Foreign Service Association's memorial plaques, are administered by American Foreign Service Association's Coordinator for Special Awards and Outreach. American Foreign Service Association's Constructive Dissent Awards recognize Foreign Service members who work constructively within
242-553: The Foreign Service employees of all five agencies. In this labor/management relations capacity, American Foreign Service Association negotiates with the agency management on personnel policies and practices affecting members' working conditions. American Foreign Service Association also represents members in formal grievance proceedings, office of security and inspector general investigations, and EEO cases, while providing them informal assistance in dealing with administrative problems. Foreign Service retiree concerns are an integral part of
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#1732859106648264-421: The Foreign Service's role and to build domestic constituencies to support its activities, American Foreign Service Association operates a speakers' bureau, which makes experienced diplomats available to speak to a wide range of groups all across the country. Through Road Scholar programs, American Foreign Service Association members conduct continuing education classes on the Foreign Service. AFSA's Governing Board
286-528: The Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award: These awards celebrate those Foreign Service employees who have demonstrated the greatest facility and success in the learning and utilization of languages in their career. This learning may have taken place at FSI or individually. The awards are made possible through a generous bequest from former Foreign Service Officer Mathilda W. Sinclaire. Each year, American Foreign Service Association honors
308-534: The State Department employee whose essay has been chosen as the best from among their cohort during the National War College graduation ceremonies. The award is named after George Kennan . Two large memorial plaques in the C Street lobby of the Department of State honor colleagues who have given their lives in service to their country. Each year, names are added and those on the plaques are honored during
330-463: The award to Joan Clark . Honorees are presented with a globe and certificate. The Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy is American Foreign Service Association's highest award. It is offered to an inspiring and respected diplomat or public servant for their contributions to the conduct and success of American diplomacy. The criteria call for a sustained commitment to the cause for a good portion of their professional lives. Previous Recipients of
352-649: The community at large. In addition, these awards honor contributions to American Foreign Service Association and those who have excelled in the advancement of democracy. The American Foreign Service Association established its award for Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy in 1995. By giving this high-profile award, American Foreign Service Association also seeks to bring greater recognition to its other awards, including its unique annual awards for constructive dissent Candidates are proposed by American Foreign Service Association's Awards and Plaque Committee. The American Foreign Service Association governing board makes
374-536: The diplomatic profession. Recipients will normally be career diplomats, but may include other individuals in exceptional cases. Recipients must attend American Foreign Service Association's annual awards ceremony. The presentation takes place during American Foreign Service Association's annual Awards Ceremony in June in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Room of the State Department. The Secretary of State
396-420: The effectiveness of the Foreign Service, to protect the professional interests of its members, to ensure the maintenance of high professional standards for both career diplomats and political appointees, and to promote understanding of the critical role of the Foreign Service in promoting America's national security and economic prosperity. American Foreign Service Association is the exclusive bargaining agent for
418-511: The federal government, and remain the center of American Foreign Service Association's awards program. There are four awards: Six Exemplary Performance Awards are given each year to highlight the professionalism and spirit of service and volunteerism found within the Foreign Service community. These awards honor community liaison officers, office management specialists, family members, and American Foreign Service Association post representatives for their important contributions at work, at home and in
440-430: The final decision. Originally, there were no criteria beyond those implied by the award's name. In 2009, the American Foreign Service Association's Governing Board specified that "lifetime" means at least a decade of service to diplomacy, ideally including continuing involvement after retirement. The contributions should include involvement in foreign policy development and/or implementation as well as efforts that advance
462-483: The skills and competencies necessary to practice, and granting professional certifications to indicate that a person is qualified in the subject area. Many professional bodies also act as learned societies for the academic disciplines underlying their professions, such as the American Statistical Association . Constructive Dissent award Too Many Requests If you report this error to
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#1732859106648484-544: The system to change policy and performance for the better. Such dissents may be made in any non-public channel including meetings, emails to superiors, memoranda, telegrams, or via the State Department 's formal Dissent Channel . Thus, American Foreign Service Association's Constructive Dissent Awards may be given to, but are not restricted to, employees who send in Dissent Channel messages. These awards are unique within
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