American Foreign Service Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Foreign Service Association is the professional association certified by the United States Department of State, the Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development to represent members of the United States Foreign Service.
AFSA's principal missions are:
- "To enhance 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."
AFSA publishes the monthly Foreign Service Journal, presents an annual set of awards for intellectual courage and creative dissent, organizes programs of speakers on foreign affairs, maintains meeting facilities for its members, provides a college scholarship program for Foreign Service children and offers specialized insurance plans to its members. AFSA's legislative affairs department coordinates efforts to keep U.S. Congress aware of the concerns of the Foreign service and of active and retired Foreign Service personnel.
AFSA recruits members from the Foreign Service employees of the Department of State, US Agency for International Development (AID), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Foreign Commercial Service / US Commercial Service, and the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB). In 2009, AFSA had over 14,000 members. In this capacity, AFSA negotiates with the managements of the principal foreign-affairs agencies on personnel policies and practices affecting members' working conditions. AFSA also represents members in formal grievance proceedings, Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Office of the Inspector General investigations, and Equal Employment Opportunity cases, while providing them informal assistance in dealing with administrative problems. Foreign Service retiree concerns are also part of the AFSA agenda and retirees are an integral part of the AFSA Governing Board and the AFSA membership. AFSA works with retired Foreign Service personnel on legislative issues related to retiree pensions and benefits.
[edit] Foreign Service Memorial Plaques
AFSA maintains marble plaques listing the names of persons in the civilian employment of the US government who have died abroad in the line of duty. Originally in the Executive Office Building, then in the original wing of the State Department ("Old State"), the plaques now reside on opposite sides of the C Street "Diplomatic Entrance" to the Harry S Truman Building housing the Department.[1]
