UAA Bulletin Board

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2024 Posts

2nd Quarter

• The U.S. Foreign Service celebrates is 100th year anniversary on May 24, 2024.  The gala on Tuesday, May 21^st will be livestreamed on State’s website and YouTube channels. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns, and USAID’s Counsellor Clinton White will be speaking. Here are the links for the livestream from the gala where viewers will be able to watch the remarks of all the speakers beginning around 7pmEST:  Department homepage and YouTube Channel.  In honor of the Anniversary, AFSA has provided an excellent set of talking points should you have the opportunity to spread the word in your community. Just click here.
• USAID has released a new Mandatory Reference to Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 530, Emergency Planning Overseas. The Mandatory Reference, Standard Operating Procedures for Emergency and Crisis Management for Non-American Staff and Locally Contracted Personnel (“the Playbook”) describes the available actions that Mission can take to support FSNs in the event of a crisis or emergency situation.  See note from USAID Deputy Administrator Paloma Adams-Allen, August 21, 2023, by clicking here.

1st Quarter

• Thursday, April 4, at 10:30 am EDT, in person or online, for “Views of democracy around the world: A 24-country survey” with Richard Wike, Pew Research Center’s director of global attitudes research.  The forum will take place at the USC Washington DC campus, 1771 N Street NW.  Coffee and refreshments will be available starting at 10:00.
  • To join in person, please email Judy Kang at junghwak@usc.edu
  • To join online, please RSVP here.
• Visitation for Elmer Milvin “Mel” Cook, husband of Bette Cook, will be held at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22315 on Friday, March 8, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. Mel died on February 29, 2024, at age 97.  His funeral service will be convened at Old Post Chapel with interment at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, at a later date.  See:  https://www.jeffersonfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/Elmer-Cook-3/#!/Obituary
• U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) late 2023 event with U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who spoke about foreign aid and America’s role in the world in the face of growing global threats and crises.
• Invitation to a Celebration of the Life and Work of Dr. Robert J. Muscat, Saturday, March 23rd from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, in person and by Zoom, in the main hall of the Takoma Village Cohousing complex (TVC) at 6827 Fourth St. NW in Washington, DC 20012. Click the heading for details and how to RSVP.
• USC Africa-US Forum on Monday, February 26, at 9 a.m. EST, on “Africa’s Engagement with Global Powers” at the USC Capital Campus, 1771 N Street NW, Washington, DC, in person or by video.  Click heading for details and RSVP.  Future USC Africa-US forums are:
• Monday, March 25: Africa and the Diaspora, and
• Monday, April 22: Africa and Freedom of Expression
• The US-Philippines Society and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines will host a discussion at the on Monday, February 12, 1:30 to 2:30 pm, at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, 1600 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC, with USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health Dr. Atul Gawande on the Philippine healthcare challenges and opportunities for U.S.-Philippines cooperation through various USAID programs and initiatives.  Click here to register for this event.
• The Society for International Development (SID) is sponsoring a Virtual Career Fair on February 15, 2024.   They are offering free registration for UAA members:  go to this link and use this code that they created specifically for UAA members: Feb24CFUAA
• At 1:00 pm on January 31, 2024, an informal celebration of Sophia Helene Van Der Bijl’s life will be held at Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes, 7557 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda. This will be followed by a WIS style after celebration at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery.
• A memorial service for Patricia Matheson is scheduled for 2 PM on February 24, 2024, at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101, with a reception to follow. For those of you unable to attend the service will be livestreamed on the church website, www.lewinsville.org/live and will be hosted temporarily afterwards if you want to watch later, at www.lewinsville.org/funerals-memorial-services/
• Funeral for Dick McCall at 11 AM on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1545 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA.  Former USAID Administrator Brian Atwood will deliver a eulogy.  See his full obituary with other services here.
• USC Africa-U.S. forum Jan. 30, 2024, 9-11 AM on telemedicine and health care in Africa, at the USC Capital Campus, 1771 N Street NW, Washington, DC, in person or by video.  Click heading for details and RSVP.
• Celebration of Life for Thomas Hale Fox on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 10 AM at the All Souls Church Unitarian, 1500 Harvard Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009.  Go to Thomas’s memorial website
• FYI from U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), Liz Schrayer:  8 numbers to watch in 2024.  The big question I’m asking is how America and our allies are going to be responding to these challenges. That’s the real story behind each of these numbers.
• AFSA Meeting with USAID Administrator Power, January 9, 2024.  This was the first meeting between current AFSA leadership and Agency leaders. The meeting provided AFSA an opportunity to express its gratitude for the Agency’s support of the USAID Foreign Service Officer (FSO) corps and to highlight opportunities for collaboration and continued engagement.
• A funeral service will be held for Lee Vance Walter at 10:00 a.m. on January 20, 2024, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA, with a celebration of life at 12:30 p.m. that day at the Mt. Vernon Yacht Club, 4817 Tarpon Lane, Alexandria, VA.  Lee passed away on November 30, 2023, after a battle with cancer.  Lee was an outstanding colleague and public servant with 18 years of service at USAID, including as the lead for LPA’s Legislative Reference Division since 2016.
• The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) draft Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Policy is now available for public review and feedback.  UAA members are invited to submit any feedback on the draft policy directly to USAID via this link no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on January 15th, 2024.
• The Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity: A U.S. Government Strategy for International Assistance (2019–2024) is currently being updated. The APCCA Secretariat is pleased to announce the public comment period for the draft Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity Strategy (2024-2028) to promote early childhood development; to support those most vulnerable children who are, or are at risk of, living outside of family care; and to protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Click here to view the draft APCCA Strategy.  Please click here to access, review, and provide feedback on the draft updated strategy. The feedback will be open until 5:00 p.m. ET, January 19th, 2024.

2023 Posts

4th Quarter

• USC forum on Jan. 5, 2024, at 10 AM EST, on challenging Russian Disinformation with Ilan Berman, Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, at the new USC Washington, DC, building, 1771 N Street, NW.  See full invitation here to RSVP for attendance in person or by zoom.  
• The American Academy of Diplomacy 2023 Henrietta Fore Award for Excellence in Development provided Special Recognition for U.S. Government Locally Employed Staff in Afghanistan on November 9, 2023
• The American Academy of Diplomacy awarded Peter McPherson the Henrietta Fore Award for Excellence in Development on November 9, 2023.
• University of Southern California Dec. 4 Africa forum: “Technology, Innovation and the Digital Economy”, 9 to 11 AM at the USC Washington, DC, center, 1771 N Street NW.
• DACOR has invited UAA members to attend their 3^rd annual TransAtlantic virtual dialogue on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 10:30. Click here for more information and no-fee registration.
• How USAID Is Responding to the Crisis in the Middle East, from USAID Administrator Power, Oct. 29, 2023
• Nov. 6 forum at GW:  securing democratic elections around the world, hosted by USC, at 12 noon, online and in person at the Lindner Family Commons of the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University, 1957 E Street NW, in Washington, DC.
• AFSA’s latest list of ambassadorial appointments
• Welcoming Six New Bureaus and Independent Offices to USAID.  A statement from Administrator Samantha Power, Oct. 20, 2023.
• Visitation for John Michael Metelsky will take place on Friday, October 6, at 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Gasch’s Funeral Home in Hyattsville, Maryland.  Funeral will be on Saturday, October 7, at 10 a.m. at Glenn Dale United Methodist Church followed by interment at 12:30 p.m. at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Maryland. Details at https://www.gaschs.com/

3rd Quarter

• Visitation and memorial service for Dr. Lewis John Tatem will be held from 12 noon to 2:30 PM on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Calloway Church, 5000 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA 22207.
• A celebration of life for Nancy Marie McKay will be held on October 1, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Olde Breton Inn located at 21890 Society Hill Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
• The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) Welcomes New Co-Chair, Executive Director and Members to its Coalition, MFAN, Sept. 6, 2023.
• USAID alumni are invited to join us, in person or online, on Monday, August 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. EDT, for “Africa’s Future: “Climate Change,” with speakers by video from around Africa and, in person here in Washington, Ambassador Charles Ray, Chair of the Africa Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.  The forum will take place at the University of Southern California Washington DC center, 1771 N Street NW. Light breakfast will be available. To attend in person or online, please RSVP at https://africa-series-aug-28.eventbrite.com
• A visitation for Maryanne Yerkes will be held at the Advent Funeral Home in Falls Church, VA, on August 11, 2023, from 4 PM to 8 PM, and a funeral service will be held at Columbia Gardens Cemetery on Saturday, August 12 and 10 AM.
• A Celebration of Life is planned for Jim Walker on August 26, 2023, 2:00-5:00 pm at Clydes, Willow Creek Farms in Ashburn, VA.  Address is:  42920 Broadlands Blvd., Broadlands, VA 20148.
• A Memorial Service for Douglas Tinsler, who passed away on June 20, 2023, is planned for October 15, 2023, at 2:30 pm at the Clifton Institute, 6712 Blantyre Rd., Warrenton, VA 20187.  

2nd Quarter

• Upcoming USC breakfast forums on Africa are scheduled for July 31, Global Powers and Multilateralism; August 28, Climate Change; and September 25, Business and Trade, all at the USC Washington building, 1771 N Street, NW, Washington, DC.  RSVP to Judy Kang at junghwak@usc.edu
• Memorial Mass for Robert Bruce “Bob” Meighan at Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP), Arlington, VA, on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 11 AM followed by a reception in the Founder’s room.
• Monday, June 26, 9-11 AM, USC June Forum on “Africa’s Future:  Peace and Security,” at Lindner Commons in George Washington University’s Elliott School, 1957 E Street NW, 6th floor, Washington DC.  RSVP: Judy Kang at junghwak@usc.edu
• A Celebration of the Life and Work of Molly Hageboeck will be held at 1834 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 2009 on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
• The U.S. Development Approach:  A Conversation with Former USAID Administrators, May 8, 2023.
  
• Supporting our FSN Colleagues in Sudan.  As of Sunday, April 23, 2023, the U.S. suspended Embassy Sudan operations after the successful evacuation of our U.S. direct-hire staff.  Many of our Foreign Service National (FSN) colleagues remain in Sudan, facing both immediate risks to their safety and grave uncertainty about their country’s future.  There are two direct ways you can help our colleagues today.  Click here for more information.
• Invitation to USGLC Global Impact Forum on 7 June 2023 in Washington, DC
  
• Terry Byrnes memorial service to be held at 11:30 AM (after family visitation at 10:30 AM) on Monday, April 3, 2023, at the Money & King Funeral Home (171 Maple Ave. W, Vienna, VA). The memorial service will be streamed live and accessible on the Money & King website in the days after the ceremony (https:\\www.moneyandking.com).

1st Quarter

• Administrator Samantha Power at the Launch of USAID’s Policy Framework: Driving Progress Beyond Programs, USAID Press Release 3/23/2023
• Devex:  Interesting Comments from NGO leaders in impact of USAID “Localization” (3/22/2023)
• MFAN Applauds Aid Effectiveness Proposals in Administration’s FY24 International Affairs Budget Request, 3/21/2023 
• The text of Henrietta Fore’s oral history has just been posted to ADST’s website.  Read it here.  (3/17/2023)
• USAID Alumni are invited to join a breakfast forum on “Africa’s Future: Democracy and Human Rights,” on Tuesday morning, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. EST
• From Frank Almaguer:  The attached contains a compilation of articles about USAID going back to the early 1960s. 
• UAA Makes New Inroads Across Peninsula Florida, by Jim Bever, January 27, 2023
• A Memorial Service for John Thomas Rifenbark will be held at 12 noon on Friday, February 24, at Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St. NE, Vienna, VA.  
• A Celebration of Life Service for Dana Austin Lund will be held at Ashby Ponds’ Farmwell Hall on Monday, January 30, at 2:00 p.m.
• Former USAID officer, Amb. Liliana Ayalde (Ret.) Speaks about Brazil Today on Feb 13th, 6:30pm EST
• Call for Nominations: 2023-2025 AFSA Governing Board.  Please consider joining the next AFSA leadership team by running for a position on the 2023-2025 AFSA Governing Board.  (Feb. 15, 2023, deadline for nominations.) See the announcement here.
• Strategies for International Development (SID), is looking for new Board members to expand our Board of Directors.  See its announcement here.
• Ann Richards passed away on January 5, 2023.  Her family is planning a Celebration of her life on Friday, April 14, 2023, from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003. 
• A memorial service for Wayne Tate will be held at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home on January 16, 2023, from 1 to 2 p.m. followed by a graveside service.  He passed away on January 2, 2023.