Thank You for Your Support

The votes have been counted and the unofficial results are in. I am pleased to announce that all 21st Century AFSA Slate members were elected. This is a significant victory towards continuing to make AFSA more responsive to the active duty Foreign Service.

I would like to thank those who voted for me, and especially those who campaigned for me. A few in particular - and you know who you are - deserve my deepest gratitude for your commitment to the vision of AFSA we share.

I want to begin by assuring you of my continued strong commitment to an AFSA that supports FS members of all cones and specialties, and that recognizes that the burden of FS work is borne primarily by those serving in the mid-level ranks. Helping FS members of all ranks have satisfying and productive careers, enabling you to carry out America's mission, raise your families, stay healthy, stay safe and stay productive is my number one priority.

I am very much aware that more than half of our members are specialists, and a significant number of those are in DS. I am committed to continuing the struggle for better career paths, training opportunities and opportunities for advancement for all specialists. This includes more transparent assignments and promotions.

And I am committed to increasing fairness and adherence to due process in disciplinary and security clearance processes.

In addition, I am committed to advancing the reforms to AFSA's elections process which were stymied by our opponents during the past two years.

This includes, first and foremost, a bylaws amendment regarding term limits. Nobody should ever again be allowed to regard AFSA as his personal playground, nor reach the point where they are willing to embarrass and damage AFSA as part of a campaign to hold on to their self-identified "iconic" role. As a first step, I pledge now my intention not to run again in 2013. But more importantly, I pledge my efforts to develop, with member input, a referendum to limit terms of service for all AFSA officer positions, including committee officers. AFSA is not a model train set. It is not a hobby. It is not a club. It is your voice, and we should ensure that the voice of AFSA is yours.

This also includes electronic voting. That is a harder objective, because our membership is not all equally able to access the Internet, but it is doable, and will be done before the next elections.

To those who voted for Elise Mellinger, I have heard you. Somewhere along the way, AFSA has lost your trust. We will do better - I will do more - to make AFSA relevant to you. But a bylaws amendment that would give the State Department unlimited veto power over AFSA officers is not the answer.

AFSA is entering a new era, in service to a very different Foreign Service than even the one I joined a quarter of a century ago. I am very excited to help lead it through the next two years, and ask for your continued support to take it in the direction you want it to go.

Very best regards,
Daniel