The Foreign Service Journal, November 2016

6 NOVEMBER 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 51 Washington Nationals Honor the U.S. Foreign Service 52 State VP Voice—Managing Your Expectations of Promotion 53 Retiree VP Voice—TSPs, RMDs, QCDs and AFSA 54 Notes from LM: What Not to Say at the Office Holiday Party 55 Agreement Reached on 2013 MSI Remedies 56 Call for AFSAAward Nominations 56 Sinclaire Language Award Nominations 57 FAM Updates: Resources for New Parents 57 Forum Discusses the Carter Administration’s PD Policy 5 8 Apply Now for AFSA College Scholarships 59 Combined Federal Campaign: A Great Way to Support AFSA 60 Governing Board Meeting Minutes 61 2016 Fall Interns at AFSA 62 AFSAWelcomes 143rd FS Specialist Class 62 Looking to the Future: AFSA Partners with UTAustin AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION On the Cover: Some of this year’s books by Foreign Service authors. Design: Gemma Dvorak. Turkeys: iStock http://www.istockphoto.com/vector/ thanks-giving-turkey-gm179715181-26888091 7 President’s Views Championing American Diplomacy By Ba r ba r a S t e p h e n s o n 9 Letter from the Editor Sharing Your Stories By Sh awn Do rma n 17 Speaking Out Getting Beyond Bureaucratese— Why Writing Like Robots Damages U.S. Interests By Pa u l Po l e t e s 77 Reflections Turkeys Parade at the Border By V i c t o r i a He s s Departments 10 Letters 13 Talking Points 63 In Memory 70 Books 78 Local Lens Chennai, India By Ed Ma l c i k Marketplace 71 Classifieds 74 Real Estate 76 Index to Advertisers Perspectives FOREIGN SERVICE 78 15 51