Foreign Service Journal

Public Outreach

The career Foreign Service faced a serious public affairs image problem in the aftermath of State’s lamentable “townhallmeeting”inOctober2007,which left broadly negative nationwide media and public perceptions that most FSOs are unwilling to serve in danger posts like Iraq and Afghanistan.

AFSA responded in 2008 with a steady outreach campaign to counter these negative stereotypes, including more than 70 articles, letters, op-eds and AFSA interviews published in national media, defending the courage and dedication of the career Foreign Service in volunteering for the most dangerous assignments around the world.

Prime examples include AFSA President John Naland’s appearance on “The News-hour with Jim Lehrer” and an interview from his home on a CNN special, “The New Diplomats,” as well as State VP Steve Kashkett’s vigorous defense of the Foreign Service’s courage and dedication on NPR’s “Diane Rehm” show.

universities, colleges, World Affairs Councils and policy forums in 44 states and Washington, D.C. All speakers were provided with AFSA talking points and requested to emphasize the critical role of the Foreign Service and U.S. diplomacy and to exhort audiences to contact their members of Congress and insist upon increased funding for U.S diplomacy.

AFSA also sponsored its ninth National High School Essay Contest, with more than 250 students participating. The winner was congratulated by Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

— Tom Switzer, Director of

Communications

ANN THOMAS

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte presents award to High School

Essay Contest winner Alicia Constant.

AFSA played a crucial role in the landmark October 2008 study, “A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future: Fixing the Crisis in Diplomatic Readiness,” released jointly by the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Stimson Center. Cited in numerous media reports and articles, the report documented the crucial need for increased funding and staffing for the Foreign Service.

During the year, AFSA programmed over 470 retiree speakers in more than 100

A F S A N E W S

Scholarship Program

The 2008 AFSA Scholarship Program awarded Academic and Art Merit Awards totaling $35,700 to 26 high school seniors, and bestowed Financial Aid Scholarships totaling $152,574 on 69 undergraduate college students for the 2008-2009 school year. The Martha and George Newman Financial Aid Scholarship received a bequest totaling over $650,000 from the couple’s estate. Finally, the AFSA Scholarship Fund made a $37,500 donation to the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (with a 100-percent match by FEEA) to help begin to pay for the college education of children of Foreign Service employees who lost their lives in terrorist attacks.

— Lori Dec, Scholarship Administrator

JOHN MAMONE

Janet Bayless presents Newman Trust donation to AFSA. From left: Chairman of AFSA Committee on Education Amb. C. Edward Dillery, Scholarship Director Lori Dec, Treasurer Andrew Winter, Bayless, AFSA President John Naland and Amb. Thomas Boyatt.

Elderhostel

The Elderhostel program continued its expansion in 2008. Three new courses were offered during the year, all filled to capacity. AFSA offered 11 weeklong programs in four locations (Washington, St. Petersburg, Tucson and Chautauqua), in addition to 10 one-day programs in Washington, D.C.

AFSA was also chosen by Elderhostel headquarters in Boston to participate in a new pilot project to bring programs into retirement communities. AFSA participated in five such programs in Silver Spring, Md., and Canton, Mass.

Throughout the year, just over 1,300 people participated in AFSA’s Elderhostel programs nationwide. Some of our speakers included Ambassadors Elizabeth Jones, James Collins, Kenton Keith and Thomas Hubbard. At the end of 2008, Administrator Janice Bay retired after four successful years at the helm. She has been succeeded by Bernard Alter.