Born Together in 1924
Letter from the Editor
BY SHAWN DORMAN
September 1924 American Consular Bulletin:
“Resolution No. 1: ‘Whereas, in view of the enactment of legislation constituting a Foreign Service of the United States (Rogers Act), the organization of a Foreign Service Association and the publication by the Association of a Foreign Service journal, for the purpose of fostering and promoting an esprit de corps throughout the Service and for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Service in legitimate and appropriate ways, is deemed both opportune and desirable, therefore be it Resolved, By the American Foreign Service officers in the city of Washington assembled in this meeting, that a Foreign Service Association be organized to which all career officers of the American Foreign Service shall be eligible for membership.’”
With those founding words from our predecessors, we launch this centennial edition of The Foreign Service Journal. Our aim here is to both honor the past—the history of the Foreign Service and AFSA and the Journal—and look to the future.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken leads the Focus with an inspiring message to the Foreign Service, including these words:
“You’ve represented our nation with courage, character, and a commitment to our highest ideals. You have done this work in dangerous places; so many of you have served thousands of miles away from your loved ones. As times have changed, you’ve adapted, advancing new missions, learning new skills, and engaging in innovative ways with more audiences. No matter the challenge, and no matter the odds, you’ve shown time and again that the Foreign Service doesn’t back down. You dive in.”
We then hear from two distinguished former Secretaries of State—Hillary Rodham Clinton and James A. Baker, III.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power offers a tribute to the USAID Foreign Service. Foreign Agricultural Service Director General Mark Petry discusses the vital significance of AFSA as a voice for small agencies.
October 1924 American Foreign Service Journal:
“Readers of the American Consular Bulletin will recognize in this, the first issue of the American Foreign Service Journal, the traits with which an honorable heredity has endowed it, for it owes its existence to the fortunate legacies of goodwill and finance, bequeathed it by the Bulletin, which, phoenix-like, died to give it birth. Mindful of these legacies, the Editors of the Journal, representing both branches of the Foreign Service, desire to make it plain that the future of this magazine lies entirely with its readers, who are at the same time its owners, managers and contributors.”
AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi offers hopes for the FS future in “Building on 100 Years of Service,” while AFSA Retiree Vice President John Naland (a former AFSA president) gives a concise look at “AFSA and the Evolution of the Foreign Service Career.”
The FSJ team compiled a lively record of moments from the history of AFSA and the Foreign Service, with illustrations and text drawn from the pages of the Journal over the last century. If you view this online, you can click on any excerpt and reach the full original story in our digital archive.
Tapping our membership, we feature 60 microstories about moments that made them “Foreign Service Proud: 100 Words for 100 Years.”
Closing out the Focus is the first-place essay from the FSJ Centennial Writing Competition, FSO Toby Wolf’s “A Look at the Ideal Foreign Service for the Next Generation.” Look for the second- and third-place essays in the June and July-August editions, respectively.
In other exciting centennial news, we are about to publish the fully updated second edition of the AFSA–Foreign Service history book, The Voice of the Foreign Service, by Harry Kopp. Get the whole story there. Pick up a copy at AFSA or order online at afsa.org/fsbooks.
Our gratitude goes out to the FS community for chiming in and speaking up about and for the Foreign Service. As we know from our founding documents, AFSA and this magazine only exist because of you—and for you. We look forward to honoring the tradition and amplifying your voices for the next 100 years.
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Related Links
Featured Content from This Issue:
FOCUS ON THE U.S. FOREIGN SERVICE AND AFSA CENTENNIALS
- Looking to the Future
- At the Center of Smart Power
- The Best, Brightest, and Most Loyal
- Planting and Growing Seeds of Prosperity and Justice Worldwide
- AFSA: A Vital Voice for Small Agencies
- AFSA and the Evolution of the Foreign Service Career
- The U.S. Foreign Service and AFSA Through 100 Years of the Journal
- Foreign Service Proud: 100 Words for 100 Years
- A Look at the Ideal Foreign Service for the Next Generation
PERSPECTIVES
- President’s Views: Building on 100 Years of Service
- Letter from the Editor: Born Together in 1924
- Speaking Out: It’s Up to Us to Implement the Learning Policy
- Reflections: Raising Children in East Berlin
- Local Lens: Nairobi, Kenya