The Foreign Service Journal, January 2003

Approximately $150,000 is awarded each year to 100 students. In addition to support from the AFSA Scholarship endowment, DACOR (Diplomats and ConsularOfficers, Retired) BaconHouse Foundation and AAFSW (Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide) provide funds for scholarships administered by AFSA. Elbert G. Mathews, accompanied and assisted by hiswifeNaomiM.Mathews, served for 37 years in the Foreign Service in five countries on three continents. Hewas ambassador toLiberia in1959 andambassador to Nigeria from 1964-69. Ambassador DonaldNorland saysMathews “was seri- ous-mindedanddedicated. I amnot surprised that hedonatedgenerously to theAFSAScholarshipProgramto promote education of Foreign Service children.” WhenMathewswas the director of the senior seminar from1969 until his retire- ment in1972,AmbassadorWillardDePree served as his deputy. “Although they had a small house in Georgetown, Ambassador Mathews and his wife enjoyed having the senior seminar class of 25over to theirhouse for aneveningmeal,” recalls De Pree. “They were the consummate Foreign Service couple; veryold-school. The ambassador was widely respected by his colleagues,” adds De Pree. “Kabul, Afghanistan was my aunt’s favorite post, even though she was the only American woman there in1943,” says PamelaBrody, niece of Naomi Mathews. “Calcutta was her least favoritebecauseof the riots in1945.” Brodynotes that “My aunt was independent, cultured and a very properwoman. She introducedme to the arts by tak- ing me to plays, art exhibits, and concerts when back in theUnited States fromoverseas assignments. Even through her later years in life, she regularly invited women over for formal tea, still using her silver tea service.” Naomi Mathews served as the AAFSW president from 1970 to 1972 and participated in AAFSW’s oral history program. AFSA encourages active and retired members to consider establishing anAFSA scholarship. Formore information on the AFSA Scholarship Program, call Lori Dec at (202) 944-5504, or 1(800) 704-2374, ext. 504; or e-mail Lori at dec@afsa.org. ▫ JANUARY 2003 • AFSA NEWS 9 tiatives to tell the Foreign Service story to our fellow citizens. I spoke to 110 of the group’smembers at their annual banquet. After updating themon the health of the Foreign Service that they helped to build over their careers, I briefed them on AFSA’s advocacy on issues of specific interest to our 3,700 retired members. I also urged them to continue to promote funding for international engagement by speaking to friends and civic groups, writ- ing letters to the editor of their local news- paper, and communicating with their members of Congress. Naomi and Elbert Mathews Naland • Continued from page 1 Scholarship • Continued from page 1 Approximately $150,000 is awarded each year to 100 students. Orlando Sentinel on the Foreign Service: Naland Visit Leads to Good Publicity V isits like the one AFSA President JohnNalandmade to Florida help get the word out about the importance of the Foreign Service and diplomacy. The op ed by editorial writer John Bersia in the Orlando Sentinel that appeared soon after John Naland’s meeting there includes rarely-reported information like this: “Few Americans knowthatmore than200diplomatshavedied inthe lineof duty. Nor that ForeignService officers spend an average of two-thirds of their careers overseas, which multiplies risks, especially in today’s turbulent world.” Bersia goes on to say that “Americans tend to have scant details about what a Foreign Service officer does…. They are the people who know a country, have studied its histo- ry, speak its language and understand its culture…. Foreign Service officers have the global skills that are so essential and yet in short supply.” ▫