The Foreign Service Journal, January 2006

Other Retiree Pursuits Both on campuses or else- where throughout the country, retirees are the backbone of AFSA’s Speakers Bureau, which publicizes the importance and the achievements of diplomacy. Com- munications Director Tom Swit- zer describes AFSA’s key out- reach program in “Retirees Build Support for the Foreign Ser- vice” (p. 49). In “Moving to a Senior Living Facility” (p. 52), former ambas- sador and AFSA president Bill Harrop draws on his own research to explain the importance of examining the many competing compa- nies and overlapping options early, well before a deci- sion must be made. We conclude this month’s focus section with a roundup of shorter commentaries (p. 56) contributed in response to our AFSANET solicitation for mem- bers to share their hard-won insights into life and work after the Foreign Service. The thoughtful responses run the gamut from practical tips for col- leagues — including those still in the Service — to (mostly) positive reflections on how their perspec- tives have changed. In fact, we received so many responses that we will run another compilation next month. We hope our coverage this month will be useful and interesting, not only to retirees but to those of you planning your own lives after the Foreign Service. n F O C U S J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 19 We hope our coverage will be useful and interesting not only to retirees but to those of you planning your own lives after the Foreign Service.