The Foreign Service Journal, March 2013

52 MARCH 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 2012 AFSA ANNUAL REPORT AFSA NEWS Communications, Marketing and Outreach BY ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON, MARKETING AND OUTREACH DIRECTOR; TOM SWITZER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS; DONNA AYERST, AFSA NEWS EDITOR; AND PERRI GREEN, COORDINATOR, SPECIAL AWARDS AND OUTREACH AFSA Events AFSA continued to offer a wide variety of speakers, panel discussions and other events, covering both professional issues and bread-and-butter topics. There were 18 major events throughout the year, attracting close to 2,000 attendees—mostly AFSA members—as well as students, journalists, think-tank members, academics and the public at large. Our Book Notes series featured three selections this past year: China Hand by John Paton Davies Jr.; The Dissent Papers by Hannah Gurman; and America’s Other Army by Nicholas Kralev. This series is designed to bring attention to books of interest to the Foreign Service community. We started a new series in 2012, focusing on federal benefits. The first two events focused on Medicare and federal health benefits; the third event took place last month and featured a discussion on the Thrift Savings Plan program. Our ongoing series of topical panel discussions featured programs focusing on the European Union and the euro, the experiences of third-culture children, the first anniversary of the Arab Spring and the 25th anniversary of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. We were pleased to offer conversations with two major Washington players: Deputy Secre- tary of State Thomas Nides and Representa- tive Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. (left). Their perspectives on foreign affairs, the budget and the Foreign Service were much appreciated. Our annual events— the memorial plaque cer- emony on Foreign Affairs Day, the AFSA awards ceremony and the Adair Lecture at American University featuring Ambassa- dor Chas. Freeman—all had excellent attendance. We are particularly proud of two special events: the Octo- ber celebration of the relaunch of The Foreign Service Journal , and our special screening of the film “Argo” in December. AFSA will continue to offer events of interest and significance to our members and the Foreign Service community at large. We hope to be able to offer more programs looking at impor- tant events in the history of the Foreign Service, as well as informational programs on basic issues of importance to our Communications, Marketing and Outreach Staff (left to right): AFSA News Editor Donna Ayerst, Marketing and Outreach Director Ásgeir Sigfússon, Coordinator for Special Awards and Outreach Perri Green, Director of Communications Tom Switzer and Charlie. (Not pictured: Web and Graphics Assistant Jeff Lau.) Vanity Fair National Editor Todd Purdum reads passages from China Hand to a Book Notes audience. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., explains his take on foreign affairs and budget issues to a mostly Foreign Service crowd at AFSA. PHOTOSBYDONNAAYERST PATRICKBRADLEY

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