The Foreign Service Journal, March 2013

56 MARCH 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 2012 AFSA ANNUAL REPORT AFSA NEWS Road Scholar AFSA’s Road Scholar program entered its 17th year of operation in 2012, welcoming more than 600 participants to programs in Washington, D.C., Chautauqua, N.Y. and St. Petersburg, Fla. These programs remain one of AFSA’s most popular national outreach efforts, and their message about the importance of the Foreign Service continues to impress audiences. In 2012, we offered 10 programs on a wide variety of subjects. The most popular topics continue to be those touching on the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. This year, we had participants from 30 states, as well as the District of Columbia and New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on AFSA’s Road Scholar programs, please visit www.afsa.org/roadscholar. Media AFSA’s media outreach efforts remained intensive in 2012, as well. We placed—either directly or through AFSA retirees countrywide—52 interviews, articles, letters to the editor, op- eds and fact sheets advocating increased public and congres- sional support for U.S. diplomacy and development in leading media outlets including the Washington Post , New York Times, Congressional Quarterly , CNN, NPR and the Associated Press, among others. A particular highlight of 2012 was AFSA President Susan Johnson’s 20-minute interview with NPR’s “Metro Connec- tion” program following the September Benghazi attack. Drawing on the lessons gained during her own career, Johnson explained the extent of the risks U.S. diplomats must face while assigned abroad, given the rapid deterioration of secu- rity in many countries. She went on to discuss the rewards of public service. The program reached a national audience of more than eight million listeners. AFSA arranged media for AFSA’s Memorial Plaque Cer- emony, held at the State Department on Foreign Affairs Day, May 4. The ceremony was covered by 14 media outlets, includ- ing several TV networks. Speakers Program One of AFSA’s most effective outreach platforms is our national Speakers Program. In 2012, AFSA deployed more than 450 Foreign Service speakers who lectured on the critical role U.S. diplomacy plays in promoting American interests to an estimated 28,000 professionals and academics in 42 states and Washington, D.C. AFSA’s speaker corps comprises some 510 retired and active duty Foreign Service officers, including some 100 former ambassadors. Many of our retired speakers remain involved in foreign affairs as authors, consultants and teachers. Audiences range from universities and world affairs councils to civic organizations and high schools. Retired Ambassador Chas. Freeman, a China and Middle East expert, spoke to more than 500 faculty members and students at American University’s annual Caroline and Charles Adair Memorial Lecture on Aug. 28. He addressed the challenges for U.S. diplomacy in a competitive world order. Speakers have addressed many other foreign relations topics while stressing the vital role the Foreign Service plays in advancing America’s economic, security and development interests around the globe. Road Scholars participating in AFSA’s Washington, D.C. program. PHOTOSBYDONNAAYERST AFSA’s Speakers Program has enabled the association to develop strategic partnerships with leading universities, including Michigan State University and the University of St. Thomas in Houston. AFSA benefits from their generous sup- port through multiyear endowments, which provide funds for programs featuring prominent former U.S. ambassadors. The program encourages speakers to remind their audiences to contact their congressional representatives to request increased funding for diplomatic readiness and devel- opment and to spotlight AFSA’s book, Inside a U.S. Embassy , an in-depth resource on how an embassy works. On Aug. 28, Amb. Chas. Freeman (center) and Marshall Adair (far right) greet American University students at the Caroline and Charles Adair Memorial Lecture.