The Foreign Service Journal, March 2015

52 MARCH 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL RETIREE VP VOICE | BY LARRY COHEN AFSA NEWS Go Ahead: Create a Member Profile Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA Retiree VP. Contact: lawrencecohenassociates@hotmail.com or (703) 437-7881 Last year, AFSA’s member services department created a new social media tool for AFSAmembers: a member profile page. These pages are located within the “members only” portion of the AFSA website and are viewable only by AFSAmembers. Is setting up a profile nec- essary? No; as a retired AFSA member, you are already listed in the directory, along with your contact informa- tion. However, in our Web- based world, online profiles are increasingly prevalent and useful, helping others find out what you’ve been up to over the years and what you are doing currently. How many AFSA mem- bers are on Facebook, for example? Probably quite a few; according to the Face- book Demographic Report , more than 150 million people in the United States are part of that network, with large growth among adults older than 55. Since 2011, Face- book reports adding 12.4 mil- lion new users from this age range, a massive 80-percent increase. For job searches, LinkedIn and other sites are invaluable tools. LinkedIn profiles work like online resumés. More than 300 million people glob- ally are active on LinkedIn. Think social media is just for young people? Think again! More than 100 million LinkedIn users are over age 50. And almost a third of American adults with annual household incomes over $100,000 use it. Of course, the AFSA online profile pages and community network will not compete with the dominant social media outlets. But they do help bind together a very specific, like-minded interest group. For retirees who do not have access to Uncle Sam’s intranet, having a searchable, online profile is particularly useful. Would you like to know what became of your former FS colleagues? If they are AFSAmembers, you can rediscover old friendships. Your profile shows that you are still alive and kicking and remain engaged. I invite you to view my online profile as an example. To set up your AFSA pro- file, do the following: First, paste this link into your browser: ams.afsa.org/ eweb; or, go to the AFSA homepage and click on “login.” Enter your primary email address and password (if you have not logged in before, your password is your last name in lower case). You may be directed to update your password, or click on the “forgot your pass- word” link. Once logged in, update your contact information. You can also submit a brief bio and photo by clicking on the pencil icon on the My Profile page. In 2015 AFSA will take the next logical step by launching an online social community. To operate our chatroom, we’ll need volunteers to serve as online moderators—a great way to remain active in the Foreign Service community! If you’re interested in serv- ing as a moderator or if you have questions about the pro- file mechanism, contact AFSA at member@afsa.org. n AFSA WELCOMES NEW STAF F AFSAwelcomes Natalie Cheung, who is the newmember services representative. Natalie comes to AFSAwith a background in arts management and donor cultivation, as well as experience in association membership. Prior to joining AFSA, Natalie worked in membership at the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, and as an art consultant specializing in corporate projects and collections. An artist herself, Natalie is active in the D.C. arts community. She teaches at The George Washing- ton University and serves on the Phillips Collection Contemporaries steering committee. A Virginia native, Natalie graduated with a BFA from the Corcoran College of Art and Design, and received an MFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. n NEWS BRIEF