The Foreign Service Journal, April 2014

46 APRIL 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL STATE VP VOICE | BY MATTHEW ASADA AFSA NEWS Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. Contact: asadam@state.gov or (202) 647-8160 One of the great advan- tages of serving at AFSA is the opportunity to col- laborate with other foreign affairs organizations and to acknowledge the contribu- tions they make. Here are some of AFSA’s most promi- nent partners. The Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s Coun c i l The Foreign Affairs Council is an umbrella group of 11 organizations, which retired Ambassador Tom Boyatt, a former AFSA president and current AFSA-PAC treasurer, founded in 1999. Beginning with Secretary of State Colin Powell, every two years the FAC evalu- ates Secretaries of State in their capacity as managers and leaders of the Foreign Service. The “report cards" issued by FAC have consis- tently garnered significant media attention. Membership overlaps between the various FAC organizations, frequently resulting in cooperation on an institutional level. AFSA is one of the council's largest members. The Academy o f Ame r i can D i p l oma c y The Academy of American Diplomacy was founded in 1983 to support and strengthen U.S. diplomacy. Its membership includes some of the Foreign Service’s most prominent diplomats, Collaborating with Our Partner Organizations such as its president, retired Ambassador Ron Neumann. The organization has pro- duced a number of reports on the development of a modern diplomatic work- force. It is currently working on a study on professional- ism in the Foreign Service, with a projected release date of fall 2014. See www.acad- emyofdiplomacy.org. AAFSW The Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide is a nonprofit, volunteer association that includes members from the extended Foreign Service family. Founded in 1960, AAFSW holds social events; provides networking and advocacy groups; compiles information for Foreign Ser- vice spouses and partners; manages the annual book fair at Main State and the book- store in Foggy Bottom; and hosts an online community and the electronic distribu- tion list, "Livelines." AAFSW also sponsors the Secretary of State's Awards for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. See www.aafsw.org. ADST The Association for Diplo- matic Studies and Training, a nongovernmental member- ship organization founded in 1986, is located at the Foreign Service Institute. ADST advances knowledge of U.S. diplomacy through their oral histories, books, exhibits, social media and educational website. Its foreign affairs oral history collection is the largest such resource in the world. (See the March FSJ, “Telling Our Stories: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection.”) They also sup- port training at FSI. See www. adst.org. DACOR DACOR is a membership organization of foreign affairs professionals. It is known for its lectures on diplomacy by prominent experts and its role as a networking center for the foreign affairs com- munity, and also serves as an inn for visiting U.S. diplomats. See www.dacorbacon.org . The Una Chapman Cox Founda t i on The foundation supports projects that educate the U.S. public about the vital role of the Foreign Service and build informed support for a globally competitive U.S. diplomacy. Cox sabbatical leave fel- lowships enable outstanding mid-level Foreign Service offi- cers selected by the director general to pursue a variety of exciting projects. The foundation is sup- porting the creation of a Center for Lessons Learned and raising public awareness of diplomacy through its partnership with the Public Broadcasting System, among other activities. See www. uccoxfoundation.org. CAA The Council of American Ambassadors is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of non-career chiefs of mission. Founded in 1983, it regularly hosts social and educational events for its members. See www.americanambassadors. org. AFSPA The American Foreign Service Protective Associa- tion was founded in 1929 to provide health, life and travel insurance and other benefits to Foreign Service employ- ees. AFSPA offers the Federal Employees Health Benefits Foreign Service plan. It also supports the work of the Senior Living Foundation. See www.afspa.org. The D i p l oma c y Cen t e r Founda t i on The foundation was estab- lished in 2002 by a group of retired Foreign Service officers to support the department’s efforts to build a museum honoring U.S. diplomacy and contributions made by members of the Foreign Service. The founda- tion recently presented $17.5 million to the department to help fund construction of the new museum. Groundbreak- ing will take place sometime this year at the 21st Street entrance of the Harry S Tru- man Building. n Next month: Millennial Morals and the Department