The Foreign Service Journal, April 2018

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL 2018 17 AFSA Online Marketplace afsa.org/afsa-marketplace AFSPA Ancillary Programs AFSPA.org Clements Worldwide Clements.com/FSJ Greenway Funding Group www.dannylends.com Hirshorn Company Hirshorn.com Homewood Suites HomewoodArlingtonVA.com Jack Realty www.jackrealtygroup.com Patriots Colony www.riversideonline.com ProMax Promaxrealtors.com WJD Management wjdpm.com When Contacting An Advertiser, Kindly Mention The Foreign Service Journal Ordinary Citizens Supporting the Foreign Service A s a former Foreign Service offi- cer who lives in London, Carol Madison Graham knows a bit about the mission of the U.S. State Department. When proposed cuts to the Foreign Ser- vice were announced in 2017, she saw members of Congress, academics and military personnel reacting negatively, and publicly. But she didn’t see a response from ordinary Americans like herself. Graham realized that while many expats rely on services provided at their embassies—especially consular services—few knew how to express their thoughts about the Foreign Service in a way that would be heard by their representatives back home, or by the diplomats themselves. So, along with a few other London-based expats, she decided to launch a new organization in January called 1(800)Home. Most of the founders are long-term expats, many of whom first went abroad as college students and, as Graham explains, “we understand that when misfortune and tragedy occur far from home, we need our Foreign Service.” 1(800)Home began as a non-partisan Facebook page, where expats and others could band together in support of the work that the Foreign Service does, and expanded to include in-person meetings. The group held a reception at which Ron Packowitz, head of American Citi- zen Services at U.S. Embassy London, spoke about the burden of responsibil- ity carried by consular officers who must inform families in the States when a loved one dies overseas, ensure fair treatment of Americans in foreign pris- ons and help in child abduction cases. 1(800)Home has already expanded into Greece and Australia, and is look- ing to start chapters in other countries, as well. On their website, www.1-800Home. org, the group explains American con- sular functions (in particular, American Citizen Services), and provides links to information, such as travel alerts and social media sites, available on the State Department’s website. According to Graham, more than nine million Americans live outside of the United States, with some 67 million travelling abroad in 2016 alone. “Ameri- cans abroad have been the missing part of the equation in speaking out for our consuls and our embassies,” she says. “As ordinary citizens, we are proud to stand with members of Congress, mili- tary leaders, education leaders and our fellow Americans in support of a strong Foreign Service.” n This edition of Talking Points was compiled by Donna Gorman, Shawn Dorman, Theo Horn and Susan Maitra. Supporters of the Foreign Service at the January launch of 1(800)Home in London. COURTESYOFCAROLGRAHAM