The Foreign Service Journal, May 2003

MAY 2003 • AFSA NEWS 7 Grossman said. “It is the most complete document aboutwhatwedo. Whatmakes it so interesting ... is that it’s about indi- viduals and it’s about what they do all day, and it’s about howthey support theUnited States in an active way.” Grossman, whodistributed the book at a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, reported to the audi- ence that Senator Richard Lugar, R-Ind., had told him, “Every American would be interested in this book.” The book includes profiles of Foreign Service officers and specialists in each type of embassy position, designed to illustrate actual job responsibilities in the context of specific embassies andcoun- tries. It also includes a com- pilation of personal experi- ences — one-day journals from embassy staff around theworldand tales fromthe field — that give a realistic pictureofwhatworkand life in the Foreign Service are really like. “This very attractive and colorful book is highly sup- portive of the department’s goals on several levels,” said Director General of the ForeignService andDirector of Human Resources Ruth A. Davis. “This book, with its intriguing cover, invites readers to open it and explore it and in the process to explore the entireworld, because that iswhatwe cover.” Amid much applause, Davis reported that the Bureau of HumanResources had purchased 10,000 copies of the book and would be recommending that Foreign Service candidates buy the book. The recruiting division has posted links to the book-ordering site inprominent locations on their careers Web site. This publicity, aswell as other efforts underway at AFSA, has already led to steady sales, averaging150 books per week. The book’s editor, AFSA News editor ShawnDorman, spokeaboutwhat inspired her to take on the project. “Ever since Iwas an internon the Soviet desk a long time ago, and during the years Iwas aForeignServiceofficer, I alwaysmar- veled at how little Americans knew about the Foreign Service and the role of embassies,”Dormansaid. “Therewere such great stories not being told.” Dorman thanked all of the book’s con- tributors, most of whomare still overseas. The contributorspresent at the launchwere Under Secretary Marc Grossman and Special Assistant Mike Hammer, Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen, Daniel Hirsch, Chat Blakeman, Jim Wagner, Michael Newbill, Don Jacobson, and Robert Zimmerman. AFSA President John Naland moder- ated the program. “Breaking down stereotypes and edu- cating the American public about the Foreign Service are key objectives of AFSA outreachactivities,”Naland said. “Thoseof usinthisroomrecognizethat life inanembassy is not only cocktail parties and cere- monies. Through personal accounts of coups, evacua- tions, terrorism and the everyday challenges that our diplomats and specialists face, the book explainswhat it is really like to be a mem- ber of the Foreign Service.” For more information about the book, and to order a copy, go to www.afsa.org/inside or see the ad on page 52 of this issue of the Journal . ▫ Inside Embassy • Continued from page 1 Shawn Dorman (walking) hands out copies of the book to contributors (from left): Robert Zimmerman, Chat Blakeman, Jim Wagner, Michael Newbill, Don Jacobson, and Mike Hammer. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Marc Grossman praises the book. AFSA President John Naland, Director General Ruth A. Davis, and AFSA State VP Louise Crane. MARK BURNS & BERT ESCALANTE MARK BURNS & BERT ESCALANTE MARK BURNS & BERT ESCALANTE