The Foreign Service Journal, May 2011

T he vibrant city of Austin, Texas was the venue for the first of a se- ries of programs sponsored jointly by AFSA and the American Academy of Diplomacy. HeldMarch 1-4, the event explained the critical need for sustained foreign affairs funding to academic, political, business and media audiences. The centerpiece of the Austin program was a March 2 talk, “Smart Diplomacy for the 21st Century: People Are as Important as Concepts,” featuringAADPresident Ambassador RonaldNeumann. The audience in the Robert Strauss Center for International Security, part of the Lyn- don B. Johnson School of the University of Texas, comprised some 130 faculty members, students, diplomats and civic leaders. Their enthusi- astic response to the presentation led to a vigorous discussion on how foreign affairs funding might be defended and increased. Amb. Neu- mann also provided insights on current conflicts in theMiddle East and SouthAsia, where Foreign Service personnel carry out some of themost dangerous missions in the world. M A Y 2 0 1 1 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 65 American Foreign Service Association • May 2011 AFSA NEWS REACHING OUT THROUGH FS RETIREES AFSA Takes on Texas BY TOM SWITZER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS W hose heads will roll if we fail to meet the goal of doubling ex- ports put forth in the National Export Initiative? Howhas eco- nomic diplomacy changed in three decades? These were some of the questions directed to three lead- ers in the field of economic and commercial diplomacy, when 100 attendees convened at AFSA onMarch 16 for a panel discussion that encompassed the past, the present and the future. Ambassadors Alan Larson, Charles Ford and ShaunDonnelly commented on changes in the global economy and their impact on diplomacy and commerce, and shared insights intowhat may be on the horizon. The event was part of a new program focusing on themes taken from the Foreign Service Journal , which centered on eco- nomic and commercial diplo- macy in its February issue. Amb. Larson, a senior inter- national policy adviser at Cov- ington & Burling, has served as the under secretary for eco- nomic affairs and assistant sec- retary for economic, business and agricultural affairs, and as U.S. ambassador to the Organi- zation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. Amb. Ford is the deputy director general of the U.S. and For- eign Commercial Service and principal deputy assistant secre- tary of commerce. He previously served as U.S. ambassador to Honduras. Covering the Globe, Economically BY FRANCESCA KELLY Continued on page 70 Continued on page 69 Left to right: Amb. Alan Larson, AFSA Exec. Dir. Ian Houston, Amb. Shaun Donnelly, AFSA Pres. Susan Johnson and Amb. Charles Ford, March 16 at AFSA Headquarters. ASGEIR SIGFUSSON AFSA OFFICER ELECTION NOTICE The 2011 regularly scheduled AFSA Officer and Governing Board election is under way. Details about the election, including the rules, can be found online at www.afsa.org/afsa_elections.aspx. Members will receive candidates’ campaign literature in a number of ways. Campaigning through an employer e-mail by any member is prohibited, with the exception of the three pre-approved candidate e-mail blasts. Ballots: The ballots have been mailed. If you did not receive a ballot, please contact the Election Supervisor (contact information below). Ballot Tally: On June 2, 2011, at 9 a.m. the ballots will be picked up from the post office in Washington, D.C. Only ballots received in the post office box will be counted. Election Information: Written requests for a duplicate ballot should be directed to Election Supervisor Alison Dunn at U.S. Department of Labor, OLMS, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 120, Washington DC 20002- 4244, by fax to (202) 513-7301, or by e-mail to afsaelectionsupervisor@dol.gov. Pl ease include your full name, work location, current address, telephone number and the last four digits of your Social Security number.