The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2013 53 AFSA NEWS AFSA Proudly Announces the Recipients of the 2013 AFSA Awards The Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award Ambassador George W. Landau CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT The William R. Rivkin Award Theodore Lyng The W. Averell Harriman Award James T. Rider EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE The Avis Bohlen Award Leah Evans, Embassy Kyiv The Nelson B. Delavan Award Mikkela Thompson, Embassy Dhaka Runner up: Karen Landherr, Embassy Khartoum The M. Juanita Guess Award Elizabeth Jenkins, Embassy Caracas and Jessica McVay, Embassy Khartoum On May 22, the AFSA Book Notes Program welcomed author Peter Spiers and his new book, “Master Class: Liv- ing Longer, Stronger and Hap- pier.” Spiers is a senior vice president at Road Scholar, a Boston-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educational travel. AFSA has offered Road Scholar programs since 1996. His father, Ronald Spiers, served as ambassador to Turkey, Pakistan and the Bahamas. Spending his childhood in the Foreign Service and the work of his parents helped to shape and influence his life, Spiers told the large audience gathered at AFSA. So what is the secret to living longer, stronger, and happier? According to Spiers, the secret is having an active lifestyle that blends moving, thinking, socializing and cre- ating. Through inspirational stories from active seniors, supported by the latest research in the fields of psy- chology and neuroscience, “Master Class” shows how to build an enriching lifestyle on a foundation of favorite activities. Spiers provides easy-to-follow charts that allow the reader to break out of their daily routines by fill- ing the gaps with a selection from 25 “master activities,” BOOK NOTES PROGRAM “Master Class: Living Longer, Stronger and Happier” BY MATTHEW SUMRAK, ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR RETIREES such as learning a musical instrument, playing tennis or volunteering. Road Scholar partici- pants follow many of Spiers’ suggestions for an enriched lifestyle, and are active in communities throughout the U.S. and more than 150 countries worldwide. They offer over 6,500 programs, with activity levels ranging from easy to challenging. Questions and comments from the audience reflected their excitement and motiva- tion to put Spiers words into action. He ended his presen- tation with one last question for the audience, “When was the last time you tried some- thing new for the first time?” To view the event online, please see www.afsa.org/ AFSAVideos.aspx. For mor e on Road Scholar programs and educational adventures see www.roadscholar.org. n (L to R) AFSA FCS VP Keith Curtis, author Peter Spiers and AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston at Book Notes. PHOTOBYÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON The next Book Notes Program will present “50 Years in USAID” on July 11, 2 to 3:30 P.M. at AFSA. RSVP events@afsa.org .