The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2017

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2017 55 AFSA NEWS Senate Foreign Service Caucus Launched In late May, AFSA announced the launch of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus, co-chaired by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). The caucus, first pro- posed by Sen. Sullivan, will provide a bipartisan forum for members to discuss the challenges facing those who serve in the U.S. Foreign Ser- vice around the world, and to collaborate and develop policy recommendations on how to best support them and the U.S. diplomatic mis- sion abroad. AFSA has been working closely with Sen. Sullivan’s staff since September to foster and develop the initia- tive. AFSA President Barbara Stephenson and Ambassador Earl Anthony “Tony”Wayne met with Sen. Sullivan on Jan. 9 to strongly endorse the idea and offer AFSA’s support. Senator Chris Van Hollen was an early supporter of the initiative and will co-chair the caucus. Sen. Van Hollen is the son of the late Ambas- sador Christopher Van Hollen, a career FSO, and has long been known as a sup- porter of the work the Foreign Service does. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have also joined the group. Sen. Coons is a promi- nent voice on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Bennet’s father was an aide to Ambassador Ches- ter Bowles and later head of USAID during the Carter administration. This caucus has been launched at a time when members of Congress are more vocal than ever in their support for the Foreign Ser- vice and the importance of the work carried out world- wide by our diplomats and development experts. AFSA looks forward to working with caucus mem- bers to highlight and support the work of the U.S. Foreign Service. n Clockwise from top left: Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Chris Coons Senator Dan Sullivan (center) meets with AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (left) and Ambassador Tony Wayne (right) to discuss the Senate Foreign Service Caucus. COURTESYOFSENATORSULLIVAN’SOFFICE PHOTOSVIAWIKIMEDIACOMMONS Our strategic partnership with the U.S. Institute of Peace has allowed the AFSA essay contest to hit record submission numbers for two consecutive years. AFSA also has a grow- ing network of outreach partners. Among the most promising relationships is the one with 4-H. If resources permit, AFSA’s next goal is to connect with farm and agricultural groups, and 4-H is an excellent entry point for such outreach. Other partners include American University, Delta Phi Epsilon, the National Student Leader- ship Coalition, Road Scholar, Semester at Sea, Sister Cities International, Smithso- nian Associates, the National Model UN, the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area and the USAID Alumni Association. AFSA provides these orga- nizations with speakers— experienced foreign affairs professionals—to address chapter events or participate in education, mentoring or advisory programs. We also maintain close relationships with large lifelong-learning organiza- tions such as Osher (at Johns Hopkins University) and Encore, where Foreign Service expertise is in high demand. AFSA will continue to develop these strategic out- reach partnerships in ways that are self-sustaining and help build a constituency that understands the criti- cal role that diplomacy and development play in advanc- ing peace and prosperity in our country. n —Ásgeir Sigfússon, Director of Communications, and Catherine Kannenberg, Outreach Coordinator