The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2021

AFSA NEWS 58 JULY-AUGUST 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREE GROUPS BACK IN ACTION After more than a yearlong hiatus due to the pandemic, several of the 16 state and regional Foreign Service retiree associations around the country have resumed operations or are planning to do so by the fall. In May, 48 members of Foreign Affairs Retirees of Northern Virginia visited the Muse Vineyards in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley owned by Ambassador (ret.) Sally Grooms Cowal and her husband, Robert Muse. Participants toured the grounds, sampled the award-winning wines and enjoyed lunch on the large outdoor patio. Two weeks later, 60 FARNOVA members attended the group’s first indoor luncheon since January 2020. Guest speaker Ambassador (ret.) Ronald Neumann, president of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a former U.S. ambas- sador to Afghanistan, updated attendees on the situation there. Retirees interested in joining one of these groups can find contact information at afsa.org/ retiree-associations. n NEWS BRIEF AFSAGoverning Board Meeting, May 19, 2021 Foreign Service Journal : The Governing Board approved the FSJ Editorial Board proposal to offer AFSA members the opportunity to change their subscriptions to digital only and opt out of receiving physical copies of The Foreign Service Journal . New Associate Member: The Governing Board approved the application of a new associate AFSA member. n