THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026 5 RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT 63 Curiosity Never Retires: Why Lifelong Learning Should Be in Your Future By Elizabeth “Liz” Shelton 45 AFSA, AFGE Team Up to Mark One Year Since RIFs 45 Meet the 2026 AFSA Merit Award Winners 46 State VP Voice— We’re All in This Together 47 USAID VP Voice— A Last Cup of Tea 48 Retiree VP Voice— The Future with AFSA 48 Manage Your AFSA Membership Online 50 A FSA on the Road— Connecting with Students at Northwestern 51 A Profession Worth Defending 52 USAID Memorial Wall Finds Permanent Home at State 52 AFSA Opens Its Doors 53 F AM Changes: What AFSA Members Need to Know 53 A FSA Governing Board Meetings, May 20 and June 20, 2026 54 Donuts with Dink 54 AFSA Names Strategic Writing Award Winner 60 A FSA Marks 30 Years of Chautauqua Partnership 60 M innesota Retirees Recognized for State Tax Exemption Win 61 AFSA Welcomes New USAGM Representative 62 AFSA Bylaw Amendments and Referendum 62 Foreign Service Departures for 2025–2026 AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF AFSA PERSPECTIVES 7 President’s Views Into the Great Unknown By John “Dink” Dinkelman 9 Letter from the Editor Enduring Purpose By Shawn Dorman 18 Speaking Out Before We Rebuild, We Need to Reckon By Brendan M. Wheeler DEPARTMENTS 10 Letters 12 Talking Points 68 In Memory 77 Books MARKETPLACE 80 Real Estate 82 Index to Advertisers 83 Classifieds 84 Reflections Learning When to Leave the Group By Brad Swanson 86 Local Lens Niamey, Niger By Kalub Emmons 86 45
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