The Foreign Service Journal, September 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2013 65 I would like to begin my first column by express- ing my appreciation for the many years of service my predecessor, Francisco Zamora, dedicated to AFSA. He is a true advocate for the Foreign Service and has accomplished much during his tenure. His article in the March 2013 issue of The For- eign Service Journal offers a glimpse of the many avenues of service he traveled as AFSA vice president. I am grateful for the opportunity and privilege to pick up the torch and continue to serve my fellow Foreign Service o cers and retirees. My relationship with USAID began more than 20 years ago and has taken me to Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and, most recently, Washing- ton, D.C. I have worked with USAID under various hiring mechanisms and proudly joined AFSA immediately upon becoming a Foreign Service o cer in 2004. My respect for the Foreign Service began in Africa in the 1990s. As I worked alongside my USAID and other U.S. foreign affairs agency col- leagues, I saw first-hand the significant results our efforts were achieving, experienced the challenges and the dangers and realized that our hard work contributed to making this world a bet- ter place for generations to come. I was hooked. Whether it’s providing administrative and logistical support to a USAID mis- sion or direct involvement in programs such as improv- ing democracy and gover- nance, eliminating hunger, promoting free enterprise, or improving health and education—the demanding and important work we do is more than a job, it is a way of life. Our dedicated and com- mitted o cers deserve to be supported. Having spent much of my life in USAID, I’ve experienced the challenges of working overseas first as a single woman, then married with children and, now, as a divorcee with two teenagers. As gratifying as this career is, over the years, the lifestyle It’s More than a Job, It’s a Way of Life OUR DED I CATED AND COMMI TTED OF F I CERS DESERVE TO BE SUPPORTED. NEWS BRIEF Beginning this month, AFSA will be sending cop- ies of its book, Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work, to 500 lower-income and charter high schools around the country in hopes of interesting students in a Foreign Service career. This unprecedented outreach opportunity was made possible by a very generous donation to AFSA’s Fund for American Diplomacy from Embassy Risk Management, located in Charlottesville, Va. The company provides inter- national property and auto insurance tailored to the unique needs Foreign Service members. Please see the October issue of AFSA News for an in-depth look at this project. AFSA Begins Efforts to Further Reach Underserved Schools Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA USAID VP. Contact: swayne@usaid.gov o r (202) 712-1631 USAID VP VOICE | BY SHARON WAYNE AFSA NEWS NEWS BRIEF New Director of Communications Joins AFSA Staff AFSAWelcomes Kristen Fernekes, our new director of communications. Kris- ten comes to AFSA after seven years at the Peace Corps, working in both the director’s o ce and the o ce of com- munications. She most recently served as the deputy director of communica- tions and manager of internal communications. Previously, Kristen worked at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution and Design Literate, Inc., a creative firm she started with her husband. Kristen holds a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. Kristen can be reached at fernekes@afsa.org o r at (202) 338-4045, ext. 516. struggles can run equally deep. Concerns over security, insu cient entry-level sala- ries, limited spousal employ- ment opportunities, educa- tion challenges, inadequate medical care, protection/ improvement of our benefits, budget cuts and limited train- ing opportunities affect our lives and our families. We have an extremely talented and motivated AFSA team, and I thank the mem- bership for its support as the new Governing Board moves forth. The Board relies on our combined views and con- cerns and on those conveyed to us by AFSA members when determining where to focus our energy. Please do not hesitate to share what is on your mind by e-mail or a phone call. I very much look forward to serving you. n