The Foreign Service Journal, September 2020

74 SEPTEMBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS This Is Not Your Father’s DACOR BY JOHN BRADSHAW John Bradshaw, a former Foreign Service officer, is executive director of DACOR. He earlier worked as a think tank executive and Capitol Hill staffer. Many Foreign Service Journal readers have heard of DACOR, but some may have an outdated view of the organization and may not be aware of all the changes at DACOR in recent years. Myth: DACOR is an organi- zation only for retired Foreign Service officers. Fact: All foreign affairs professionals, retired and active-duty, are welcome as DACOR members. It is true that DACOR was founded in 1952 as “Diplo- matic and Consular Officers, Retired” and was open only to retired FSOs. But since 2012, we have used only the acro- nym DACOR and have opened membership to anyone who has had significant experience in foreign affairs and can be considered a “foreign affairs professional.” DACOR now has many members who are still work- ing, including active Civil Service and Foreign Service colleagues. DACOR has also welcomed academics, journalists, NGO profession- als and returned Peace Corps volunteers, as well as people with international military and business backgrounds. DACOR fosters com- munity, learning and service among those who have dedicated their career to the foreign affairs of the United States through the Foreign Service and other interna- tional engagement. DACOR’s sister organiza- tion, the DACOR Bacon House Foundation, promotes public understanding of international affairs and diplomacy through scholarships, lectures and conferences. The foundation is also dedicated to preserving the historic DACOR Bacon House, an architectural treasure two blocks from theWhite House that will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2025. The house has a rich history as a center of America’s diplo- matic heritage and a hub for two centuries of Washington’s social and cultural life. DACOR members get to enjoy this historic house during a large variety of programs and activities. Many organizations in the district offer programs and lectures on foreign affairs, but none of them have the Bacon House as their setting. At Bacon House you can sit in the South Drawing Room listening to a speaker, knowing you are sitting in the same roomwhere Chief Justice John Marshall, a resident in the House from 1831 to 1832, regularly convened the Supreme Court justices to discuss cases. Or you can sit in the North Drawing Roomwhere Arthur Rubenstein gave private recitals for his friend, Virginia Bacon, who would bequeath the house to DACOR. Members can host private events, such as weddings, birthdays and retirement celebrations, in the house and its beautiful garden. One of the best things about being a DACOR mem- ber is the opportunity to share in the camaraderie of people who have a common affinity for international affairs. At lunches, dinners and other events, new and old members are eager to participate in discussions of international affairs, travel and the experi- ence of living outside the United States. This common bond of internationalism, which includes some members with foreign affairs experience who have not worked abroad, is what makes DACOR the home of the foreign affairs family. Even if you don’t live in Washington, D.C., DACOR has much to offer. Our nonresi- dent members can enjoy the reciprocal club arrangements we have with 10 clubs in the United States and 12 more clubs around the world.We also have guest rooms in Bacon House that members can use whenever they are in D.C. In response to the pan- demic, we have developed virtual programming, featur- ing speakers on a variety of international and cultural subjects. If you or someone you knowmight be interested in DACOR, please visit our website at dacorbacon.org , and contact us so we can have you come look at the house or join one of our events that are open to prospective members. Please help DACOR con- tinue to build our membership and shed our previous reputa- tion for being exclusively for retired FSOs.We are making DACOR a more inclusive, more diverse and yes, less stuffy place. Join us, and bring your friends! n The DACOR Bacon House in Washington, D.C. COURTESYOFDACOR