AFSA NEWS 64 SEPTEMBER 2024 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL He shared his “10-second moment” from childhood when his mother caught him attempting to throw away his Brussels sprouts. She showed him a picture of a Time LIFE magazine cover depicting a famine in eastern Africa. In reaction, White was inspired to collect money for UNICEF during Halloween, ultimately finding his passion for international development. He praised recent USAID efforts, including the Feed the Future initiative, and spoke about the historical roots of USAID in the Marshall Plan and the Green Revolution: “Our 1,910 Foreign Service officers are posted in nearly every country in the world. Remarkable people who leave home to tackle some of the world’s most difficult challenges.” CIA Director William Burns—himself an AFSA member—reminisced on his own career, which began 42 years ago when he was sworn in as an FSO in the same room where he was now speaking. He witnessed the end of the Cold War, challenges in the Middle East, and the resurgence of major power competition. He praised Secretary Blinken for his leadership, positive global influence, and commitment to our diplomats. Burns also shared his experiences as the director of the CIA, pointing to the agency’s role in supporting American diplomats and Gala Continued from page 63 Party in a Box! In honor of the Foreign Service and AFSA centennials, AFSA wanted to celebrate with members around the world. To foster a sense of shared celebration, AFSA sent out special “Party-in-a-Box” packages to the first 30 posts requesting them. These centennial-themed boxes were packed with exclusive AFSA swag, including notebooks, notepads, pens, coasters, and lanyards. Each box also contained a few special merchandise items (such as hats and coffee tumblers, which were intended as raffle prizes), AFSA trivia questions, and a social media toolkit to encourage posts to share the celebrations online. Check out AFSA’s social media toolkit at https://afsa.org/centennialsocial-media-toolkit. n AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN Centennial celebrations in Taipei. The team at U.S. Consulate General Calgary celebrates the centennial. CONSULATE GENERAL IN CALGARY addressing the conflict in Ukraine, technological advancements, and strategic competition with China and Russia. He concluded with advice his father had once given him: “Nothing can make you prouder than to serve your country with honor.” A video recording of the event is available at https:// bit.ly/FSGala. n AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi exchanges words with Secretary Blinken. AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA
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