The Foreign Service Journal, October 2021

AFSA NEWS 70 OCTOBER 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA Survey Results Members Suggest Priorities for AFSA Programming In July, with the start of the 2021-2023 AFSAGoverning Board, we surveyed mem- bers to determine what you value in AFSA programming and what program topics AFSA should address in the next two years. Our 1,300 survey responses came from both active-duty and retired members. Thanks to all of you who shared your ideas and preferences. We asked you to tell us what type of programming is most useful to you and which topics you would like to see AFSA include in our future programming.We also asked two open-ended questions: one on themes you would like to see in future FSJ issues, and a last question asking for final comments. The main findings of the survey contained some surprises. AFSA’s retirement- oriented events (both benefits and finances in retirement and professional life after retire- ment) captured the top spot as the most popular category of programming for all mem- bers taken as a whole. Programs outlining AFSA’s advocacy work, such as town halls and retiree “The View fromWashington”webinars, were the second most popular category. For third place, active- duty members chose career development programs, while retired members preferred events on diplomatic issues and practice. Retirement. AFSA cur- rently offers programs for members on federal retire- ment benefits and preparing for retirement. Because of the high degree of member inter- est in retirement-centered programming, AFSAwill look for ways to enhance the cur- rent popular offerings. Our retirement teamwill send out a more detailed survey this fall and conduct further canvass- ing and on-the-spot surveys to gauge your reactions to the programming. Advocacy. AFSAmembers clearly value frequent updates on AFSA advocacy—both multiple-choice and written responses to survey questions bore this out. As part of its regular programming, AFSA is planning a series of town halls and at least one retiree webinar this fall. In addition, due to the interest members have shown in frequent updates, AFSAwill launch a quarterly Advocacy Update newsletter starting in the fall. The newsletter will be more detailed than our usual messages and will include updates on our congressio- nal advocacy as well as our advocacy with Foreign Service agencies. Career Development. Career development captured third place among active- duty members. Several of the respondents to the open- ended questions suggested that AFSA create more events (and more Journal articles) centered on real-life dip- lomatic, development and commercial success stories, particularly from non- ambassador Foreign Service members. We hear you, and we will brainstorm the best way to showcase the valuable work of your Foreign Service colleagues and to choose a format that allows for strong interaction with speakers. Future Program Topics. Among active-duty mem- bers, retention/attrition/ morale was the number-one topic preferred for future programming; retirement issues were choices two and three, with assignments and leadership accountability rounding out the top five. Retirees preferred sub- stantive issues in diplomacy, finances and professional life in retirement, books by Foreign Service authors and retention/attrition/morale, in that order. When we break down demographic categories, some differences in priorities emerge. Foreign Service spe- cialists want to see program- ming on State employee evaluation reports (EERs), for example. Non-white and female respondents chose diversity, equity and inclu- sion as one of their top five topics. Self-described Pickering, Rangel and Payne Fellows prioritized leader- ship accountability above all other topics. Retention/Attrition/ Morale. You told us you want more programming on reten- tion, attrition and morale. We hear you. In addition to surveys, AFSA will create more opportunities for you to give us feedback, including virtual structured conversa- tions—direct conversations with the AFSA president and your agency vice president about your Foreign Service careers and lives. This member feedback is important in informing our advocacy and policy priorities. We will also look for more opportunities to engage with members from USAID, the Foreign Commer- cial Service, the Foreign Agri- culture Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Several members wrote to advocate for singles in the Foreign Service, and a few wrote about the special chal- lenges for Foreign Service spouses who are military members. We will approach our advocacy with these issues in mind. Assignments. Active-duty survey respondents priori- tized morale and retirement, and followed those choices with the topic of assignments. From our previous bias survey responses, we learned that the lack of transparency in the assignments process was a principal concern of many members. AFSA will host a