The Foreign Service Journal, November 2012

76 NOVEMBER 2012 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA Hosts Road Scholar Program in Washington, D.C. BY ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND OUTREACH During the week of Sept. 9-13, AFSA welcomed a group of more than 40 Road Scholar program participants to Washington, D.C. AFSA’s Road Scholar programs are designed to introduce Ameri- cans to U.S. foreign policy through the experiences of members of the Foreign Service. It is AFSA’s hope that they will return home with a new appreciation and under- standing of the work carried out by diplomats both here and abroad. Participants traveled from California, New Mexico, Colorado, West Virginia and Maine to attend the five-day seminar. This program’s theme focused on the critical foreign policy issues related to the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. An ambi- tious agenda, to be sure, but through the 12 lectures and three field trips, participants were able to gain a compre- hensive understanding of U.S. policy in those regions of the world. Meeting with both retired and active-duty Foreign Service members, the group heard presentations on the Arab Spring, Israel and Pales- tine, Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan and Somalia, among other topics. To keep the conversa- tion going, the group stayed at the Savoy Suites Hotel in northwest Washington. Field trips included visits to the Brazilian embassy, where they met with the embassy’s political coun- selor; the Foreign Service Institute, where they received a consular briefing and a Pashto language lesson; and the DACOR Bacon House, where they were treated to a house and garden tour as well as a lovely lunch. Since 1996, AFSA has partnered with the national Road Scholar organization (formerly known as Elderhos- tel) to enhance understand- ing of foreign policy and the Foreign Service among the American public. During those 16 years, thousands of Americans have attended our programs, which are sched- uled eight times a year in Washington and twice a year in Chautauqua, N.Y. To learn more about the partnership and to see a list of upcoming programs, please visit www.afsa.org/ roadscholar. AFSA members who wish to volunteer as speakers for future Road Scholar programs are encouraged to get in touch with AFSA a t sigfusson@afsa. org. ■ Road Scholar participants enjoy a tour of DACOR Bacon House as Kyle Longton, DACOR’s associate director for operations, describes the historic house’s collection of paintings, furniture and documents. The group gathers in the house’s beautiful garden, a popular venue for weddings and other special events. PHOTOSBYDONNAAYERST