The Foreign Service Journal - November 2017

66 NOVEMBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA Congratulates JSP Graduates AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (far right) speaks to graduates of the Foreign Service Institute’s Job Search Program. She reminded participants of the value of their AFSA membership and encouraged them to rejoin AFSA as retirees (since the process is not automatic) and continue to take advantage of the benefits of membership and the chance to stay in touch with the Foreign Service in retirement. AFSA staff members Erika Bethmann and Christine Miele (third and fourth from right, respectively) stand ready to sign up new and returning members of the association. AFSA/CATHERINEKANNENBERG Closing In on AFSA’s 50 States Outreach Goal The year-long “AFSA in 50 States” outreach campaign is speeding toward the finish line. Our goal was to engage in outreach efforts of one kind or another—from Foreign Service speakers at schools and universities to radio and media engagements—in each of the 50 states. You can check our progress at www. afsa.org/50states. Many of our members have helped AFSA achieve our outreach goals, and we will keep spotlighting those doing this important work around the country. But we also want to thank some of our true outreach superstars, each of whom has undertaken multiple pro- grams and visited more than one state: Ambassadors (ret.) Jeanine Jackson, Jim Bulling- ton, Pat Butenis and Shaun Donnelly and retired Foreign Service Officer Larry Mandel. Some notable engage- ments since our last update have included Richard Teare speaking to the Laos Service- men Reunion inWilliams- burg, Virginia; Phillip French discussing Venezuela at the Shepherd Center in Oakton, Virginia; Shayna Steinger talking to students at Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny, Iowa; and Amb. Jeanine Jackson offering two talks in Swansboro, North Carolina. In September and October, we offered two Road Scholar educational programs in Washington, D.C., where 22 Foreign Service speakers engaged with more than 80 participants. Special thanks to those individuals who spoke to the Road Scholars for the first—but surely not the last—time: Ambassador (ret.) Gordon Brown, DouglasWake, Larry Mandel, Amb. David Mack and John McNamara. In October, we also organized the year’s second Road Scholar program at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. The week-long program had close to 150 participants who heard from retired Ambas- sadors Lange Schermerhorn and John Maisto, and retired Senior FSOs Molly William- son, Richard McKee, Doug Spelman and Dr. Elizabeth Shelton. Finally, we’d like to ask you to think of a group, organization or educational institution in your home- town that might benefit from having a member of the Foreign Service come and share their experiences, explaining what diplomats do and why it matters. We especially welcome connections in states that are traditionally underserved when it comes to such out- reach—the Plains and Moun- tain states and the South. With only 3 states left, (Hawaii, Louisiana and Nevada) we are asking any AFSAmembers living in or from those states to help us coordinate an AFSA outreach activity there by the end of the year. AFSA can provide talking points and other assistance for anyone who wishes to vol- unteer. With your help, we can take the story of the Foreign Service even further. Q