Letter from AAFSW President Lara Center

February 2021 Recently, Washington, DC had its first major snowfall in about two years. The cold, snowy days provided the perfect backdrop to curl up and read a good book. I took advantage of a few quiet days and finished Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  Published in 1934, Rebecca is set in the English countryside, and tells the story of a young bride living in the shadows of her husband’s deceased first wife. The story intertwines romance and mystery. Two movies, of the same name, based on the novel have been produced, the most recent was released on Netflix last fall. If you’re looking for book recommendations, our BookRoom Manager,… Read More

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Join AAFSW

AAFSW is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the quality of life of Foreign Service families everywhere. If you are a current or retired Foreign Service employee, spouse or partner, you will find a community of like-minded people in AAFSW. Read more about membership eligibility. For over fifty years we have served as an independent advocacy and support group for Foreign Service employees and family members. In fact, two key State Department offices, the Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO) and the Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) exist only as a direct result of AAFSW advocacy. [button size=”large” color=”#4393DE” link=”http://www.aafsw.org/join-aafsw/apply-online/”]Join AAFSW![/button] We continue to offer many services to the Foreign Service community… Read More

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AAFSW’s Annual Art & BookFair

While the AAFSW Art & BookFair will not be taking place as usual this year, we have put together a video for your enjoyment to celebrate this wonderful yearly event:     AAFSW’s annual Art&BookFair takes place every October in the main courtyard of the State Department in Washington, DC.  Thousands of used books, art objects, collectibles, stamps and coins are available. Admission is free, and the public is invited on weekends. Books are half price on the last day.  Contact the current Art&BookFair coordinators at bookfair@aafsw.org for more information on this year’s event. Bookstore, where second hand books are sold, is located in Foggy Bottom right by the doors which… Read More

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A Musical Trip Around the World

On Saturday, September 23, 2017, the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) and the AAFSW Fun For Funds Fundraising Events Committee presented a wonderful musical event, kindly sponsored by DACOR, an organization of Foreign Affairs Professionals, which was hosted at the DACOR-Bacon House, a historic and elegant mansion in the heart of Washington, DC. Many AAFSW members and guests enjoyed a “Musical Trip Around the World” featuring Deborah Miller, lyric soprano and AAFSW Membership Chair, and Jennifer Heemstra, pianist and 2016 AAFSW SOSA winner. Deborah Miller is an experienced, adept, and versatile artist whose repertoire spans five centuries of classical music. She holds a Master of Music degree… Read More

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Gapu Murnuk Art Exhibit at the Australian Embassy

For the Yolngo people, Gapu Murnuk is the coming together of freshwater and saltwater, the muddy and the clean AAFSW cordially invites you to celebrate the fall with a guided tour of an interesting Indigenous art exhibit from the island of Milingimbi in the remote Northern coast of Australia on Monday, October 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Embassy of Australia. Aboriginal people have inhabited the island of Milingimbi for over 40,000 years, and the island is a central point for cross-cultural contact and research. Art holds a high place in society. Henry Skerritt, curator of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia, said that the “Gapu… Read More

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FSHub.org, the Foreign Service Hub

The Foreign Service Hub, FSHub.org, was developed by AAFSW, thanks to a grant from the Cox Foundation, to gather all Foreign Service resources, from government offices to nonprofits to social media groups, in one convenient place with a robust search function. FS Hub is fully developed and terrific, but it needs new content, features and ideas to stay relevant and useful to the Foreign Service community. We’re looking for volunteers anywhere in the world who are willing to dedicate an average of about two hours a week. The following are the most important volunteer jobs to be filled — does one appeal to you? 1. Working on Search Engine Optimization… Read More

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