• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide

  • ABOUT US
  • MEMBERS
    • MEMBER ACCESS (must be logged in)
  • SERVICES
  • RESOURCES
  • AWARDS
  • NEWS
  • JOIN
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
  • MEMBERS
    • MEMBER ACCESS (must be logged in)
  • SERVICES
  • RESOURCES
  • AWARDS
  • NEWS
  • JOIN
  • DONATE
You are here: Home / Letter from the President – February 2022

Letter from the President – February 2022

Greetings from chilly Washington, DC!  

Since our founding in 1960, AAFSW has placed a strong emphasis on community. Our organization and membership has evolved through the years, but our focus on community remains the same. 

I know we have a great community – but in moments of stress and turmoil, I truly appreciate how we come together to provide support.  It’s very moving to witness this level of support during recent events which have led to authorized and/or ordered departures of posts around the world.  AAFSW’s Evacuee Support Network was founded in the 1980’s by a group of AAFSW members who were concerned about the rising number of family members who were being evacuated from posts around the world for a variety of reasons.  Since that time, the Network has met over 1500 evacuees to the Washington, DC area.  Over the years, Network volunteers have babysat, offered advice on housing, schools and hotels.  Volunteers have lent winter coats, strollers and toys.  They have shared Thanksgivings, Christmases and Passover Seders with evacuees.  Network volunteers have been friends to frazzled families.   

The Network works hand in hand with the State Department Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO), which includes our flyer in their information given to evacuees. The Network also sends out information through AAFSW Livelines and other social media sites such as Facebook and Trailing Houses. Once an evacuee with a need gets in touch volunteers are called on to help. 

Last week, AAFSW connected with Ladin Swarin, recently evacuated from Ukraine with her two young children to the DC area. Ladin sent a very nice note to Ann LaPorta which really captures how many feel during this time and why AAFSW’s Evacuee Support Network exists: “I’m trying to breathe as I sort yet another abrupt change in our life but having you all helps a lot. I can’t thank you enough” 

 

For more resources on evacuations, please check out the following:

AAFSW Evacuation Support: https://www.aafsw.org/activities/evacuee-support/

AAFSW’s FS Hub: https://fshub.org/life-at-post/

AAFSW’s Evacuee Support Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aafswevacueesupport

FSI Go-Bags at the Ready webinar: https://youtu.be/-wq5gIhvWQA 

FSYF Youth & Family Evacuations: https://fsyf.org/YouthEvacuation/ 

 

DOS Resources

Go-bag, Stay-bag: Packing a Go Bag and a Stay Bag – United States Department of State

Important Documents to have:  List of Important Documents for Foreign Service Employees and Family Members – United States Department of State

Personal Preparedness:  Personal Preparedness Planning – United States Department of State

General overview information:  Post Evacuations – United States Department of State

If you are currently in the Washington, DC area, please consider volunteering with the Evacuee Support Network.  Please reach out to AAFSW at office@aafsw.org 

I hope everyone is staying safe, warm and healthy.

Lara Center, AAFSW President

Footer

CONNECT WITH US

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide
4001 North Ninth Street, Suite 214
Arlington, VA, 22203
703-820-5420

Our Vision Statement

AAFSW will continue to be a catalyst for beneficial change through advocacy and support for our Foreign Affairs Community. By providing resources, services and engaging programs through our effective network, we promote the goals and serve the needs of Foreign Service and Civil Service employees, spouses, partners, members of household and retirees.

Follow

My Tweets

Copyright © 2022 · Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide · Connecting the U.S. Foreign Affairs Community at Home and Abroad

AAFSW uses cookies to optimize your experience, analyze traffic, and personalize content. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of cookies on our site.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT