PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER 2016 FULBRIGHT AND THE FOREIGN SERVICE TURKEYS AT THE BORDER FOREIGN SERVICE November 2016 Volume 93, No. 9 20 Cover Story 20 Fulbright Program at 70: The Foreign Service Connection Members of the Foreign Service, some of them Fulbright alumni, play a crucial role in the continuing success of this singular U.S. exchange program. By Jerome Sherman and James Lawrence Focus on Foreign Service Authors 28 In Their Own Write We are pleased to present this year’s roundup of books by Foreign Service members and their families. By Susan B. Maitra 40 Of Related Interest Here is a short list of other 2016 28 titles of interest to diplomats. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2016 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Departments 10 Letters Perspectives 13 Talking Points 7 78 63 In Memory President’s Views Local Lens 70 Books Championing American Diplomacy Chennai, India By Barbara Stephenson By Ed Malcik 9 Letter from the Editor Sharing Your Stories By Shawn Dorman 17 15 Speaking Out Getting Beyond Bureaucratese— Why Writing Like Robots Damages Marketplace U.S. Interests By Paul Poletes 71 Classifieds 77 74 Real Estate Reflections Turkeys Parade at the Border 76 Index to Advertisers By Victoria Hess 78 AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 54 Notes from LM: What Not to Say at the Office Holiday Party 55 Agreement Reached on 2013 MSI Remedies 56 Call for AFSA Award Nominations 56 Sinclaire Language Award Nominations 57 FAM Updates: Resources for New Parents 57 Forum Discusses the Carter Administration’s PD Policy 58 Apply Now for AFSA College Scholarships 59 Combined Federal Campaign: A Great Way to 51 Support AFSA 60 Governing Board Meeting Minutes 51 Washington Nationals Honor the U.S. Foreign 61 2016 Fall Interns at AFSA Service 62 AFSA Welcomes 143rd FS Specialist Class 52 State VP Voice—Managing Your Expectations 62 Looking to the Future: AFSA Partners with of Promotion UT Austin 53 Retiree VP Voice—TSPs, RMDs, QCDs and AFSA On the Cover: Some of this year’s books by Foreign Service authors. Design: Gemma Dvorak. Turkeys: iStock http://www.istockphoto.com/vector/ thanks-giving-turkey-gm179715181-26888091 6 NOVEMBER 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Championing American Diplomacy BY BARBARA STEPHENSON t was a joy to see AFSA members scholarships AFSA gives to nearly 100 effort, therefore, is to curate a library featured at Nationals Park on Sept. 30 students each year. of speaking materials to help members and to hear the announcer explain With scholarships secure, we now explain in concrete terms to a wide range Ito the crowd that members of the intend to pivot our fundraising efforts of audiences why a strong, professional, Foreign Service protect and serve to the Fund for American Diplomacy, nonpartisan, career Foreign Service America’s people, interests and values all AFSA’s other 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm, in matters to them and deserves their full around the world. support of ongoing and expanding out- support. A member of the West Point Alumni reach efforts to tell the proud story of the We will need dedicated staff to build Glee Club, on the baseball field with us to Foreign Service to the American people. that library and to coach and prepare sing the national anthem, thanked me for In his column this month, Retiree speakers to connect with audiences. And my service. I felt appreciated and proud, VP Tom Boyatt urges members facing we will need you to contribute, drawing and I hope the 500 members of the FS required minimum distributions to con- on your own experiences—what worked community who participated in Foreign tribute this year to the Fund for American (and did not work) when you last spoke Service Night felt the same way. I would Diplomacy. to your alma mater, your hometown like to do more of this sort of thing, but The FAD’s aim is to help build a Rotary Club, or to a local World Affairs we will need your continued support to domestic constituency for the Foreign Council? make a success of the ambitious outreach Service so that we have supporters, ide- Other elements of the outreach plans we are developing at AFSA. ally in all 50 states, prepared to stand up strategy include expanded use of a AFSA members, especially retirees, for us and defend our vitally important new edition of AFSA’s hugely success- have a long and distinguished record of mission. We plan to channel lessons ful book, Inside a U.S. Embassy, which generous giving. This is seen most clearly learned from the success of the Scholar- has sold more than 120,000 copies. The in the spectacular success of the AFSA ship Fund into making a success of the revised edition will include new mate- Scholarship Fund, which has grown from FAD. rial showing how the presence of career $2 million in 1995 to $8 million today. The first lesson is that we need dedi- Foreign Service professionals at embas- With dedicated, effective AFSA staff cated staff and a clear message about sies around the globe benefits Americans support and a clear message about what how the funds will be used. In my Octo- from all walks of life—travelers, business- the 501(c)(3) nonprofit fund supports— ber column, I described forging strategic people, researchers, missionaries, voters. merit and need-based college scholar- partnerships to serve as the foundation With completion of the digitization ships for children of AFSA members—the of our outreach efforts to tell our story of The Foreign Service Journal, those Scholarship Fund is now on firm footing to across the 50 states. writing about American diplomacy will continue to fulfill its mission in perpetuity. As we build out that effort, though, it have ready access to primary source Assuming a is clear that what we should say to inner material dating back to 1919 showcasing 5-percent annual city high school students about the value the central role of the Foreign Service in draw, the fund will of the Foreign Service is not the same as American diplomacy and history. generate approxi- what we should say to the Colorado Farm I will continue to keep you informed mately $400,000 Bureau or to elite students at George- as AFSA’s outreach strategy takes shape each year—more town’s School of Foreign Service, or to and scores successes. And I will continue than enough to military or business audiences. to ask for your support and engagement. cover the costs of A key element of the AFSA outreach We can do this! n Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2016 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] Managing Editor www.afsa.org Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Associate Editor Gemma Dvorak: [email protected] CONTACTS Publications Coordinator AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Vacant (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] Ad & Circulation Manager (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Controller Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] USAID AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Art Director (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Assistant Controller Caryn Suko Smith FCS AFSA Office: Cory Nishi: [email protected] (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Editorial Intern LABOR MANAGEMENT Katherine Perroots: fsjedit@afsa,org GOVERNING BOARD General Counsel Advertising Intern President Sharon Papp: [email protected] Eka Cipta Putera Chandra: [email protected] Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Deputy General Counsel [email protected] Contributing Editor Raeka Safai: [email protected] Secretary Steven Alan Honley Labor Management Specialist William Haugh: [email protected] James Yorke: [email protected] Editorial Board Treasurer Hon. Charles A. Ford: [email protected] Senior Staff Attorney Beth Payne, Chair State Vice President Neera Parikh: [email protected] Randy Berry Angie Bryan: [email protected] Senior Staff Attorney James Bever USAID Vice President Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] Angela Bond Sharon Wayne: [email protected] Hon. Gordon S. Brown Labor Management Counselor FCS Vice President Stephen W. Buck Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: Steve Morrison: [email protected] Lawrence Casselle (Governing Board Liaison) [email protected] Eric Green FAS Vice President Grievance Counselor Kara McDonald Mark Petry: [email protected] Jason Snyder: [email protected] John G. Rendeiro Jr. Retiree Vice President Executive Assistant Tracy Whittington Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected] Lindsey Botts: [email protected] State Representatives USAID Staff Assistant THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Lawrence Casselle Erika Bethmann: [email protected] PROFESSIONALS Susan Danewitz The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Jason Donovan MEMBER SERVICES Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is pub- Ramón Escobar lished monthly, with combined January-February and Member Services Director July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Josh Glazeroff Janet Hedrick: [email protected] Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Keith Hanigan Membership Representative Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the Donald Jacobson Natalie Cheung: [email protected] writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Kara McDonald the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries Retiree Counselor and submissions are invited, preferably by email. The Erin O’Connor Todd Thurwachter: [email protected] Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, Alison Storsve Administrative Assistant and Office Manager photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. Tricia Wingerter All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Ana Lopez: [email protected] AFSA reserves the right to reject advertising that is not USAID Representatives in keeping with its standards and objectives.