PDC President Sherry Mueller (center, near lectern) greets Foreign Service officers at a “Lunch and Learn” holiday networking session. Board Member Larry Schwartz stands to her left.
As part of the Public Diplomacy Council’s continuing commitment to foster the people and practice of public diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State we work with two FSO volunteer co-chairs to sponsor informal seminars around a variety of professional themes.
The seminars provide an opportunity for mid-level public diplomacy officers, many of whom are on their first Washington tours and widely dispersed around the Department, to meet each other, discuss professional and policy issues, learn about different types of public diplomacy assignments and consult with senior or retired officers in an informal setting. The forum is held at the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), 2101 E Street NW in Washington DC (Foggy Bottom Metro), starting at noon. Sandwiches and refreshments are served.
Themes for discussion are chosen by the 30-50 FSOs who regularly participate and expert speakers are invited to address the contributions of public diplomacy to critical U.S. Department’s foreign policy challenges. The PDC provides lunch; the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) kindly provides a conference room at their headquarters.