AAFSW Membership Information

Why Should YOU become a Member of AAFSW?

If you are a Foreign Service employee or family member, a retired employee or the spouse of a retired employee, you will find a community of like-minded people in AAFSW. Connecting to people and to programs and events of interest are the reasons most of our members joined AAFSW. Our motto is “AAFSW, Where the Foreign Service Becomes a Community.”

Who are we? AAFSW is a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the quality of life of Foreign Service families everywhere.

For fifty years we have served as an advocacy and support group for Foreign Service employees and family members. AAFSW began pushing the Department in the 1970’s to expand support, and as a result, today there are more services in place to assist employees and their family members with quality of life issues.

Two key offices, the Family Liaison Office and the Overseas Briefing Center exist as a direct result of AAFSW advocacy. As a private organization operating independently of the government, AAFSW steps up to help the Foreign Service community whenever and wherever a need presents itself.

Here are just some of the current services offered by AAFSW to the Foreign Service community:

The Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Overseas (SOSA) is an annual award recognizing outstanding volunteers worldwide.

The annual Art& BookFair selling "previously owned" treasures from around the world funds AAFSW programs for graduating Foreign Service high school seniors including merit and need-based scholarships.

The Evacuee Support Network, assists FLO with meeting and assisting Foreign Service evacuees.

The Washington, DC area playgroup offers support and networking for Foreign Service parents of young children.

The Foreign-Born Spouses group is a community for those who are "foreign at home and abroad."

Foreign-language conversation groups in the Washington, DC area.

The Housing Office in the Department of State, co-located with the Employee Services Center run by volunteers and serving the entire Foreign Service.

Liaison with FSYF, ADST, DACOR, AFSA, FLO, OBC, FSI, and other related organizations.

Click here to see what current AAFSW members have to say!

Who can join AAFSW?
What does membership cost?
What are the benefits of membership?
Why should I join AAFSW?
How do I join AAFSW? (Application forms)
How do I renew my membership? (Renewal form)

Who Can Join?

Regular membership in AAFSW is open to all employees of the U.S. foreign affairs agencies and their adult family members who have served or are subject to serve at a U.S. diplomatic mission. From its origin as a group of female spouses, AAFSW has expanded its membership to include the whole Foreign Service community, active and retired.

Conditional membership in AAFSW is for those in the process of being hired by one of the U.S. foreign affairs agencies. If you have an offer of employment, but are waiting for your medical or security clearances, this category is for you and your adult family members. Conditional memberships are converted to regular memberships as soon as you notify the AAFSW office that you have begun training. If you are not converted within one year, the membership is ended.

Associate membership in AAFSW is for those individuals who have an active interest in US foreign affairs but who are not dependents of US diplomats. Associate members must be sponsored by a current AAFSW member in good standing, and must submit a letter from that sponsor with their application.

What Does Membership Cost?

Regular Membership:

$40 for one year
$80 for two years
$110 for three years
$135 for four years
$160 for five years

Conditional Membership: $40 for one year

Associate Membership: $45 for one year

What are the benefits of membership?

AAFSW member benefits include:

Membership in our popular "Livelines" Yahoo group with over 4,100 members who share their collective information and experience.

Global Link, a monthly newsletter with information about AAFSW activities as well as articles of general interest to the Foreign Service community.

Membership in the AAFSW SkillsBank, a social and professional network on LinkedIn, designed to promote member employment at post and at home.

Free classified advertising in our Global Link newsletter and on our website.

Invitations to speaker programs in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State, as well as monthly cultural tours and programs in the Washington, DC area of interest to the Foreign Service lifestyle.

The AAFSW website members-only section offers numerous resources to AAFSW members. These include:

A large archive of articles by Foreign Service authors on a variety of subjects pertaining to the lifestyle.

Nearly twenty years of archived Global Link newsletters.

Up-to-date information about current AAFSW programs and activities including online reservation and payment for programs.

An AAFSW member directory in downloadable/printable PDF format.

An upcoming "CLOs to Home" section will serve as a virtual "Washington, DC CLO office" with extensive resources for Foreign Service personnel who are transferring to the area.

Also in the works: a Washington, DC housing database which will make our current Housing Office information available to our overseas members.

Associate members receive all the benefits of regular membership, except that Associate members cannot renew for multiple years, as their sponsorship must be re-established yearly.

Why should I join?

AAFSW is committed to sustain and support the Foreign Service community worldwide, but we need members like you to continue our tradition of service. AAFSW has a proud history of accomplishments that have benefited the Foreign Service community--including this website and Livelines, which provide a communication link for Foreign Service families around the world. For more information about our accomplishments, see our Record of Achievement.

How do I join?

Click here to apply online for a Regular or Conditional Membership!

Following approval of your online application, you will receive instructions by email on how to pay for your membership by mailing in a check, or by paying online with your credit card.

If you would prefer to apply by mail, click the links below to print out a membership application form and send it with a check or money order to the address listed on the form.

Click here to open a printable Regular or Conditional Membership application form!

Click here to open a printable application for Associate Membership!

Send your application to:

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide
4001 North Ninth
Suite 214
Arlington, VA, 22203
Tel: 703-820-5420
Fax: 703-820-5421
Email: office@aafsw.org

How do I renew my membership?

If you are already a member and would like to renew, print out this membership renewal form and mail it with your payment to the address above. Or, click here to enter the member's only section and renew your membership online. (If you have forgotten the password, contact office@aafsw.org for a reminder.)

For more information on AAFSW membership, contact us at membership@aafsw.org.