Association News
June 1997

The Word is Slowly Spreading

As the FAO Association reaches one and a half years of existence, it is now possible to say that the prognosis for the long-term health of the organization is very good. Slowly, but surely, the association is defining its role in the world and its relationship to the Service proponents and the military, at large. While still completely dependent on volunteers to make our association run smoothly, we actually have some money in the bank and now have the economic muscle to embark on new projects to further strengthen our association. Ideas on how to improve are welcome.

Membership continues to grow, particularly in the active duty ranks, and we've finally reached the 700 benchmark for individual memberships. There have also been several requests for memberships by defense related corporations as well, but this type of membership is still not recognized by our Charter. It is the logical next step in the growth process and look for corporate membership to be just around the corner.

The production of the quarterly Journal is being regularized and we are now into preparing our fourth edition. The most pleasant development is that you, our members, are beginning to take serious interest in the Journal's potential as an open forum for professional discussion and publication of pertinent, regionally oriented articles. Please keep up the letters, notes, E-Mails, and articles coming in -- the Journal will live or die based on your interest and participation.

Our data base project to catalogue the current addresses of the entire FAO population (active, reserve, and retired) is progressing slowly, but already has more that 3,400 entries in it. Related to the data base project, we have had some recent successes in reestablishing friendships between members who have lost contact over time. Of interest is the fact that Corporations and corporate headhunters are learning of our existence and are beginning to contact us looking for leads to solid regional experts. This is potentially very good news for our retired and reserve brethren.

With all this good news, what isn't going according to the program . . . . . .

The FAOA web page is coming on a bit more slowly than we originally intended. In the meantime, we are providing material to the Army Proponent's FAO web site. For example, we are providing the Regional Assignment Spotlights as they are produced, and will continue to update them (at least quarterly). This will hopefully keep at least some of the day-to-day information flowing, while we work out the kinks in our own efforts.

Our efforts to acquire advertisers for the Journal is also going slowly. Essentially, we need to make the Journal self-sufficient (that is, independent of membership and other projects). To do this we need approximately $1600.00 worth of advertising in each issue (this equates to four full page ads or their equivalent). Ads can be from local companies such as Realtors, insurance firms, car companies, etc. (Remember!! That most of our people tend to rotate between Washington, DC and overseas), or from corporations and contractors looking for visual recognition or just showing their support of our association. I bring this issue up to you because we need your help in getting advertisers signed up. Actual advertising rates and requirements are available elsewhere in this journal. Making the Journal financially independent will go a step farther in guaranteeing the viability of our association.

So, in concluding this quarterly report, I would like to thank the people who have given so much of their time and energy to making this a viable organization. I would also like to encourage you "fence-sitters" to get on the bandwagon.

1997, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org