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The US Foreign Service: Representing America Abroad

Program Number: 8164RJ
Start and End Dates:
2/10/2013 - 2/15/2013; 2/2/2014 - 2/7/2014;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Price starting at: $668.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Political Science; History & Culture
Meals: 15; 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian; Gluten Free    

How is the United States represented abroad by its diplomats? Find out from the diplomats themselves! Accept this rare invitation to go behind doors that are usually close to the public as you meet retired Foreign Service officers and discuss the intriguing challenges they faces in pursuing American foreign policy objectives. Learn how our diplomats cooperate with the military in the international arena and communicate with citizens in other countries through “public diplomacy.”




Highlights

• Retired U.S. ambassadors take you inside the daily life they lived during their time in foreign countries.
• Examine a wide variety of issues involving America’s friends and adversaries around the world, focusing on current and traditional hot spots.
• Enjoy an evening of live musical entertainment with favorite Road Scholar instructor Jason Fortner.



Activity Particulars

Minimal walking and standing.




Date Specific Information

2-2-2014

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Coordinated by Eckerd College.




St. Petersburg (Florida)

Known as the “Sunshine City” with an average of 361 sunny days per year, “St. Pete” has 234 miles of shoreline and boasts 125 city parks, as well as one of America’s top-ranked beaches and the largest municipal arena in the southeast.
Accommodations
Comfortable, convenient on-campus accommodations in our adult education conference center, with swimming pool and tennis courts.
Meals and Lodgings
   Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
  St. Petersburg, FL 5 nights
 Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
Type: Hotel
  Description: With two pools and private beach, this full service 18-acre tropical resort is located directly on Tampa Bay. Convenient to nearby Gulf beaches and area attractions and all there is to do in St. Pete and the Tampa Bay area.
  Contact info: 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane
St. Petersburg, FL 33711 USA
phone: 727-867-1151
web: http://www.marinacoveresort.com
  Room amenities: Clock radio; coffee maker; free local phone calls' hair dryer; microwave (on request); refrigerator; 2nd floor rooms have a balcony
  Facility amenities: Arcade and game room; ATM; bar and lounge; fitness center; gift shop; wireless internet access in public areas; laundry facilities; private beach; hot tub; 2 outdoor swimming pools; shuffleboard, tennis and volleyball courts.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: call for prices Call the hotel directly at 727-867-1151 for prices.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: call for prices Call the hotel directly at 727-867-1151 for prices.
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Approximately 5pm. You will be staying at Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove that night.
  End of Program:
1:00pm You will be staying at Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking is free an available in proximity to the accommodations.
Transportation
  Train or bus availability: Greyhound 727.898.1496 180 9th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 Amtrak 800.872.7245 5251 110th Avenue North Pinellas Park Square, Suite 101 Clearwater, FL 33760 Taxi service (see "ground transportation") available to college campus.
To Start of Program
  Location:  St. Petersburg, FL
  Nearest city or town:  Tampa/Clearwater
  Nearest highway: I-275
  Nearest airport:  Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport
  Transportation to site: From Tampa International Airport: SuperShuttle at 800.282.6817 or www.supershuttle.com Taxis>Yellow 813.253.0121 or United Cab 813.253.2424 Car Rental> Avis 800.831.2847, Budget 800.527.0700, Dollar 800.800.4000, Hertz 800.654.3131, Enterprise 800.736.8222, Thrifty 800.847.4389 From St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport: SuperShuttle 800.282.6817 or www.supershuttle.com Taxis United Cab 727.535.0000, Clearwater Yellow Cab 727.799.2222, Clearwater Yellow Shuttle 727.525.3333
  From End of Program
  Location: St. Petersburg, FL
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
 
Driving Directions
  Northeast of St. Petersburg I-4 or I-75 south, merging onto I-275 (St. Petersburg). You will travel approximately 20 miles, all the way through Tampa, across Tampa Bay and past the downtown St. Petersburg exits. Take I-275 south to exit 16. Turn left at the stop. Turn right on Sunshine Skyway Lane. The Magnuson Hotel will be on your left.
  Southeast of St. Petersburg I-75 north to I-275. Cross the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ($1.00 toll). Take exit 16, right onto Sunshine Skyway Lane. The Magnuson Hotel will be on your right.
  St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport Turn left onto Roosevelt Blvd. (686) as you exit the airport. Follow to Ulmerton Road. Take I-275 south to exit 16. Turn left at the stop. Turn right on Sunshine Skyway Lane. The Magnuson Hotel will be on your left.
  Tampa International Airport I-275 south (St. Petersburg). You will travel approximately 20 miles, all the way through Tampa, across Tampa Bay and past the downtown St. Petersburg exits. Take I-275 south to exit 16. Turn left at the stop. Turn right on Sunshine Skyway Lane. The Magnuson Hotel will be on your left.
Elevation Note: Sea Level.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Arrival/Welcome/Orientation
(Sunday, February 10)
   
 Afternoon: Check-in at Magnuson Hotel front desk. Report to assigned classroom for registration.
 Dinner: At the hotel
 Evening: Program coordinator will conduct an orientation and introduction program. Final itinerary will be provided.
   
Accommodations: Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Introduction To The Foreign Service / Video: Inside the Embassy / Foreign Policy Dilemmas
(Monday, February 11)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel with at least one hot item. Assorted fruit, juice, coffee and tea.
 Morning: Wayne Griffith will begin the morning with a general overview/introduction to the Foreign Service. Wayne served with the U.S. Department of State as a career member of the Foreign Service from 1973 to 1988, and the Senior Foreign Service from 1988 to 2002. During his diplomatic career, Wayne served in Mexico (twice), Jerusalem, Nicaragua, Peru, Japan, Great Britain and Washington, retiring from his position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in September 2002. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a 1987 graduate of the National War College. A native of New Jersey, Wayne now resides in St. Petersburg, Florida. On sunny days, he can frequently be observed cruising in a bright red Austin Healey convertible. Take a short refreshment break. Then watch a video that describes life inside an Embassy.
 Lunch: Campus Dining Room
 Afternoon: Meet Ambassador Donald Leidel and learn about the Middle East as he discusses foreign policy dilemmas and his own experiences. Ambassador Leidel spent 41 years in government service with the Central Intelligence Agency, The US Air Force and the Department of State. He served in Austria, Germany, Argentina, Mexico and Hagrain where he was ambassador from 1983-86 and then again in 1989. He also served as Dean of the School of Professional Studies at the Foreign Service Institute. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome reception on our beautiful campus.
 Dinner: Campus Dining Room
 Evening: T'ai Chi Class with Porfessor Hong Gu. Professor Gu was born and raised in Shanghai, China and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Shanghai dialect, as well as familiar with a number of other Chinese dialects. He has also studied Russian and French. Professor Gu has taught Chinese language, literature, culture and history and English composition at Hamilton College, NY; Northwestern University, Chicago; Ivy Tech, Indiana; and Purdue University. He received his BA in English language and literature from East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; his MA in English Language and Literature from Southeast Missouri University and his PhD candidate in Modern British Literature and Literary Theory at Purdue University. Hong has studied calligraphy, Northern-style martial arts, T’ai Ji and Qi Gong. PLEASE NOTE THAT CLASS DAYS AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES MAY ALSO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE DUE TO AVAILABLITY OF SERVICES.
   
Accommodations: Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Officer as Diplomat / Diplomatic-Military Cooperation / Movie Night
(Tuesday, February 12)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel with at least one hot item. Assorted fruit, juice, coffee and tea.
 Morning: Begin the morning with John Reppert as he tells you of the experiences of being an Officer as a diplomat of the embassy. Take a short refreshment break mid-morning. Then, Ed Fugit will provide us with an in-depth understanding of Diplomatic-Military Cooperation. Ed is a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer whose 28-year career spanned the years of 1970 – 1998. His specialty is political work and politico-military relations. Mr. Fugit worked in US embassies and missions in Brazil, Angola, Belgium, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Pakistan. His final assignment was as the Political Adviser to the Commander of US Central Command in Tampa, FL. He has also worked extensively in the Middle East and Northeast Africa. After retirement, he was called to duty to work again at Central Command during the Afghanistan operation (2002) and the Iraq invasion (2003). He received his BA from the University of Vermont and his Masters in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and from the National War College. He was Captain in the US Army, including a tour in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. Mr. Fugit is the recipient of the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is married with four sons. Two are army officers and helicopter pilots; one just returned from a tour in Iraq and the other is in Afghanistan. His third son does work for the US government, including travel to Afghanistan.
 Lunch: Campus Dining Room
 Afternoon: Afternoon in downtown St. Petersburg. TIme to explore the city on your own.
 Dinner: At the hotel
 Evening: Film in association with the program
   
Accommodations: Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Tales of the Foreign Service / Foreign Service and the National Interest / Africa: Embassy in Crisis / More Tales of the Foreign Service
(Wednesday, February 13)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel with at least one hot item. Assorted fruit, juice, coffee and tea.
 Morning: Begin the morning with Wayne Griffith as he regales you with stories of his experiences in the Foreign Service. Take a short refreshment break and then begin our second lecture of the morning. Wade Matthews, former career diplomat with the US Foreign Service, will discuss the Foreign Service and the National Interest. In addition with a variety of postings that include Acting Ambassador/Deputy Ambassador in Chile and Deputy Director to the Organization of American States (OAS), Mr. Matthews also was Professor of Strategy and Policy at the Naval War College. Mr. Matthews will discuss how the US Foreign Service helps formulate and implement policies that further US national interest, both in theory and practice.
 Lunch: Campus Dining Room
 Afternoon: Learn about the challenges an embassy faces during times of crisis. Mr. Anthony Dalsimer whose Foreign Service career has been mostly in Africa, will share with us his experiences in Africa. Tony was educated at Grinnell College, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the University of the District of Columbia. He also studied at Stanford and Howard Universities. His Foreign Service career has been mostly in Africa, including assignments to Ouagadougou, Bamako, Hargeisa, Kinshasa, Bukavu, and N’djamena. He also served in more widely known places such as Paris, and Washington, D. C. In retirement, Tony is presently an adjunct faculty member at the Sarasota campus of the University of South Florida, where he specializes in African Studies.
 Dinner: At the hotel
 Evening: Wayne Griffith will continue sharing his escapades of Foreign Service travel.
   
Accommodations: Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Raising Children Overseas / The Foreign Service of the Future / Field Trip / Entertainment
(Thursday, February 14)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel with at least one hot item. Assorted fruit, juice, coffee and tea.
 Morning: Ed Fugit will start your morning off discussing life and raising children overseas. Having joined the Department of State in 1970, Edward Fugit retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer of that department in 1998. His specialty is political work and politico-military relations. He served 28 years, working in US Embassies and missions in Brazil, Angola, Belgium, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Pakistan. His final assignment was as the Political Advisor to the Commander of US Central Command in Tampa. He also worked extensively in the Middle East and North East Africa. After retirement, Mr. Fugit was recalled to duty to work again at Central Command during the Afghanistan operation (2002) and the Iraq invasion (2003). He received his BA from the University of Vermont, and his Masters in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and from the National War College. Since retirement Ed spends time speaking on behalf of the American Foreign Service Association - the professional association of US diplomats. Mr. Fugit served as a Captain in the US Army, including a tour in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, for which he received the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. He is married and has four sons. Two are Army officers and helicopter pilots; one just returned from a tour in Iraq and the other is in Afghanistan. His third son does work for the US government including travel to Afghanistan. Take a short refreshment break mid-morning. Then John Boardman will talk about the Foreign Service of the Future.
 Lunch: At the hotel
 Afternoon: Field trip to a museum to be determined
 Dinner: Campus dining room
 Evening: Live Musical Entertainment from a local artist
   
Accommodations: Magnuson Hotel - Marina Cove
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Public Diplomacy / Wrap-up Session
(Friday, February 15)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast on campus
 Morning: Current Diplomat in Residence at Eckerd College Donna Oglesby for a class on Public Diplomacy. Donna teaches courses on international relations and American foreign policy. She has over twenty-five years experience in cultural and public diplomacy culminating as Counselor of the Agency, the ranking career position in the United States Information Agency (USIA), from 1993-1996. In addition to being faculty at Eckerd College, Professor Oglesby is a member of the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Council. Articles by Donna Oglesby on cultural and public diplomacy have been published by the United States Institute of Peace and the Foreign Service Journal. Take a short refreshment break. Final session of the week is a wrap-up session. Discussion/ Q&A will be lead by Wayne Griffith.
 Lunch: On campus. The program ends after lunch.
 Afternoon: Program ends with lunch today
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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