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What’s New in the UAA National Chapters?
To increase UAA’s relevance, expand its reach, boost membership, and address the impact of the unplanned dismantling of USAID, UAA is strongly supporting and encouraging the gatherings of USAID Alumni nationwide and abroad. Currently, Florida and California are the most active and have established UAA Chapters. New England and Pennsylvania groups are active, and Oregon and Washington State are growing.
California Chapter: There are five active local groups. San Diego-Orange County, Los Angeles-Desert, Central Coast (Santa Barbara), San Francisco-Oakland, Sacramento-Sierra. Each group meets in person and provides networking and job search support, as well as builds a USAID-community of friendship and general support. For further information contact Christine Sheckler at cmtsheckler@gmail.com
California Chapter groups in action in December:
Florida Chapter: Florida has been very active for several years. Their model includes partnering closely with the Florida Foreign Service Alumni Association. Miles Toder reached out to all former USAID colleagues who moved to Florida this year. They are settling in and sharing their stories; many have joined UAA to take advantage of concessional membership fees for the first two years (UAA’s membership doubled this year), to find ways to keep in touch with other development professionals, and to rebuild and broaden their network of people with foreign affairs interests.
Register to join the Florida Annual Meeting on January 16 virtually or in St Petersburg to hear the guest speaker from AFSA, to met the larger and better-established group of former FSOs, and to consider joining the Florida organization. Contac t Miles Toder at milestoder@hotmail.com or Alan VanSegmond at alanvanegmond@gmail.com.
Expanding UAA participation: Earlier in 2025, then UAA Outreach Co-Chair, Christine Sheckler, made a five-Western States road trip to assess interest in forming local UAA Chapters and prepare to welcome and support our returning USAID friends and colleagues.
In December, Tony Pryor, UAA Board-Membership liaison, made a three-Western States trip to meet with recent USAID returnees to hear their stories as part of UAA’s “Keeping the Flame and Knowledge Management” initiatives.
Tony Pryor traveled to San Diego, Portland, and Seattle the week of December 14 to meet with Christine Sheckler to discuss options for expanding Alumni participation, the implications for membership and programming, and the UAA work on saving USAID knowledge. Christine Sheckler hosted an eight-member San Diego meeting.
Carissa Page then hosted a meeting in Portland, Oregon, with 15 members. They met to discuss UAA’s plans for the coming year and how they could get involved. Reaching out to the chapters, and rethinking the role they could play, was received enthusiastically.
