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Dear Member of the National Association of School Nurses,
A few days ago, you received a letter from the NASN President Linda Mendonça regarding the Citizen Ambassador Program NASN Delegation to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE, in May 2023. I’d like to provide additional information on the program and the procedures involved in joining the delegation.
We are honored to work with NASN and your President, Linda Mendonça, as the delegation leader on this exciting project. Dr. Mendonça has been a registered nurse for 40 years, practicing school nursing for 25 years; overseas and in five states as a military spouse. Additional information about Dr. Mendonça and the leadership role for this delegation can be found on the NASN Delegation Leader page.
The NASN Delegation will visit elementary, middle, and secondary schools, where you will meet with school nurses, support staff, and administrators. You will also visit a university to understand the nursing education structure and learn about the standards and licensing for school nurses.
The vision for the Citizen Ambassador Program began as an initiative of the US State Department under the Eisenhower Administration. President Dwight D. Eisenhower envisioned private citizen exchanges, where citizens of diverse cultures would gain an international understanding of their peers and profession through the exchange of ideas and experiences. Today, the Citizen Ambassador Program is a part of the US Non-Profit organization Cultural Vistas. Based in Washington DC, our organization administers State Department leadership exchanges, US government and NGO small grant programs, and programs that support Fulbright Exchanges.
Our experience and reputation with US embassies and state department officials enable delegates unmatched access to professionals, government authorities, and facilities around the world. This access allows our delegations to meet with the highest levels of professionals and institutions involved with the exchange. My team of US exchange program administrators has developed high-level bilateral exchanges with governments and senior professionals for over 30 years and will ensure your experience is both professionally rewarding and personally enlightening.
As mentioned in Dr. Mendonça’s letter, an undertaking of this nature requires considerable development and input from overseas coordinators. As such, we ask that you RSVP with your intent regarding this delegation by February 28th, 2023. In the event that you are unable to participate, we may invite an alternate delegate candidate in your place. If you wish, you may recommend a colleague as your alternate.
For US citizens, expenses associated with this delegation may be deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense if participation is closely related to one’s business or occupation. We suggest you consult a tax advisor to determine if tax deductibility is applicable to you. Following the delegation’s return, documentation of the exchange, including the presentations, the counterparts involved, and outcomes, will be available for each delegate’s use to document the exchange.
To accept this invitation and hold a position on the delegation, please complete the NASN Citizen Ambassador Program Application form.
Dr. Mendonça and I hope that you can serve on this delegation. If you have questions regarding the delegation, I encourage you to contact the Assistant Program Officer for this exchange, Kasey McKevitt, at 202-545-7034 or [email protected].
I look forward to hearing from you.
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