What are the requirements?
You must be an active member of ASA, CSSA, or SSSA. You must live and work in the United States, but you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be an Ambassador. You must complete the online application here by August 27, 2021.
Can faculty apply to be an Ambassador or is this program just for students?
Any ASA, CSSA, and SSSA member at any career stage is eligible to participate in the SEED Ambassador Program. We hope that each Ambassador class with have a diversity of experience levels and expertise. Ambassadors will not only learn from the Policy staff, but each other as well.
What is the time commitment?
Approximately 3 hours per month. Each month, Ambassadors will be given some background material to review. The background material could be a policy brief to read or a webinar to watch. Each month there will also be an action item (homework assignment) that Ambassadors are expected to complete before for the monthly hour-long webinar where the advocacy topic and action item will be discussed.
What are the expectations of the Ambassador program?
The SEED Ambassador program is for Society members interested in taking their advocacy efforts to the “next level.” The program will only be successful if every Ambassador is committed to participating in the preparation, discussions, and activities. We expect each Ambassador to review the background material, do the action item assignments, and attend the discussion webinars every month. Ambassadors are expected to schedule at least one local meeting with a member of their Congressional delegation in addition to another advocacy activity of their choosing.
How are Ambassadors recognized?
Every Ambassador will be recognized at the Annual Meeting. The Ambassadors will also be featured in CSA News and regularly profiled in Society emails and on social media channels.
What happens after your year in the training program?
Once an Ambassador, always an Ambassador! Even after your year of training and guidance, we foresee that Ambassadors will continue to participate in advocacy efforts and will serve as mentors to the new class of Ambassadors. Ambassadors will continue to have access to the monthly teleconference discussions and webinars.