Founded in 2002, Protocol & Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) is an international association of protocol professionals dedicated to issues of protocol service to our communities. It was established at the first international protocol meeting held at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C. Our Board of Directors and Honorary Advisors are individuals respected in the field worldwide for their protocol expertise. Our mission is to provide the highest level of collective expertise, training, information, and advice regarding internationally and nationally accepted rules of protocol. We are committed to facilitating communication, understanding, and cooperation between individuals, governments and cultures. Membership is open to professionals in the field of protocol who currently serve, or have served in the past, as protocol officers for any level of government (federal/national, state/province, county, city or military) museums or cultural institutions, universities and colleges (public or private), corporations or international trade organizations.