UN Newsletter

8/14/2019 UN Newsletter

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Florida Division of the United Nations Association

Fall 2009 Newsletter

Stephen Baker, Editor ([email protected])

Florida Division UNA-USA 2009

Convention in Tampa onNovember 14th

Grab your suitcases and come on down! TheFlorida Division of the UNA-USA will meet onNovember 14

th for the annual convention to share

our common goals and help each other deliver ourmessages. We have a great deal to learn from eachother and this program will provide that forum. Ourkeynote speaker, Steven Dimoff, is Vice President ofAdvocacy and Policy at the UNA-USA. His

reputation as one of the foremost authorities on theUnited Nations guarantees this will be a greatconvention. A flyer was previously sent out by thehosting Tampa Bay Chapter listing convention

information and registration procedures; that

flyer is reproduced here on the last page.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

The Florida Division welcomes the changesregarding the UN on the national level. The US has anew ambassador, Susan Rice, who is supportive of

the UN and the Obama Administration believes indiplomacy, negotiating with those with whom wedisagree and multilateral solutions to commonproblems. Hopefully a new era of internationalunderstanding and co-operation has emerged inwhich the UN is increasingly important. UNA-USAalso has a new president, Tom Miller, who is adistinguished and widely experienced diplomat.

Things are also changing for the Florida DivisioWith the cancellation of the 2008 annual meeting th

Division has been inactive for the past year. The neDivision Board met in Orlando March 21st and mada number of important decisions. We re-affirmethat our mission is to support the chapters where thmost important work of UNA-USA occurs. To thend the Divisions annual meeting will focus on suc

topics as recruitment of members, fundraisinlobbying, etc. In keeping with the times and to savmoney, our biennial newsletter will be distributeelectronically to the chapters for them to send to themembers. Publishing and distributing hard copies

the newsletter has been our largest expense.We decided to support Dr. Franck Simon

humanitarian work in Haiti. Please read the article this Newsletterabout all he does there. Your chaptmay wish to support him as the Tampa Bay Chaptand Division have done.

I am pleased to report that the Miami Chapter reorganizing under the leadership of MuhammeMalik and has received a significant bequest. AlBlanca Valez is revitalizing the Broward Chapte

We look forward to both chapters being vibramembers of their communities and the Division.

Obviously youth are the future of UNA and othorganizations. Starting a Model UN (MUN) Young Professionals for International Cooperatio(YPIC) chapter is an excellent way to educate youabout the UN and world affairs in general aninvolve them in the chapter. Teachers of politic


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science and international relations at local highschools and universities are potential organizers andresource persons for MUN and YPIC groups. Ask aboard member to see about starting a YPIC or MUNgroup if you dont already have them in your

community.

Members of the Foreign Service RetireesAssociation of Florida are also potentialchapter/board members, resources for youth andspeakers to the chapter and community. Invite themto your UN Day celebration and chapter meetings. Ifyour chapter doesnt have a copy of their

membership directory, Ill be happy to send you a list

of members in your area.

Another good way of building membership,educating people about the UN and being recognizedin the community is to establish a speakers bureau.College professors, foreign service workers amongothers are potential speakers. Such service clubs asRotary, Kiwanis, Lions, womens clubs and othercommunity groups are always looking for speakers.

Finally come to our annual meeting in Tampas

Ybor City on November 13 and 14 to get other goodideas for your chapter and have a good time. I hopeto see you there. The Tampa Bay Chapter has workedhard to arrange for an informative and fun time.

Please also read about the many exciting programs

and events the chapters are sponsoring, e.g., Mexicanfolk dancers, golf tournaments, speakers, etc.Change has come not only on the national level butalso to the Division. I hope you like the changes wehave madein any case we welcome your feedback.--Robert H. Bob HornbergerPresident

UNA-USA Florida Board Meeting

On March 21, 2009 the UNA-USA FloridaDivision Board met in Orlando. President Bob

Hornberger presided over the meeting with firstVice President Franck Simon, Recording SecretaryRick Kennedy, Membership Chair Ed Cooke aswell as Kelly Miliziano (Tampa Bay), TaranehDarabi (Gainesville), and Steve Baker(Jacksonville).

The proposed 2009 budget was discussedincluding an expected income of $2405 and expensesof $2005. The carry-over funds were $8317. The

largest expense ($1200) was for the newsletter due production and postage costs. The Board voted to trsending the newsletter electronically as a PDF each chapter president who would then be requesteto forward it to the membership by e-mail. Eacchapter would also be asked to print and mail copi

for members without access to e-mail. This wirepresent a substantial savings for the Division.

Board meeting participants (from left to right) RiKennedy, Franck Simon, Bob Hornberger, Steve Baker, TaranDarabi, Kelly Miliziano and Ed Cooke

The Board also approved $1000 to assist thpresident with the expenses to attend the NationUNA-USA Convention in New York June 13-1Another $200 was approved to sponsor an ad in th

directory of the Foreign Service Retirees of Florida,useful source of both speakers and participants in ouUNA-USA programs. An additional $500 wapproved to support the work of Dr. Simon with hhealth project in Haiti (see article later). The TampBay Chapter already donated $400 and Ed Cookmade a personal contribution of $100.

Finally Kelly Miliziano was applauded fcompleting her Ph.D. She has done a great deal oresearch on the Model UN.--From the minutes submitted by Rick Kennedy

Broward County

Broward County member activities includeinstallation of new officers, distributing UN-relatebooks, sponsoring a Night of a Thousand Dinners help eradicate landmines, membership drives, a joiventure with the Pembroke Pines Bahorganization, a presentation on UNICEF by DDonna Williams, preparations for the UN Da


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celebration and Thanksgiving baskets for needyfamilies. Membership chairperson Bob Velez hasbeen active in promoting renewals.--Blanca Moore-Valez

Dr. Franck Simons Mission to Haiti

I am authorized by the Haiti Department of Healthand the Department of Social Services to practicemedicine in Haiti and have been doing so for over 40years. In December, responding to the United NationsMillennium Development Goals Project, I initiated ahealth mission in the Republic of Haiti, authorized byDr. Daniel Luu, then president of the UNA-USAFlorida Division. This mission received the approval

and logistical assistance of Gen. Gabriel Valdez,Commander of Peacekeeping Forces of the UN inHaiti. The Ambassador of the UN DevelopmentProgram granted us UN security clearance. Officialsof the Haiti Government conferred diplomaticprivileges at the Diplomatic Salon of Port-au-Prince.

I travel to Haiti on that mission every other monthor so and have established a central office in Port-au-Prince as well as a clinic-on-wheels using mypersonal truck to reach the remote villages. I offermedical consultations, medication, lectures on UN

issues and food. Ive also donated a deep-rock well tothe village of Bamboo (in the south) where the onlyavailable water was from the river.

From March 24 to April 9, 2009, I attended 300Haiti village victims of hunger, TB, malaria,HIV/AIDS and other conditions and distributedchemically treated mosquito nets, food andmedications.

The Jolicoeur family of Jacmel (in the southvolunteered their time and labor for food preparatioand Father Gladimir, a Catholic priest, was kinenough to drive our truck converted into a mobiclinic to reach remote villages.

Officials from Haiti Foreign Affairs Minist

expressed their support. I returned to Haiti on thsame mission from June 9 to June 30 and wcontinue every other month thereafter.--Dr. Franck Simon

Gainesville

The Gainesville Chapter supported active civparticipation in social and economic issues througseveral avenues: Public Lectures series, UN Day anSpeakers Bureau.Public Lectures Series:

The Gainesville UNA Chapter provided four widranging programs to UNA members, Model UN Clumembers and other citizens and students in thcommunity this year. High profile and experiencespeakers addressed a range of topics from tradpolicy and health to human rights. The year begawith an address by Otton Solis Fallas, the promineCosta Rican scholar-politician, speaking on "ThPolitics of the Central American Free TradAgreement (CAFTA)." In April a presentation by DBarbara Oberlander, Santa Fe College Professo

featured the many contributions by the UN's owEleanor Roosevelt in a talk entitled "EleanRoosevelt and Human Rights: First Lady of thWorld." In the fall, emphasis on health deliveconcerns in Africa brought forth Dr. Lenny RhineUniversity of Florida Librarian Emeritus, to speak o"The UN Program for Developing CountrieInformation Technology to Bridge the HealInformation Gap." In closing an exciting, if nexhausting, year of political contest and changAmbassador Nancy Soderberg covered a wid

range of issues with "International Challenges Facinthe New President." Each of these presentatioanticipated many of the far reaching challenges thlie ahead while anchoring our group in the rich Uhistory.

UN Day:

Our UN Day took place on October 23rd wiproclamations by our city and county as the UN fla


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flew high at city hall. We had an enjoyable,informative and educational 2008 UN Day program.It started with Dr. Wendy Graham, chair of theWater Institute at the University of Florida,discussing "Sustainable Water Resources: Challengesand Opportunities" and Dr. Tony Oliver-Smith,

giving insight on "Sustainability Within theFramework of the Hazards of Climate Change andEnvironmental Threats." The keynote speaker, MonaGrieser, a Behavior Change and System Strategistwho is a Senior Advisor to Governments, the UN andother International agencies, gave an excellentpresentation: "Walking on the Boulevard." Shediscussed ways to strategize effective plans forcreating better societies around the world, whileunderstanding what motivates people to changethrough the power of their own perception. Our UNDay Chair was Dr. Jackson Sasser, President ofSanta Fe College. There were 150 people inattendance with 25 local organizations co-sponsoringthe event.

Speakers Bureau:Our speakers bureau has been quite active,presenting many lectures on UN issues such as"Refugees and the United Nations" in the fall and"The Food Crisis and the UN" in the spring.

In addition to these venues, we have also co-sponsored and participated in community events

such as Women's Equality Day Luncheon and theFamily Literacy Festival. Our Gainesville Chapterwas pleased in March 2008 to nominate the recipientof the annual Women's History Month award, Dr.Karen Cole-Smith.

Two of our board members were also recognizedfor their contributions: Professor Emerita HelenSafa on women and development, and ProfessorMickie Edwardson for promoting and protecting therights of those who have crossed her path.Our Chapter works closely with and supports Model

UN Clubs at the University of Florida, Santa FeCollege and Eastside High School. The city ofGainesville and our Chapter take pride in theoutstanding accomplishments of these three teams.

Each team not only won first team honors but alindividual members were named OutstandinDelegates. Heartfelt congratulations are warranted fthese young community leaders who tackle curreinternational issues as well as those of the past. Thefuture leaders of our society are learning to wo

effectively in developing vital interpersonal skills. --Taraneh Darabi

Convention Program

UNAUSA Florida Division

Convention Agenda

Friday November 13

Cocktail Reception 5:00-7:00 p.m. Hilton GardenInn, Ybor City

Saturday, November 14

9:00-9:45 Florida Division Board Meeting

10:00 -11:00 a.m. Chapter Leaders Business Meetin(voting delegates only)

11:15-12:15 Building Membership (open to allmembers)

12:30-2:30 Luncheon, Keynote Speaker StevenDimoff, Vice President, Advocacy and Policy,United Nations Association of the USA

2:30-3:30 Ideas for Successful Chapter Events

3:30-4:00 Florida Division Board Meeting

Want to let elected officials knowabout your support for the United

Nations? A wealth of contactinformation is available at

http://capwiz.com/unausa/home/
http://capwiz.com/unausa/home/http://capwiz.com/unausa/home/http://capwiz.com/unausa/home/


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The Florida Division of the UNAUSA

Cordially Invites You to Attend Our

Annual Convention to be held in Historic Ybor City,

Tampa Florida on November 14, 2009

Keynote Speaker

Steven A. Dimoff

Steven A. Dimoff is Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at the United Nations Association ofthe USA (UNA-USA), a leading center of policy research and public outreach on the UnitedNations and multilateral issues.

As UNA-USA's senior Washington representative, Mr. Dimoff is responsible for keeping theLegislative and Executive Branches apprised of UN-related issues, and for monitoring a range of

policy issues, including US funding of the UN system, US ratification of international treaties,and trends in foreign assistance programs.

Mr. Dimoff joined UNA-USA after serving as a legislative assistant on foreign policy in the USCongress. He holds a B.A. in American Government from Ohio University, and M.A. from theSchool of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, and an M.A. from theUniversity of Nancy, France, with a specialization in European political and economicintegration.

Location: Columbia Restaurant, Ybor Cityhttp://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ybor.asp

Convention Fee: $40.00 Plated Luncheon is all-inclusiveRegister Here link to register and payhttps://www.acteva.com/go/unatampabayevents

A block of rooms has been reserved for overnight guests at the Hilton Garden Inn Ybor Cityreserve online at

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/TPAYCGI-NAT-20091113/index.jhtml

For more information please contact Kelly Miliziano Convention Planning Chair at 813-453-5003 [email protected]
http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ybor.asphttp://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ybor.asphttps://www.acteva.com/go/unatampabayeventshttps://www.acteva.com/go/unatampabayeventshttps://www.acteva.com/go/unatampabayeventshttp://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/TPAYCGI-NAT-20091113/index.jhtmlhttp://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/TPAYCGI-NAT-20091113/index.jhtmlhttp://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/TPAYCGI-NAT-20091113/index.jhtmlhttps://www.acteva.com/go/unatampabayeventshttp://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ybor.asp

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