MacMUN 2009

1. MacMUN 2009 Welcome, delegates!

2. What is Model UN? • It is a simulation of the proceedings of UN meetings. • It educates students about the way the UN operates. • It teaches negotiation, consensus, writing resolutions, and finding solutions to global crises. • It highlights different countries, different interests, different policies, and how to strike a balance between them.

3. How it works: • Mac’s team represents a different country each year at NMUN. • The team conducts general research on the political, economic, and social structures of the country. • The team tries to understand the culture by gaining a basic understanding of the history of the country. • Individuals select a specific committee that best illustrates the delegates’ interests; for instance Social, Cultural and Humanitarian (3rd Committee).

4. How it works (part deux): • Using all the facts and data we have researched on together, YOU will start working on a position paper on the specific issues covered in your committee for the conference. • You’ll work on effective communication through speech-giving, workshopping, and practice conferences. • You’ll learn the technicalities of the conference, like making motions, writing working papers, and working with a team (without driving them crazy or giving up dominance).

5. What we’re looking for: • People who are punctual. • People who take this activity seriously. • Students who can see themselves having fun during the entire preparation process; this is not simply about show up in NYC and getting an award. • People who want to have a good time, laugh and enjoy themselves in NYC as well as on our journey throughout the entire year. • Progress on writing, speaking, and/or teamwork skills over the course of the year.

6. You can expect: • To spend two hours of time commitment each week during the fall, plus any time necessary to complete assigned tasks. • To cover and practice different skill sets required at the conference—speeches, writing resolutions, working in groups, researching—each week during the fall. • To try skills you’ve not used before or build on ones you already have. • To work in different groups on a regular basis. • That each week will count towards our decision for the NMUN delegation.

7. You can expect (part deux): • To be notified in November whether or not you have been chosen for the NMUN delegation. • To spend March 27-April 2 in NYC if you are chosen. • To sign a binding contract if you are chosen for the team. • To have MUN-related opportunities even if you aren’t going to NMUN this year. • We have connections to local organizations that operate in the spring that will allow you to organize and run MUN conferences for local middle- and high-schoolers. • NACAC, the group that runs NMUN, searches for some of its interns through MacMUN. • To be welcome at MacMUN all year long, and next year, too.

8. Who we are: Joanna Clark Secretary General Kaitlin Roh Director General Catie Skluzacek Dir of Correspondence Helena Swanson-Nystrom Dir of Outreach Elias Tezapsidis Dir of Finance

9. Non-NMUN Opportunities: • Model UN programs in the Twin Cities are growing, and we have direct connections to organizations through which you can offer your interest and expertise: • Global Classrooms, • National Collegiate Conference Association, • YMCA Youth in Government • Don’t need MUN experience to volunteer! • Global Classrooms will visit an upcoming MacMUN meeting, so stay tuned…

10. Follow us: • www.macalester.edu/mun