The Greater Orlando Chapter has regular monthly programs recently featuring Human Rights, the Peace Corps and AIDS as well as the UN Day Commemoration. Future programs include Joyce Chumbly on Global Warming and the Chernobyl Crisis (Dec. 14), Susanne Horstman on CARE (Jan. 18), Jamie Hayes on Model UN demonstration (Feb. 15), John Bradbury on Population (Mar. 15) and John Bersia on Globalization (Apr. 19).
Gainesville:
The Gainesville Chapter has developed a relationship with a Model UN Program at Santa Fe Community College. Working with the faculty advisor, David Price, they offered support for students attending the November SRMUN tournament in Atlanta. The Chapter intends to keep this connection involving students in regular events, UN Day activities and the state convention. Their September program featured �Women and Development� by Carol Poteat-Buchanan, Vice-president of UNIFEM/USA Gulf Coast Chapter. The keynote speaker for UN Day was Dr. Suheil Badi Bushri, a distinguished author, poet and critic who holds the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the Center for International Development and Conflict management at the University of Maryland.
Broward County:
The Broward County Chapter reported a successful UN Day program on the theme of �A Global Response to Terrorism: The UN�s Role and Global Peace.� The Master of Ceremonies, Commissioner Carlton Moore, on behalf of UN Day Chairperson Ruth De Vargas introduced the Guest Speaker, Professor Timothy W. Dixon of Nova University and presided over the reading of UN Day proclamations from President George W. Bush, Governor Jeb Bush and County Commissioner Illene Lieberman. Greetings were also delivered from Miami-Dade Chapter President Ed Cooke,City of Lauderdale Lakes Commissioner Hazel Rogers and Dr. Dorothy Orr, President of Broward County Schools Credit Union. Other program participants involved the Bahai�s of Broward County, The American Association of University Women and the Broward County Women�s History Coalition; musical selections were provided by Helen Bush (soloist) and Ivan Aravelo and Rafael.
Tampa
The Tampa Bay Chapter hosted the 2002 Florida Division Annual Convention and forwarded a packet of event details to Gainesville Chapter in preparation for next year�s meeting. They had a Global Health program in June and have been active in the Global Classrooms Project. Dr. Bill Leonard, a former Rotary District Governor, serves as the Chapter�s liaison with Rotary International; he is assisted by Roger Ernst, Mohammad Chehab and Shrimatee Ojah-Maharaj. Their UN Day Commemoration theme was �War on Terrorism� and was cosponsored by nine NGOs: American Association of University Women, Baha'i Community of St. Petersburg, Church Women United, Community Affairs Dept (City of St. Petersburg), Florida High School Model UN (FHSMUN), League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, Soka Gakkai International, United Methodist Women and the Young Women's Christian Association.
The program involved a presentation by Mr. Robert W. Fitts, Senior Foreign Service Officer and Political Advisor to the Commander, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa Florida, and Col. Mary Payrow-Olia, USAF Ret.
Jacksonville:
The Jacksonville Chapter presented a display on the �Role of the United Nations Today� for local colleges as part of the UN Day commemoration and helped promote a Forum on the �Ethics of Pre-Emptive War� in November.
Miami:
The Greater Miami Chapter presented UN World Literacy Day in their September program and featured Bishop James H. Ottley, former Episcopal Church Delegate to the United Nations, for their UN Day program. They are also planning Mine-Clearance Fundraisers.
Volusia:
The Volusia County Chapter continues to support education and the model UN as keys to promoting a better understanding of the United Nations. Reaching out to elected representatives is one important aspect of this enterprise and is a crucial element in performing the advocacy function. Shahla Evans continues to set the pace for the rest of us, especially in getting Nane Annan�s The United Nations: Come Along With Me! into classrooms across the state.
Sarasota-Manatee:
Among other activities the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter sponsored two major events in the last three months: the Second Seminar on Global Health and the Third Model UN.
The Sarasota-Manatee Chapter held its second seminar on Global Health (with financial assistance from the UNA-USA Global Health Program) on October 17, 2002, at the New College Sudakoff Conference Center (Sarasota) exploring the interrelation between Global Health, Bioterrorism and Population Growth. Speakers included Mark Magenheim, MD, MPH, Medical Executive Director (Sarasota County Health Department) as Moderator and presenter on �Bioterrorism�; Jacqueline Cattani, PhD., MPH, Director of the Center for Biological Defense (University of South Florida, College of Public Health) presenting �Global Bioterrorism�; Christine Cauffield, PsyD., President and CEO of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare Inc. (Sarasota) presenting �Post Traumatic Stress Disorder�; and Werner Fornos, President, Population Institute (Washington, DC) presenting �Population Growth and Its Impact on Global Health.� More than 150 people attended the seminar
The third one-day Model UN Conference of the UNA Sarasota-Manatee Chapter was held on Saturday, 16 November 2002, at the New College Sudakoff Conference Center in Sarasota. Students participated in two UN Security Council simulations�one on the Israel-Palestine conflicts and the other on fighting global terrorism.
Seven high schools (five from the Sarasota-Manatee area and one each from Port Charlotte and Tarpon Springs) brought a total of 120 students to participate in the Conference. They were joined by 40 school advisers and guests/observers.
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