Greater Orlando Chapter

The UNA-USA is a national organization dedicated to strengthening the United Nations and enhancing our nation's involvement in that global body's international institutions. As would be expected, the group's approaches to solving the problems of peace, poverty, and prejudice are in general accord with the aims and purposes of the United Nations. Participation in the UNA provides occasions for associating with a group of educated, widely traveled, well informed, interesting people dedicated to making the world a better place for all.

The Greater Orlando Chapter meets once a month, usually on the third Saturday, from September to May. These luncheon meetings are held in the Winter Park Elks Lodge at 4755 Howell Branch Road. At these meetings enlightened speakers discuss a great variety of topics of a global nature. Copies of brochures on the United Nations and other handouts on international issues are available at the literature table. Peripheral activities include various study groups, a student essay contest, and support for student Model UN activity.

The Greater Orlando Chapter was organized in 1956 as the "American Association for the United Nations," and it continued under that name until the national organization was formally redesignated as the "UNA-USA" in 1964. The chapter currently has over a hundred members.

Benefits of membership include receiving The InterDependent, the UNA-USA newspaper. Also available are policy research reports on such timely issues as arms control, human rights, conflict resolutions, and international economics. Discounts are given on various publications. And best of all, there is the opportunity to share in the fellowship of the finest class of people anywhere to be found - dynamic, informed, and caring citizens of the world.

For more information contact:
Richard Atkins,President (407) 628-2443
Florence Coto, Membership (407) 677-0082.

Board of Directors (2002-2003)

President: Richard L. Atkins, (407) 628-2443
			1981 Blue Ridge Road, Winter Park, FL 32789
			FAX: (407) 628-4723, Email: RLA34 @ hotmail. com
First Vice President: John R. Benson, (407) 884-8395, bus. (407) 444-7579
			1480 Deer Lake Circle, Apopka, FL 32712
			FAX: (407) 884-8376, Email: jbenson @ mpinet.net
Second Vice President (Membership): Florence Coto, (407) 677-0082
			200 St. Andrews Blvd. #3408, Winter Park, FL 32792
Recording Secretary: Jamie Hayes, (407) 382-9569
			3303 Hoskins Holler #303D, Orlando, FL 32826
			Email: yelowfrog1 @ aol.com
Corresponding Secretary: Carolyn A. Comfort, (407) 678-5542
			291 Lewfield Circle, Winter Park, FL 32792
Treasurer: Gladys V. Cox, (407) 894-9894
			710 Warwick Place, Orlando, FL 32803
Funding Projects Coordinator: (unfilled)
Program Coordinators: Carolyn A. Comfort, (407) 678-5542
			Shiela J. Morgan, (407) 830-8505
			104 Monarch Circle, Apt. 2 (Box 300608), Fern Park, FL 32730
UN Day Coordinator: Shiela J. Morgan, (407) 830-8505, Email: shielaj @ bellsouth.net
Government Relations Coordinator: John R. Benson, (407) 884-8395
Community Relations Coordinator: John R. Benson, (407) 884-8395
International Relations Coordinator: Richard L. Atkins, (407) 628-2443
Great Decisions Studies Coordinator: Gladys V. Cox, (407) 894-9894
UCF Faculty Coordinator: Houman A. Sadri, (407) 823-6023/2608, (321) 264-2286
			University of Central Florida Department of Political Science
			P. O. Box 161356, Orlando, FL 32816-1356
International Students Coordinator: Nole Garey, (407) 246-1745
	718 E. Harwood St., Apt. #3, Orlando, FL 32803  (UNA-UCF President)
Model UN/Student Contests Coordinator: Norma R. Toussaint, (305) 246-8495 summer
			11850 University Blvd., Orlando, FL 32817
Newsletter Editor: John R. Benson, (407) 884-8395
Amnesty International Liaison: Cheryl Ellefson, (407) 774-0772
			851 Blackland Terrace, Apt. 309, Apopka, FL 32703
			Email: CLEllefson @ aol.com
Historian: Richard L. Atkins, (407) 628-2443

Winter Park Elks Lodge: (407) 678-3181
Caterer: Debbie Stansell, (407) 273-3088, (321) 229-5463 cell phone


Programs and Activities (2001-2002)

Aug. 14: City planning meeting for International Gala, Oct. 2002.
Sep. 5: Monthly Meeting: �Expanding Definitions of Human Rights based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights� by Alan Lunin, President of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Oct. 20: Monthly Meeting: �The U. N. in Africa� by Bob Press, journalist for the Christian Science Monitor.
	UNA-UCF chapter�s first newsletter, �The Caucus,� published.
Oct. 22: UCF student chapter International Fair.
Oct. 24: UCF UN Day Booth at Administration Building with displays at Library.
Nov. 8: UNA represented at Holocaust Center anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Nov. 17: Monthly Meeting: �International Law and Terrorism� by Dr. Luis Valdes, Professor of Political Science at Rollins College.
Nov. 29: UNA represented at Amnesty International�s Human Rights Award Dinner honoring UNA member Ele Kenyon for her work in conflict resolution.
Dec. 8: Monthly Meeting: �Current Issues in the Middle East� by Dr. Houman Sadri, Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida.
Dec. 9: UNA represented at Soka Gokkai Open House anniversary of their Orlando Community Center.
Jan. 19: Monthly Meeting: �Demographics and a Knowledge-Based Society� by John L. Kubik, legal advisor.
Jan. 28: UNA represented at �RESULTS� citizens lobby meeting at Rollins College.
Feb. 16: Monthly Meeting: Model UN Demonstration by UCF student chapter.
Mar. 15-19: UNA represented at FHSMUN, Altamonte Springs Hilton Hotel
Mar. 16: Monthly Meeting: �The Invention of Peace� by Rita Lucey, past President of UNA Chapter.
Mar. 19: Winter Park University Club: �The Continuing Importance of the U. N.� by Richard L. Atkins (contact: Peggy Cramer, (407) 423-5890)
Apr. 20: Monthly Meeting: �Latvia, History and Development) by Katrina Wilson.
May 18: Monthly Meeting: �Dismantling Racism� by Ruth Edwards and election of Officers.

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