Newsletter Volume 2,#1

NEW EVENT: UNA BOOK DISCUSSION World View Book Club, sponsored by the United Nations Association of Northern Colorado, will be reading Blood Diamonds by local Fort Collins author and editor of the Fort Collins Weekly, Greg Campbell. The book by Mr. Campbell inspired the box-office hit, Blood Diamonds, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou.

Mr. Campbell will join the World View Book Club for a discussion on Thursday, March 29th at 5:30pm at the Chapungu Sculpture Gallery in the Promenade Shops at Centerra in Loveland. Refreshments will be provided and a silent auction will take place (sculpture, jewelry and concert tickets to be auctioned) to raise money for UNICEF and reach child soldiers in Africa.

Blood Diamonds is available at a discounted rate at Matter Bookstore, 144 N. College Avenue in Fort Collins.

Mr. Campbell will be available for book signing at the event.

Thanks to Mr. Campbell, Chapungu Sculpture Gallery, UNA-USA, KRFC 88.9FM, Bent Fork Restaurant and Matter Bookstore for assisting with this event.

Please email inquiries to carole.lundgren@gmail.com

UNITED NATIONS COURSE SERIES Do you sometimes wonder how to answer UN critics? This quick "course" will help you. The United Nations Association of Northern Colorado is offering two afternoon classes titled UN 101 or, "Everything you ever wanted to know about the U.N. but were afraid to ask." Course Dates: March 31 and April 14, 3 to 5 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, 916 West Prospect.

This two part Series is aimed at current UNA members and friends. Many of us need a brush-up course to give us more confidence in how we approach issues relating to the UN. Hopefully, after this course you will be able to pick up a pen and write

letters to the editors, call in to talk shows, and teach others in general.

Different information will be covered in each session; however, one need not attend both to benefit. Of course it is better if you can attend both sessions. To help those presenting the course please email areas of interest or questions you would like to see covered. Also send your email address if you want to receive some study materials. Send to Eleanor@dwightcentral.com

Hope to see you there!

60 WAYS THE UN MAKES A DIFFERENCE:

#5 Making Peace: Since 1945, the UN has assisted in negotiating more than 170 peace settlements that have ended regional conflicts. Examples include ending the Iran-Iraq war, facilitating the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, and ending the civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala. The UN has used quiet diplomacy to avert numerous imminent wars.

INTERDEPENDENT IN N. COLORADO LIBRARIES:

Members may have noticed the excellence of recent editions of the Interdependent, UNA-USA's quarterly publication.

Feeling that it is important to share news about the UN with our communities, our Board has decided to approach public libraries in our area to see about placing copies of the Interdependent on magazine shelves. This has been done in Loveland and is in process for the downtown Ft. Collins library.

We are asking willing members for assistance in two ways: (1) to visit your local library (Berthoud, Harmony-Ft. Collins, Estes Park, Greeley) to see if they carry the Interdependent. If not, show them a current copy and ask if they would consider placing it. Offer a subscription form (there is one in each issue) and to pay the $20 for a two-year period; or (2) to provide the $20 for one of our libraries' subscriptions. For this aspect, we need a maximum of five donors. These may be small actions, but they are ways to attempt to enlarge our impact and keep the United Nations before some readers of our communities. If you would be interested in helping in either or both of these ways, please contact Dick Rush (667-5077 or e-mail crisj@froo.com) for further information.

MORE UN MATERIALS FOR OUR LIBRARIES
In addition to our Interdependent placement effort, we are having a look at other reading materials concerning the UN available through our public libraries.

This will be a three-pronged approach: (1) visit local libraries and compile a list of books and other resources currently on hand; (2) draw up a list (perhaps five) of current outstanding books on the UN or related topics (e.g. a book on Kofi Annan) which we would like to see placed on our libraries' shelves if they are not already there; and (3) ask local librarians for purchase request slips and submit those for consideration.

Again, your assistance would be appreciated in one of two ways. If you know of outstanding books to recommend, let us know. And/or if you would be willing to take steps one and three above, you can do an important job. Contact Dick Rush sometime in March, as we hope to move on this project in April.

UN DAY EVENT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The Youth/Education Committee and UN Day program have been in touch with area high schools and middle schools through Model UN and essay offerings, but we have not had much presence at the elementary level. We have decided to promote UN work at that level through an art contest, to be structured this spring and offered next school year. To think through this process, we invite any member who has experience or interest in such things to be part of the planning for it. We will be fortunate to have the assistance of Ms. Molly Babcock, an art teacher at Bennett Elementary in Ft. Collins. Please contact Dick Rush if you would like to help. We will probably need a couple of meetings, in April and/or May, when convenient for those involved.

"THAT LAND MINE THING"
For the 5th successful year Colleen Conrad's Lincoln Middle School students have distinguished themselves with their efforts to raise funds for their Adopt-A-Minefield project. The students themselves have dubbed it, "That Landmine Thing."ÿ Feb. 22 was the highlight of a year's work. Friendly and proficient students wearing our UNA-provided Minefield T-shirts served a hearty chili supper at the school to about 150 hungry supporters. Live music, a silent auction and a minefield 'game' enhanced the evening. Twelve of our UNA members supported these students with their attendance at the dinner.

The $4000 raised to date doesn't match last year's fund-raising, but there yet may be smaller dinners planned that would welcome our support. The students' photo was featured in a UN pamphlet lauding their outstanding work.

THANKS FROM COLO UNA-USA PRESIDENT
From Tim Kubiak, President of Colorado UNA-USA: Just wanted to send a note of thanks and congratulations for the vocal nature of the UNA/Colorado chapters. I was pleased to see letters to the editor from Jay Amato (Pikes Peak) and Sam Rachid (Northern Colorado) reprinted in the national office "EBlast," as it clearly signals that UNA advocacy is on the rise here, and not just because we have a more favorable audience after the elections! Keep up the good work!"

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS:
WELCOME to these members, who have joined since Annual Meeting.

Rod Adams, Fort Collins Joyce Campbell, Fort Collins James & Carolyn Peterson, Fort Collins Jo Quinn, Loveland

MATCHING CONTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITY!
The Northern Colorado Chapter Board has established a $500 challenge grant to members and friends of UNA-USA.

The Board invites you to make a contribution to UNA-USA to support chapter activities, which include monthly programs, newsletter, advocacy visits to our legislators, and an up-to-date information stream on international events. Your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar from this fund, so a contribution of $25 becomes $50.

Our total annual budget is just $1734, so your contribution really makes a difference. Supporting the UNA is a great way to ensure that accurate information about the UN and international events is available in Fort Collins.

60 WAYS THE UN MAKES A DIFFERENCE:
#13 Alleviating Rural Poverty in Developing Countries: The IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) has developed a system for providing credit to the rural poor. Since 1978, IFAD has invested more than $8.5 billion in 676 projects, benefiting more than 250 million people.

MEMBERSHIP NOTES: It takes two of us to do the membership work that Eleanor did all by herself! Mary Wolfe and Margaret Smith are Membership Co-Chairs. We have divided up the work, so that Margaret communicates with prospective members and keeps those records. She will be the one to whom new members should send dues, and she will mail them to the national office. Renewal dues should be sent directly to the national office, which sends out renewal notices. After a person first pays dues and becomes a member, Mary takes over the record keeping and communicating with people who are members. As always, Valerie e-mails the Newsletter to current and prospective members for whom we have e-mail addresses. Paul e-mails interim notices to members and friends for whom we have e-mail addresses. Eleanor still sends some notices by post-card.

PLEASE REFER FRIENDS who may be interested in joining UNA. If you provide names and contact information, Margaret Smith will send a letter or e-mail and membership application form. Please supply as much information as you can: full name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address if the person is comfortable with e-mail. E-mail Margaret at MacSmith36@.com, or call 493-3857.

DO YOU KNOW OLLI? OLLI is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a high-quality continuing education program designed for those "50 years and better or anyone of any age with a curious mind." CSU has received a grant from the Osher family for this program, and classes begin this spring. There are fees for tuition and membership. To find out more, call 970-491-5288 or go to www.learn.colostate.edu/osher.

One of the OLLI classes is a series of four of the 2006 Great Decisions foreign policy discussions. The League of Women Voters is providing leaders for these discussions. (Many other courses are taught by professors and other experts.) Margaret Smith will lead the first OLLI Great Decisions session on March 20, on the topic of United Nations Reform.

2007 GREAT DECISIONS DISCUSSIONS
UNA members are invited to the 2007 GREAT DECISIONS foreign policy discussions hosted by the League of Women Voters on the first Monday of each month, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. You may bring a sack lunch if you wish. These take place in the North Room of Plymouth Congregational Church, 916 W. Prospect. The topics: March 5 -- "War Crimes" April 2 --"Mexico: Neighbor in Turmoil" May 7 --"Climate Change and Global Warming" June 4 --"Central Asia."

By then we need a summer break! UNA members are welcome to attend any of these sessions; the only charge is $15 for purchase of the background book. Call Margaret Smith at 493-3857 for more information.

Great Decisions Discussions are also held at the Fort Collins Public Library on the first Tuesday evenings of the month. Call 221-6680 for details.

A DAY IN THE LIFE AS A MODEL UN JUDGE
On a brisk Saturday in January Margaret Smith, Jane Thompson and I journeyed south to Littleton High School to volunteer as judges for the regional Model UN. About 200 high school kids were there including about 15 from Poudre District High Schools. (Much to my surprise, one of those was my granddaughter!) Next year Fort Collins High will host the group and we will need to get geared up to help them.

Jane and I judged a session that was a mock Chad assembly. They debated amongst themselves how best to deal with neighboring countries, countries they themselves (Chadians) had abused in the past. They took on roles of diplomats negotiating, sometimes by cell phone, to members of the Security Council. The students had studied the history and politics of Chad and surrounding countries. They spoke articulately and with passion. In the end Jane, Margaret and I had the impossible job of picking who had done the best job in various categories. They were all good. I came away with some hope that the world would be in good hands if we just left it to these young people!

On lunch break I overheard a girl in the lavatory say, "This is so much fun! This is the most fun I have ever had." Makes it all worth the day spent there! --Eleanor Dwight

PEACE DOVE PINS:
UNA member Jeanne Nash is offering handcrafted peace dove brooches and tie tacks. These lovely pewter pins are just $7 and Jeanne is donating the entire purchase price to our Northern Colorado UNA chapter.

The pins will be available for purchase at UNA meetings, or you may contact Jeanne to order by phone at 484-5537 or via email at oplibro@juno.com

SIGN UP FOR UN WIRE
You may have received an email message from the UN Foundation, (Tim Wirth and Ted Turner founders) asking you to sign up for their new on-line publication called UN Wire. UNA President Eleanor Dwight recommends that you sing up for it if you have not already done so. Continued. Knowing how hard it is to get international news that in any way relates to the UN, this page fills that void.

Learn about UN Wire at: www.unwire.org. Subscribe at: www.smartbrief.com/un_wire/

ACTION CORNER:
What have UNA of Northern Colorado members been up to in the past two months? A lot! A few of the activities we've held or participated in include:

Judged at a Model UN Day in Littleton Participated in the local Adopt-A-Minefield Chili Dinner Fundraiser Attended dinners sponsored by Lincoln School students as part of the Night of a Thousand Dinners Provided 40 Adopt-a-Minefield t-shirts for the class at Lincoln Donated subscriptions to the Interdependent magazine to local libraries Submitted letters to the editor regarding the UN Presented to the Loveland AAUW regarding the UN Spoke to a class at Front Rage CC regarding the UN Hosted two community meetings with local speakers addressing UN-related issues

60 WAYS THE UN MAKES A DIFFERENCE:
#34: Providing Food to the Neediest: The World Food Programme of the UN is the world's largest humanitarian agency. It reaches an average of 90 million hungry people in 80 countries every year, including most of the world's refugees. WFP food aid is designed to meet the special needs of women and children, who are most often affected by hunger. School feeding projects provide meals to more than 17 million schoolchildren, with each meal costing just 19 US cents.

WEBSITES OF INTEREST:
UNA, Northern Colorado Chapter: www.essayz.com/unausa-noco [Past issues of the Newsletter of the Northern Colorado Chapter are archived on this website.]

Additional UNA websites of interest: Colorado Division: www.una-colorado.org National level: www.unausa.org UNICEF: www.unicefusa.org United Nations information: www.un.org

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: JOIN UNA-USA!

Please mail this form, along with your payment to:

UNA-NC Membership Director 1980 Welch St. #31 Fort Collins CO 80525
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Questions? Contact our Membership Director at 970-493-3857

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Membership in the UNA-USA is open to any citizen or resident of the United States of America who is
committed to the purposes of UNA-USA. UNA-USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, educational organization.

NCUNA Newsletter Volume 3, #2. March - April 2007