Newsletter Volume 2,#1

DECEMBER 8TH 10:30 AM - ANNUAL MEETING of UNA-USA NORTHERN COLORADO CHAPTER Bring a friend – this is not for members only!

Location: First Methodist Church, 1005 Stover (corner of Elizabeth and Stover.)

Schedule: 10:30 Sign in – coffee “hour” 11:00 Business Meeting 12:00 Lunch (buffet – quiche, salad, breads, fruit compote, cookies)** 12:30 Speaker – Prof. Carl Hammerdorfer 1:30 Adjourn

Our presenter will be Prof. Carl Hammerdorfer, the first director of the new Master of Science in Business Administration degree in Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise. The program, the first of its kind in the country, is designed to address global challenges of poverty, environmental degradation and poor health. Previously Dr. Hammerdorfer served extensively in the Peace Corps in Mali, Africa and Bulgaria.

** Cost of lunch is $10 per person, pay at the door. Please RSVP for lunch by December 4th to Margaret Smith, by phone at 493-3857or email at MacSmith36@aol.com.

WORLD VIEW BOOK CLUB World View Book Club, a component of the United Nations Association of Northern Colorado, will be reading When the Rivers Run Dry: Water--The Defining Crisis of the 21st Century by Fred Pearce.

Mark your calendars for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11th at 7:30pm when we'll meet in the loft of the Bean Cycle in Old Town, Fort Collins. We'll discuss When the Rivers Run Dry and local and international water issues with Todd Simmons (and friends TBA) from the local action organization, Save the Poudre www.savethepoudre.org.

As always, the books are available at a discounted rate of $14.50 + tax at the nonprofit bookstore, Matter, inside the Bean Cycle coffee shop in Old Town, Fort Collins. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email Carole at carole.lundgren@gmail.com

UNA-USA STUDENT ALLIANCE, CSU: On November 8 and 29, several CSU students met with UNA President Eleanor Dwight and Board Member Rod Adams to discuss starting a UNA Student Alliance at CSU. The paperwork for registering the group with CSU and with UNA-national is underway. The group’s first event, scheduled for January 23rd, is to advertise the group at CSU’s Student Involvement Fair. Additional activities are still under consideration; some possibilities include creating a team to participate in Model UN events, coaching and judging high school Model UN’s, holding informational events focused on the UN, and assisting junior high students with Adopt-A-Minefield events.

YOUTH AND EDUCATION NEWS Now that copies of our recommended books are in area public libraries, members are encouraged to check out these three important current works:

Parliament of Man by Paul Kennedy, a comprehensive look at the past, present and future of the UN Act of Creation by Stephen Schlesinger, examines the complicated issues surrounding the founding of the UN With the Best of Intentions by James Traub, is a biography of Kofi Annan centered on his UN work

Please save the date of April 12th to help the Ft. Collins High School Model UN Club as they host their first state-wide Model UN. We want to offer assistance with logistics and judging, as needed. This club is one of the state's most active, of which we in northern Colorado should be proud. Details of how we can help will be forthcoming.

Our chapter is sponsoring a first local essay contest for high school students this spring. The topic is "UN Peacekeeping: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects.” Area teachers will be informed soon, due date is April 25th and we hope to invite winners to share their findings with us at our meeting in May or June. If you have contact with teachers or students, please spread the word.

CSU UNICEF CHAPTER NEWS The UNICEF on Campus group made ribbons and flyers to hand out on campus for World AIDs Day (Nov.30). Following a candlelight vigil, the documentary film called, "A Closer Walk" was screened. “A Closer Walk” depicts humankind's confrontation with the global AIDS epidemic.

On Halloween the group conducted a "Trick or Treat for UNICEF" in Old Town and collected $262 for the cause. Congratulations to these wonderful young people!

ELECTION ACTION: As the February caucus time draws near, watch your mailbox for a postcard with a suggested resolution to take to your respective caucuses. We will be trying to get the Party platforms to adopt resolutions supporting items like full funding for the UN.

Also, the Better World Campaign has developed a set of questions to ask the Presidential candidates to describe how they plan to approach international affairs, work with the world, and advance U.S. interests in a cooperative way. They want us to let the candidates know that three-quarters of American voters are more likely to vote for a candidate who understands that solutions to world problems require international cooperation. Also, that 70% of all American voters want to restore trust in the U.S. through strong diplomatic efforts and cooperative partnerships.

To see the entire poll results visit the Better World Campaign website at www.betterworldcampaign.org/.

ORIENTATION for new and prospective members was held on November 17. With two "orientees" and several Board members in attendance, we had a lively conversation around the work of the UNA-USA. The next orientation will be in late spring, or whenever we have a group of new members large enough to warrant it.

LIST OF UNA-USA NORTHERN COLORADO CHAPTER MEMBERS: A new edition, including contact information, will be ready for members to pick up at Annual Meeting on Dec. 8th.

60 WAYS THE UN MAKES A DIFFERENCE: #50: Generating Worldwide Commitment in Support of Children: From El Salvador to Lebanon and from the Sudan to the former Yugoslavia, UNICEF has pioneered “days of tranquility.” These days establish violence-free time periods and locations in areas of armed conflict where children can receive medical vaccines and aid. The Convention n the Rights of the child has become law in 192 countries. Following the 2002 UN special session on children, 190 governments committed themselves to a time-bound set of goals for children in the areas of health, education, protection against abuse, exploitation and violence, and the struggle against AIDS.

UNICEF HOLIDAY CARDS AND GIFT ITEMS: are on sale now at many Barnes & Noble, Hallmark and Pier One stores. Not all stores will carry the same items. You can check www.unicefusa.org for a list of stores, and other interesting information about UNICEF.

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE MDG'S? You can get updates, maps, summaries, and more on the Millennium Development Goals at www.un.org/millenniumgoals/. You can browse by goal or by country for progress indicators, success stories, and fast facts on www.mdgomonitor.org.

E-ACTION NETWORK: If you're a member and not already getting this, you can register now at www.unausa.org. You'll receive actions alerts via e-mail, with a sample letter you can edit and send.

INTERNATIONAL HOUR FOR PEACE: The 2007 December 31st International Hour For Peace will be held from 4:45 to 6:15 A.M. (yes, early morning!) at Blessed John XXIII University Center, 1220 University Avenue. The 22nd year the event has been held in Fort Collins, this year's theme is "Imagine World Peace," and the program will focus on the creation of the U.S. Department of Peace and legislation involved (HR 808.) UNA will be represented by one of many speakers.

As of Nov. 26, there are fourteen co-sponsoring organizations. Several restaurants will open at 6:30 to serve breakfast to Hour for Peace attendees; these include the Rainbow, Avogadro’s, The Bluebird Café, and Lucille’s.

The December 31st International Hour for Peace (also known as World Healing Day and World Peace Day) is a way for area residents to join people all over the planet at noon Greenwich Mean Time for prayer, meditation, music, readings, etc. focusing on world peace and inner peace for the coming year.

For more information, contact the coordinator, Dr. Vickie at 407-1351 or drvickie@att.net. You can also go to the international website, www.quartus.org/WorldHealingDay.html or the local site, www.fortnet.org/hr4peace/2006.html

MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION: The national membership office has recently seen changes in both databases and personnel. Their membership list and our local list don't always agree. Mary Wolfe and Margaret Smith may be calling or e-mailing some of you soon to see if we can clarify occasional confusion. Thanks for your cooperation in this effort!

OUR CHAPTER’S WEBSITE: UNA, Northern Colorado Chapter:

NCUNA Newsletter Volume 3, #4. November - December 2007