SEPTEMBER PROGRAM Our speaker will be William M. Ciesla, who served as Forest Protection Officer in the Forestry Department of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from 1990 to 1995. He is a forest health consultant and has been involved in a number of projects worldwide, including several FAO projects, in over 30 countries. He is said to be a great storyteller! The program will be on Saturday September 9th at 3:00 PM at the Harmony Library, Shields & Harmony, on the Front Range Community College campus. Forestry is a topic of great interest to a lot of Coloradoans. Did you ever think to connect it to the United Nations? We think you'll enjoy this fall kickoff program. Come and bring friends! UN DAY ESSAY CONTEST: To celebrate United Nations Day, the Chapter is sponsoring the second annual essay contest, open to Middle School students in Larimer County. The topic is: What is your favorite UNICEF program? Why? There are cash prizes for first, second and third place. The winning essays will be read by their authors at the October meeting, which will be held on United Nations Day, Tuesday, October 24th, in the evening. Location is To Be Determined. Please plan on attending. BOARD MEETINGS: To meet our September speaker's schedule, we swapped the dates for the September Program (now Sept. 9) and the Board meeting. Board is now scheduled for Sat., Sept. 16th, 9:30 AM, Foothills Unitarian Church. The next one will be on Oct. 7, place TBA. "WHAT'S YOUR PASSION?" SURVEY: This was sent out by e-mail (and postal mail for those not using e-mail) on August 23rd. If you haven't filled yours out and returned it, please take a few minutes and do it soon. We need to know what interests and talents we have among us to make this organization work well! 60 WAYS THE UNITED NATIONS MAKES A DIFFERENCE: This is the title of a 48-page color-illustrated booklet that gives a lot of information about the U.N. in an attractive format. We received 10 free copies. Eight will be used to give to teachers who are interested. One will be in the Newsletter Editor's File for information that can be included in newsletters, and one will be in the President's File as a reference for writing letters, making presentations, etc. If you will be writing a letter to an editor or official or making a presentation about the U.N., you may borrow a copy. Contact President Margaret Smith at 493-3857 or Editor Valerie Baker-Easley at vbakereasley@yahoo.com. RESOLUTIONS on Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Climate Change, Iran, and John Bolton were considered at the request of the Regional Conference. Our chapter's Executive Committee, Board, and Drafting Committee approved these in principle. The one on Iran is mostly covered by the one on Nuclear Non-Proliferation. Eleanor Dwight rewrote and the Drafting Com. approved changing the Bolton resolution to a more general one on Qualifications for U.N. Ambassador. We have sent these Resolutions to the Regional Representatives on the Steering Committee of the Council of Chapters and Divisions (CCD) for their consideration. This is a step toward getting these resolutions adopted as part of next year's Advocacy Agenda at the national level. If you would like a copy of these Resolutions, please e-mail President Smith at MacSmith36@aol.com or call her at 493-3857. KEN THARP, our chapter's vice-president for program and our representative to Colorado Division board meetings, is being nominated by our chapter to be a regional representative on the CCD Steering Committee. (see mention above about CCD.) The election is to be in March at the UNA-USA Biennial Convention. TUNE IN! UN Radio http://radio.un.org/ ) informs the world about UN activities through a weekday news program in the six UN official languages. UN Radio News Service at http://radio.un.org/news ) offers the American public fresh information about global issues. We can also learn about the UN and its family of organizations through UNTV http://www.un.org/av/unfamily. 60 WAYS THE UNITED NATIONS MAKES A DIFFERENCE: # 18: Providing Safe Drinking Water During the first UN decade on water [1981-1990] more than one billion people gained access to safe drinking water for the first time in their lives. ADVOCACY AGENDA for UNA-USA for 2006 includes these topics: United Nations Reform Millennium Development Goals United Nations Funding International Treaties and Rule of Law. You are encouraged to ask our Congressional candidates about these. For more information, go to: http://www.unausa.org/site/ . Under "Stay Informed" click on "Fact Sheets/Talking Points." If you'd rather have a paper copy, call Margaret Smith at 493-3857. GREAT DECISIONS: You can just "drop in" for these discussions sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Larimer County. Bring a lunch if you choose. 11:30-1:30 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 916 W. Prospect St. Mon., Oct. 2: India and China Mon., Nov. 6: Turkey Mon., Dec. 4: Energy Policy. Fort Collins Public Library, Front Range Forum, and perhaps other groups also sponsor these discussions. You'd need to register for those. IN THE NEWS: Did you see the great article about chapter member Grace Harris in the August 29th Coloradoan? Great picture too! On August 4th the Coloradoan printed a letter very critical of the UN. On August 12th it had a pro-UN letter from Will Sherman (whom we'd love to meet!) and on August 13th an "official" pro-UN letter from Margaret Smith. All of you are encouraged to write letters to the editor supporting the UN, whenever the occasion arises. OTHER EVENTS AND DATES OF INTEREST: Sept. 15-17: PeaceJam brings Nobel Prize winners to Denver! Tickets cost from $25-$100. The Sept. 17 evening features six women who have won Nobel Peace Prizes. To find out more, go to http://www.peacejam.org . Sept. 17: Global Day for Darfur. Learn more at: http://www.savedarfur.org/home . Sept. 21: International Day of Peace, established by a UN Resolution in 1981 and joined by the World Council of Churches in 2004. Being planned at the time of this writing is a potluck dinner at 5:45 PM. and a prayer service at 7:00 PM, both at Plymouth Congregational Church. Multi-Faith Coalition and Prayerworks for Peace are so far involved. You could go to the potluck only if you're not comfortable with the prayer service. Details later. Meanwhile, see: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org Sept. 28: "Women of the World" program by Dr. Martha Denney Director of International Education at CSU. 7-8 PM, Fort Collins Museum, Free. Dr. Denney spoke to our chapter in April 2005; you might want to hear her again! Oct. 20: Presentation on the UN at Salon duc Tape (at Café Ardour, 255 Linden St., Ft. C.) given by Margaret Smith. 7:00-9:00 PM, free. Oct. 24: UN Day. 60 WAYS THE UNITED NATIONS MAKES A DIFFERENCE: # 10: Ending Apartheid in South Africa By imposing measures ranging from an arms embargo to a convention against segregated sporting events, the United Nations was a major factor in bringing about the downfall of the apartheid system. In 1994, elections in which all South Africans were allowed to participate on an equal basis led to the establishment of a multiracial government. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO CONGRESS From time to time we ask our UNA members to write to Congress. Often our issues are not ones that are big in the news that day. Letters from us may well be the only ones on that subject they receive. Here are a few tips on how to write letters to Congress. 1. Be brief. Keep letters concise and to the point, ideally no longer than one page. 2. Explain the Purpose. State the reason for writing your letter in the first paragraph. If you think that the issue you are writing about is or contains an original idea, use as many facts as possible to explain your position and why it is beneficial. Tell why the issue is important to you as a constituent. If the issue has been around for some time you only need to bring up one or two points about it. Don’t let the fear of not having done extensive research stop you from writing, just get your point out there as best you can. 3. Name the Action. Express clearly and briefly what action you would like from your legislator, such as supporting a particular piece of legislation or a specific issue. Include bill numbers, e.g. S. 2095 or H.R. 5713 or other reference information. 4. Use a Polite and Respectful Tone. If possible, start off by commending the legislator for any relevant positions or actions with which you agree. If you are a supporter of the congress member or have met her/him in the past, say so. 5. Provide Contact Information. Be sure to note that you are a constituent and to provide your name and mailing address. 6. Handwrite or Type Your Letter. A mailed, handwritten letter receives much greater attention than a preprinted letter. Faxing your letter is a good idea as there is a delay in getting letters to members of Congress due to screens for anthrax. Emails and phone calls are also effective, however; Congressional offices are being inundated with emails of late, especially the prewritten letters composed by an interest group. 7. Write Again. This step is effective but seldom done. When you get a reply from the Congressperson review his/her answer. If you don’t agree, write again. Explain where you think the representative is in error or did not fully respond to your request—respectfully of course. This second letter makes the Congressional office have to rethink and rewrite their “boilerplate” letters. 8. Addressing Correspondence: Use the following format when addressing your letter: To a Senator The Honorable ___(full name)____ United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator ____(last name)___: FAX numbers: Senator Wayne Allard (R) Fax no. 202-224-6471 Senator Kenneth Salazar (D) Fax no. 202-228-5036 To a Representative: The Honorable ___(full name) ___ United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative ____(last name)___: FAX number: Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R) Fax no. 202-225-5870 Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as: Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman; Mr. Speaker or Madam Speaker. Remember that the easiest way to send letters to your legislators about important UN issues is through the UNA-USA E-Action Network. WEBSITE NEWS from Paul Smith It is time to visit the new UNA-USA Colorado Division web site at http://www.una-colorado.org I encourage all members who have web access to visit this relatively new site. It is evolving as a networking tool, more than as a static information resource The new UNA-USA Colorado Division web site at www.essayz.com/unausa-noco.htm This location is associated with the chapter secretary's website. We are exploring affiliation with the Colorado Division's website soon, or alternatively establishing a chapter site that is independent of an individual. Another useful website is:www.unicefusa.org UNA-USA COMMUNICATIONS Colorado Division: Newsletter is sent by US mail to all members for whom the Division has a mailing address. The next issue should be mailed soon. If you don't get it, please let Paul Smith (493-3857) or Eleanor Dwight (377-0863) know. National: You are encouraged to sign up for the following two UNA-USA communications to members, if you aren’t getting them: Membership E-NEWS (weekly) E-NEWS Update (monthly) Both publications are available by signing up on the UNA-USA homepage at:http://www.unausa.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp 60 WAYS THE UNITED NATIONS MAKES A DIFFERENCE: # 25: Reducing Child Mortality At the start of the 1960’s, nearly one in five children died before their fifth birthday. Through oral rehydration therapy, water and sanitation and other health and nutritional measures undertaken by UN agencies, child mortality rates in the developing countries dropped to fewer than one in twelve children by 2002. The goal is now to reduce the 1990 under-five mortality rate by two thirds by 2015. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: JOIN UNA-USA! Please mail this form, along with your payment to: UNA-NC Membership Director 907 Sailors Reef Fort Collins CO 80525 Name (please print) Address City, State, Zip Home Phone Business Phone Email Questions? Contact our Membership Director at 970-377-0863 Membership Category: Check one $10 Student $25 Introductory (first year only) ÿ $25 Fixed income ÿ $40 Member ÿ $100 Sponsor ÿ $500 Patron ÿ $1,000 Lifetime (a one-time payment) ÿ Please send information on UNA-Student Alliances ÿ Please send information on Planned Gift through the Eleanor Roosevelt Society Additional Contribution Opportunities: ÿ UNA-USA National Programs $_________ ÿ My local UNA-USA Chapter $_________ My check is enclosed in the amount of $______ Charge my credit card in the amount of $______ Check one: ? AMEX ? Mastercard ? Visa ___________________________________________________ Name as it appears on credit card ___________________________________________________ Billing address Credit Card Number ___________________________________ Expiration Date ______________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ 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.