Dear Niagara Students,

           We would like to invite you to take advantage of a unique opportunity for those at your school that possess strong leadership potential. Our organization, the Council on World Affairs, has been actively engaged in administering programs that will allow students to develop appropriate skills and experientially learn about world issues. Our web site demonstrates the scope and success of these programs. During the course of the school year, we will conduct several competitions for secondary school students and in the spring, offer an event for grades 7 & 8. Prior to the above events, we will run the following conference:

 

INMUN 12

 

 A Conference on Youth and World Issues

 

 

Where: Holiday Inn, Fort Erie YMCA, Fort Erie Council Chambers

 When:  November 17-18, 2000

 Target grades: 7, 8, 9 & 10

 Workshops:

■ How to speak effectively.

■ How to develop an argument.

■ How to write a position paper & a resolution.

■ How to develop leadership and team-building skills.

■ How to use blocs, caucus, lobby, win friends & influence people.

■ How to research; sources, what to use, what not to use.

■ Conflict resolution.

■ Gender Issues.

■ World Issues & Music.

 ► Students will attend each of the above sessions.

 

Workshop Schedule:

Friday, Nov. 17

3.30  -  4.30 pm            Registration: name tags, programs (Holiday Inn)   

4.30  -  5.00 pm            Opening session         

5.15  -  6.15 pm       Meal at hotel

6.30  - 10.00pm            Workshop sessions

                                   

Saturday, Nov. 18

9.00  - 12.00am            Workshop sessions

12.00 -  1.00pm            Meal at hotel

1.15   -  6.00 pm            Workshop sessions

Fee: $12 per delegate; includes two meals and all workshop materials.

Registration: Please send a cheque made out to COWAC and a list of student names, grades, phone numbers and school to: COWAC, c/o Mike Keenan, 64 Confederation Dr., Niagara-on-the-Lake ON L0S 1J0.

For those high schools that have MUN teams, we recommend that all novices attend. For grades 7 & 8, we recommend a boy and a girl from each grade for a total of four per school. Schools with "gifted" programs may be allowed to send more depending on total numbers. The conference is limited to 200 delegates on a first come, first served basis. Students in Fort Erie enjoy a geographical advantage due to venue but we believe that this event will fill quickly. Therefore, parents should soon be alerted to this opportunity in order to register and arrange car pools. This will be truly an enriching experience. 

Staff: The conference staff consists of former Niagara students who have demonstrated excellence in Model United Nations competitions held throughout Canada, the U.S.A. and overseas.

Miriam Lapp: is an Assistant Professor of political science (area of specialization: Canadian and Quebec politics; political behaviour) at UWO. Her doctoral research focused on voting behaviour, in particular, the question of why people vote. She examined the voting rates of 5 different ethnic communities in the city of Montreal during the 1993 federal, the 1994 provincial and the 1994 Montreal municipal elections. Her research hypotheses suggested that rational self-interest was the main motivator, but findings suggested that a sense of civic duty was far more important explanation for why people vote. Fort Erie S.S., Hons. BA in Political Science and French, UWO, M.Sc in Political Science, PhD, Universite de Montreal. Miriam helped to organize the first MUN team in the Niagara Peninsula at Fort Erie S.S.

"My interest in the UN grew gradually, beginning with public speaking events on topics like peace and human rights. I was always interested in humanitarian and human rights issues due in part, to my upbringing. I learned about a public-speaking contest sponsored by the Oddfellows and Rebecca's Lodge; the topic was "What the United Nations Means to Me". I entered and won. The prize was a 2-week trip to New York and Washington, including a 1-week visit at the U.N. I met other students from Canada and the US who were interested in world politics, and this is where I found out about the Model UN organization."

Keynote speaker

Vinai Bhagirath: is a second year Hons. Arts & Science and Biochemistry student at McMaster University.  He is an editorial staff member for the Arts & Science Agora Magazine and volunteers on the Anina Bhuran Scholarship Committee.  Vinai won Top Delegate at the Dag
Hammarskjold Memorial MUN and the gavel at INMUN, and was a Vice-President for A.N. Myer's MUN club as well as editor of Ambassador Magazine.

"Through MUN debating, I have learned how to effectively deal with people, whether in large groups or on a one-on-one basis.  I have also developed a keen interest in world events and an invaluable cynicism toward media information.  Finally, the many intelligent and energetic people I have met at debates have inspired me to always try to improve myself and the world around me."

Co-presenter: How to speak effectively. 

Christopher J. Bittle: is a third year Political Studies student at Queen's. Chris was hired as Deputy Prosecutor for the student government's Commission of Internal Affairs and is Chief Prosecutor, responsible for the application of non-academic discipline at Queen's. He has participated twice at Queen’s Model Parliament at the House of Commons in Ottawa. A St. Paul S.S. grad, Chris won top delegate status at Kent State's MUN. He participated in the school musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", served on student council as treasurer and was elected valedictorian.

"MUN debating taught me many things about the world around me and my small place within it. It accords one the ability to see the world through the eyes of others who hold quite diverse beliefs and comprise nationalities and governmental systems and not necessarily shared by the narrow North American perspective.  It has demonstrated the importance of communication, allowing me to hone my public speaking and critical thinking skills."

Co-presenter: How to research; sources, what to use, what not to use 

Adam Branscombe: worked as a research analyst for a national commercial real estate firm and has since moved into business development, now in sales for Empori.com, a rapidly growing e-commerce start-up.  A.N. Myer S.S., Hons. B.A., History and the History of Science, UWO.  In MUN's, Adam won a first place at Kent State, second at Yale and argued before the ICJ at the Harvard Model Congress Europe. 

"The skills developed in MUN have been invaluable, since much of my time is spent discussing and negotiating new contracts for my firm.  Research skills used to prepare for MUN conferences were key in working in a real-world research position."

 Co-presenter: How to develop an argument.

Teresa Chan: is pursuing a Hons. B.Sc. as an Immunology Specialist at the U of T. A.N. Myer S.S. Teresa received the Mary Brant Award from Victoria College and is on the Dean's List.  She was Myer's MUN club president, editor of Ambassador Magazine published by COWAC, and Under-Secretary-General of the 1997 INMUN conference.  She has won numerous awards including best delegate at Harvard's MUN.  

"In many respects, MUN has helped mold me into who I am today. MUN debating has developed both speaking and negotiating skills, which are used time and again."

Co-presenter: Gender Issues

Alex Colangelo: is in his 3rd year of law school at the University of Western Ontario.  A.N. Myer S.S. Alex competed at many international Model U.N. conferences including Harvard, University of Chicago, and Kent State where he won a "Superior Delegate" award.  At UWO, he received the Western Scholarship of Distinction Entrance Scholarship and is considering an LL.M. program next year

"Participating in international Model United Nations conferences strengthened my public speaking, negotiation, and research skills, all of which are highly marketable skills in the job marketplace."

Co-presenter: How to write a position paper & a resolution. 

Jennifer Hollett: worked at Sony Music Canada developing online content and became the youngest manager in the company, responsible for online marketing in the New Media group.
She was president of her school debating club, won awards at Kent and INMUN and competed at Harvard. While at Sony Music, Jenn interviewed Rage Against The Machine for an HMV.com webcast, and is now one of the hosts of The Chatroom, a new live, interactive show on CTV's digital television network Talk TV. Holy Cross S.S., BA, Journalism and Communications, Concordia University.  

"MUN helped me to develop the skills necessary to talk for a living on live TV!"

Co-presenter: Music and World Issues

Kelly Keenan: recently returned from a sojourn to the South Pacific and is clerking at the British Columbia Court of Appeal. A.N. Myer S.S., Hons.B.Sc., Queen's, LLB.,UBC.  Kelly received top delegate awards in the ICJ at both the Harvard MUN and the Harvard European Congress MUN in Luxembourg and served as Secretary General of COWAC's INMUN. Kelly competed on UBC's International Moot Team.

"The most lasting effect of Model U.N. debating for me has been a lifelong interest in world affairs and a greater appreciation for the political challenges facing the countries of the world.  Almost every day I read news about a conflict or issue that I have debated at some point in my life. There simply isn't a more meaningful learning experience."

Co-presenter: How to develop an argument.

Sarah Lesniewski: is completing her final year of an Hons. B.A. in International Relations and Women's Studies at the U of T. A graduate of Denis Morris High School, Sarah has debated internationally, winning many awards including a top delegate at IMUN and Kent State. Last year, she competed in Athens, Greece. She is a residence Don in Toronto.

"MUN instilled in me a passion for international politics and social justice that has shaped my career and life paths.  It also taught me that debating isn't just for people with pocket protectors."

Co-presenter: Gender Issues

Mark Modolo:  has developed his own web site/graphic design company: New Vintage Design:  www.newvintagedesign.com and works as a Liaison Officer for the University of Waterloo.

Mark won a best delegate award at Harvard while at Denis Morris S.S. He is soon to be an Arts grad from Waterloo.

"Especially in the liaison position, the interpersonal and speech communication skills from MUN activities have given me a solid foundation."

Co-presenter: How to develop leadership and team-building skills.

Chris Pang: is in first-year Political Science and International Relations at the UWO. He has won awards at the Kent State and Harvard Model UN conferences, and recently, competed at the United Nations International Model UN at the UN headquarters in New York where he represented the United States in the Security Council. While attending A.N. Myer S.S., Chris played an active role in organizing and promoting Model UN activities in the Niagara Region. He served as school Club President, Secretary General of multiple single-day conferences, and Under-Secretary General of INMUN for the past two years

Co-presenter: Conflict resolution.

Jason E. Rehel: will graduate this year, English literature, art history and communications at McGill. He has been involved with the McGill debating union, and is a culture writer for the McGill Daily, one of Canada's oldest student newspapers. Jason will perform graduate work in communications and culture at York University. Denis Morris S.S. He has won numerous MUN awards including first place at INMUN.

"Some of the best skills, best friends and best times were a result of being involved with Model United Nations in high school. Public speaking, effective writing: yes, it produces those skills, but more importantly, it teaches young adults about the vital role that they will play in the future of our global fabric."

Co-presenter: How to speak effectively.

Andy Sawada: is an elementary school teacher for the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland
Clarington Catholic District School Board. Andy played goaltender in high school hockey and traveled to NYC, Washington, DC and Chicago in support of the Tibetan Freedom Concerts! A.N. Myer S.S., Hons. P.H.E., Brock University, B. Ed, OISE/UT

"MUN gave me guidance and encouragement to approach my future with a vastly different approach than that of others...it has helped to shape the way I am today!"

Co-presenter: Music and World Issues

Ryan Sills: is in his first year at UWO Law School after completing a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science.  At A.N. Myer S.S. Ryan played on the football and basketball teams as well as being involved with student's council.  He has competed in MUN conferences at Harvard, New York and Kent State and last year took home a top delegate award from the Harvard World MUN in Athens, Greece.

"Being part of the MUN process has given me incredible opportunities to travel and compete.  It has taught me valuable skills in research, negotiating and public speaking."

Co-presenter: How to write a position paper and a resolution.

Shannon-Marie Soni: is a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs.  Holy Cross S.S., B.A., English Literature and Political Studies, Queen's, Masters of International Affairs, International University of Japan. Thesis: the use of civilians (police and election monitors) in peacekeeping operations. MUN experiences include success at the Queen's
Model United Nations and the Harvard National MUN.

"MUN experiences complemented my course work, provided an outlet for my argumentative nature, and allowed me to hone my research, public speaking and people-meeting skills.  I don't think I would have been accepted into the Foreign Service without my MUN experiences!"

Co-presenter: How to research; sources, what to use, what not to use 

Rob Walters: is writing his bar admission exams to practice law in Ontario. A graduate of Queen's Business School and the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Rob has accepted a position with a management-side labour and employment law firm in Toronto. Rob is a former

A.N. Myer club president and INMUN Secretary-General. He competed successfully at Harvard, Yale, Kent State and was instrumental in expanding MUN clubs throughout the region to other schools.

 

"The preparation and participation in an MUN conference is similar to the stages of conducting an arbitration or trial.  Thus, the skills I developed as an MUN delegate have assisted me daily in working in a legal setting. Particularly, the research techniques and negotiations skills I acquired
through MUN participation could have not been taught out of a textbook. Students experimenting in a controlled environment best learn these skills. Role-playing at MUN

conferences gives one that opportunity."

 

Co-presenter: Conflict resolution