FIRST BV Ambassador Meeting

NEW MEETING Room A-3

Weekly Ambassador Meetings Begin - Friday, Dec. 7 

3-4 pm

Bring Your Friends! Bring Strangers! 

We would like to have 30 Ambassadors this year!

MUN promises to be GREAT with YOUR participation!

Qs? email bvmodelun@gmail.com

2013 MUN Dates! Mark your calendar.

MUN TRAINING CONFERENCE  

MARCH 15 – MARCH 17, 2013
California Army National Guard Camp Roberts

12th MODEL UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT 
APRIL 25 - 28, 2013
Hyatt Regency Irvine

Please complete an interest form at BV Paperwork Roundup. The Advisor team is hoping to see all of our 2012 Ambassadors return!

Are you Y&G?

Open House and Y&G

Dear Ambassadors.
PLEASE wear your fabulous blue sweatshirt to OPEN HOUSE on Thursday night.
It's our best advertisement to recruit for next year.
Mallory and Nick will be there with information. Stop by and say hi!
Bring a friend. Let's get excited about next year.
Representatives from the California YMCA High School Youth and Government program will be there as well with information for 8th graders.

Great MUN Review and SURVEY for you!

1. All Ambassadors should complete this program survey HERE (click the link).
We have been asked by Cal YMCA to distribute it to all of you.

2. Next, you should see this super cool review about California YMCA MUN program!
One of the staff from Best Delegate attended our Summit, took some video and posted a very nice article about our little program. For those of you playing at home, the mission of Best Delegate is to help students and teachers change the world through Model UN. 

3. For the parents, if you are on FB there is a great set of pics from the conference. AND if you are a FB user, please consider becoming a fan of Cal YMCA. This is the parent organization that provided this awesome experience for your MUNchkin Ambassador!

4. Off 68! Keep an eye on the blog. We are going to be reviewed in the paper!

School Board Meeting

Please save the date.
June 12 the MUN Ambassadors are invited to attend the board meeting for Spreckels Unified.
Mr Tarallo would like Ambassadors to speak. The Advisors would like you to prepare a small speech about your MUN experience to give at the board meeting on June 12 at 7pm in the board room.
For this meeting, please wear your Summit attire.
There will be more info about this at our pizza party on Friday.
Great Job Ambassadors!!!!!

Home safely.

Please be sure to attend the end of the year celebration this Friday at 5:30 at the pizza factory. Families are encouraged to attend with their Ambassadors.

Our Candidate

Jillian with the former Youth Governor, Matt Tick. Everyone campaigning for Jillian!

Taking a break

Learning dance moves from India.

First sessions went great!

Were here having fun! This is the entertainment for the night, Street Beat.
It's like Stomp. What fun.

Poster Making Wednesday

Please come to room A3 (across from tech lab) on Wed at 3pm to make posters. It should take only 1 hour. We would like to support Jill in her quest for Secretary General! Join us! Nick and Mallory will meet you there.
Vote for Jill! She's chill!!

Position Papers or Conference Prep

Memo to All Ambassadors. 

Please be sure your position paper (or other pre-conference assignment)  is with you when we leave on Thursday. Some of you are nearly done and were finishing up at home. There are lots of links on our blog under the "Country Research" tab. On Thursday, please bring 2 copies so that Andrew can hold on to one for you in our research portfolio, just in case.

Summit Packing List and Guide

Please review THIS DOCUMENT as you pack.

Don't forget to look at the BV MUN blog. There is a LOT of information there for you.

We are all looking forward to a great trip!

MUN Summit Schedule

No need to print, you will get one when we get there. This link is for those who want to see what we're doing in LA.
MUN SUMMIT SCHEDULE HERE

MUN Delegation Meeting this Friday

We are meeting in the Computer Lab this week on 4/27.
Please bring your last $200 check for MUN program. (Total cost = $750.)
Ambassadors should try to work on their position papers before Friday.
Keep an eye on the "Country Research" tab on our blog for information.
If you don't finish, the Advisors will be ready to assist on Friday during our meeting.
Most of you found the Past, Present, Future format to be the easiest to write.

We will also be working on campaign materials for Jillian!
 Our delegation will support campaign because she has decided to run for Secretary General.

Prep for conference May 3-6
     Check your closet for MUN attire. The dress code for Summit is HERE. (scroll down on the page)
     Review the dress code and be ready to pack appropriately. You will need 4 days of appropriate attire for MUN Summit. (Of course, you can wear the same skirt/slacks twice... just change your top and voila! It is new again.) You may also pack a nicer outfit (dress, tux, jacket) for the Secretary General's Banquet. (*note, not required to be fancy, just in code.)

QUESTIONS? Email or Call your Advisors.

Only 2 Meetings Left!

This Friday 4/20 we will be in the Computer Lab to work on our Position Papers for the Summit.
Please be there to develop your position paper.

On Friday 4/27, we will finish preparations for Summit!

Travel Plans:
We are leaving BV Middle at 8:30 am on Thursday, May 3.
We will return at about 7PM on Sunday, May 6.
More details soon.

Are you excited?
We are!

8th Graders - High School Program Article

MUN 8th graders.
Here is an off 68 article about Y&G Model Legislature out of Salinas YMCA.
This is the high school program run by CA YMCA. Consider joining their delegation next year! They are having a recruitment event. You may want to attend... Can you find Mallory in the Sacramento picture?
All Ambassadors.
We will see you on Friday! You will need to prepare your position papers for the Summit meeting. We have 3 delegation meetings before the conference.

The Advisor team is VERY PROUD of all of you. We had a great conference at Camp Roberts.

Go Bobcats

The Bobcat Ambassadors had an amazing trip to the YMCA MUN training at Camp Roberts!!! The advisors saw each Ambassador speak and participate in their sessions. Congratulations to Jillian who was selected as a chairperson for ECOSOC. We are very very proud of all of our Bobcats!
B O B C A T S BV Bobcats are the best!

We made it!

The Ambassadors had a great time at opening session last night. We checked into our barracks and highlighted our program schedules. The Youth Governor and Secretary General of Y&G spoke. Our country banners look Amazing! We are sure to have a great conference.
Let's hope the predicted rain holds out!

It's time, It's time!!! Are you excited???????

Our first MUN Y&G conference is THIS WEEKEND!
Be sure you review the SURVIVAL GUIDE and PACKING LIST.
We have rented a van for the weekend. Luggage will go in Mrs. Brau's station wagon. With that in mind, please bring what you need and not what you might need should we happen to arrive in Tibet instead of Paso Robles. However, like Tibet, there are no Sherpas, so be ready to carry your own stuff.
Your actual parent will need to drop you off in person to sign the vehicle waiver required by BV. This is very important.

A few Y&G conference FAQs-
Q: Can I bring my ipod, iphone, .....other plugged in electronic devices?
A: NO
Q: How about my DSi, it's really cool. Can I bring it?"
A: NO
Q: Do I really need an ID?
A: Yes, it's a military base in a post 9/11 world. We all have to have identification
Q: What if I can't find one?
A: Email us immediately. (See the advisor tab on this blog)
You will need a suitable substitute now. Last year's ID is better than nothing.
Q: Do I need money?
A: Please bring a few bucks (~$7) for lunch on the road home. We will stop somewhere in King City so that kids don't starve on the road home to Salinas.
Q: What will the weather be like?
A: None of us went to college for meteorology, so we are checking websites.
As of now, it looks COLD Saturday night.... 37*

Conference Schedule

It's here! The MUN Training Conference Manual!
Please review the section on PREMIERE DELEGATION.
This is what we are striving for!

Be sure to come to the meeting this Friday to finish our Conference Banners.
We will meet in the computer lab from 12:30 - 2:00.

There will be no meeting on March 30. (We leave at 5pm)
See the last blog post about getting out of here for the conference.

Questions? Email: bvmodelun@gmail.com

Friday 3/23 Meeting and Conference Notes

After school Meeting March 23, 2012

12:30* Early Dismissal, meeting 12:30 - 2:00.

Delegation Meeting / Finish Country Banner Construction

Are you a creative parent? Please join us!!

Please Review the Training Conference Survival Guide and Packing List Here

You do not need to be in Summit Attire at the training conference.
Jeans and sweatshirts are just fine.

TRAINING CONFERENCE ATTIRE - MARCH

State MUN Officer and Leadership Information

BV Ambassadors.
Some of you have expressed interest in running for an office or being appointed to an office for state MUN. Please review this document and let the BV Advisors know ASAP if you are interested. You are eligible for leadership positions in the program area to which you have been assigned.
Advisors must submit your applications online by March 16.

SEE LEADERSHIP CHART AND INFO HERE

Assignments for MUN

Way to Go BV! We have 12 student ambassadors attending the MUN conferences!

Next Friday, we will meet in E2 and work on our country banners. Parents, please join us if you feel crafty. If you are bringing something for the country banner, please use the comments below.

BV Ambassadors will be representing Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan, two landlocked countries in Europe. Here are your assignments for Model UN!

Liechtenstein
Kashaun, General Assembly (GA)
Kate, General Assembly (GA)
Ethan, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)
Megan, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)
Theodore, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Hannah, International Press Corps (IPC)

Azerbaijan
Andrew, Security Council (SC)
Liam, General Assembly (GA)
Aaron, General Assembly (GA)
Thomas, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)
Parker, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)
Jillian, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Country Choices and Parent Meeting

On Friday, participants reviewed available countries, quickly determined we try for Azerbijan (they have a security council seat), and discussed the differences between Liechtenstein and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. BVMUN Country selections were then made. Deb will post the results as soon as we know them! Keep checking the blog.
Our Ambassadors did a great job!!! Did you know that Liechtenstein has ZERO debt and no military?

The parent meeting was well attended. Thank you for supporting this unique program!

Next steps, ambassadors will need to research the assigned countries and make country banners. If you are particularly creative or excited about this, please join us at the March 16 and 23* meetings.

*March 23 is a half day, consequently we will begin at 12:30 and end at 2pm.

Congratulations and Parent Meeting

Congratulations
       Aaron, our new Delegation President
       Andrew, our Secretary
       Thomas, our Ambassador of Inspiration

We will have a second parent meeting on Friday, March 3 at Buena Vista Middle School, room E2. This pre-conference parent meeting will begin at 4:30 after the delegation meeting. Please come to complete paperwork for the conferences and have your questions answered.
You can also email us-  bvmodelun@gmail.com

President Election Friday, Feb 24

Meeting Friday, Feb 24

Election of President
    If you have been nominated, be prepared to give a short speech about why you should be president.
    You will then have some time to answer questions.
      Good Luck to Aaron, Kapil, Ethan and Matt!!

$$$$$$$: Deposits are DUE Friday 2/24.
              Bring a check for $350 made out to  Buena Vista ASB

We anticipate the total cost to be about $750 for both conferences.
Travel plans can be finalized once we have our delegation numbers.
The transportation and hotel costs are impacted by our delegation size.

Delegation Elections, February 10

Be sure to attend the meeting on February 10th, 3:30 in room E2

Ambassadors will elect the following delegation officers.

President

Presides over meetings and leads the Ambassador group
Secretary
Maintains records, Presides if President is absent
Ambassador of Inspiration
Opens and closes meetings with quotes, poems or other food for thought
Serves as the spirit leader for the delegation

If you are interested in an office, you will need to be nominated and then give a brief speech.

Ambassadors will discuss possible country options at the meeting on February 10. Final country requests will be determined on Feb 24. *No meeting Feb. 17 due to vacation week.

Program Fees Due 2/24 - Calendar Here
Questions? email: bvmodelun@gmail.com

First Meeting Tomorrow!

Tomorrow afternoon (Friday 1/27), we will be in Room E2 at 3pm for our first meeting!
Please tell your kids to bring as many friends as they like.
We will not submit numbers for our participants for a few weeks.

We are truly looking forward to Model UN and having fun with your kids.
Sincerely,
Debra, Mallory and Nick
Buena Vista Middle School

Model United Nations Volunteer Staff, California YMCA Model Legislature and Court
Democracy must be learned by each generation.

Welcome Ambassadors!

Program Announcement from Eric Tarallo-

Good Evening Buena Vista Parents,

I would like to inform you about a new opportunity for BV students this year. We are holding an information night on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm in Room E2 to share information about the California YMCA Model United Nations program. The Model UN Progam is desiged for students in grades 6-8th from throughout the state. Students are given the opportunity to engage in international issues, discover other cultures, make friends, and have a lot of fun. Student ambassadors will attend a training conference at Camp Roberts in San Luis Obispo and then take part in a student-run United Nations in Irvine later in May.

If you and your child are interested in learning more about the UN program, please plan to attend Wednesday's meeting.

Thank you,

Eric Tarallo