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2003 UNANCA
Annual Report
(click titles below)
Apendix
Message
from the President
Andrew E. Rice
During the past year, our
organizationthe United Nations Association of the National Capital
Areahas continued to grow, both in members and activity. The reports
of the many UNA-NCA leaders presented in this annual recording of our
organizational life provide rich testimony to our vigor.
How do we account for this
expansion?
I suggest several reasons:
For the first time in many
years, the United Nations has been front page and prime time news. We
in UNANCA are dealing with issues that are now on the cutting edge of
U.S. foreign policy. We have every reason to believe that this will
continue to be the case in the months and years ahead, but we need to
be cognizant of shifts in public opinion.
We have been spurred by the
report of our Strategic Planning Committee endorsed as a framework for
future action by UNA-NCAs Board last summer. The Strategic Plan
outlined a forward path for greater activity and influence. The
present annual report takes stock of our initial work on Strategic
Plan implementation and selectively updates the plan.
Our YPIC (Young Professionals
in International Cooperation) group has been remarkably energetic,
breaking new ground in its outreach and attracting a steady flow
of new members. The work of YPIC is detailed further in the review of
UNA-NCA programs contained in this report.
We have successfully melded
the energy and talent of our dedicated staffthis year enlarged to two
full- time professionals and many internswith the skills and
enthusiasm of the several dozens of members. Their voluntary
participation as leaders and members of our committees and task forces
and their generous financial contributions are the hallmarks of a
well-functioning organization. The fund-raising efforts of UNA-NCA
reached new heights over the year under review, as documented in the
report.
Today UNA-NCA is needed more
than ever. Our overall mission and vision are clear, and we perceive
no need to devote our energies to their revision as we expand our
program. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, there are many
opportunities ahead to make our organization even more effective. To
all of you who have doneand will continue to doso much, I extend my
heartfelt thanks. Particular appreciation goes to the many
contributors to this report, including especially A.Edward Elmendorf,
who integrated and edited contributions and made it possible for
UNA-NCA to convert this annual compilation of our organizations many
and diverse activities into a light monitoring and updating of the
UNA-NCA Strategic Plan.
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Executive
Director's Report
George Garland
From June 2002 to May 2003,
UNA-NCA has seen many successes in implementing its Strategic Plan.
Preparation and building consensus around the Plan itself was a major
achievement for 2001-2002. UNA-NCA also has many opportunities and
challenges to further its vision of a more effective relationship
between the United States and the United Nations. As UNA-NCA continues
implementation of its Strategic Plan, particular attention is needed
to increasing participation of YPIC and integration of its members
into the wider work of the organization, to communication, to improved
management of interns, staff, and volunteers, to the visibility of
United Nations and UNA-NCA in the National Capital Area, and to
further strengthening event management.
Performance highlights for
2002-2003 include:
United Nations Dayour annual
celebration of the anniversary of the entry into force of the United
Nations Charter in October 1945became UN Week with an expanded
program. We held panel discussions at six area universities, received
a mayoral proclamation at Marie Reed School, and had our traditional
event featuring a panel discussion on the United Nations in Africa.
UNA-NCAs annual Human Rights
Lunch celebrating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights in December 1948featured the granting of the annual UNA-NCA
Louis B. Sohn Award to Ambassador Robert White. The Lunch included a
moving performance by the Washington Operas Young Performers.
UNA-NCA disbursed over $19,000
to support a demining team in Afghanistan through UNA-USAs
Adopt-A-Minefield Program.
UNA-NCA again sponsored bus
transportation for UNA Members Day at the United Nations. This year we
had two buses and took 76 UNA-NCA members to New York City.
UNA-NCAs Perdita Huston Human
Rights Fund grew to over $55,000. The first recipient of the $10,000
award was Sima Samar, a human rights activist in Afghanistan.
Membership has grown to over
1,400. Our staff now includes two full-time positions, and our budget
has grown by about 20 percent.
Young Professionals for
International Cooperation (YPIC) continued to expand and enrich its
programs under the leadership of Lori Cloutier. YPIC is a major
contributor to UNA-NCAs growing membership.
YPIC members, under the
leadership of Elizabeth Latham, were the energizing force in UNA-NCAs
50th Anniversary Program. This celebration included seven weeks of
programs on the future of the United Nations, trafficking, gender
issues, post-conflict reconstruction, sustainable development,
HIV/AIDS, and a Taste of East Timor event featuring East Timors new
UN Ambassador.
UNA-NCAs new Development
Committee, led by Ed Elmendorf, orchestrated a very successful
end-year campaign late in 2002, and put us on a path promising success
in 50th Anniversary fund-raising in 2003. Funds mobilized rose 19
percent in 2002, and the prospects look good for achieving our goal of
50 percent increases in contributions and contributors in recognition
of our 50th Anniversary.
UNA-NCAs Annual Meeting was
also the capstone celebration of our 50th Anniversary with an address
on the first five years of the UN Foundation by Jane Holl Lute, awards
by TV personality Kathleen Mathews, live music, a silent auction, and
participation by seventeen embassies. Awards included Blue Ribbon
Awards for activities promoting the goals of the UN, the Young
Visionaries Award for college-age activism, the UNANCA winner of UNA-USAs
essay contest, and the Falkowski Award (this year to Barbara Schaaf)
for outstanding voluntary efforts for UNA-NCA.
Membership Director Michael
Dumlao has contributed significantly to the many successes set out in
this report. His work has validated the Strategic Plans emphasis on
electronic communication expertise and expanded the role of interns in
UNA-NCA. Celebrating his first anniversary with UNA-NCA on May 1,
2003, Michael has supervised interns from California, Kentucky, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Burma, Ethiopia, France, India, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. UN Express and YPICs e-mail
string both have 2,000 addressees served more efficiently with new
software. Event management has been simplified with RSVPs built into
both our electronic UN Express and the UNA-NCA web page. The web page
is increasingly an important source for event information, an adjunct
to our hard copy newsletter, the
UN Vision,
and an outlet for task forces
and committees.
UNA-NCAs new office space is
already straining to keep pace with staff, interns, volunteers, and
the needs of members. Our phone system regularly produces busy
signals. UNA-NCA made a first serious attempt to obtain grant funding
and we will build on that experience. We have also made some effort to
engage the corporate and labor communities. We have begun to have more
success in working with the school and university communities.
While the 50th Anniversary
events facilitated expanded issue-based collaboration with many NGOs,
collaboration with civic and social service organizations largely
remains untapped.
The future looks bright as we
build on relationships with embassies, work to expand our donor base
and grant support, expand our event management capacity, and work
further at planning ahead. UNA-NCA will partner with the National
Cathedral for United Nations Day in October 2003 in the National
Cathedral Tower conference room. YPIC energy and enthusiasm will
continue to help UNA-NCA explore new territory.
This report cannot be concluded
without some farewells. Over the year UNA-NCA lost a number of current
and former leaders, including former UNA-NCA Presidents Jack Corbett
and Richard van Wagenen and Advisory Council members Frances Humphrey
Howard, Jacques J. Reinstein, and Murry Schott. They are greatly
missed. Finally, Don and Daisy Grubbs are moving to Bucks County. I
would like to take this opportunity to thank Don
for unfailing support and unerring advice.
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Treasurer's Report
Firoze Rao
The income and expenditures for
2002 are listed in Appendix 2.
As most are undoubtedly aware,
the last year has been a turbulent ride on the stock exchange.
Currently the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is off by about 22
percent from one year ago. This roller coaster has
affected UNA-NCAs Endowment
Fund as well. It was off by 23 percent from the 2001 close. Our
endowment is invested in the Domini Social Equity Fund (DSEFX), which
has come through this period with a net reduction of 23.4 percent,
very closely mirroring the DJIA. If we take the $80,000 loss in value
out of the above table we would have had a net income of $21,735. We
are currently dependent on our endowment for 64 percent of our assets,
so we monitor performance of the DSEFX fund closely. The Strategic
Plan envisaged a substantial rise in the value of the Endowment to
$650,000. I cannot see this coming through market valuation gains.
With this in mind our thrust (to meet our financial objectives) has to
be three-pronged.
1. Encourage members to
actively participate in the 50th Anniversary appeal
2. Actively solicit new members
to UNA-NCA.
3. Encourage existing members
to contribute to UNANCA over and above their payment of dues.
Our Strategic Plan specifically
states: UNA-NCAs heavy and inevitable dependence on voluntary
contributions. At times like these when the markets will not allow
our endowment fund to soar at the dizzying pace we witnessed in the
1990s, we especially look to the UNA-NCA membership to assist by
active and creative fund raising. In this 50th Anniversary year we
look to the members to help make UNA-NCA what we want it to be. My
outlook for the rest of the year continues to be cautiously optimistic
and I am confident that with a productive campaign this year we can be
back on track to meet our goals and challenges for 2003 and beyond.
I wish to challenge each one of
you to make UNANCA your number one donation priority and look forward
with anticipation to reaching our goal of $650,000 in endowment in the
next three years or sooner.
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Board of Director's Reports
During the year under review
the UNA-NCA Board of Directors met six times. As in the past, an
outside speaker usually joined for part of the meeting, so UNANCA
business and further education on UN issues were combined. Outstanding
speakers included UNA-NCAs own Advisory Council member Alan Geyer, on
Ralph Bunche, and Tim Wierzbicki, a professional fund-raiser working
with non-profit organizations. Jonathan Dean described the Peace and
Security Task Forces efforts on pre-emption policy, and Anne Porowski
described the Task Force to Promote Cultures of Peace merit badge
which was submitted to the Boy Scouts of America for formal adoption.
David Scotton, Steve Dimoff, and Allen Averyt briefed the Board on UNA-USAs
new E-Advocacy system.
The Board reviewed Board roles
and responsibilities during the year. This led to increased awareness
of the responsibility of Board members for the overall work of the
organization. The review also contributed to the establishment of a
standard packet of papers to be used in briefing new Board members.
Finally, the review led to a Board self-evaluation. Overall, Board
members considered that the Board is functioning quite well, and has
been improving in recent years. Board members were quite satisfied
with the information provided to meet their oversight roles and
responsibilities. Resource development and support/outreach were seen
to merit increased attention, and led to a special presentation at a
Board meeting.
The Board adopted guidelines
for the Perdita Huston Human Rights Award, adopted a UNA-NCA
resolution on Iraq and approved a statement on Iraq from UNAUSAs
Council of Chapters and Divisions, and adopted a statement of policy
(see Appendix 1) on advocacy efforts by UNA-NCA members.
Colin Newlin agreed to work on
a clarification of the roles of Area Chairs and Vice-Chairs. He has
invited volunteers, and is working on a brief statement. The UNA-NCA
Bylaws were updated in light of the Strategic Plan, with amendments
adopted at the Annual Meeting in April 2003.
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Executive Committee
In light of the large size of
the UNA-NCA Board of Directors, the organizations Executive Committee
has assumed an increasingly important role. Meetings were held every
two months, between Board meetings, and some matters were reviewed by
e-mail exchange. The Executive Committee served as a forum for
consensus building on a wide range of issues.
The Executive Committee dealt
with Recognition Category names, pursuit of grant support for UNA-NCA,
selling auction items on E-Bay, adoption of UNA-NCAs advocacy agenda
suggestions for 2003, and major event plans, including our 50th
Anniversary Celebration and expansion of UN Day to UN Week. The
Executive Committee approved the Legacy Circle, dealt with increased
audit costs, and the communications consultants task description.
Development policies were reviewed and the 50th Anniversary Campaign
targets were approved.
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Advisory Council
The UNA-NCA Advisory Council
provides a vehicle to engage distinguished outside experts in
organization without requiring an assumption of administrative or
other responsibility for its work. It also serves to continue the
engagement of interested Board members after completion of their Board
service. During the year under review, interested members of the
Advisory Council met to review UNA-NCA plans for 50th Anniversary
programs and fund-raising. It is hoped that the Advisory Council will
come to play a larger role in UNA-NCA over time.
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Strategic Initiatives
Cooperation with Business and Labor
Further to the proposals in the
Strategic Plan to establish partnerships with the DC business
community, Colin Newlin, UNA-NCA DC Area Chair, has assumed the duties
of Liaison to the Business Community. The April 9 luncheon with
Ambassador McNamara, co-sponsored with the DC Chamber of Commerce,
represented the first formal effort to involve Washingtons business
community UNA-NCA programs. Additional such partnerships and outreach
efforts will continue. As proposed under the UNA-NCA Strategic Plan,
David Waugh and UNA-NCA Secretary Markley Roberts have assumed the
duties of Liaison to Labor Organizations. They are exploring options
with key counterparts in the labor community.
It is hoped that UNA-NCA
partnerships with business and labor organizations in the National
Capital Area can be expanded over the next year.
Other
Partnerships and Events Co-Sponsorships
Janet Burmester, UNA-NCA
DC Area Vice Chair,
and other UNA-NCA leaders such as Susan Rao and Anne Porowski,
continued to maintain an ongoing association with the League of Women
Voters of the District of Columbia. The League of Women Voters hosts
many functions and programs that fit well with the work of the UNA-NCA
and this relationship carries benefit to each.
The Society for International
Development, through its Washington Chapter (SID-W), has many areas of
common interest with UNA-NCA. Over the past year, SID-W joined UNA-NCA
in co-sponsoring a review of the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, a
discussion of Conflict and the Environment, and HIV/AIDS, the UN
and what you can do about it.
As proposed in the Strategic
Plan, the Executive Committee authorized the Executive Director to
decide, in consultation where appropriate with the President, on
co-sponsorship of individual events by other organizations by UNA-NCA.
The UNA-USA Council of Organizations (COO) also provides a natural
framework for partnerships. A volunteer to pay special attention to
organizing partnerships with the COO could make a great difference.
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Administration
Tim Barner
During the year under review the
Vice President for Administration met with the Executive Director and
President to review matters such as office space and equipment and
personnel benefits. There is no Administration Committee, but the Vice
President for Administration regularly attends Executive Committee
meetings. As of now, there is no perceived need for an updating of the
UNA-NCA administration manual prepared several years ago. However, as
the organization evolves, the Vice President for Administration and
the Executive Director may need to keep the issue under advisement, in
order to avoid risks of institutional discontinuity in UNA-NCA.
Volunteers and Interns
As is evident from the large
number of program events and other activities sponsored by UNA-NCA
with only two full-time staff, volunteers are critical to the
effective functioning of the organization. The Strategic Plan
identified a considerable number of volunteer opportunities. Some of
them were carried out during the year under review, such as the
identification of business and labor liaisons. Further volunteer
opportunities remain from the Strategic Plan and developments since
its adoption.
UNA-NCA benefited greatly from
the services of the following student interns during the year under
review: Lin Lin Aung, Celine Azais, Steven Bartley, Miriam Coleman,
Heather Denlinger, Fahad Hawandaji, Farah Khan, Cliff MacEachron,
Yodit Negedame, Kelly OCallaghan, Bunmi Oshabiolegbe, Seema Patel,
Jabeh Peabody, Scott Sikorski, Kristin and Katherine Smolen, Mike
Snavely, Yasmine Taeb, Aye Aye Khayne, Jacqueline Yu, and Anna Zelenko.
Interns provided about 7,000 hours of work! Interns made important
contributions to the organization of UNA-NCA programs, and reported on
briefings and other activities on Capital Hill and in the Executive
Branch that were of direct concern to UNA-NCA. The Strategic Plan
recommended introduction of a form for feedback by interns and
volunteers. Interns have provided such feedback over the past year,
and it is to be hoped that member volunteers will do so on major
activities in the year ahead. The feedback from interns indicates
that, in general, the UNA-NCA experience proved to be an excellent
learning opportunity. Crowded offices and limited numbers of computer
work stations and telephones were occasional points of frustration.
Office Space
When UNA-NCA moved to 1808
Connecticut Avenue, NW in August 2001, the change represented a
substantial expansion of office space. The rapid increase in UNA-NCA
programs and activities over the past two years has resulted in
occasional crowding, frequent use of conference rooms of UNA-USA and
other like-minded organizations, and sometimes to inefficiencies in
events.
Members of the Advisory Council
have also raised questions about the consistency between the location
and furnishing of the UNA-NCA office and the activities and ambitions
of UNA-NCA. While the Strategic Plan found that the current office
space would likely to be adequate for the planned expansion of
activities over the Strategic Plan period, this may no longer be the
case. An initial step could be reconfiguration of the current space
with more work stations.
Information and Communication
Technology
The importance of information
and communication technology (ICT) stressed in the Strategic Plan has
been reconfirmed by experience over the past year, for communications
with members, with the general public and within the organization. The
Strategic Plan recommended that ICT be given an identified budget
line; this was not done in the 2003 budget but is expected in the
budget for 2004. UNA-NCA is fortunate to have strong ICT skills in its
Membership Director, and can expect to benefit from proposals provided
pro bono by an American
University team.
Volunteer Alain Maiki will begin in July selectively to implement
these proposals.
They include:
1. Upgrade web-tracking software
with Webtrends 8.0;
2. Update fields on membership
forms to improve ability to asses membership strengths;
3. Add direct entry into
membership database in Access from web application form;
4. Assess and implement T-1
line, which adds phone lines, improves web update capability, and adds
speed and reliability to internet access; and
5. Assess web based credit card
processing and add to capabilities.
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Communications
Eduardo Cusicanqui
The Strategic Plan foresaw a
need for strengthening UNA-NCA communications. A number of important
steps were taken during the year under review, but much further effort
is needed. Election of a Vice President for Communications was an
initial step. UNA-NCA still needs an active Communications Committee,
with members responsible for portfolios of activity in defined
areas, as envisaged under the Strategic Plan. As proposed under the
Strategic Plan, consultants from the Executive Service Corps have been
engaged to advise on UNA-NCA communications. We count on their work to
contribute substantially to the much needed strengthening of UNA-NCA
communications. During the year our new Membership Director, Michael
Dumlao, made a number of improvements in UNA-NCAs electronic
communications, particularly its web site. A calendar has been
integrated into the web site which now takes electronic RSVPs for
events. In future, we hope to be able to analyze hits on the
web site with new software to be explored and possibly installed by a
pro bono computer expert. UNA-NCA makes increasing use of e-mail for
its communications. We estimate that about 80 percent of our members
use e-mail. Our weekly UN Express goes to a list of about 1,900, and
YPIC e-communications go to over 2,000 people. Yahoo groups were used
successfully for communications among those concerned in connection
with the 50th Anniversary Programs.
The quarterly
UN Vision
continued to keep all UNA-NCA members apprised of current activities
and programs and to promote a sense of community among UNA-NCA
members. Preliminary plans were laid during the year for writing a
UNA-NCA history, prompted by the organizations 50th Anniversary. The
Strategic Plan envisions the production of a fundraising brochure
during 2003.
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Development
Ed Elmendorf
The year under review saw a
significant expansion in UNA-NCA development activity and major
successes in fund-raising, as anticipated under the Strategic Plan.
Funds raised significantly exceeded the Strategic Plan budget
assumption of 15 percent growth per year. A Development Committee was
formed consisting of long-time UNA-NCA members and supporters and
people from YPIC. Many people contributed to the fund-raising effort,
by contacting possible contributors and by contacting others who in
turn would contact possible contributors. Monitoring and follow-up by
the UNA-NCA office staff and the Development Committee contributed
significantly to our successes.
The traditional end-year
fund-raising campaign was ably led by Gerry OConnell. Total funds
raised in 2002 amounted to $62,004 compared with $52,000 in 2001. The
share of Board members making donations has also grown; in 2002 it was
82 percent. A grant of $500 was received in 2002 from the World Bank,
under its community relations program of dollars for doers; the
doers are current or retired Bank staff who give 40 hours or more of
their time to specific community organizations.
On the recommendation of the
Development Committee, the UNA-NCA Executive Committee has established
ambitious development targets for UNA-NCAs 50th Anniversary in 2003.
The concept is to grow 50 percent for 50 Years. 50 percent growth in
contributions is targeted, from a rounded $60,000 in 2002 to $90,000
in 2003. 50 percent growth in the number of contributors is also
targeted, from 240 in 2002 to 360 in 2003. The results of the first
phase of the 50th Anniversary Campaign allow cautious optimism that
the overall contributions target will be achieved. As of this writing,
it is too early to predict whether the number of contributors target
will be met.
The Development Committee
decided to pursue grants. While some inquiries had previously been
made, for the first time UNA-NCA made a formal application for a grant
from the New Voices Fellows Program financed by the Ford Foundation
and administered by the Academy for Education Development. Our
proposal foresaw a major expansion of UNA-NCA education outreach to
schools in the National Capital Area. While our application was not
successful. The Development Committee and UNA-NCA staff plan to pursue
grant applications as time permits.
The Strategic Plan envisaged
elaboration of ground rules for fund-raising, to demarcate the
relative responsibilities of actors and stakeholders and provide for
consultation at suitable stages in fund-raising, between UNA-USA and
UNA-NCA, and for appropriate consultations between those responsible
for UNA-NCA development activity, overall, and those responsible for
the Perdita Huston Fund, Adopt-a-Minefield, and the UNA-NCA African
scholarships. Comments and suggestions for the content of such ground
rules were invited during the year, and contacts were initiated with
UNA-USA. No comments were received and no conflict appears to have
arisen over the past year. The experience of 50th Anniversary
fund-raising may give rise to further issues, so the Development
Vice-President will keep the matter under review.
During the year UNA-NCA decided
to introduce a capacity to receive donations from its web site.
Modalities are currently being worked out. Warm appreciation goes to
all who have participated in the development effort, as contributors
of time, money and ideas. In light of the evident recent success in
increasing UNA-NCAs development capacity, and recent election of a
professional fund-raiser to the UNA-NCA Board of Directors, it is not
necessary, at least for the immediate future, to pursue the proposal
in the Strategic Plan to engage a pro bono fund-raising consultant.
Donor Recognition
The UNA-NCA Strategic Plan
proposed adoption of recognition levels to acknowledge financial
support provided to UNA-NCA. After extended consultation and debate,
the Executive Committee adopted the following levels to acknowledge
annual contributions:
-
UN Millennium Goal Achiever,
$10,000 and above
-
UNA-NCA Ambassadors Circle
$5,000$9,999
-
UNA-NCA Diplomats Circle,
$1,000$4,999
-
UN Advocates Circle, $500$999
-
Global Citizens Circle,
$200$499
A further step to strengthen
UNA-NCA fund-raising in 2002 was establishment of a Legacy Circle, to
recognize UNA-NCA members who participate in planned giving to the
Organization. Members of UNA-NCAs Legacy Circle name UNA-NCA as a
beneficiary under a will, a codicil to a will, or an insurance policy
naming UNA-NCA as a beneficiary. Some bequeath a fixed amount, some a
percentage, and some have insurance with UNA-NCA as the beneficiary
and then make a contribution so that UNA-NCA can pay the premium.
Members interested are invited to contact the Vice President for
Development.
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Education
Abigail Periera
Under the Strategic Plan,
UNA-NCA created the position of Vice President, Education. An active
Education Committee has been established, and a number of initiatives
have been taken. The year under review has seen an important expansion
of the UNA-NCA education programs as anticipated under the Plan. A
small group retreat focusing on education was held in April 2002 to
launch new education initiatives, and the Education Committee has been
very active since then. We have held six committee-wide
meetings. One was a open house to which all new members expressing an
interest in education were invited. During the fall, the primary
initiative was to support the UN Day activities led by Anne Porowski.
She and her team reached deeply into the education community to
provide outreach from primary school programs through seminars at
local universities on critical UN issues. Many thanks go also to
Michael Dumlao and his team, who worked tirelessly on the university
seminars.
After UN Day the focus shifted
to the UNA-USA essay contest. The topic this year was centered on the
contributions of Ralph Bunche. It coincided with the centenary o
f his birth. We contacted many high schools to alert them to the essay
contest. We reached all of the public schools in DC, thanks to Sally
Schwartz; most of the high schools in Arlington, thanks to Emily
Carnes; and over 40 other schools in Maryland suburbs, private and
pubic, and Loudon County. We were disappointed in
the response. The snow days may
have had an impact as teachers and students scrambled to make up for
lost time and may had less time for extra-curricular activities. We
tied the essay to Black History Month when contacting the schools,
suggesting that it would be an appropriate project to celebrate
African-American contributions. UNA-NCA continues to support model
United Nations programs in the Washington area. For example,
Montgomery Blair High School
had a highly successful Model UN conference with support from UNA-NCA.
Many thanks to Ed Elmendorf and
Susan Rao, who were featured speakers at the conference. We are
exploring the feasibility of starting a Ralph Bunche Society at a
local university; it would be modeled on the one at Fletcher School of
Law and Diplomacy. This idea, stimulated in part by the 100th
anniversary of Bunches birth, is still at the information-gathering
stage.
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Programs
Elizabeth Latham
This portion of the UNA-NCA
Annual Report and Strategic Plan update provides an overview of
UNANCAs rapidly expanding program activity over the past year, and
the responses of our organizations programs to the Strategic Plan.
Reports by individual Task Force Chairs are included. Over the next
year we expect to work more closely with individual Task Force leaders
on their planning of events. The program guidelines set out in the
Strategic Plan are expected to inform consultations between the Vice
President and individual Task Force Chairs. Closer linkages between
the committees and task forces of UNA-NCA as a whole and those created
within YPIC are also expected.
The UNA-NCA Strategic Plan set
out four program themes for the organization: Peace and Security,
Sustainable Development and Health, Human Rights and International
Law, and UN Financing and Institutional Development. Over the past
year, UNA-NCA has been particularly active in these areas, as detailed
further below, through its Peace and Security Task Force, its Human
Rights Task Force, and its Task Force on Sustainable Development.
Several events were organized on AIDS, and discussions are under way
as this is written on the possibility of a broader partnership on
global health issues with other organizations in the Washington area.
Discussions are also getting started on the establishment of a Task
Force that would build on the ideas on UN Financing and Institutional
Development in the Strategic Plan, but go beyond them with generation
and review of new ideas on the roles and responsibilities of the
Security Council and General Assembly.
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Area
Chair's Reports
D.C. Area
Nicholas (Colin) Newlin, Chair
and Janet Burmester, Vice Chair
The DC Area Chair continued to
convene, through its third year, a lecture series in the District
entitled Lunch & Learn. The luncheons are the primary programmatic
contribution made by the DC Area Chair and Vice Chair to UNA-NCA.
Designed to occur in the alternating months between the UNA-NCA Board
meetings, they provide a regular venue for activity-based
participation on the part of the general membership and guests. Three
luncheons were hosted between August 2002 and April 2003. On August
14, 2002 Lunch & Learns third year kicked off with an outstanding
presentation at a private World Bank dining room by Ms. Kristalina
Georgieva, Director of Environment at the World Bank. Entitled
Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities. Dr. Georgieva
discussed the then upcoming UN World Summit on Sustainable Development
in Johannesburg, South Africa and how the Summit would shape the
collective strategies of international organizations, national
governments, businesses, and local communities. On October 9th,
Ambassador Robert Oakley spoke on South Asia: The Axis of Turmoil,
providing an informative and refreshing discussion of the major
challenges presented by the political instabilities and conflicts
within and among Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, and India. Due to
snow, the planned February 19 Lunch & Learn was rescheduled for April
9, 2003 with current Ambassador Ted McNamara speaking on Homeland
Security and Counter Terrorism at the Woodrow Wilson Center. This
event was cosponsored with the District of Columbia Chamber of
Commerce. Ambassador McNamara discussed the role the United Nations
and other international partners will play as the US-led campaign
against terrorism unfolds.
Over the past year, the Lunch &
Learn program has continued to feature distinguished speakers of
various backgrounds and disciplines, recruiting new members and
reaching a broad audience. Lunch & Learn remains a financially
self-sustaining program and will continue into its fourth year with a
record of consistent programmatic success.
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Maryland Area
Chair, Leo Edwards, Chair
Mignon M. B. Davis, Vice Chair
In cooperation with the UNA-NCA
International Law Committee, the Maryland Area Chair and Vice Chair
held a new members event on October 19, 2002. Maury Waters reviewed
the historical emergence of the concept of sovereignty and Ambassador
David Scheffer discussed the status of the International Criminal
Court. Halloween cookies by Janssen added a festive flavor to the
event! As the present report is being completed, the International Law
Task and Maryland area members of UNA-NCA are preparing to host a
panel at the Cedar Lane
Unitarian Church on
The Law and Politics of Preventive War and Pre-emptive Strikes.
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Virginia Area
Emily Carnes, Chair
Pete Brintnall, Vice Chair
The Virginia Area Chair and Co-Chair sponsored four
programs and were a resource for a fifth. One of our
goals is to promote activities
in different areas of Northern Virginia. The first was an overview of
the United Nations presented by Elizabeth Latham and Fabrice Pierre at
a Youth Festival, Choose Peace, with 35 participants most of whom
were not members of UNA-NCA. The festival was initiated and run by the
Youth Division of the SGI Virginia Area and took place in Springfield.
In August, a dinner and learn was held in
Dale City. One of our
interns, Lyn Lyn Aung, spoke about experiences in her home country of
Burma. In October a reception was held for new members of UNA-NCA.
Andy Rice was our main speaker with 18 in attendance. The fourth event
was co-sponsored with the current events group at Westminster of
Lakeridge. Jonathan Dean spoke as part of United Nations Day
activities. An audience of approximately 80 heard Ambassador Dean on
The United Nations Activities in Regard to Terrorism and Iraq.
Again, at Westminster, the Area Chair found a speaker, Werner Kiene,
Representative of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to the
Bretton Woods Institutions. He presented a Politics of Food: An
International Perspective program. The Area Vice Chair has scheduled
Luiz Gilberto to speak about Columbia. In response to the Strategic
Plan, activities have been planned to facilitate involvement of more
Virginia-area members, to engage further with schools, and to broaden
outreach to non-members.
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Committee Reports
Adopt-A-Minefield
Art Johnson
UNA-NCA raised $19,000 in
support of UNA-USAs Adopt-A-Minefield Program. The funds supported
Mine Detection and Dog
Center (MDC) Team 19 in
Afghanistan. The 30 members of MDC Team 19 are led by Ahmad Zia, a
de-miner since 1994. Team members come from all over Afghanistan and
have diverse backgrounds: former members of the mujaheddin, students,
clerks, teachers, and shopkeepers now count themselves as de-miners
with MDC. In addition to the difficulties of de-mining, the de-miners
also face the personal stress of long periods of separation from their
families. Most de-miners with MDC have families based in Pakistan, a
journey that often takes several days to make from northern
Afghanistan. The team uses dogs as part of their operations, which
play an integral role in the de-mining process. De-miners from MDC
work and train closely with their dogs, ultimately forming a strong
bond between de-miner and doga reality that prompts many MDC
de-miners to joke that they prefer to work with dogs rather than
people. MDC Team 19 has four dogs as part of their teamArgo, Arod,
Basco, and Arass. The minefield UNA-NCA adopted in Mozambique has been
cleared. We expect a report on the activities of MDC Team 19 over the
next several months. Thanks go to the Accotink Unitarian Universalist
Church, especially member Edward L. Jaffee, and Immanuel
Church on the
Hill,
especially Rev. John Smucker, for their generous efforts in raising
funds for mine clearance.
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Advocacy David Scotton
The Advocacy Committee met
bi-monthly to discuss priority advocacy issues and report
recommendations to the UNA-NCA Board on status and strategy to
address the issues. One policy issue studied was that of adopting
official positions of UNA-NCA. After much discussion a policy was
adopted (see appendix 1). The Advocacy Agenda for 2003 was adopted
after input from the Board and Advisory Council. The top five issues
were then forwarded to the UNA-USA Advocacy sub-Committee for
consideration for their 2003 Advocacy Agenda. All five were accepted
for the National Agenda.
1. US financing of the UN
system.
2. Improving United Nations
Peacekeeping.
3. US ratification of the UN
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
and its Convention on the Rights of the Child sponsored by UNICEF.
4. Initiatives to improve
global health.
5. Monitoring of arms control
Issues and controlling weapons of mass destruction.
The UNs role in Iraq was the
uppermost discussion throughout the UNA. Our Advocacy Committee
participated in developing the UNA-USA position on the most critical
issue. Another major accomplishment is the Presidents support for
US reentry into UNESCO. A number of our Chapter members advocated
very publicly for this important long overdue action. Follow-up and
monitoring will be critical, to ensure that the issue is not long in
the State Department or on the Hill.
We continued to co-sponsor
Congressional staff briefings. We are also supporting the UNA-USA
Conventions Day on the Hill.Our advocacy success is due in a large
part to our highly capable and committed members, who speak out on
our issues. UNA-NCA constitutes a unique advocacy resource through
its members and wide network of contacts in the National Capital
Area.
Cooperation with UNA-USA
Cooperation between UNA-NCA
and UNA-USA has been exemplary over the past year. The active
involvement of UNA-NCA President Andy Rice in preparation of the UNA-USA
National Forum on the US and the UN in June 2003 cemented these
relationships. The UNA-NCA Advocacy Committee continued its strong
cooperation on advocacy with UNA-USA during the year. The Strategic
Plan envisaged further institutionalization of the relations between
UNA-NCA and UNA-USA in a Working Group on UNA-USA UNA-NCA
Cooperation. During the year under review, on the recommendation of
the UNA-NCA President, the Advocacy Committee fulfilled this
function. UNA-NCA may revert to the matter should the need arise.
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Africa Osita N. Iroku
The Committee worked with
Shiloh Baptist Church to help an orphanage in Kenya for children whose
parents had died from HIV/AIDS. Shiloh Baptist gathered 40 boxes of
books and clothing for the orphanage. Complications in delivery to
Kenya gave rise to a search for an alternate destination, which could
pay for shipping. Kwame Fitzjohn and other alumni of a school in
Sierra Leone were able to ship the goods from Shiloh to the school in
Sierra Leone. The Committee also supported scholarships for girls in
Togo ($10 pays for tuition for a year). Late in the period under
review, Kendra Park assumed the position of Committee Chair. Planning
for new programs is under way.
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Task Force to Promote Cultures of Peace
John McDonald and Carole Hall
The Task Force to Promote
Cultures of Peace was founded in November 2000 to reaffirm and
strengthen UNA-NCAs role in the promotion by UN organizations of
cultures of peace worldwide and to coincide with UNESCOs Decade for a
Culture of Peace (2001-2010). The Task Force seeks to promote cultures
of peace by helping to educate the public on the culture of peace
concept and by creating a comprehensive network of peace-builders.
In January 2003, the Task Force
submitted a proposal from UNA-NCA to the Boy Scouts of America to
create a new Cultures of Peace Boy Scout Merit Badge. It designed the
badge and wrote a 64-page booklet, with the assistance of a
Scoutmaster and several Boy Scouts from local Troop 1548, describing
the criteria for earning the badge. This proposal now awaits approval
from the Boy Scouts National Council. If it is approved, the Task
Force will create a similar Cultures of Peace Merit Badge for the Girl
Scouts of America.
The Task Force is currently
developing a pilot program to support the Global Campaign for Peace
Education by the Hague Appeal for Peace. It seeks to promote peace
education and peer mediation for youth by introducing more or
enhancing existing peace education to school curricula and activities
in local schools in grades kindergarten through 12. Outside speakers
involved in peace education are being invited to our meetings to help
us brainstorm with this project. At the end of each meeting, coffee
and dessert are served to allow a more personal continuation of the
discussions. The Task Force welcomes new members from UNANCA,
especially the YPIC.
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Embassy Events Ann McDonnell
UNA-NCA held two interesting
and well-attended embassy receptions in the fall of 2002. UNA-NCA
members and guests gathered on September 9 at the Swiss Embassy to
celebrate the historic entry of Switzerland into the United Nations,
following decades of neutral support of the organization but refusal
to join until a successful referendum supported membership. On October
7, UNA-NCA enjoyed indigenous music and dance at the Indonesian
Embassy. The Indonesian Ambassador joined the Gamelan players and
played several different instruments! Further events will be planned
for later in 2003.
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Finance Don Grubbs
The Finance Committee prepared the proposed budget for 2003 and
presented it to the Board for approval. The budget for 2003 and the
UNA-NCA statement of income and expenses for 2002 are in appendices 2
and 3.
The Finance
Committee also reviewed the auditors draft report for calendar year
2001 and distributed the final text to the Board. The auditor issued
an unqualified opinion. The Committee also authorized the firm of
Snyder Cohn again to perform the audit for 2002. Any member may obtain
a copy of the audit report from the UNA-NCA office.
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Florence
Pepper Schott Endowment Florence Schott, Allen Beach
The Florence Pepper Schott
Endowment Fund of UNANCA continues to be an integral part of the
funding of our association. It is a significant success story in the
history of UNA-NCA. The funds contributions to operations in 2002
amounted to eighteen percent of revenueswell in excess of the share
of most small nonprofit organizations. The DSEFX attempts to cater to
the social and financial objectives of socially conscious investors
with the long-term objective of capital growth and environmental sound
priorities. With these goals in mind the DSEFX is the appropriate
place for us to be invested.
During 2002, contributions to
the Fund amounted to $13,438. The Funds rules, approved by the
UNA-NCA Board of Directors, require that it transfer four percent of
its value each year to UNA-NCAs operations, or as a minimum the
amount of the previous year. This sets a minimum contribution to
operations of $21,858. This arrangement ensures support to operations,
even when as in the past several yearsfour percent of the value of
the Fund was less than $21,858. However, it risks eroding the value of
the Fund. As recommended by the Endowment Committee, the Board has
approvedcontinuation of this arrangement for one more year. If the
value of the Fund continues to fall, the arrangement may need to be
reviewed. Our Fund continued to be invested in the Domini Social Fund.
Like most funds, 2002 was not the best of years, and at the
close the value of the fund was $270,806.
The Strategic Plan foresees
growth in the Endowment Fund to $650,000 by 2006. The Fund did not set
out a specific plan to achieve this level, which could come through
increases in market value of Fund assets, through increases in
voluntary contributions to the Fund, through transfers of any surplus
from operations, or some combination thereof. Despite the probable
success of the 50th Anniversary Campaign, it is unlikely that routine
campaign efforts will be able to mobilize sufficient resources for the
Fund to reach the Strategic Plan level. Efforts are now being made to
encourage members to name UNA-NCA as a beneficiary under their wills,
but this work is likely to lead to substantial increases only over
many years. There is some risk that a special capital campaign would
undermine contributions to operations.
In light of the above, it would
be prudent to revise the expected value of the Endowment Fund at the
end of the Strategic Plan period to $450,000. Achieving this
level would permit transfers at the level of previous years without
eroding the capital value of the Endowment.
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International Organization Fellows Program Pierre Sales
The UNA-NCA International Organization Fellows Program continues to
support education of graduate students from various local universities
on issues of concern to international organizations. The Fellows meet
for bi-monthly seminars and discussion periods on hot issues. Pierre
reports that it was an unusual year. For the Spring session,
thirty-eight graduate students were admitted into the Program, whereas
we received applications from only seven students for the Fall
session. The participating universities, when contacted, were dismayed
and could offer no explanation. For the Spring 2003 Program, however,
we set a new record with forty-one applications. There has been an
interesting development in the composition of our students. There are
now more Asians and women in our group. In descending order, George
Washington University, American University, John Hopkins University (SAIS),
Organization of American States, University of
Maryland, and George Mason continue to participate in our Program.
Georgetown University was an
early dropout; Catholic University, University of the District
Columbia, and, most recently, Howard University have been unable to
provide qualified graduate students.
The substance of the IO Fellows Program Seminars and its speakers have
remained unchanged in recent years. The Environment, the Millennium
Project, Conflict Resolution, Multi-Track Diplomacy, among others,
remain hot issues and the same specialists perform steadily.
A
new element was introduced in the seminars over the past year through
the World Bank. The World Bank Speakers Bureau accepted our Fellows to
participate in their program. It is a very popular program to which
about 300 students are invited to listen to World Bank speakers.
Chandler von Schroeder, Bill Mansfield, and Pierre Sales continue to
be a threesome in the management of the Fellows Program. Bill is also
a treasured speaker on our panel. Our operating network has long been
based at GW. Its location in the center of town affords easy access,
and it has provided us with excellent facilities and space in a modern
setting. Its staff is always ready to help.
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UN Global Community Day 2002 Anne Porowski
The most important new dimension of UNA-NCAs
education program over the past year has been the expansion of our
traditional United Nations Day program in October, on the occasion of
the celebration of the ratification of the UN Charter, into a UN Week!
About 650 UNA-NCA members and the general public enjoyed the "United
Nations and US: A Celebration of the United Nations" conducted from
October 24 through October 26. UNA-NCA expanded its observance of the
UNs birthday with events at six universities, an assembly
at the Marie
Reed Community
Learning Center, the
flying of UN flags on Pennsylvania Avenue, a Proclamation by DC Mayor
Anthony Williams, and a debate at the Cato Institute. Our traditional
Saturday event featured a panel on the United Nations in Africa. AYPIC
Gala at DACOR-Bacon House capped off the week.
Our Strategic Plan encourages
collaboration with other like-minded organizations, schools, colleges
and educators. Our efforts succeeded on all fronts, and we intend to
build on our accomplishments in UN Week in October 2003.
University events included
forums at George Mason
University on
Peacekeeping and Post-Conflict Resolution, at George
Washington
University on Global HIV/AIDS, at the University of the District of
Columbia on Universal Access to Education, at American
University on
Democracy Post Saddam Hussein, at Howard
University on Roots
and Prevention of Terrorism, and at Georgetown
University on the
International Criminal Court. Topics were selected through an internet
poll of students. The Cato Institute event provided a lively
discussion of Does US Intervention Overseas Breed Terrorism? The
Historical Record.
Speakers at the Marie Reed
Community Learning Center assembly included Assistant Secretary of
State in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs William Wood
and Jack Christofides, Office of the Under-Secretary for Political
Affairs, United Nations. Presentations by the Marie Reed Glee Club,
student leaders from Dunbar and Eastern
High Schools, and of
the mayoral proclamation rounded out the program.
Our traditional Saturday event
featured a panel on the United Nations in Africa with Robert Berg,
Vivian Lowery Derryck, Werner Kliene of the World Food Program, and
United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs,
Tuliameni Kalomoh. We added a Young Visionaries Award to our Blue
Ribbon Awards and enjoyed the Air Force Color Guard from Howard
University and the
Soka Gakkai International-USA Chorus. We admired a cake donated by Red
Sage restaurant and many exhibits including the usual rich display of
UN publications from the United Nations Information Center.
The YPIC Gala saw many young
(and old) professionals enjoying the music of David and the Best Band
on the Block and devouring our UN Birthday Cake as a fitting close to
a memorable tribute to the United Nations.
Our ambitious and highly
successful initiative last year for the UN Day celebrations will be
continued and expanded this year with the help of a new co-chair,
Ambassador Ronald Palmer. The UN Day Committee will provide
significant education outreach to the community.
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Human Rights Task Force John Salzburg and Luke Lee
The main activity of the Human
Rights Task Force is arranging for the Human Rights Day Luncheon on or
about December 10th. This year the luncheon was held in the ornate
Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building. More than 200
people attended. One of the highlights of the meeting is the
presentation of Human Rights Awards given in the name of the UNA-NCA
on the proposal of the nominating organization. Twenty-six
organizations made nominations that were accepted, including such
groups as the American Bar Association, American Friends Service
Committee, Amnesty International USA, International Labor
Organization, Voice of America, and the Episcopal Diocese of
Washington. A special treat at the luncheon was a performance
sponsored by The Young Artists Program of the Washington Opera.
UNA-NCA gave its annual Louis B. Sohn Award to former US Ambassador
Robert E. White, President, Center for International Policy.
Ambassador White gave the keynote address, Seeking Peace with Justice
in Colombia. He criticized the US military approach to the civil war
in that country. Noting the US focus on Colombias production of
illicit drugs, White stated: There are many bad ways to make foreign
policy but surely one of the worst is to take a complex challenge and
reduce into a single issue. His address is reproduced in full in
UNA-NCAs UN Vision
(Vol. 50, No. 1).
The Human Rights Task Force hosted several events on the Middle East
with The Honorable Philip C. Wilcox, President, Foundation for Middle
East Peace; Shaker Elsayed, Secretary-General, Muslim American
Society; and a panel on Womens Rights in Islam and Muslim Societies.
The Task Force is also represented on the Committee for the Perdita
Huston Award. Discussions were initiated during the year on a broader
cooperation and membership of the Task Force, including linkage
with the Human Rights group of YPIC. It is hoped that these
discussions will bear fruit with an expanded UNA-NCA human rights
program over the next year.
Following testimony on Capitol
Hill that afternoon, at the Award Ceremony Dr. Samar reviewed progress
in Afghanistan and urged continued commitment in light of tremendous
need. UNA-NCAs Page Wilson, along with Perditas grandchildren, gave
Dr. Samar the Human Rights Award check for $10,000. Page reminisced
about meeting Perdita 30 years ago and sharing bewilderment that
international population meetings were the preserve of demographers
who apparently thought children came from governments with all but no
involvement of women.
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Perdita Huston Human Rights Awards
The Perdita Huston Human Rights Award is a UNA-NCA innovation created
during the year under review and granted for the first time in June
2003. UNA- CA has received over $55,000 in donations for the Perdita
Huston Human Rights Fund. In cooperation with members of Perdita
Hustons family, UNA-NCA established the Fund a year ago to celebrate
the memory of UNA-NCA leader Perdita Huston. (Other contributions
covered expenses of the award event.) The Perdita Huston Human Rights
Award Selection Committee, including Pierre-Marc Diennet, Karen
Mulhauser, Thoraya Obaid, UNA-NCAs John Salzberg, and Gloria Steinem,
reviewed 42 impressive nominations for the award and selected Dr. Sima
Samar, head of the Human Rights Commission in Afghanistan, for her
dedication to the human rights, education and health of women in
Afghanistan. Mulhauser and Associates acted as secretariat for the
award selection process and managed the award ceremony. The ceremony
was held at the Institute of International Economics, through the good
offices of Nancy Birdsall and the Center for Global Development.
Gloria Steinem and Eleanor Smeal urged standing room only attendees to
work for the much needed appropriations on aid to Afghanistan; they
reported that the President had signed the authorizing legislation but
funds had not yet been appropriated. Following testimony on Capitol
Hill that afternoon, at the Award Ceremony Dr. Samar reviewed progress
in Afghanistan and urged continued commitment in light of tremendous
need. UNA-NCAs Page Wilson, along with Perditas grandchildren, gave
Dr. Samar the Human Rights Award check for $10,000. Page reminisced
about meeting Perdita 30 years ago and sharing bewilderment that
international population meetings were the preserve of demographers
who apparently thought children came from governments with all but no
involvement of women.
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Media Tom Gause
UNA-NCA continued to sponsor community access TV programs over the past
year. Programs aired three times weekly in Northern Virginia, and twice
weekly in DC, with repeat showings. A number of UNA-NCA leaders were
featured. Participants and their subjects in 21 half-hour television
programs managed by Tom Gause included: Phyllis Craun-Selka, UN-Led
Campaign to Reverse HIV-AIDS; Ralph Hines, Director, International
Education, Department of Education, Foreign Policy in a Democracy; Lam
Djordie, Executive Director, Bhutans Royal Society, Protection of
Nature, Saving the Last Shangri-La; Bill Meadows, President, The
Wilderness Society, AlaskaIts Splendor Endangered; Ann Swanson,
Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission, The Bay Needs Everyones
Help; Dr. A. M. Jega, Director, Center for Democratic Research and
Training, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, Democracy, Oil, and the
People; Stacy Oliver, Environmental Program Manager, World Federalist
Association, Global Warming and Johannesburg; Tim Cooper, Executive
Director, Democracy First, Kathy Schmidt, Board member, D.C. League of
Women Voters, The Nations CapitalCitizens Without a Vote.
In addition to UNA-NCA speakers, the CATV
program benefited from the support of interns and
volunteers, including Mignon Davis and Evelyn
Falkowski. Further intern support could be productively used, and it
would be desirable to explore linkages with the Area Chairs and Vice
Chairs. The UNA-NCA 50th Anniversary Passport to Peace
program was recorded for subsequent CATV broadcast.
A number of proposals for review and
strengthening of the Community Access TV programming sponsored by
UNA-NCA were set out in the Strategic Plan, and the CATV Committee has
initiated action. The UNA-NCA logo is included on the screen, and some
programs include a crawl at the bottom of the screen stating For
further information contact UNA-NCA. 277,000 CATV
connections are reported in Northern Virginia, 229,000 in Montgomery
County, and 120,000 in
Washington DC. Viewership might
be better understood if more volunteers or interns were available for
the required survey research.
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Membership
Committee Mary Louise Becker
The
UNA-NCA Strategic Plan sets out a membership goal of 1,700 by 2006. We
have already met and exceeded the 2003 goal of 1,400 members, and are
now working on next years goal. Retention of existing members
continues, nonetheless, to be a major issue, and continuing intensive
work is needed to be able to reach the Strategic Plan goal of 1,700. Our
efforts involve both initiatives to obtain new members and to retain
existing members. Of the twenty-one proposed membership actions in the
Strategic Plan, seventeen have been implemented or are in the process of
implementation. The remaining four are being explored for future action.
UNA-NCA continues to retain its position as the largest UNA chapter and
division nationwide. A major initiative by the Chair of the Membership
Committee is the acquisition of membership lists of organizations with
similar interests from which to draw prospective members. These lists as
well as those of attendees at the Human Rights Luncheon, UN Community
Day, and a variety of other sources identified prospective members who
were sent letters of invitation and newsletters. In addition,
newsletters welcomed and listed new members. Lapsed members were
systematically contacted and invited to renew. Other initiatives
included continuing outreach to students, teachers, Young Professionals,
and Model UN participants. Board members have been especially helpful in
identifying prospective members. Complimentary memberships went to
UNA-NCA interns. Members were encouraged to give memberships as gifts to
friends and relatives. Other vehicles for membership recruitment include
the UNA-NCA web site, and community access TV programs. UNA-NCA
President Andrew E. Rice sent letters of welcome to new members and the
Membership Committee supported Area Chairs in arranging receptions at
which new members were welcomed and acquainted with the broad range of
UNA-NCA activities.
UNA-NCA has recently completed a significant expansion of its computer
system to facilitate moresystematic tracking of the sources of our
membership and various membership demographics. While our present
understanding of the sources of new members remains weak, there are some
indications that UNA-NCAs main recent sources may be its web page and
its programs, especially YPIC events. The Membership Committee Chair,
the Director of Membership Services and the Executive Director are
consulting to fine tune the computer system even further, to increase
the data available to examine this and other possibilities.
The
Membership Committee is actively pursuing membership in the
African-American community andother ethnic communities in the National
Capital Area. We seek further to increase our roster of Membership
Committee volunteers interested in membership recruitment and retention,
to support further expansion of our activities. Should a need for
further strengthening of UNA-NCA membership activity be widely
perceived, consideration could be given to appointing a Co-Chair on the
Membership Committee, following the example of the UNA-NCA Human Rights
Task Force and its Sustainable Development Task Force.
Membership Committee members include Lori Cloutier, Mignon Davis, Evelyn
Falkowski, Molly Farrell, Andrea Gruhl, Abigail Pereira, and Markley
Roberts.
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Nominating Tim Barner
As
in past years, during the year under review, the UNA-NCA Nominating
Committee played a critical role in ensuring organizational continuity
and managing leadership succession. The Committees nominations were
unanimously adopted at the UNA-NCA Annual Meeting in April 2003. The
Committee nominated candidates for President (Andrew Rice) and Virginia
Area Chair (Emily Carnes). No other UNA-NCA officer positions were to be
filled.
In nominating candidates for the UNA-NCA
Board of Directors, the Committee based its work on the UNA-NCA Bylaw
provision for a Board of up to eighty persons. It used the following
criteria in selecting candidates among those recommended to it: age
balance by bringing in younger people; ethnicity; expertise in
geographic and/or policy areas; contacts and connections; development
work (fund-raising); potential as major donors; and willingness to join
as a member. In contacting candidates to ascertain their willingness to
serve, the Committee also provided to them the UNA-NCA Strategic Plan,
2002 Annual Report, Board Responsibilities document, and UNA-NCA Bylaws.
The Committee nominated the following Board members for another term:
Werner Gruhl, Don Kraus, David ONeill, Susan Rao, and Mary Oakes Smith.
The following new candidates were proposed by the Committee: Thomas M.
Adams, Julius Coles, Neely Dahl, Mary Daughtrey, Philip Farah, Kenneth
Jacques, Yasmine Taeb, Tim Wierzbicki, and Ann Wilcox.
The
Nominating Committee recommended to thePresident that certain Board
members not eligible for re-election be considered for appointment to
the UNA-NCA Advisory Council. Finally, it recommended new names to the
President for consideration for appointment to the Advisory Council.
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Task Force
on Peace and Security Jonathan Dean
In
the summer of 2002, the UNA-NCA Task Force on Peace and Security
continued to distribute and to discuss with other NGOs its report on al
Qaeda terrorism. The report proposed that a program be developed to
undermine al Qaedas extremist ideology and its appeal to new
suicide-mission recruits through modern, secular education organized by
a United Nation education foundation.
On September 17, 2002, the Task Force
organized a celebration of the United Nations Day of Peace with a talk
on the United Nations by former United States UN Permanent
Representative Donald McHenry. Ambassador McHenry summarized the main
proposals for strengthening the United Nations and the obstacles to
their fulfillment. He forecast that the United Nations would continue to
increase its competence, but that progress would be slow.
In September-October, 2002, in cooperation
with the Human Rights Task Force, the Peace and Security Task Force
developed and proposed a resolution opposing armed intervention in Iraq
which was adopted by the UNA-NCA board. From September, 2002 to May,
2003, members of the Task Force, meeting jointly with several members of
YPIC, held six two-hour sessions to analyze the administrations policy
on preemptive attack, which provided the rationale for the US-UK
military action against Iraq, and to prepare a report on that subject
for dissemination to other chapters of UNA and for
presentation in the panel discussion to be held in June, 2003 in the
framework of the National Forum on the United States and the United
Nations.
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Perdita Huston Human Rights Fund John Salzberg
The
Perdita Huston Human Rights Award is a UNA-NCA innovation created during
the year under review and granted for the first time in June 2003. UNA-
CA has received over $55,000 in donations for the Perdita Huston Human
Rights Fund. In cooperation with members of Perdita Hustons family,
UNA-NCA established the Fund a year ago to celebrate the memory of
UNA-NCA leader Perdita Huston. (Other contributions covered expenses of
the award event.) The Perdita Huston Human Rights Award Selection
Committee, including Pierre-Marc Diennet, Karen Mulhauser, Thoraya Obaid,
UNA-NCAs John Salzberg, and Gloria Steinem, reviewed 42 impressive
nominations for the award and selected Dr. Sima Samar, head of the Human
Rights Commission in Afghanistan, for her dedication to the human
rights, education and health of women in Afghanistan. Mulhauser and
Associates acted as secretariat for the award selection process and
managed the award ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Institute of
International Economics, through the good offices of Nancy Birdsall and
the Center for Global Development. Gloria Steinem and Eleanor Smeal
urged standing room only attendees to work for the much needed
appropriations on aid to Afghanistan; they reported that the President
had signed the authorizing legislation but funds had not yet been
appropriated. Following testimony on Capitol Hill that afternoon, at the
Award Ceremony Dr. Samar reviewed progress in Afghanistan and urged
continued commitment in light of tremendous need. UNA-NCAs Page Wilson,
along with Perditas grandchildren, gave Dr. Samar the Human Rights
Award check for $10,000. Page reminisced about meeting Perdita 30 years
ago and sharing bewilderment that international population meetings were
the preserve of demographers who apparently thought children came from
governments with all but no involvement of women.
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Speakers
Bureau Report Evelyn Falkowski
Over the year, the UNA-NCA Speakers Bureau continued
to perform an important communications function. Speakers Bureau
outreach could be better with a committee to work with the Chair on
contacting organizations seeking
speakers on UN-related issues. In accordance with the Strategic Plan,
speakers could inform student groups, religious groups, retirement home
or other community groups (from ABA to Zonta International)any group
that would appreciate good information about United Nations issues. A
committee might also expand our list of experienced speakers.
Anyone interested should contact UNA/NCA Executive Director George
Garland or the Speakers Bureau Chair.
The Speakers Bureau thanks many
speakers who covered a wide variety of topics, including:
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Sarah Albert, Public Policy
Director, General Federation of Womens Clubs, on CEDAW to American
Association of University Women (AAUW), Woman's National Democratic
Club (WNDC), and a Gaithersburg community group;
Susan Bradford, freelance
writer, on the International Criminal Court to Goodwin House,
Alexandria;
Dawn Calabia, Deputy
Director, UN Information Center, Washington, panelist on UNICEF, to
Georgetown UNICEF Students Club;
Jonathan Dean, UNA and Union
of Concerned Scientists, on topics related to peace and security, to
League of Women Voters (Virginia), World Federalists, and others;
A. Edward Elmendorf, UNA-NCA
Vice President for Development and World Bank Consultant, on Africa
and on the World Bank, to D. C. League of Women Voters and twice at
Goodwin House, Alexandria;
George Garland, Executive
Director, UNA-NCA, on The Emerging Role of the UN to D. C. League of
Women Voters, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Goodwin
House, and a Baltimore group;
Perdita Huston, late UNA-NCA
Board member, in fall 2002, on "Families as We Are," to AAUW DC
Branch;
Mindy Reiser, UNA/NCA board
member, on "US Foreign Aid--Post September 11: A New World," to AAUW,
DC;
Andrew E. Rice, President,
UNA/NCA, to a League of Women Voters Virginia group and to the
Washington Ethical Culture Society on "The Quest for Global Peace,
Freedom, and Justice: Can the UN Play a Stronger Role?";
Kani Xulam, American Kurdish
Institute Network (AKIN), on Kurdish Issues, to AAUW, DC Branch and
Woman's National Democratic Club;
and Casimir Yost, Director,
Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy on
Coalitions for War and Peace, to the Womans National Democratic Club.
Other UNA-NCA leaders spoke after
being contacted directly by groups familar with them, or spoke for
UNANCA after being recruited by the UN Day Coordinators or the Vice
President for Programs and her committee for UNA-NCAs 50th anniversary
series. Board Member Leo Edwards may again arrange a late summer lawn
party hosted by a diplomat, with several speakersthis has
often been a summer highlight.
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Sustainable
Development Task Force
Gloria Scott, and Page Wilson
With the UNA-USA Council of Organizations, the
Washington DC Chapter of the Society for International Development, and
the US Committee for UNIFEM, the Task Force sponsored briefing on A
Review of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. What was
accomplished? What was left in the dust? What do partnerships mean for
the future of the UNs work and for sustainable development? A panel
representing the private, non-governmental, governmental, and
intergovernmental sectors framed what took place in Johannesburg and
what it means for the future. The panel included Jonathan Margolis,
Director, Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives, Bureau of
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S.
State Department; Michael Marvin, President, Business Council for
Sustainable Energy; John Passacantando, Executive Director, Greenpeace
USA; Brennan Van Dyke, Director of the Regional Office for North
America, UN Environment Program (UNEP); and Folabi Olagbaju, Director,
Just Earth! Program, Amnesty International USA on September 19, 2002.
In March 2003, the Task Force sponsored "The Nile
River Basin: The Search for Sustainable Development" by Alaa Sarhan,
Cultural Attaché, Embassy of Egypt.
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2002 YPIC
Annual Report
YPIC
is dedicated to providing its membership with knowledge about the United
Nations and with opportunities for mentorship and exploration of careers
in international fields. Over the past year, YPIC has increasingly
improved the quality and quantity of its activities and opportunities
for members. YPIC has almost doubled its list-serve to over 1,850 e-mail
addresses and has created two new committees, which focus on
international law and Latin American affairs issues, to address a
broader range of United Nations-related topics. YPIC explored key UN
issues through substantive events on topics related to our seven YPIC
committees: Africa, Human Rights,
International Law, Latin America, Peace and Security, Public/Private
Partnerships, and Sustainable Development. For example, YPIC members
discussed the United Nations and the future of global security with a
distinguished panel in the fall of 2002. YPIC also served its membership
through career events and mentorship opportunities. Our Careers in Latin
America event drew over 280 attendees. YPIC also partnered with the
Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR) to host a mentoring
series for those interested in Foreign Service careers. YPIC expressed
its commitment to cultural diversity through activities such as the
Taste of series. These events featured a discussion about and a
sampling of cuisine from a specific country every other month. YPIC will
continue to expand its activities and collaboration with other UNA-NCA
task forces and committees, so it can offer additional opportunities to
its members in the future.
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