Our District 5340 is the only one in the United States with a Rotary Model United Nations Program, started by our District's Pathways to Peace Committee eight years ago. Rotary International has a long and proud association with the U.N., with Rotarians involved in its charter, and having the highest consultative status of any nongovernmental organization. We are partners with the U.N. in our PolioPlus initiative.

Rotary clubs select teams of two high school students and one advisor, who can be a Rotarian, teacher or parent. A club can sponsor more than one team. Several months before the Conference, the students are given three modified current-day UN Resolutions to address, and will undergo a day of training in analytical and negotiating skills, what to expect at the actual Conference and then the students select the countries to which they will become ambassadors. Advisors are also given training and advised of our District's Youth Protection Policy.

Why should Clubs sponsor a Model UN team?

• Trains students in peaceful conflict resolution, diplomatic negotiating strategies, and critical and analytical thinking and speaking skills.
• Exposes students to complex international issues and different cultures and political ideologies in order to develop a more balanced, objective worldly perspective.
• Increases your Club's involvement with New Generations in addition to LEAD, RYLA, Interact, Rotaract, and the four-way speech contest.

Being Rotary, we deliberately recruit students from a cross section of San Diego County schools, including inner city schools such as San Diego High School and Monarch, in addition to more recognized high schools. In this way, students from a variety of backgrounds get to interact and become friends with each other. MUN students can be from freshmen to seniors.

The 2012 Conference takes place on April 14 – 15, 2012 at the Joan Kroc Institute For Peace & Justice, University of San Diego Campus. Students and advisors will stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Mission Valley on Saturday night. This year Rotary International Director Ken Boyd will be our keynote speaker. Ken, an extremely passionate and charismatic speaker, was instrumental in brokering the peace treaty between Turkey and Armenia. There will be a limited number of additional tickets for the Saturday evening banquet. 

The cost of the 2012 MUN Program will be the same as in previous years:  $600 per team of 2 students and 1 advisor.

Please contact the District Chair now to reserve space for your Club for this exciting Program.

Rotary Model UN-developing the world leaders of tomorrow - today.

Kevin Cahill

Rotary MUN District Chair

(858) 784-7577