UNODC

 Gavel

Canada

Outstanding

Chile, China, United States

Commendation

France, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand

Congratulations. I hope you all had a good time.  I personally feel that they should have increased the number of awards for our committee, seeing as how we were the largest medium committee by far. However, I want to thank you for your participation in our committee and for having a good time with me. You guys sure did to like to motion. I wondered why you guys enjoyed tinkering with the speakers list so much, instead of motioning for a few more caucuses. You guys know I liked caucuses as much as you do.

Please take care and contact me if you’d like to talk.

Good luck and God speed.

~ Francis

Good job today, delegates. I enjoyed your enthusiasm. One more day. I’ll see you in the in the money.

“morning” I wonder why I typed money? It must have been on my mind.

This committee sure loves to motion. It’s more fun to check out how other delegates motion at the delegate dance. Let’s make the motion to rock that speaker’s list in the morning. I’ll see you then.

The following countries, please contact me before the conference begins:

Israel, Germany, USA, Canada, China

Also, I would like Madeleine Gleave of West Highschool, UT to contact me.  Madeleine, it’s nice to know your name, but for logistical purposes it helps me greatly if I know what country you are representing before I meet you all in committee.

Please e-mail me at unodc.bmun56 (at) gmail.com or look at previous posts for my AIM screen name.

I’ll see you in tomorrow in committee.

~ Francis

Delegates;

I’d like to thank you for your participation in this weblog so far; keep up the great work. I am expecting a strong level of debate and discourse in our committee. If you’re new or inexperienced in MUN, feel free to approach me or your vice-chairs and we’ll help you out. We’re here to facilitate debate for every delegate.

 Business attire only, please:

One year I had a delegate dress in what he believed to be African attire for all three days of the conference. This session I would very much appreciate if none of you did the same. In the UN, all ambassadors and their staffs wear business attire.  If you want to wear a sash over your business attire to indicate the country your representing, ha ha, knock yourself out.

Hygiene basics:
I try to keep this weblog as professional as possible, at least during times that I can contain my excitement. However, this is a personal request from me directly to you, and is not meant to insult you, or represent the official policy of Berkeley Model UN or its officers:  Please bring at least 3 changes of clothing, or, one for each day of the conference and consider the use of a strong antiperspirant or deodorant. I’m not going to call you out on it, but your chairs and fellow delegates would very much appreciate these simple measures. You know who you are.

Committee Size: 

I have been recently informed that our committee is the largest medium sized committee. So, for those of you who intend to compete for committee awards, please prepare accordingly.

Things to do:

If you’re here on the Berkeley Campus at 1pm on Friday, then step by Sather Gate for an  afternoon concert by the acclaimed women’s a capella group, the California Golden Overtones. They sing a rendition of Gangter’s Paradise that is on Youtube.com, and that got a video shout out  by Coolio himself. They also do a rendition of Christina Aguilera’s Candyman that makes my heart skip a beat. lol

Places to Eat: 

Today I’m recommending Cheese N’ Stuff or Sufficient Grounds on Sather Lane for lunch. Both have been a staple of the BMUN Secretariat for years.

Also if you get a chance to wander around to the North Side of campus down Shattuck Avenue, you can get some awesome cupcakes from Love at First Bite. Try the red velvet cupcakes. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Study well, and have fun. I’ll see you this Friday.

~ Francis

Delegates;

I apologize for the delay in answering some of your questions. I, along with my fellow BMUNers, have been very busy with school, work, and BMUN related activities. However, I will do my best to check my e-mail and this weblog several times a day for the next few days.

Here are answers to some of the more popular questions, as well as the ones posted in the comments section. Some of these answers may only apply to our committee, as different chairs will have their own discretion.

Will I be able to distribute pamphlets?

Yes, you may distribute pamphlets, but that won’t help or hurt you in our evaluation of your performance. I haven’t heard about any delegations in the UN actually distributing a pamphlet to convey their policies or ideas. Much of the real work in the UN goes on during committee or through one on one meetings.

Can I bring my laptop?

Yes you can bring your laptop. However, you may only use them during breaks and informal caucuses, and for writing resolutions. I’m fairly flexible about this sort of thing, and all you need to do is ask me or your vice-chairs if you want to to use it any other time. Otherwise, we assume you’re busy beating the high score on minesweeper and we’ll make a note of that.

Will I have access to the internet during committee?

Unfortunately, we are not yet able to provide you with a wireless internet connection during committee. During your breaks, there are restaurants and cafes all over Berkeley which will have free wireless connections. However, if we did provide you with an internet connection, there is little doubt many of you would be distracted from the topics at hand. On this note, though, I have nothing personally against Sidekicks or Blackberries; I just ask that you keep these disruptions to a minimum and not spend all your time in committee on them.

8 more days!

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…………………….

I’m reading your research papers. Good job so far. Check out the UNODC screenname if you want to talk to me about anything, including things that aren’t related to MUN. I’ll see you all in 8 days!

I’ve been informed by our research director that most high school students have class 8am-3pm, as well as having after school activities.  In not so many words: nobody will be able to IM me during my stated office hours. So, I’m adding more hours.

So, for your questions, comments, and  general how-do-you-do’s, I will be generally online from about 8pm-11:30pm. All week.

When: 8pm-11:30pm

Days: All week

Also, if you see me online and idle during any other hours, that prossibly means that I’m waiting for your questions, but at the same participating in some sort of online guild war while I wait. Or doing work, which ever one I happen to feel like at the time.

Delegates;

If you have a question or comment and you wish to speak to us directly, add BMUNUNODC56 to your AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) buddy-list. We’ll be holding office hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 9am-5pm PST. There will generally be someone who will be able to speak with you during those hours, and of course, we’ll be answering any e-mails and comments as they come.

AIM: BMUNUNODC56

Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

Time: 9am-5pm PST

I’ve posted an article here from the New Yorker for you to read, but it isn’t necessary to read in order to participate in this committee:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/01/07/080107fa_fact_power

This article was forwarded to us by our Secretary-General. It’s the best article I’ve read this year, excluding any articles about new entries in the Star Wars franchise.