Definition:
A written document to facilitate learning and work preparation.
The goal of a MUN conference is to produce a document to solve the selected issue in your committee. Study Guides on the committee topics are released early before the MUN conference. They provide crucial information and guidance for delegation preparation ahead of the conference.
Definition:
The reading aloud of a list of names of people, as in a classroom or military post, to determine who is present or absent; a voting process, esp. in the U.S. Congress, in which legislators are called on by name and allowed either to cast their vote or to abstain.
A Model UN conference begins with a roll call, during which staff of the Dais reads aloud the names of each member state in the committee. When a delegate's country's name is called, he or she may respond "present" or "present and voting." A delegate responding "present and voting" may not abstain on a substantive vote. Taking the roll call is important for calcuation of the required votes for different procedures.
1) Model UN is a simulation of the UN
General Assembly and other multilateral bodies where student roleplay the ambassadors debating topics as diverse as maternal health and landmines to promoting literacy.
2) Model UN is student-centered.
Often led by students, Model UN programs, started at universities over sixty years ago, soon grew to schools and colleges all over the world. From public speaking to critical thinking and in-depth research, student delegates draw a wealth of knowledge from the Model UN experience. 3) Model UN is flexible.
Since the 1940s,
Definition:
An attendant or employee, usually in uniform, who carries messages, ushers guests, runs errands, etc.; a person employed by a legislature to carry messages and run errands for the members, as in the U.S. Congress.
During a MUN conference, pages(some call them "ushers") help pass messages between delegates within a committee, as well as send messages to delegates in other committees. As introduced in the previous word, delegates may ask pages to help pass notes to the dais to be put on the speaker's list. In the United Nations, this is especially helpful when a delegate in a committee wants to get information to their ambassador in the General Assembly regarding
Definition:
A stage, especially at one end of a room, on which people stand to make speeches to an audience；the group of people, usually high school or college students, in charge of a Model UN committee.
Officially, the Dais is the table upfront behind which the Chair sits. Practically,
Meet the Division of Design：This division is comprised of an Art Director, two Deputy Directors, one website manager and four staffs. A team small in size, yet brimmed with passion. Though each of us come from a different department at school, we share a common interest in art and design. Equipped with a peculiar passion and creativity, the Division of Design aims at creating a lively outfit for WorldMUN2010, Taipei.
I've been to the WorldMUN2008, Puebla(Mexico) and WorldMUN2009, The Hague(Netherlands). Their logos were impressive: The Mexico logo gives the impression of the rich Aztec culture
Placard[N.] Definition:
A large written or printed notice that is put in a public place or carried on a stick in a march.
In MUN, rather than representing their homeland, delegates are assigned to represent a random country on the given issue. Everyone could be about just any country on the list. The placard is a piece of card with the assigned country's name on it that a delegate raises in the air to signal to the Chair that he or she wishes to speak.
Definition:
A small hammer used by a person in charge of a meeting or an auction, or by a judge in a court of law, in order to get people's attention.
A gavel is a respected tool in a MUN conference. The little hammer, either made of vintage wood or modern plastic, has the greatest say in the conference. It is used by the Chair to call for order and make announcements. One of the most exciting moments of a conference is when the Chair officially announces the floor open or closed with a solemn bang.
Definition:
The part of a legislative chamber, meeting room, etc., where the members sit, and from which they speak; the right of one member to speak from such a place in preference to other members
The common meaning of the word "floor" is the surface of a room that we walk on. In a conference room, "the floor" means more than that layer of the building. In MUN, the floor is largely occupied by delegation seats and the podium where the Chair presides.
Having the floor all to yours is an expression of having the right to speak. Only one speaker may speak at a time, the rest quietly listening until his or her turn.
Definition：
Set of rules adopted by a meeting to govern the work and decision making of its formal settings.
Every conference has its rules. MUN conferences that focus on international issues are no exception. In MUN, we abide by the Rules of Procedure(ROP), an adopted version of the Rules of Procedure the United Nations truly follows. These rules are self-sufficient, except for rules modified by the Secretariat or Chairs. No other rules are applicable. ROPs may slightly differ according to different customs, but they are all simple and clear. After an introduction to ROP prior to the event, you will see how such a set of rules benefits the large conference and keeps it in shape.
What is WorldMUN? To most, what comes in mind is a scene painted with business attire, the air finely tuned with fluent English. Some think of the multi-culture exposure and enticing social events. Few notice the careful work of accommodation preparation.
After a long flight, once delegates land in Taiwan, the immediate next stop is the hotel. Though the conference hall and event locations attract all the spotlight, hotels account for a large part of their stay in Taiwan. The quality of the hotel services provided has a direct impact on the image of the Host City.
There is a list of elements crucial to a successul hotel.To name a few, fair price, decent upholstery, tidiness, comprehensive services, convenient trasportation, etc. What we, the Division of Accommodation, work on this summer is to ready ourselves and dish out the best collection of hotels. In keeping with this aim, we have been sifting through countless critical websites in town and abroad, weighing between the pros and cons of each and dashing through the hustel and bustle of Taipei.
During our investigation visits, we came to notice a rapidly growing industry. Taipei is now gathering momentum in the development of the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions), a highly active industry abroad. The rapid pace of MICE development in Taiwan has moved up the value and advanced progress in the hotel industry. What we witness is a wave of renewed traditional hotels and the rising trend in Boutique Hotels. In addition, because of the increase in business traveler worldwide, hotels in Taipei are better aware and ready to serve international travelers.
With such readiness and experiences, we believe hotels in Taipei are more than capable of offering delegates a sense of home. The Division of Accommodation will see to it that delegates feel at home during their stay in this lovely city, Taipei!
Social Event [N.] (photo of WorldMUN2009, The Hague, link here) (photo of WorldMUN2007, Switzerland)
Definition： An event of social entertainment, mostly at night; exciting activities where people gather and meet, often accompanied by music and dances and filled with laughter.
Social events are the important flavors of MUN. From the view of participating delegates, being bombarded with conference debates during the daytime, as is the case with real diplomats, delegates must to rest their mind at night. Social events well serve this need. At night, MUN delegates are given a taste of culture performances and decorations, delicate local cuisines, the smashing music and endless dances. Putting aside the serious issues, delegates meet fellow delegates, either allies or opponents, dressed up in the mood for entertainment. Through free talk and the exchanges of laughter, surprising undertable agreements absent in formal sessions can be easily reached. From the viewpoint of the Host Team, social events are the chances to showcase features of the Host City. In the case of WorldMUN2010, a series of events will be exquisitely designed to highlight Taipei, Taiwan.
Examples： What’s the social event for tonight?
Maybe we should talk to the delegate of Sweden at the social event tonight. The cheerful atmosphere might help us to persuade her.
Definition: A title for the outstanding delegates of a MUN conference.
The Diplomacy Award is awarded at the end of the MUN conference to outstanding delegates who have either contributed tremendously to conference documents or demonstrated a skill in directing the conference, establishing trust and prompting communication. A delegate as such is entitled "Best Delegate", or simply BD.
Examples: Among the near 2,000 delegates, the two Taiwanese delegates shown in the picture above are on the list of Best Delegates in the WorldMUN2008, Puebla.
The ultimate goal of many delegates in a MUN conference is to become a BD.
Definition： A period of time that is spent doing a particular actctivity; a formal meeting or series of meetings of a court of law, a parliament, etc.; a period of time when such meetings are held.
MUN conferences are time consuming. Often the topic area of discussion is complicated and hard to solve or reach an agreement. For delegates to keep their minds sharp and clear, a MUN conference is divided into several sessions, each taking about three hours. One session can be seen as a time unit for a conference period. After continual sessions of discussion on the committee topic, delegates will have heard from all viewpoints the different dimensions of the issue. WorldMUN usually holds six sessions in each committee.
Derivatives: rap session [N.] [Slang.] An informal discussion held especially by a group of people with similar concerns. summer session [N.] a summer course/program plenary session [N.] A meeting attended by everyone who has the right to attend.
Examples： The next session will start at 14:00. If we want to have further discussion on the security problem before the session starts, we will have to finish our lunch before 13:00.
The COMEMUN program I participated in was made up of 4 three-hour sessions.
The MUN conference is now in session. / When will the conference be in session?
Definition: The presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee or event.
Different voices easily heats up debate. Opinions in a MUN conference can be as diverse and piercing. Let alone by themselves, delegates representing different countries is very likely to yell at one another for different aspects of the issue, letting the conference out of control. Therefore, a Chairperson (Chair), along with one or more Assistant Chairs sits in front and take full control of MUN conferences. The Chair is authorized to keep the whole committee in order, with help from Assistant Chairs.
Examples： "Honorable Chair and my distinguished fellow delegates, the delegate of Mexico believes that the proposal made by delegate of Burkina Faso is reasonable enough and worth discussing. Thank you, Chair" the delegate stated at the beginning of his speech.
"The Chair now announces the floor officially open" is a common statement a Chair uses to begin the MUN conference.
Definition: Done without preparation or planning. Though delegates prepare hard before a MUN conference, you never know what is about to happen. You might have a good guess of what others have in mind on the issue, still the flow of discussion steers away easily to an unforeseen zone. Facing unexpected questions and situations, MUNers must react on the spot. Impromptu speech takes place most of the time and is a challenging yet rewarding skill. Distinguished delegates are often those apt in giving impromptu responses. Examples: He is a master at the craft of impromptu speeches. Obama gave an impromptu press conference.
Thank you for your faithful support. Preparation for WorldMUN2010 in Taipei is gathering momentum and speed.
Want to learn more about MUN? Have a question in mind?
Share them with us! The NTU Host Team would like to offer a special series of PPT to help the public better understand MUN and WorldMUN2010. Please feel free to write to us at worldmun2010.host@gmail.com We will collect questions and feedback and prepare new powerpoints in August, 2009.
