MODEL UNITED NATIONS
The Rotary Club of Eugene (Club) is kicking off their second annual Oregon Rotary Model United Nations (ORRMUN) program!
The Rotary Club of Eugene (Club) plans to hold the 2021 Oregon Rotary Model United Nations (ORRMUN) program ONLINE via Zoom! The ORRMUN Conference will be held on April 10 and 11, 2021. The Club is the founder of the ORRMUN program: It is a two-day conference modeled on a United Nations General Assembly session. The ORRMUN is free to high school students from grades 9-12 who apply and are accepted. The Club is planning to host from 20 to 25 ‘countries’ consisting of two student delegates and one adult advisor.
The student delegates research their assigned country, determine their country’s position on a draft Resolution taken from the actual United Nations Agenda, make alliances, and negotiate with adversaries to amend and pass the Resolution in a two-day, professional, General Assembly session. This is a great learning experience for the future leaders of our country and a great addition to college applications and job resumes. The Club is only the 2nd Rotary Club in the US to develop and host this important learning experience.
Please view the video links on this page for inspiration and more information on the ORRMUN experience! Click to view and download the MUN 2019 Report and our ORRMUN FAQs below.
We will accept applications for the MUN through January 15, 2021 and will notify successful applicants by January 18, 2021. To apply, go to https://oregonrotarymun.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What is Model United Nations?
A. A Model United Nations (MUN) functions like a ‘mock’ court or ‘mock’ trial. Students are selected to be delegates of a member nation of the real United Nations. ‘Delegations’ of two students and one adult advisor are assigned a country and then study their country’s political, governmental, social, economic, and cultural history in preparation for a two-day MUN Conference and General Assembly session held online via Zoom. During the General Assembly session, each delegation will give a speech stating their country’s position on a draft resolution that has been developed from the actual United Nations General Assembly Agenda for the current session in New York, New York. The resolution will be debated in our MUN General Assembly and teams will prepare amendments to the resolution. Delegations will caucus and negotiate to pass a final resolution.
2. When is it?
A. The actual MUN Conference and General Assembly session will be held on April 10 and 11, 2021.
3. What are the important deadlines?
A1. Applications for the MUN will be available beginning in November 2020. You must apply by January 15, 2021 but applying as early as you can is recommended.
A2. Students will be notified of their selection by January 18, 2021.
A3. Delegations and countries will be assigned in early January 2021.
A4. A training session for students and advisors is planned for Saturday January 16, 2021.
A5. Delegations will have from mid-January until April to study their country, evaluate the draft resolution, prepare a two to four-minute speech (depending on the number of Country delegations) on their country’s position on the resolution, prepare an amendment to the resolution, and conduct behind the scenes negotiations to establish alliances before the MUN Conference and General Assembly session.
4. Am I eligible?
A. If you are a registered high school student (9-12 grade) in good standing, you are eligible to participate. We encourage students to apply regardless of their grade level, grade point average, race, gender, orientation or socioeconomic status. Home schoolers are also encouraged to apply.
5. Does it cost anything?
A1. The Oregon Rotary Model United Nations does not charge students to participate.
A2. The MUN is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Eugene (Club) and funded by donations from the Club, other Rotary Clubs, local businesses and organizations, and individuals.
6. Where do I apply?
A. Applications will be available in November 2020 and must be completed by January 15, 2021 (it is best to apply as early as you can!). You will apply online at https://oregonrotarymun.com.
7. Can I apply with a partner so we can work together as part of the same country delegation?
A. You will apply to the MUN individually; however, there will be a place on your application where you can tell us you are hoping to work with a specific partner. We will try to accommodate these types of requests as long as you and your partner name each other on your application. However, we will not guarantee that both your applications will be selected or that your request will be approved.
8. What else do I need to know before I apply?
A1. You need to check your calendar, check with your parents, and check with your school advisors to ensure that you will be available on the weekend of the conference (April 10-11, 2021). If you can’t devote the morning and early afternoon of both days to the conference, then you cannot be accepted to the MUN.
A2. If you are selected, your parent or guardian will need to sign off on your participation. That will be done after you are notified of your acceptance on Jan. 18. Your parent or guardian will also need to sign a photo/video release form. If this presents a problem, please have your school advisor contact Jerry Harris at gwharris@comcast.net.
A3. The MUN is set up to operate as a professional conference. You will be expected to act and dress in a professional manner and follow our code of conduct. The Rotary Club of Eugene will establish a clothes closet of professional attire if any delegates near Eugene OR need access to profession clothing. If you are further away, please ask us to put you in contact with a Rotary Club near you. We will arrange for them to help you.
9. Who will my adult advisor be?
A1. A member of the Rotary Club of Eugene, friend of the Club, member of another Rotary Club or someone you know who wishes to be your advisor.
A2. If you know of a teacher or other individual that has offered to be your team’s advisor, there will be a place on the application form for you to tell us her/his/their name and contact information.
A3. All our advisors will have to allow us to perform a background check on them. Those who do not do so or do not pass the check will not be allowed to participate.
A4. Our advisors must also follow a code of conduct.
A5. All advising meetings will be online. No in-person meetings are allowed.
10. Where can I find out more about the Oregon Rotary MUN?
A1. You can find pictures, information updates, an inspirational video, an informational video, and slideshows about the MUN at https://www.eugenerotary.org/modelun/.
A2. Go to https://oregonrotarymun.com for more detailed information, our FAQ and the online application form.
11. What else do I need to know?
A1. You can do this! All you need is to commit to doing your best and sticking with it if you are selected.
A2. You need to know that you will meet with your advisor on a schedule that you work out together, but we recommend meeting for an hour or two at least once a week at the beginning. As stated above, your meetings will be online using Zoom or other software such as Skype, Duo, etc.
A3. We will provide you with a training session and plenty of research materials and links to get you off to a good start on your research.
A4. Your advisor will keep your team on track and focused on your tasks, but you and your team partner will be doing the work. We are giving you ample time from selection of your team until the MUN conference (two plus months) so you can work on MUN and keep up with your regular school work and activities. Please understand that it is ultimately your responsibility to do the work.