President’s Message
Katharine Kubichan fessionals and environmental enthusiasts
to UNA-SD.
UNA-San Diego, an organization Our third annual International Career built on 60 years of history, culture, and Day at UCSD in April had over 150 attencommitted members, is one of San dees, with several Board Members as feaDiego’s oldest non-profit’s, but demo-tured speakers, and resulted in several new graphically speaking, is becoming a outreach projects. younger based organization. The The Young Ambassador Program Executive Committee, the main planning (YAP) formed between U.N.A of San arm of UNA-SD, is now made up of 50% Diego and the Citizen Diplomacy Council members under the age 40. Since January, had it’s first free networking event, in La we have also increased our membership Jolla in late May, with over 40 attendees. by 30%, of which 95% are under age 30 This event connected graduating universiand the majority are university students. ty students with young professionals
In addition to growth in membership, working in the international arena. The our Student Internship program has room burst with enthusiasm, energy and increased by 300% and consequently, our bright young minds sharing ideas and productivity has exploded. Some of the common philosophies. major projects that our interns and our The responses we received from these young professional Board Members are events have been phenomenal. The atteninvolved in include: dance and increase in membership is a
-demographic research and strate-clear to our organization modifying how gies for new outreach in San Diego, the we are managing our outreach and build-desert region and Baja. ing a stronger member base.
-organizational business planning Although I am thrilled with the and strategies for improved internal growth in student and young professional process and structure. memberships in UNA, I am also immense
-proposals and project develop-ly proud that UNA-SD has over 27 people ment to help break misconceptions about who have been members over 20 years, 12 the UN. members over 25 years, and 6 people who
-our first UNA-SD film documen-have been members for over 40 years! tary (to be shown on U.N. Day). Our 40-year + members are Sam and
-building new partnerships with Sylvia Messin, Lucille and George Gold, local organizations to help develop a more Dr. Nona Cannon and Joe Combs!!! diverse member base. UNA-SD needs all its members, new
-support at events, support of and old, to continue working together to Board Members and teaching in our educate our community about the work of Global Classroom. the United Nations. We are off to a great
Our public educational programs also start in 2006. Please plan to attend our help us build a larger and more diverse Charter Day celebration on June 24 and membership. bring a friend, renew your membership,
Our March Water for Life event, join a committee, volunteer in our class-observing International Water Day, had room, recruit a new member, write a letter nearly 500 attendees, cost only $15 to in support of the U.N. to the newspaper… attend and exposed many new young pro-get involved.
Saluting Joe Combs, UNA-SD member for 48 years
Mr. Joe Combs tops the list of our longstanding members with a record 48 years of paid membership. His official join date was Oct. 1, 1958. Thank you, Joe! He will be officially recognized at our annual U.N. Day celebration in October, along with our 15, 20 and 25year plus members.
Joe Combs wrote: “When I joined the UNA in 1958, the world was full of enthusiasm about the U.N. My business with IBM took me to New York two or three times a year. Each trip back there would involve a visit to the U.N. It was
always interesting to stay in the hotels where the member delegates were and to have lunch in the delegates dining room at the U.N. The open meetings were always interesting to attend and listen
to the translations as the delegates spoke. On each visit I would purchase a doll in the gift shop from a different country and bring it home to my eldest daughter who was then in elementary school. She is now 55.
During my years as a member, I have fulfilled many functions to help the U.N. Association. These include serving on the Board of Directors for several years at various intervals. The Speakers Bureau was one of my favorite services. Speaking to schools and service clubs was a fun assignment as was the membership committee.
The U.N. has done a great job. We do need reform at the U.N. and I am hopeful and optimistic about it.”
Community Service Committee
Education Committee News
On Saturday, April 23, the Education Committee sponsored an awards ceremony for multiple scholarship winners. Jonathan Wosen, of the Preuss Charter School, was a semi-finalist for the UNA-USA National High School Essay Contest and was honored for his article on
U.N. reform. In addition, our annual Annette I. Baughman Model U.N. college scholarships ($10,000) were awarded to three outstanding students from La Jolla High School. Congratulations to Harin Song, Mary Plant Thomas and David Tehrani. The ceremony was held during the Third Annual MUN High School Conference sponsored by PAXMUN and UNA-SD, which was attended by 150 students from 13 schools. The MUN Committee is already planning its Third Annual MUN Training Day on Sept. 16 to be held at the University of San Diego Law School.
Katie O’Connor, Chair professionals. In collaboration with the
with the Citizens Diplomacy Council of
The Community Service Committee San Diego (CDCSD), UNA-SD will co(CSC) is planning several activities this host monthly events to share the positive summer. The mission of the CSC is to work of san diegans promoting internationrespond to the needs of organizations in al awareness and addressing human rights San Diego and the border region to issues. I worked with fellow U.N.A. board strengthen local efforts related to the envi-member Billy Colestock at CDCSD to ronment, health and human rights issues. organize the new YAP. Our first YAP event Our newest endeavor is the formation of was held at the La Jolla Brewhouse on the Young Ambassadors Program (YAP), a May 24. To join the committee or to be monthly networking opportunity for young placed on the email list, please contact me
And they’re off…our UNA-SD Interns
As the academic year draws to a close, we say goodbye and thank you to several wonderful student interns. Shannon Lankenau will graduate from USD and was accepted by the French Embassy to teach English for a year in France. Trés bien! Reibar Gardan returns to Sweden to finish his Master’s degree in law. We have five interns graduating from UCSD: Janet Rivera, Ravi Shah, Sarah Kaplan, Danna Yarzin and Vanessa Taylor. Finally, our one and only high school intern Richard Lopez who graduates from the San Diego High School International Baccalaureate Program, has been awarded an engineering scholarship at UC Davis. Congratulation grads! Summer interns are coming soon.
