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Southern New York Division
Newsletter
May 2017
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George Garland
Updates and Opportunities!
On May 8, at UNA Westchester's Annual Meeting, UNA-USA Executive Director Chris Whatley and Kenya's Ambassador Bob Jalang'o spoke of currents risks to the United Nations. Chris noted that while most of the UN budget is fully funded, UNFPA and the Climate Fund were zeroed out ---and the US peacekeeping share was reduced from 28 percent to 25 percent, a cut of about $300 million.
He emphasized that we should focus on the 2017-2018 budget, which will be introduced on May 23.
Leadership Summit
Southern New York Division now has 74 members registered for the Leadership Summit in Washington (see below), which importantly includes the June 13 "Day on the Hill".
Advocacy Updates
Westchester UNA set up a meeting with Congressperson Nita Lowey, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, during the current recess.
VP for Advocacy Peg Shannon has a green light to schedule a meeting with Patti Lubin, Senator Kirsten Gillebrand's local staffer. Details forthcoming for those interested in attending!
Full UN funding is our priority, including UNFPA, which addresses child marriage and maternal mortality, as well as climate action.We need to lobby for the full 28 percent of the US share of the peacekeeping budget.
Adopt-A-Future
Our Southern New York Coalition has adopted the Gambela Primary School in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. We have raised $1,725 including $1,025 from Northern New Jersey, $50 from Brooklyn, $75 from Queens, $275 from Westchester, and $300 from the Division including the latest contribution of $250 from the Levermore Global Scholars Program at Adelphi University. Our goal is $30,000 which will provide a classroom, teacher, and supplies for 40 students for 10 years. The good news--an international donor will match us dollar for dollar!
UN Peacekeeping
Christopher Holshek addressed our May Board meeting and pointed out the benefits of the US spending 28 percent of the average peacekeepers monthly salary of $1,300 instead of 100 percent of the US monthly cost of $30,000. The US approves every peacekeeping operation, so this is an adjunct to the US efforts to keep global peace.
Dr. Farah Fundraising
We have raised $6,035 toward our goal of $9,000 for Dr. Farah. Dr. Farah's supervisor in the peace keeping mission in Somalia, Patrick Hendrick Loots, will be in the US and may be available for events for the chapters and/or the Division-so we can meet our goal!
Central European University
in Budapest promotes the future of free and democratic societies. It is facing legislative challenges. The Division Board voted to send a letter of support to CEU President Dr. Michael Ignatius.
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NYC/Manhattan Chapter--Special Event!
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This year, on the occasion of UN World Refugee Day June 20, many people will be having dinners, cocktail parties, luncheons, cookouts, pizza bashes, or the like--to bring people together to support an initiative that helps provide education to refugee children.
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Adopt-A-Future to Help Refugee Children
It is currently estimated that over 65 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes, the highest figure ever recorded. Approximately 600,000 refugees currently reside in Kenya; more than half of these refugees are under 18 years old.
UNA-USA is partnering with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and its fundraising arm (USA for UNHCR), to provide direct support for refugee education overseas, and welcoming refugee families at home.
Along with other UNA chapters nationwide, the NY host chapter has undertaken a fundraising goal of $30,000, that will be used to help build classrooms for the Furaha School, which serves 1,944 students, ages 6 to 13, who have been forced to flee their homes in the midst of devastating conflict. These funds would serve the needs of at least 40 children for 10 years.
Adopt-a-Future on the Night of 1,000 Dinners
A Compassionate Way of Planning Your Meal Event
We invite all members and associates of our UNA New York City Chapter to participate this June, by hosting or organizing a dinner event--at home, or in your community--to help us meet our goal, by raising the funds to assist refugee children who currently have no access to education.
Over the years, Nights of a Thousand Dinners have been promoted and organized by individuals in many countries globally, raising millions in funds for worthy causes.
The concept is simple: individuals can host a dinner in their homes for their friends and family and collect contributions from their guests. (Others might throw a cocktail party or a picnic bash, or even involve a local restaurant.) The guest contribution amount is determined by the host or donor, and can range from $25 per guest to $1,000 or more. Hosts will forward the collected funds to UNA-NY.
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Matching Contributions Double the Impact
This year, all funds raised in support of Adopt-a-Future will be matched by the Educate a Child Fund of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar and other philanthropic partners--so you will double the impact of this initiative!
Every donation to the campaign is 100% tax-deductable, and can be made by check or via Paypal.
For information, and to sign up and get involved, please visit out web page here.
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May Calendar /
Around the Division
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Brooklyn Chapter
Somalia to Syria:
Evolving Humanitarian Crisis and the UN
DISCUSSION
Wednesday, May 10
7:00pm-8:30pm
LIU Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
1 University Plaza, Pratt Building, 1st floor
Brooklyn, NY
Join UNA Brooklyn for an important discussion with United Nations humanitarian veteran,
Dr. David S. Bassiouni, to examine the plight of Syria and the UN's historic role protecting vulnerable populations, at a time when the US may slash funding for crucial humanitarian aid.
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NYC/Manhattan Chapter
UNA-NY Screening the Issues Presents: Syria's Disappeared
SCREENING with Q&A
Tuesday, May 16
5:45pm-8:00pm
Dolby 88 Screening Room
1350 Avenue of the Americas (at West 55th St.)
New York, NY
"Syria's Disappeared: The Case Against Assad"
is a critically acclaimed documentary film that takes you inside the criminal investigation and case being built against President Assad for alleged mass atrocities committed in Syrian detention centers.
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Young Professionals / SNY
UNA Annual Cocktail Party
COCKTAILS and LIGHT DINNER
Wednesday, May 31
7:00pm-9:30pm
National Arts Club
New York, NY
Join the Young Professionals for a fun night at the beautiful National Arts Club in Gramercy!
We will be holding a Silent Auction full of fun goodies, and showcasing a few local, sustainable designers. A light dinner will be served, cocktail attire required.
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Sign Up for the Leadership Summit!
Join us for the 2017 Leadership Summit, June 11-13,
at the National Education Association Building in Washington, DC.
UNA-USA members from around the country will come together for three days packed with advocacy and action.
You'll meet with high-ranking US government and UN officials, learn from global experts,
urge Congress to ma
ke progress on key humanitarian issues,
and encourage them to fully-fund the UN!
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United Nations Association / Southern New York Division
The United Nations Association is dedicated
to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system and achieving the goals of the United Nations Charter.
The Southern New York Division includes the New York (Manhattan), Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Nassau, Hudson Valley, and Westchester UNA Chapters and Young Professionals.
United Nations Association is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization.
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