<p>Hi! I've been interested in starting a model UN club at my school for quite some time now. Does anyone have any advice? I've been to their website but it really doesn't get too specific about how to properly start one. My fear is that when I'll start it, no one will show up, or it will end up being a joke, etc.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>You want to model the UN?</p>
<p>Just sit there and be useless then.</p>
<p>Considering that most interested people won't know parliamentary procedure and resolution writing, give out packets with stuff from the Internet explaining that, and explain it yourself on the first meeting. Examples are always helpful. Look up conferences to which you can go, and don't ignore logistics. Make sure to maintain decorum.</p>
<p>Advertise it, targeting smart people and people you think would be interested in politics, international relations, or human rights. Pick good topics for in-school discussion.</p>
<p>Maybe my school's site can help</p>
<p>^ I hate MUN for personal reasons. Seems to me like the worst debaters (aka too nervous to speak) are always picked for the trip. No wonder the real UN is so inefficient right now.</p>
<p>Cool, I should start one at my high school.</p>
<p>My advice is that you print off the rules of decorum and resolution writing etc. from a conference website from your area. Here in north GA, the big one is at Kennesaw State, which has a good website about all of the rules and regulations they use. And with the people you do get, MAKE IT FUN. I am co-president and my partner and myself try to come up with the most exciting situations we can (usually has to do with war but doesn't have to). Also, don't pigeon-hole the countries. Let your members pick their countries and research their opinions. Arguing terrorism from the U.S. is easy and therefore boring, but from Botswana? People will be interested to know what these off-the-wall countires think.</p>
<p><sarcasm>I agree. I find it fascinating to discuss Arctic territorial claims from the Panama's point-of view</sarcasm> (which I was going to do at UMMUN until yesterday).</p>
<p>But the best topics are not those in which everyone has a bloc position, or in which everybody agrees but they need to find a way to deal with the problem. The best issues are those with real debate, often concerning minor countries (for example, Western Sahara or China's currency, although the latter is a bloc position issue).</p>