A time to visit our elected representatives in their home offices to press the UN agenda.
(for most of us, this is David Dreier ) We have many resources and talking points . . . Details
Resolution written by Ardi Rashidi-Kalhur adopted at the 2009 UNA-USA National Convention.
YouTube video Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Evaggelos
Vallianatos, Jane Roberts & Mel Boynton
Jane Roberts, co-founder of “34 Million Friends” gave an informtive speech on the changing world of women’s reproductive freedoms.
SoCal
Delegation
Four members from Pomona Valley UNA joined many other delegates to the energized four-day Annual Meeting & Conference in Washington D.C. Sweltering weather didn’t discourage our long days, a bit of sight-seeing, and enjoying good food. “Except for the weather, it couldn’t have been much better” said first-time attendee Emily Burch. . .
Read the full report and view the Photo Gallery
Our
friend Rev. Richard Harris brings continuing passion, energy, and creativity
to the UNA-USA. Now in his 29th year as a UNA-USA leader, we
are proud to share his amazing story. Read
the Tribute to Richard . .
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Pomona Valley UNA-USA Programs
In Claremont at Porter Hall in Pilgrim Place
601 Mayflower Rd: West on 6th from Indian Hill, behind flagpole
Open to the public and refreshments are
served.
Tuesday, July 21st, 5:30 PM
in Porter Hall, 601 Mayflower Rd, Claremont
Sally Seven will present, “Health
Care Reform." We could not have a more timely topic
and Sally brings serious insight on what is needed to fix our
broken
health care system.
Open to the public and refreshments are served.
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| Mel Boynton and Tom Miller,
UNA-USA President |
From left: Mel Boynton, Ardi
Rashidi, Richard Harris, and Yaohe
Li |
Our chapter was highly visible at the three-day 2009 UNA-USA
National Convention in Washington, D.C. Four delegates included
Chapter President and CCD Board Member Mel Boynton, CCD Regional Representative
Ardishir Rashidi, Vice President Richard Harris, and Graduate Student
Intern Yaohe Li. “It was exciting to meet the new UNA-USA
President Thomas Miller, pass our chapter’s resolution regarding
Kurdish Human Rights, share the excitement of new support for the UN
from Washington, and work with our colleagues from around the country” said
Mel.
Remarkably, our modest-size chapter is know around the country for good
programs, advocacy, and education. Two Pomona Valley members, Ardi
and Mel, sit on the Council of Chapters and Divisions (CCD) national
board. Mel said, “The Obama Administration’s constructive
support for the UN gives us a new opportunity to advocate for multilateralism
and cooperation to solve big economic, health, climate, and human rights
challenges. What a great time to get involved in UNA-USA.”
Meeting
in April 2009, a majority of the PVUNA board of directors turned out
for a good planning session for the coming year.
Our budget, action plan,
membership growth, and upcoming programs were focal points of the gathering.
PVUNA President Mel Boynton said, "We've got a talented group of
people serving the chapter. There's never been a better time to
be active in supporting the United Nations." Action
Plan for 2009-2010
United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) - Better World
Campaign (BWC) - 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire
on US-UN Relations -
October 31, 2008
Responses from Barack Obama (PDF)
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| UNA Pomona Valley Chapter President Mel Boynton; Emily Burch, Treasurer; 1st Place Essay Winner Madeline Zhu, and Madeline's mother Beth Mueller. Photo by Beth Boynton |
Sunday, January 25 in Claremont. Well over
a hundred people attended the annual gala dinner for the Pomona
Valley UNA-USA at Pilgrim Place. The program included the
Claremont winners in the annual High school essay contest: first
place finisher Madeline Zhu, junior
at Claremont High, second place Hao-yu
Derek Chang, junior at
Diamond Bar High, and third place winner Kalilah
Hyman, junior at Claremont High School. Each was
presented a cash prize by Chapter Treasurer Emily Birch and President
Mel Boynton. Hao-yu Derek Chang was unable
to attend the ceremony.
The evening program also featured the play, “Eleanor Roosevelt: Her Frustration & Fulfillment” by
Nancy Corinne Woodward. Roosevelt was well portrayed by Eleanor
Scott Meyers with narration by Wendy Bayer and John Keester. Our program honored the
124th anniversary of the birth of Eleanor Roosevelt, October 11, 1884, and the
60th anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December
10, 1948.
Chapter President Boynton said, “This was one of the best turnouts we’ve
seen in years. The essay winners were impressive and the play was a strong reminder
of the birth of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under the leadership
of Eleanor Roosevelt. With President Obama’s endorsement of a renewed
and strong United Nations, we are re-energized to work on international problems
such as the human rights violations in Gaza & Darfur.”
See Photos from the Annual Meeting - Read Madeline Zhu's Winning Essay