The White House Welcomes the LFA Model UN Club
In early February, 27 excited Model UN CLUB members, Mrs. Mills and Mr. Coady embarked on a very memorable trip to attend the Johns Hopkins Model UN Conference in Baltimore, Maryland and then carried on to Washington, DC. to experience the U.S. capital.
As luck would have it, the group had the incredible privilege of being given a tour of the spectacular lower floor of the White House: home of the State Dining room (where dinners and special concerts are held) as well as the green, red and blue formal meeting rooms that are the backdrop of many photos of many Presidents and First Ladies. We learnt that a lot of the furniture is French, that the emblem of the bald eagle is ever present as a strong national symbol, that Bo the dog sometimes wanders through these rooms randomly (but alas, not on our day of visiting) and that members of the Secret Service are everywhere. We lingered on the White House grounds trying to take in as much of the ambience as possible, though the low temperature precluded overindulgence. So with the photo of us in our Model UN attire snapped, we sauntered along.
While the White House was regal, the Capitol was captivating. Here, we were again privileged to have a most experienced guide, who walked us through the original Senate, the spot where all Presidents stand before commencing their walk to the balcony for their inauguration, the beautiful dome with wonderful statues of famous political figures and artwork depicting important periods in US history, and then the present Legislative Assembly and Senate. While we just missed the speakers in the Legislative Assembly, we were able to hear two senators addressing fiscal issues in the Senate. After travelling through a most beautifully adorned tunnel, a short visit was paid to the Civil War display and to the Thomas Jefferson library in the Library of Congress. We all viewed the bible on which all Presidents swear their oaths of allegiance at their inaugurations--it felt somewhat special to see this at this time as it had just been used some ten days or so days prior to our visit for the swearing-in of Barack Obama. This was a wondrous day.
The tour of all of the memorials in Washington was most moving. Our Italian American guide was very knowledgeable and he particularly liked the Franklin Delano Roosevelt series of monuments because of all of the inscribed wise sayings of Roosevelt. Of course, the Lincoln Memorial was impressive but many LFA students appreciated the idea behind the structure of the Vietnam memorial. Fortunately, we had a little time for museums, including the Holocaust Museum and some of the Smithsonian Institute, which were real highlights of DC for many. After plunging the depths of the earth to ride the subway and then several taxi rides later (one ride taking us to a show at the majestic Kennedy centre for Performing Arts) we left Washington, DC most reluctantly as there was still much more to explore.
Washington was special and an amazing experience for our students, but much was also gleaned from attending the very competitive Johns Hopkins Model UN Conference with approximately 1700 students. LFA students represented their school very well and many were successful in working on resolutions with others and having them passed on their respective committees. Special congratulations goes to Monica Ng '13 (last year's winner of the Speech Competition sponsored by the Vancouver Independent Order of Oddfellows--an award that gave her a two week tour of Ottawa, New York and Washington) who took an award for her advocacy on her historical committee.
The LFA Model UN Club continues to be a very busy and lively club where LFA students strive to resolve current world issues, where they build confidence and friendships within and outside of the walls of LFA and where they simply learn many things about the world and themselves. The students on this last Model UN trip to Baltimore and Washington demonstrated astounding co-operation on committees (and on foot touring) and this is surely a testament to the high standards to which they strive. Thank you to each and every club member and to Mr. Coady, who is a great chaperone. You make this club awesome!
While the White House was regal, the Capitol was captivating. Here, we were again privileged to have a most experienced guide, who walked us through the original Senate, the spot where all Presidents stand before commencing their walk to the balcony for their inauguration, the beautiful dome with wonderful statues of famous political figures and artwork depicting important periods in US history, and then the present Legislative Assembly and Senate. While we just missed the speakers in the Legislative Assembly, we were able to hear two senators addressing fiscal issues in the Senate. After travelling through a most beautifully adorned tunnel, a short visit was paid to the Civil War display and to the Thomas Jefferson library in the Library of Congress. We all viewed the bible on which all Presidents swear their oaths of allegiance at their inaugurations--it felt somewhat special to see this at this time as it had just been used some ten days or so days prior to our visit for the swearing-in of Barack Obama. This was a wondrous day.
The tour of all of the memorials in Washington was most moving. Our Italian American guide was very knowledgeable and he particularly liked the Franklin Delano Roosevelt series of monuments because of all of the inscribed wise sayings of Roosevelt. Of course, the Lincoln Memorial was impressive but many LFA students appreciated the idea behind the structure of the Vietnam memorial. Fortunately, we had a little time for museums, including the Holocaust Museum and some of the Smithsonian Institute, which were real highlights of DC for many. After plunging the depths of the earth to ride the subway and then several taxi rides later (one ride taking us to a show at the majestic Kennedy centre for Performing Arts) we left Washington, DC most reluctantly as there was still much more to explore.
Washington was special and an amazing experience for our students, but much was also gleaned from attending the very competitive Johns Hopkins Model UN Conference with approximately 1700 students. LFA students represented their school very well and many were successful in working on resolutions with others and having them passed on their respective committees. Special congratulations goes to Monica Ng '13 (last year's winner of the Speech Competition sponsored by the Vancouver Independent Order of Oddfellows--an award that gave her a two week tour of Ottawa, New York and Washington) who took an award for her advocacy on her historical committee.
The LFA Model UN Club continues to be a very busy and lively club where LFA students strive to resolve current world issues, where they build confidence and friendships within and outside of the walls of LFA and where they simply learn many things about the world and themselves. The students on this last Model UN trip to Baltimore and Washington demonstrated astounding co-operation on committees (and on foot touring) and this is surely a testament to the high standards to which they strive. Thank you to each and every club member and to Mr. Coady, who is a great chaperone. You make this club awesome!
Mrs. Julie Mills (Model UN Club Leader)
School Information
4195 Alexandra Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 4C6
Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar
Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar
