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Dear Arthur,
We have more information this week from Washington,
D.C. where GMUN alumnus Alex Fak (Parkway North,
1999) just completed work on a recently aired
PBS "Frontline" on "Bigger Than Enron." We have more
information about how students can apply to become a
member of Governor Holden's youth cabinet, news
about tomorrow's (Tuesday's) field trip to the
Wentzville General Motors plant, and much more.
In addition to reading our newsletters, you may also
want to visit our
web site by clicking here. We have a good deal of
current information, and during this summer we will be
working on building up our archives from previous
years.
From Washington, D.C.
This past Thursday, Jun 20, PBS (Channel 9 in St.
Louis) aired a "Frontline" special "Bigger Than Enron."
While most of us have heard of the scandal with Enron
and its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, we are not
aware of how widespread the problems of dishonest
financial disclosures are with American businesses. The
program revealed the how the accounting industry is
having tremendous difficulty policing itself. In addition,
the lobbying power of the big accounting firms along
with their major clients has prevented the federal
government from curbing fraud.
We bring this issue up for two reasons:
1. The United States government often condemns the
United Nations and many of the world's countries for
not properly managing their financial affairs. Obviously,
the problems are tremendous in this country, and it is
hypocritical for the U.S. berates others about problems
that exist in mammoth proportions within our own
borders.
2. One of our Gateway Model U.N. alumni, Alex Fak
(Parkway North, 1999) worked with Frontline as an
intern on the story. His main responsibility was being a
fact checker on the assertions made in the program.
While the script was being revised up until the last
moment, Alex was busy cross-checking the veracity of
each and every statement. We salute Alex for his
excellent work. We are also proud of another GMUN
graduate having an exciting internship in Washington,
DC.
Unfortunately, the program is not scheduled to be
televised again in the near future. However, we have a
DVD copy of the program and can provide others with
either another DVD copy or a videotape if they are
interested in viewing it.
As we mentioned last week, Beth Fortune also reports
to us from Washington. Beth is a senior-to-be at St.
Louis University who is presently working as a
journalism intern for the Hartford (CT)
Courant.
Beth participated in the Gateway Model United Nations
when she was an 8th grade student at St. Pius V
School in St. Louis. She immediately established
herself as an outstanding delegate. She continued her
excellent participation during her four years at Nerinx
Hall High School. Twice she went to MUNUC (Model
United Nations of the University of Chicago).
Beth has continued her commitment to GMUN during her
years at St. Louis University. She has chaired MUN
committees, worked as a resource person for student
journalists, and been involved in Civitas planning.
Her work this summer has allowed her to cover a
variety of stories for the Courant. You can
read her stories by clicking on the link at the bottom of
this article. Her June 13 article on the shortage of
certain vaccines in the United States reveals the
difficulties that developed countries have in fighting
infectious diseases. The problem is of course worse in
developing countries, and through our continuation this
year with the UNA's "Global Health Initiative," we'll be
focusing more on the issues in the coming school year.
Articles by Beth Fortune
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Last week to apply to join the Governor's Youth Cabinet! |
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As we previously reported, Missouri Governor Bob
Holden wants your help. Important changes, challenges
and decisions face many young people. How you and
others preparing for adulthood respond will determine
the kind of place to live, work and play that your
community becomes.
How can you help? You've probably heard the
expression "young people are the leaders of tomorrow."
Well, Governor Holden says something a little different -
"young people are the leaders of today." You can make
a big difference today in the world in which you
live.
If you want to help build a better world, please join
with other young people to create the Missouri Youth
Network. Youth Network members will receive
opportunities to make their voices heard by Governor
Bob Holden, other elected officials, community leaders
and agencies providing services to young people.
An informational meeting was held at the Schlafly Public
Library in St. Louis' Central West End today (Monday,
June 24). An abundance of interesting information
about the program was provided by Quentin Wilson,
Governor Holden's Cabinet Director and Ben Smilowitz,
Coordinator of the Governor's Youth Cabinet. Both
gentlemen seemed to really be committed to giving
young people the opportunities to advance issues of
particular interest to them.
The deadline for applying to become a member of the
Governor's Youth Cabinet is one week from today,
Monday, July 1. If you would like more information on
the Youth Cabinet and to apply for a position, just click
on the link at the bottom of this article and click once
more where it says, "Governor Holden's Youth
Cabinet and the Missouri Youth Network." You can
also link to the application form for the Cabinet, print it
out, complete it, and send it in. After clicking on the
link, just close the nuisance "pop-up" ads that the
state sold for the site to make it look like a rural
highway with scenery made of billboards.
See to the right GMUN member Jessicia Burnett; Nerinx
Hall, 2004, listening to Quentin Wilson and Ben
Smilowitz at Monday's meeting at Schlafly Branch.
To Information on and Application Form for Missouri Youth Cabinet »
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Tour of G.M. Plant will be first Summer Activity of 2002 |
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Our first special field trip of the summer is a tour of the
General Motors plant in Wentzville, Missouri (St. Charles
County). The tour is tomorrow (Tuesday, June 25),
from 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM.
Because so many interested students and teachers live
throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, we will
have two pick-up and return points for the bus to take
us to the plant. The first will be at Crossroads School,
500 DeBaliviere, in St. Louis
click here for map
The second will be at the St. Louis County Library,
1640 So. Lindbergh (63131) -- east side of Lindbergh,
just south of Clayton Road.
click here for map
Pick-up at Crossroads will be at 7:45 AM; at the
County Library at 8:10 AM. Return to the Library will
be by 11:30 AM and to Crossroads by 12:00 Noon.
During the tour, we will be on a tram and travel about
the plant to see how G.M. is using modern technology
in the auto industry. There will be time for questions
and answers. If you are interested in going, please
E-Mail us today and let us know at which of the two
pick-up spots we should expect you.
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We could use more respondents to our poll on youth and decision-making...... |
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Some people have said that youth should not be
wasted on the young. Others have said that adults
should not be deprived of the wisdom of the young.
Our questiion is this: Which two of the following age
groups do you think are best equipped to govern in
society?
1. Under 12
2. 12-21
3. 22-35
4. 36-50
5. 51-65
6. Over 65
Link to new poll. »
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Giveaway |
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Congratulations to Megan Kennedy (Hazelwood Central,
2004) who was the first to claim our Microtek 300
flatbed scanner. As we previously stated, Civitas
upgrades its equipment from time to time and has need
to dispose of older items.Like all of our equipment that
becomes available, this is free to anyone
associated with Gateway Model U.N.
Regrettably, this week we do not have any equipment
available.
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