Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tampa Bay Chapter
Bay Tel: 727‐345‐4280 Email: pyingst@verizon.net
Volume XXXI No.1 January 2007
Reservations & Payment In Advance Required. A light lunch will be served: Members and guests $9; Students $5.
Make check payable to UNA‐USA Tampa Bay and send to Suja Chetty, Treas., 14550 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. #69 Tampa,
FL 33613 .Use the form on page 3 to submit payment by 1/20/2007.
The United Nations, Its Legacy and Where It Is Headed
Ambassador Maurice Williams was the United Nations Assistant Secretary‐General and Executive Direc‐
tor of the UN World Food Council,. He also served in various position such as the US State Department Under‐
Secretary for International Development , Assistant Secretary for Economic Programs in the Near East and South Asia,
US Ambassador at the Paris Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Chief US Delegate to the
Joint US‐North Vietnam Commission for negotiation of the Peace Accords.
Currently Ambassador Williams is an adjunct instructor of political science, Member of the Academy of Senior
Professionals at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and a Senior Associate of the Overseas Development Council
in Washington, DC. Mr. Williams is the author of several books and numerous papers on subjects relating to the UN
and world affairs. Two of his most recent books are Challenges of Globalization for America and America’s Quest for a Safer
World. He also is one of the authors of US Foreign Policy and the United Nations System. He is a resident of St Petersburg,
FL, and Chevy Chase, MD, a member of the UNA‐USA National Capital Area Chapter (DC) and an advisor to the
Tampa Bay Chapter. Council. He graduated as a Gold Medalist with an honors degree in economics from the
University of Punjab.
President’s Message
Usually I will use this column to talk about Chapter matters. It’s about the only way to keep our member‐
ship abreast of the operation of your organization and what confronts the Board.
At the present time we are diligently trying to firm up our meeting places for 2007, one in Pinellas and one
in Hillsborough. We want each one to be at a central location, easily accessible from I‐275, preferably on a college
campus. But colleges have to be sensitive to the bottom line and frequently impose a use charge. Of course, we try to
get them to waive that fee. If we’re not successful, sometimes we have to seek another location. Because of this, we
have not yet firmed up our meeting locations for this year.
Our By‐Laws were last amended in 1996, so we have a committee working on an update. Any proposed
changes will next go to the Board for approval, then to UNA‐USA in New York for approval. After that, we must
take them to our membership for approval which will probably necessitate a special called meeting of the members
after emailing a copy to all who have email. This may sound cumbersome but it’s really rather simple!
The Board has voted to have a strategic planning meeting on Sat Jan 13. This is a much needed session to do
team building and set our course for 2007. We will report on that later.
Mary Trevino has resigned as Chapter Treasurer after four years. We want to thank her for the diligent ef‐
fort and fine job she did for us in that position. The Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Ms Su‐
jatha Chetty as our new Treasurer. Suja is with Jabil Circuit at their corporate headquarters in St Petersburg. She is a
graduate Electrical Engineer from USF in Tampa, and treasurer for the Indo – US Chamber of Commerce in Tampa.
She has lived in Tampa since childhood.
We’re in the process of adding to and building our committees. The membership committee under Roslyn
Linnen, VP of Membership, continues to do an outstanding job. In the month ending Dec. 23, 22 new members have
joined. This gives us well over 300 members and presents us with new challenges. I invite all of you to volunteer to
serve in areas of interest to you.
Paul Yingst
2007 Biennial National Convention—February 28‐March 4
With the election n of a new UN Secretary General, the UN will enter a new era by the time of the 2007 convention.
All UNA‐USA members are invited to attend the National Conference. The convention gives you the opportunity to
hone your skills in various workshops, hear from leading experts, participate in UNA‐USA Members Day at the
United Nations and participate in elections. Go to www.unausa.org for more information and to register.
Fact: Tampa Bay Chapter Memberships
$1= Lunch ever day New Members: and Renewals Mr. Almorabet Ben hakeem, Ms. Sujatha Chetty,
for a week in Ms. Alexandra de Meric, Ms. Valeriya Graeve, Ms. Doreen Henry, Ms. Stephanie Kwan,
Namibia Ms. Amdanda Morgan, Ms. Lydia Prakash, Mr. Justin P. Schrefer, Mr. Ravi Seepersad,
Dr. Alicia S. Kanhai, Mr. Andrew Stacey, Mr. S. Burgess Williams, Ms. Brittany Friesen,
$10= 10 backpacks Ms. Brittany M. Meynardie, Mrs. Janet Olson, Mr. John Olson, Mr. Nicholas Pazmino, Dr.
SMALL Joel S. Smith, Ms. Shirin Tale‐Yazdi, Mr. Markhan Virdi, Ms. Paulette Alvarez, Mr. Rich‐
ard Barrett, Ms. Lillana Correa, Mrs. Allison Cuffaro, Mr. Romulo Fontes, Ms. Robin L.
CHANGE=BIG
Leiby, Ms. Elizabeth Mann, Mrs. Deborah A. Pettingill, Mr. Guy Allen Pettigill, Dr. Steven
CHANGE C. Roach, Mrs. Erica Roach, Prof. Maria Rost Rublee, Mr. Greg Neil Rublee, Ms. Aylin
Saner, Ms. Melissa Wadley, Mr. Philip Wali, Mrs. Memory Wali.
Volume XXXI No.1 Page 3
Become a
A Note from Natasha Ghent‐Rodriguez
On February 24th of 2007, UNA’s Young Professionals for International Cooperation program will host its largest event
to date. In the spirit of UNA‐USA’s HERO campaign we invite you to become a HERO to the children of Namibia by
attending YPIC’s first annual Global Festival and Gala.
The Global Festival will be an enchanting evening filled with international foods, music from around the world, cul‐
tural performances and a MDG inspired art auction. All ticket sales will go to build a school in Ohangwena, Namibia.
UNA‐USA’s HERO program has been active in the region for several years. HERO has been so successful and at‐
tracted so many orphan children that there is now a dire need for an additional building to house the Kindergarteners.
YPIC‐Tampa Bay in conjunction with UNA headquarters, USAID and UNESCO is working toward a $10,000 goal that
will enable us to build the school and open the door to provide basic healthcare, clean water, school books and coun‐
seling to the young AIDS orphans of Namibia.
We wholeheartedly invite you to join us on the evening of Saturday, February 24th to learn more about the HERO cam‐
paign and the cultures of our world at the Global Festival. If you cannot attend the event, you can still become a
HERO by making a donation to our Namibia Project. Any amount is appreciated. Please tell your friends and contact
us if your company is interested in being a sponsor of the event.
On behalf of the Global Festival Committee and UNA‐USA’s HERO Campaign I warmly thank you for considering to
support our project. See you February 24th!
In UN Spirit,
Natasha Ghent‐Rodriguez
For more information or to RSVP for the Global Festival please contact us at
(813) 842‐5605 or at NGhent@gmail.com
** Tickets will also be sold at the UNA‐Tampa Bay monthly luncheon. Tickets are $50 if purchased in advance and $25
for students.
Non-Profit Organization
Tampa Bay Chapter U.S. Postage Paid
United Nations Association Tampa, FL
USA Permit No. PI 869
Editor: Alana J. Cefaratti
Officers & Directors
President, Paul Yingst
Vice President of Programs, Jill Isaac
Vice President of Membership, Roslyn
Linnen
Vice President of Education, Kelly
Miliziano
Vice President of Advocacy &
Government Relations,
Dr. Jeff Maddux
Treasurer, Suja Chetty
Assistant Treasurer, Rubina Shaldjian
Secretary & Newsletter Editor, Alana
Cefaratti
Director, Dr. Wasif Alam
I am a (Check all that apply):
Director, Rush Dozier, Sr. New Member
Renewing Member
Director, Shrimatee Ojah‐Maharaj Young Professional
Return this form, along with your payment to UNA-USA, 801 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Director, Dr. Steven Roach
Director, Cindy Scaglione
Director, Dr. Robert Strickler
Advisor, Hon. Maurice Williams
YPIC Chair, Stacey Roussel
Schiller University, Jennifer Kon
UT Co‐Rep, Aylin Saner
USF Co‐Rep, Natasha Ghent‐Rodriquez
USF Co‐Rep, Cordell Chavis
NOTE: PLEASE LOOK AT THE BACK OF YOUR NAME ON THE MAILING LA‐
USF Co– Rep, Elizabeth Dunn BEL OF THIS NEWSLETTER. IF IT IS EXPIRED, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM ON
USF Co‐Rep, Jane Mai THE BOTTOM OF THE ADDRESS PAGE OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND SEND IT To
NATIONAL WITH YOUR CHECK TODAY. If the date is wrong, please email Vice
USF Co‐Rep, Gillian Sealy
President of Membership, Roslyn Linnen, RSandraL@juno.com