Comments of the President (Paul Byrnes)
What a year of contradictions! The overall popularity of The United Nations System remained about 70% approval, the Organization took on and handled many tasks successfully, but still the talk show hosts and fringe political elements prevented the Administration from paying the long-standing U.S. debt to the United Nations. As this is written, the situation looks even more gloomy, since by Fall, the arrearage may result in a loss of the United States vote in the General Assembly.
Can you imagine the difficulty of getting this debt paid once we have lost our General Assembly vote? How can we exercise the leadership that will be expected of us? This shameful situation makes it even more important that the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter does all it can to seek more opportunities to explain the workings and importance of the United Nations.
I am pleased to say that our educational outreach took a number of forms in the past year, and plans were laid to build upon this in the coming year. In this regard, let me say that our nearly 300 members should not rely solely on the Board to spread the word. It can best be done by all of us, as we operate in our own spheres of influence and carry out our daily activities. To me, it is vitally important also that we develop programs to reach our youth, and through them the parents, and always be willing to provide, or obtain the answers to, questions about what the UN is doing to preserve peace, improve economic and social conditions, and defend human rights in all parts of our interdependent world.
To place the Chapter administratively in a position which will help facilitate future work, the Board will ask in the Annual Meeting that the membership approve a fiscal year that will begin January 1 and end on December 31 of each year. This By Laws change will require that we have a six- month transitional period with some interim leadership necessary, but I am confident the membership will approve these measures as being in the best interest of the Chapter.
Lastly, we should not think that the challenges to the UN and the Chapter will be any less difficult as we move closer to the 21st century. You should rest assured that you have competent leadership in a Board that possesses a vast array of talent. Pulling together, these representatives can place the Chapter in a unique position to meet the new millennium head on. We will be more than successful as a Chapter if the Board and Officers continue to receive the support and attention given to me this past year. I have no doubt that they will and I want to express deep thanks for all of the assistance and encouragement extended to me
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