Now that summer is gone and fall is in the air, UNA-GB kick-started another great year with its Annual Meeting held on the evening of September 13th.
The Annual Meeting was a great opportunity to meet with the Boston community and share with them what we’ve been doing throughout the past year and our plans for the next 12 months. This year’s meeting started off with a Board meeting, which was open to the public. Following that, the Annual Meeting began with the opening remarks from UNA-GB’s Executive Director, Lena Granberg, who briefly spoke about the highlights of the year and introduced our new staff members, Allison Smith, Programs and Administrative Assistant, and Nuray Zerbe, Development and Partnerships Associate. UNA-GB’s President Richard Golob presented the successful works that UNA-GB has made throughout the year, addressed its remarkable growth in the Boston community, and shared our agenda for the upcoming year. In addition, he spotlighted a number of local UN Day events to engage the public in recognizing the anniversary of the United Nations, such as the annual UN Day Luncheon, this year with special keynote speaker Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Brazil’s permanent representative to the UN.
The panel discussion gave insights of our programs and priorities in 2012. Among speakers were Rebecca Corcoran, Model UN Programs; Nate Tassinari, Young Professionals Network; Patricia Chilangwa, Women’s Forum; and Lena Granberg, Signature Programs. Each panel of speakers began with trivia questions and discussed how each program has served the community. If you missed the meeting and want to catch up on recent UNA-GB events or upcoming programs, click here to learn more.
For this year’s Kimball Lecture, Michael Dukakis, Former Massachusetts Governor and Former US Presidential Candidate, gave the keynote address, “Strengthening International Institutions – Now.” Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts and is known as the longest serving governor in Massachusetts history. He gave an inspiring speech on international peace and security.
The Kimball Lecture is given annually in memory of Professors Chase and Mary Lee Evans Kimball. Chase and Mary Lee were lifelong supporters and promoters of participation and responsible leadership of the US in international organizations, starting with fervent advocacy of the United States entry in the League of Nations. Chase, a lawyer and professor of international relations, and Mary Lee, a professor of French, were enthusiastic and loyal supporters of the United Nations Association of Greater Boston and the UN Council of the South Shore.
The evening wrapped up with the “Robert F. Meagher Wine & Cheese Around the World” reception, to recognize the contributions and legacy of long-time UNA-GB Board Member Bob Meagher. Everyone who attended the meeting enjoyed wines and cheeses from all over the world including Chile, France, Spain, Ireland, Australia, Portugal, and South Africa.
From the open Board meeting to the Wine & Cheese Reception, UNA-GB’s 2012 Annual Meeting was a huge success in bringing community members together and showing our support for the ideals and mission of the UN.
Check out more pictures from our Annual Meeting on our Facebook page!
We always welcome you to be with us. Become a member today and join us in our upcoming events. For more information on how to get involved with UNA-GB, check out the Get Involved tab on our website.