FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Arguably the biggest benefit and what makes this club different than most, is its flexibility. There are so many opportunities to get super involved in the club, however if you are involved in multiple organizations on campus, you are still able to become a member. That being said, the amount of energy and effort that you put into Model UN, resembles the rewarding experiences and satisfaction you will get back. Staffing for our conferences and competing abroad will give you substantial resume boosts, not to mention the irreplaceable memories made along the way. We highly recommend getting as involved as possible!
How extensive is the time commitment?
How can I travel?
If you are interested in traveling for a specific conference during the year, an application to travel will be posted in advance. In order to be considered for our travel opportunities, a delegate would have to fill out the application. Since our team does not have try-outs, this is the most effective way for the Executive Board to gauge what conferences would be best for you! This decision is based on a variety of factors (see the What is Travel? page in the about section). It is recommended to be present throughout the year, as people who are more active in the club are more likely to travel.
At the end of each school year, we hold elections for our next executive board. These positions are the highest in our leadership rank. These positions include: President, Conference Logistics, Treasurer, Secretary General of GatorMUN, Secretary General of SUNMUN, Member Development of General Assembly, Member Development of Crisis, Recruitment and Retention, Secretary. In order to vote, we have a point system in place to allow participating members to vote for these positions. A minimum of 15 points must be achieved in order to vote for each executive position. Points are awarded based on GBM attendance (one point), SunMUN/GatorMUN Secretary trainings (one point), non-weekend trainings (under 2 hours), tabling (one point), weekend trainings (three points), UF competitive travel conferences (three points), staffing GatorMUN or SUNMUN (five points). The point system also determines if an individual has been present enough in club activities to run for executive board. A minimum of 25 points is necessary to run. It is possible to attain these points year-round, so maintaining this point count is extremely accessible. Points are calculated by the Secretary of Model United Nations (currently Arielle Watts.) If you have a question about your point count at any moment throughout the semester, do not hesitate to reach out.
What is the point system?
What is staffing?
Great question! Staffing is a leadership position for both of our hosted conferences: SUNMUN and GatorMUN. Staffing a conference can range from reading crisis notes or even co-chairing a GA. If you are new to Model United Nations, these positions can be extremely helpful in learning the mechanics of each committee type. The more advanced staffing positions can require the creation of a background guide to become a director of your desired committee. These positions provide a great resume building opportunity and can even lead to higher leadership positions in the future.
General Body Meetings (GBMs) are the most effective way on conveying information to club members, as well as an instrumental event for training new and existing members. Our Members of Development for Crisis Committee and General Assembles (Nico Mendez-Arango: Crisis, and Noelle Morey: GA) are dedicated to providing trainings that can create and shape well rounded delegates. These meetings are also a great way to make individuals known as active members. One point will also be given to a delegate per GBM that they attend, which becomes important to vote and run for the next year's executive board.
GBMs are always at 7pm on Wednesday in the Reitz Union. The exact room number can be found in the Instagram Bio: @ufmodelun. If you are having trouble finding the room, send a direct message to the Instagram.