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ENLARGE
Opinions on the United Nations tend to fall in three camps: hate it, love it, or just don't know about it.
However, North Tahoe residents will be given another way to consider the international policy organization on Tuesday - learn from it.
Gillian Sorensen, the former assistant secretary-general of the U.N., will be speaking at Sierra Nevada College on "The U.S., the U.N. and you: Toward a better world future." The free presentation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Patterson Hall on the Incline Village campus.
Called the "diplomat's diplomat" by the New York Times, Sorensen has been brought here by the Sierra Nevada chapter of the United Nations Association and the Institute for Indigenous People.
Those two groups are headed by a 92-year-old dynamo, Dr. Bill Redel of Sierra Nevada College.
His first encounter with the United Nations was while serving in the Vietnam War, when he was assigned to support peacekeeping teams from Poland and India, Redel said. In 1991, he was asked to attend a U.N. peacekeeping discussion and the president of the United Nations Association urged him to start a chapter in Nevada. He has been president ever since. The chapter's goal is to act as an information channel from the U.N. to the association's members.
However, North Tahoe residents will be given another way to consider the international policy organization on Tuesday - learn from it.
Gillian Sorensen, the former assistant secretary-general of the U.N., will be speaking at Sierra Nevada College on "The U.S., the U.N. and you: Toward a better world future." The free presentation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Patterson Hall on the Incline Village campus.
Called the "diplomat's diplomat" by the New York Times, Sorensen has been brought here by the Sierra Nevada chapter of the United Nations Association and the Institute for Indigenous People.
Those two groups are headed by a 92-year-old dynamo, Dr. Bill Redel of Sierra Nevada College.
His first encounter with the United Nations was while serving in the Vietnam War, when he was assigned to support peacekeeping teams from Poland and India, Redel said. In 1991, he was asked to attend a U.N. peacekeeping discussion and the president of the United Nations Association urged him to start a chapter in Nevada. He has been president ever since. The chapter's goal is to act as an information channel from the U.N. to the association's members.
"We started the United Nations Association because our people should understand what the U.N. is doing," Redel said.
Ted Harris, president of the Golden Empire chapter of the United Nations Association said he is bringing his Grass Valley members to Sorensen's speech because it is important to be brought up to speed on foreign policy with presidential elections in 2008.
"In 18 months we'll be looking for a better foreign policy and the public should get up to speed on what's going on," Harris said.
An international view is important for Republicans and Democrats alike, he said.
"It is important to know what the U.N. is doing in the foreign field. Quite often, we think the U.N. does nothing," said Redel.
Sorensen's current position as senior advisor at the United States Foundation is to be a national advocate on matters related to the U.N. and the United States' relationship with the U.N. She is known as a mediator who can find common ground among a variety of opinions, Harris said.
"She just appreciates that the U.N. has to be supported by all points of view. She's just very good at answering questions from all perspectives," Harris said.
Ted Harris, president of the Golden Empire chapter of the United Nations Association said he is bringing his Grass Valley members to Sorensen's speech because it is important to be brought up to speed on foreign policy with presidential elections in 2008.
"In 18 months we'll be looking for a better foreign policy and the public should get up to speed on what's going on," Harris said.
An international view is important for Republicans and Democrats alike, he said.
"It is important to know what the U.N. is doing in the foreign field. Quite often, we think the U.N. does nothing," said Redel.
Sorensen's current position as senior advisor at the United States Foundation is to be a national advocate on matters related to the U.N. and the United States' relationship with the U.N. She is known as a mediator who can find common ground among a variety of opinions, Harris said.
"She just appreciates that the U.N. has to be supported by all points of view. She's just very good at answering questions from all perspectives," Harris said.
Sorensen will be taking questions from the audience after her talk.
Sidebar 1:
The Sierra Nevada chapter of the United Nations Association includes about 50 members from throughout Nevada. Chapter President Dr. Bill Redel said the group meets twice a year and holds special events, such hosting Sorensen's visit. The group has brought in U.N. speakers before, and it holds a mock United Nations for high school students every fall.
The model U.N. conference has been held for high school and college students from the area for the past two years, said Viktoria Crummey, an assistant professor at Sierra Nevada College.
Sidebar 1:
The Sierra Nevada chapter of the United Nations Association includes about 50 members from throughout Nevada. Chapter President Dr. Bill Redel said the group meets twice a year and holds special events, such hosting Sorensen's visit. The group has brought in U.N. speakers before, and it holds a mock United Nations for high school students every fall.
The model U.N. conference has been held for high school and college students from the area for the past two years, said Viktoria Crummey, an assistant professor at Sierra Nevada College.
The students choose a country to represent and then studies that country's position on an international issue, such as weapons of mass destruction. At the one or two-day mock conference at Sierra Nevada College, the students try to find resolutions to the issues, Crummey said.
Along with leading the Sierra Nevada chapter, Redel has been asked to speak at the United Nations in New York five times about the Institute for Indigenous People. Based at Sierra Nevada College, the Institute for Indigenous People is concerned with preserving First Peoples lives and cultures across the world.
Sidebar 2:
Gillian Sorensen is currently senior advisor to the United Nations Foundation. From 1997 to 2003, she served by appointment from Secretary-General Kofi Annan for external relations, coordinating the planning of conferences, debates, documentaries, and exhibits. She was special advisor to Public Policy for the United Nations from 1993 to 1996, and the New York City Commissioner for the United Nations and Consular Corps from 1978 to 1990.
Along with leading the Sierra Nevada chapter, Redel has been asked to speak at the United Nations in New York five times about the Institute for Indigenous People. Based at Sierra Nevada College, the Institute for Indigenous People is concerned with preserving First Peoples lives and cultures across the world.
Sidebar 2:
Gillian Sorensen is currently senior advisor to the United Nations Foundation. From 1997 to 2003, she served by appointment from Secretary-General Kofi Annan for external relations, coordinating the planning of conferences, debates, documentaries, and exhibits. She was special advisor to Public Policy for the United Nations from 1993 to 1996, and the New York City Commissioner for the United Nations and Consular Corps from 1978 to 1990.
