Washington
Model Organization of American States
The
annual Washington Model General
Assembly of
the Organization of American States (WMOAS) will take place in Washington, DC,
from 7-11 April 2009. The WMOAS is a
collaborative effort between the OAS and the Inter-American Institute
of
Diplomacy (IAID) which is a legally incorporated entity, organized and
administered by participating university faculty, currently seeking
status as a
civil society organization with the OAS. The
WMOAS is actively supported by the OAS
Department of International Affairs and has been endorsed in a
Resolution of
the OAS itself.
This
unique collaboration allows students unprecedented access to the OAS
and its
member state missions. The opening and
closing ceremonies are held at the Hall of the Americas
at OAS Headquarters; these
sessions are attended by ambassadors and the OAS Secretary General. Committee sessions are held at the Fairmont
Hotel near Georgetown.
The WMOAS faculty works
closely with the
OAS Department of External Relations to offer a realistic, academically
challenging, and unique opportunity for students to learn about the OAS
and its
mission, its member states, and the important issues that face the
Hemisphere.
The
simulation of the OAS General Assembly is a five-day event designed
to
accomplish several goals, including learning about the structures and
processes
of the OAS itself, in depth learning about topical issues facing the
hemisphere
and a Member State of the OAS, and mastering the art of diplomacy.
Prior to the simulation in Washington,
faculty
advisors are asked to register with the IAID in order to choose a Member State
to represent. The registration fee, $850
in 2009, helps defray the cost of producing the simulation in DC. There are no salaries or other personnel costs
associated with the Model.
Each student delegation, as composed by the faculty, consists of no
more than
ten and no fewer than five students. Almost
every student at the model receives
academic credit for the WMOAS from their college or university. Faculty are responsible for ensuring that
each student is assigned to one of five committees.
Each
of these committees has an agenda of topics and issues that will be
addressed
in the Model General Assembly. Prior to
coming to Washington, students
prepare
positions on these topics, consistent with the positions of the Member State
they are representing. Preparation
culminates in a draft proposed resolution. This
draft resolution will be submitted first
to a faculty review
committee and then to the committee for discussion and debate during
committee
sessions at the WMOAS.
During the WMOAS week itself, the formal opening session and
orientation
meetings are held on Tuesday. Wednesday provides an opportunity to
visit the
OAS Mission of the Member State
being represented in order to consult with appropriate diplomats. Time is also devoted to revise proposed draft
resolutions and/or to gain supporting signatures from delegates
representing
other Member States. The Wednesday
visits to the Missions are usually a highlight of the week’s
activities. Wednesday afternoon, Thursday,
and Friday are devoted
to committee sessions and caucusing, during which student delegates
introduce
and debate each other’s proposed draft resolutions. Saturday
consists of the closing ceremonies and
the elections for the officers for the following year’s Model.
During the Model, faculty are engaged in a variety of activities,
including
reviewing resolutions and providing support for committee chairs. The role of faculty is most pronounced in the
preparatory phases before students get to the Model.
Once at the Model, faculty are encouraged to
allow their student delegates to “learn by doing”;
in other words, to give students the freedom
to apply what they have learned in class about the issues and diplomacy
so that
they can faithfully represent their member state and reach consensus on
the
resolutions presented. We do expect
Advisors to be present throughout the week, however, to aid in the
smooth
functioning of the Model and to meet and know their colleagues from
across the
Hemisphere. Most Advisors find the
collegial atmosphere at the model to be professionally and personally
rewarding. Faculty are encouraged to
share their expertise at this forum and contribute to the continued
development
of this unique simulation experience. |
