To Be a Chair: For the First Time

Have you ever thought what it is like to be a Chair? What do they feel while sitting in front of the House?

I have always been sure that it is just a piece of cake to listen to the delegates one by one granting or denying their motions when we, delegates, have to come up and with trembling voice and shaking hands deliver our speeches. But every Chair had his own “debut” and we are going to talk with our new four Chairs who are in the head of the committees for the first time. 

Natalia Kotikova, GA1

    Natalia Kotikova - Special Political and Decolonization Committee (GA 1):

    Why did you decide to chair at BelaMUN?

    I decided to participate in BelaMUN as a chair because of different reasons. First of all it is a great opportunity to get new experience and skills in organizing people and time. Secondly it is a good chance to meet new interesting people who care about the world’s most crucial problems.

    How many times have you participated in MUN as a delegate?

    I have participated as a delegate five times. It was two BelaMUNs, one time in Haarlem (HMUN, the Netherlands), in Wroclaw (WrocMUN, Poland) and in sunny and warm Italy (GeMUN, Genoa).

    In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of chairing in comparison with being a delegate?

    I will point out one disadvantage. First of all it is not direct participating in debates. And, of course, the great advantage is organizing the work in the House and creating a proper pleasant atmosphere.

    The process of preparing to be a Chair, what was it like?

    Of course, lots of points, lots of motions, rules. It seems to be a challenge to regulate the time but I’m sure I will manage.

    What are your expectations concerning the coming MUN? Are you excited?

    Yes, I’m very-very excited! Although it is my first time of chairing I’m sure we will do our best and contribute a lot to BelaMUN 2011.

Ksenia Samersova, EC

 Ksenia Samersova - Environmental Commission:

    Why did you decide to chair at BelaMUN?

    First of all because it is a chance to work with our active and initiative youth. The schoolchildren that I have come across lately were those who smoked and fribbled under my windows so here I hope to meet another kind of them to make sure that our future is in safe hands.

    How many times have you participated in MUN as a delegate?

    I have participated in such conferences twice. It was in 2009 – SPIMUN (Saint-Petersburg) and BelaMUN.

    In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of chairing in comparison with being a delegate?

    The main disadvantage is that you can’t participate in debates directly as you have to control the flow of the work in the House. To be a Chair is a bit more difficult than to be a delegate because you feel more responsibility:  not only defending your point of view but providing the effective, fruitful work of the whole committee to gather delegates into a unique team.

    The process of preparing to be a Chair, what was it like?

    I think that it is more difficult that to prepare to be a delegate because except the issue that is on the agenda you should be well aware of the procedure and other stuff like that.

    What are your expectations concerning the coming MUN? Are you excited?

    Of course, I am! I’m sure that it is going to be amazing and vivid. I’m going to do my best to share with the delegates my enthusiasm and experience.

Maria Ugolnik, HRC

Maria Ugolnik - Human Rights Council:

    Why did you decide to chair at BelaMUN?

    You know, after some conferences where I was a delegate I found myself bored of the last one so I agreed to be promoted to a Chair because I’m still interested in MUN and want to see it from the other side.

    How many times have you participated in MUN as a delegate?

    I was in Berlin (BerMUN), Haarlem (HMUN, the Netherlands), at two BelaMUNs, in Leiden (LeMUN, the Netherlands) and Genoa (GeMUN, Italy) – all in all six.

    In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of chairing in comparison with being a delegate?

    I think one of the disadvantages is that you don’t create something new, you just watch others doing it. One of the advantages is that you are respected more then when you are a delegate. What is more, when your committee has a success you feel proud of yourself that the delegates managed to create something important for the world.

    The process of preparing to be a Chair, what was it like?

   It was difficult because a Chair must know all the rules of the procedure and all the phrases perfectly. Moreover you should be aware of the agenda even more than the delegates. But I think I succeed.

    What are your expectations concerning the coming MUN? Are you excited?

    I’m enormously excited as it is my first time of chairing and I hope that all the delegates in my committee will be active and creative.

Marina Nelipovich, SC

Marina Nelipovich - Security Council:

    Why did you decide to chair at BelaMUN?

   Actually, I think you have already heard lots of versions about how nice it is to be a Chair, how many prospects you will face and so on. That’s why I won’t repeat, it is clear. The reason is that since the first time I participated as a delegate I have been dreaming of singing the song “BelaMUN Forever” on the stage =) .

    How many times have you participated in MUN as a delegate?

    I have participated in MUN six times and each time was like the first one: three Belarusian conferences, SPIMUN (Saint-Petersburg), MUNISH (the Hague, the Netherlands) and GeMUN (Genoa, Italy).

    In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of chairing in comparison with being a delegate?

    As for advantages, I have always dreamt to cheer up silent delegates and now I have this power! =) What disadvantages are you talking about??! I have no idea because I always wanted to be a Chair!

    The process of preparing to be a Chair, what was it like?

    It wasn’t very difficult because I knew these rules before as I had participated as a delegate. Maybe the most difficult thing is to pronounce the names of countries correctly =)

    What are your expectations concerning the coming MUN? Are you excited?

    I feel like a teacher who came to school for the first time. I’m afraid of these clever children… OMG… But I’m sure everything will be OK at least because I’m going to work with a great co-Chair - Anna Grigorian.

As you can see being a Chair is an utterly responsible job that is definitely not less exciting than being a delegate. But at the same time each of us can try it. So take your courage and success attend you in your Chair career!;)

Anna Parkhanovich