Minutes of UNA Coventry AGM 2023
Held via Zoom, 18 Jan 2024
Present
Philip Brown – UNA Coventry
Barrie Oxtoby – UNA Central
Gian Clare – UNA Warwick
Caroline Wilson – UNA Warwick
Ruth Longoni – Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation (LMPC)
Haadi Khalid – Warwick UN Society
Matters arising from AGM 2022
None.
Report on activities in 2023
https://unacov.uk/una-coventry-annual-report-2023/
Election of Officers for 2024
No new nominations so current officers re-elected
Chair – Shagufta Hamid-Khan
Treasurer – Mohammed Aqib
Secretary – Philip Brown
Other officers
Barrie suggested co-opting somebody to committee
Ruth suggested co-opting somebody from LMPC
Gian suggested contacting university staff
Invitations to others – Action
Philip will invite LMPC and Coventry Climate Action Network members to help organise events with UNA Coventry.
Development Plan for 2024
Philip showed suggestions for what Coventry UNA branch might do.
Then attendees gave their suggestions as follows.
Stalls at local information fairs
Gian described how Warwick branch works
It works with and supports other relevant organisations. A branch does not have to do everything itself.
Caroline said that in an election year (such as 2024) it holds an event where all Leamington parliamentary candidates present ideas on international affairs. This is followed by a Q&A session. The candidates are given the questions prior to the event.
Each year they have a stall at the local Eco fest, sell second hand books and hand out leaflets about UNA. This maintains the branch funds. People can also sign up to emails about future meetings. This keeps new people coming in.
Christmas Fair in Earlsdon
Ruth said she and Ann Farr had a stall at Christmas fair in Earlsdon.
Godiva Festival
Ruth also suggested we could have a stall on the 3rd day of the Godiva Festival.
Public talk about the UN
Could have a meeting, eg in Council house, about what the UN does. Could have workshops on the 4 UN pillars. This would raise people’s awareness about the UN. Many people don’t know much about it.
Gian said he previously gave a talk with Rod Fielding at the Coventry Lord Mayor`s Peace Committee meeting when Ruth was the Chair.
Positive Images
UNA Coventry could have a stall at the Positive Images fair.
Need to have something to catch people’s attention
Need to distribute leaflets showing forthcoming meetings/activities
Climate Change Event
Invite council officers and Coventry Climate Action Network (covcan.uk) and the public to discuss what they are doing to help fight with climate change and what else needs doing.
Don’t want to duplicate information about climate change. Could have climate change info on stall.
Climate change poster
Warwick Branch has a poster created by Gian’s daughter about UN history of climate activities
How to get people to come to meetings?
Make it sociable. Bring food along to share with people. Have music.
UN song competition
Philip suggested this might attract people and could vote for winning song.
Priorities
Caroline suggested the branch concentrate on having Q&A with election candidates and running a stall with information for the public.
Warwick UN Society
Haadi Khalid, who is Academics Officer of Warwick UN Society, said that UNA Coventry are doing similar things to them. There is a large demand for talks about careers in the UN, possible paths for entry and so on.
The Society is able to reimburse travel if necessary.
Action
Philip will identify speakers who are able to come to Warwick or perhaps speak via video conference if they are based outside the UK.
Barrie said the Westminster UNA Branch have done something similar and suggested Philip ask David Wardrop
Caroline said the UNA-UK website used to have information about careers in the UN
She also said that Warwick Branch’s poster about UN history of climate activities might be a good thing to display if appropriate.
UN Charter Poster
Ruth said she and Rod Fielding presented a poster of the UN Charter and a UN poster in the shape of a dove to a previous Lord Mayor with the intention they should be displayed in the Council House. She would like to find them and frame them for use at events.
Caroline said they were very large with small print and were cumbersome to use. They needed a very large wall to be displayed.
Gian thinks he still has some of them.
General Election Candidates Q&A Sessions
Hold meetings with candidates in each constituency where they present their ideas on international and UN-related issues. See the 4 pillars of the UN at https://unacov.uk/una-coventry-annual-report-2023/
Target audiences
Concentrate on engaging schools, teachers and universities.
Any other Business
None.