To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to you for your kind donations to the Haverhill High School Model United Nations Club. Your philanthropic support was much needed, and much appreciated in allowing myself and my teammates to be able to afford our recent trip to the National High School Model United Nations Competition in NYC, NY.

As I'm sure you know, we left on Tuesday March 8th and stayed at the Hilton in Manhattan until Saturday March 12th. On Wednesday we as members of the competition were allowed to partake in the opening ceremonies in the United Nation's General Assembly room. Later on that day we began our committee meetings. I was a member of the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) along with my partner Jonathan DeCosta. Representing the Republic of Korea, we were highly concerned with the topic of "Confirming Failure to Disarm" (WMD's). Unfortunately things didn't exactly go our way and our committee found it more important to discuss the "Tracking of Conventional Arms Trade." Because of the fact the DISEC was the largest committee, things went a little slowly and we were never able to discuss the first topic.

Although my partner and I were deeply disappointed with the committee's decision, we still rallied and made the best of it. We learned more than we ever expected to about the issue of tracking the trade of arms. We were able to help write a working paper, submit it before the committee, defend it, and rewrite it as a draft resolution. After having worked for about 17 hours on this resolution we were able to help make it pass within the committee. On Saturday morning we were able to meet back in the UN's GA room and everyone gathered to vote on all the resolutions passed within the committees. Unfortunately when we looked over the packet containing the resolutions to be voted on, we found that the administrative office had accidentally left our country's name off the Sponsors list for our resolution. It was slightly disappointing but we still fought to try and support our resolution in the General Assembly with over 2000 delegates present. In the end our resolution passed by a large majority of the delegations showing support for what we were able to help write.

This trip was a wonderful learning experience and truly a great memory that I will always carry with me. I simply cannot express the profound appreciation that I have for you and all that you've done for me and my friends. My experience in New York has inspired me to continue competing even throughout my college career. This trip would never have been possible for us without the kind donations of benefactors like you.

Sincerely yours,

Garrett E. Sobalvarro

Dear all who contributed to HHS International Relations Club,

Thank you to everyone who helped make our trip to New York a success. The funding that everyone generously donated to our club enabled us to attend a very educational conference, where we met great people from all over the world. The conference allowed for us to use all of the experience and knowledge we have gained from Mr. Simmons's International Relations class. His class allowed us to be highly competitive with the best and brightest students from around the world. This experience will aid me a great deal as I pursue a career in public policy.

Thanks Again,

Patrick Hayes

To whom it may concern,

Our names are Lauren Chappell and Lisa Alarcon, and recently we were given the opportunity to attend an international Model United Nations Conference in New York City. It was an incredible experience that we will never forget, and are extremely grateful to all the organizations that helped us out with the funds we needed to attend the trip. It wouldn't have been possible without your help!! Thanks to you, we were given the chance to debate global issues with other high school students, not only from all over the United States, but from all over the world! We became friends with students from such countries as Italy, South Africa and Mexico! It was absolutely amazing to see over 2100 high school students from all over the world coming together with one common cause, to solve the world's issues and unite as a whole. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to represent the Republic of Korea to the best of our ability with pride! The funding we received from you not only paid for the conference, but also for a tour of the actual United Nations building! We think that actually seeing the United Nations building where so many millions of people's lives are affected by what happens there was one of the best parts about the trip. We were even allowed to sit in the actual general assembly room and debate our topics and resolutions for a little while!! On top of that we were allowed to use the voting buttons and microphones that the actual delegations from nations all over the world use everyday when discussing topics vital to the world's peace and stability!

In our committee, the Status of Women Commission, we were given the opportunity to discuss several vital topics such as the current problem with the advancement of women into governmental organizations as well the topic of AIDS and how it is currently affecting women all over the world. We mainly talked about the advancement of women into the government for five days and after several hours of constant debates, We were able to pass two resolutions into the general assembly. One of which, we co-wrote!! It took a lot of patience to try and compromise with so many other people on an issue where so many countries have different opinions, so we got a better opinion of what it's like to actually be in the United Nations. We were all forced to work together and put our pride aside in order to come up with solutions that would eventually better the world.

Overall, we believe that the trip we took to the Model United Nations competition in New York was one of the best trips we have ever been on. It was an experience that we will never forget. We've learned so much about the world and the way that it works thanks to this competition. So once again, we would like to thank you for all your generous support and funding that made this trip possible. You have given us a greater understanding of the world, and who knows maybe someday you/II see us in the real United Nations building doing the same things we got to do now!

Thank you,

Lisa Alarcon and Lauren Chappell.

The trip that Haverhill High School took to New York helped to give me a new outlook on world diplomacy. As a representative of the Republic of Korea, I was often subjected to various comments and pressures from surrounding nations. In addition, I was the target of slander, libel, and had my words twisted by various belligerent powers. However, through it all I was forced to remain calm and address the issues at hand with confidence. It was not until after the competition that I realized that the grueling conditions faced by real delegates were tenfold my experience.

The hours that I labored to solve crises in place of lunch and sleep were nothing compared to the days spent by diplomats attempting to prevent a rouge state from developing nuclear weapons or trying to feed staving children. During my competition I was an actor, portraying a nation's belief for fun and an enlightening experience. However, the real representatives are fighting for their sovereignty, pride, and homeland. As all of this sank in I truly realized the essence of the United Nations.

There is no competition for these people, and there are no prizes. There is only the knowledge that the fate of the world is in their hands. As of each of these parties enters the General Assembly they must effectively use debate and compromise to come to agreements that are in the favor of righteousness, an intangible and often debatable quality.

In a world where many question the efficiency and validity of the United Nations and wonder if it is still relevant, I have a new found respect for this brave institution. Despite the fact that many do not see the solutions coming from the United Nations, a starving child in Africa receiving a food shipment or an elderly man hearing for the first time thanks to the World Health Organization would not challenge its effectiveness. The truth is the U.N. is an integral part of our world that is irreplaceable and imperative to our future.

Eric Slater