JUNA (Junior United Nations Assembly)

From Magan's Facebook Post:  "Just finished up two days at JUNA with Anabelle!  This was my first time experiencing this and it was pretty cool what they do. India did great and got all yes votes!  All of Chelsea’s countries represented our school well!  Greece had my fav outfits with their Olympic rings."

Since 1991, JUNA has increased awareness of worldwide issues, demonstrated how the United Nations works, and emphasized the importance of diplomacy and problem solving among nations, peoples, and cultures. More than 1,000 students from over 75 schools have participated. The two-day event includes a meeting of the security council, opening assembly, committee meetings, and General Assembly meetings in which resolutions are presented, discussed and voted upon. JUNA ends with a reception where awards are given and students' accomplishments are celebrated.

Each delegation, composed of 5-7 students, represents a different nation of their choosing (depending on availability). Guided by their teacher sponsor, students research their nation, identify a problem or issue in that country or elsewhere in the world, and write a resolution that proposes a solution to the issue. Resolutions are presented first in committees and upon passage are presented in General Assembly. Here delegates discuss, question and vote just as they would do in the real United Nations. Students wear the native dress of their country and make a flag to use for recognition in the General Assembly.

JUNA develops skills in public speaking, critical thinking, teamwork and leadership. Students in grades 7-10 can serve as Secretary General, Vice Presidents, clerks, security council monitors and committee chairmen. One measure of JUNA's popularity is the number of students who return for second and third years at JUNA and then serve as student leaders and officers. The problem solving and leadership skills that students learn at JUNA are skills that they can use for a lifetime.

We were warned by other parents about these days, and how "long" they can be for the parents, but Magan was a trooper, and was there both days to support Belle.   All was done over in Anniston, so it was a long drive to/from each day.   Belle was beautiful in her Saree, and did great with her speaking roles on stage.   She is just a natural leader, and apparently their resolution was one of very few that passed all delegations with no votes against it.   She has stayed after school for a couple of hours each week since the beginning of school to prepare for this event.   I will admit I had NO IDEA what she was doing, and after this event, still somewhat clueless, altho the website that gave me the info above was helpful.   We also had some good friends from scouts (Colby, Sawyer, Luke) that were on the Poland team, and the daughter of a good friend of mine from work did all the Polish translations for them, it helped that her parents are polish.  Anabelle did the country cutout for the posterboard below, and she will remember us both laughing because it looked like a witch flying on a broom to both of us.   Belley, if you are reading this, you looked Ah-mah-zing...just ah-mah-zing.   

The Blizzard of '24

From Magan's Facebook Post:  "Happy Icy Snow day! We finally got to use our sled for the first time, it’s only been in the garage waiting for snow day for about 10 years.  We tried to catch snow for snow cream, but it was just a bowl of ice basically.  Davis is insane and ran down for a quick slide in shorts, short sleeves, and no shoes or socks. Now we are all beside the fire doing school work."

I think the kids got out of school a total of 3 days during this "snow", which was just barely noticeable out in the yard.   There is a video of Davis out in the yard in shorts, tshirt and no shoes sledding.   Speaking of that sled, Magan bought it at Sam's I believe shortly after snowmegeddon, and it has never been used until this day.   That is the story of much of what is in my garage.   What once you would think holds actual vehicles, now just a collection of "sleds" for the periodic "blizzards" of life.   Seriously Magan, we have never made home made ice cream in 22 years of marraige...and that random pitcher to serve lemonade, why do we still have that?   I guess I will just hush about the photo props that "will one day be sold".   It's ok, she does not read these things...but when you do...Please tell me we have cleaned the garage of at least the full shelf of pillows.   Serenity Now!

Oh, why the picture of the cooling tower at Vogtle below?   Because luckily I was out of town this whole week and never saw one flake of the Devil's dandruff.   It was cold over there, but nothing white falling from the sky, so probably one of the few times I was happy to be traveling.   

A fun day with Ratcliff Cousins

This day began with a little craziness.   It was the Saturday after the AHG lock-in, and Belle and Mom came home early for a quick shower then off to the McWane to meet up with Emily and the girls.  Ruby stayed with the AHG girls because she wanted to see the bunny, which ended up being one of her favorite things to do.   But she ended up getting home about 25 minutes after Magan had already left.   I was working on the computer, probably with these blogs from 2023, and I could tell she was a little sad she did not get to go to McWane.   I had nothing going on that day, so I asked her if she wanted to go.   She sadly told me that she had told Mom that she wanted to stay at AHG, and she knew that her decision was going to make her miss other things.   I told her that is true, and I am glad you got to hang out with the bunny...but I don't have anything going on right now, and we are not that far behind your mom and sister.   I can get you there probably before they even get into the museum.   To see that cute little smile widen and eyes get big....well, it was worth the drive any day.   Altho Davis told me later this would have never worked for him.   

And we did make it to the McWane before everyone had gone into the museum.   I actually parked next to the lobby and got to go in and give the little girls a big hug from Uncle Scott before snapping this first picture and leaving.   There was lots of fun on this day, but I was only given the highlights...Eloisa was super excited everywhere and Belle said you had to watch her close or she would speed off to the next area.   There are so many videos magan took and watched and watched of CiCi.   And they all laughed with CiCi as she started getting delirious when she was sleepy.   I heard Eloisa got super wet in the Itty Bitty City, and Ruby was so happy to get in here, because you can't go in without someone younger in age.   And the cutest story was when Eloisa saw the stingrays at the McWane basement, and looked up with big eyes at Aunt Magy to say "Sting Ray...thats what Moana's grandmother turned into". 

On the way home, the girls stopped by Soma, where they always laugh because I went here once to get magan some pajamas, and the girls did not approve because there are scantily clad women pictures all over in this store.   Well on this day, it was even worse.   The dressing rooms were full because it was a pretty busy day, and magan looked over to see an older lady completely undressing to try on a new bra...and doing this just in the corner of the store.   Magan quickly did the eye point to Ruby and Belle, and they all were still laughing about this later when telling me the story.   As they left the store, Ruby told mom "DAD can NOT come back to this store".   Hahahaha

And one more that I was told through a lot of laughter when they got home.  Magan and Belle came into the garage and found that they were locked out from the inside.   About the time Magan realized it was locked, she heard a loud muffled poot that she thought had come from upstairs.   She could not believe a poot could be that loud from upstairs, and then could not believe when she even smelled the horrendous smell through the ceiling of the garage.   About this time, belle starting giggling at mom who was getting mad because I was not coming to the door because apparently, I was busy farting directly onto the living room floor.   Finally realizing the source of the sound and smell, and the door being opened, Magan ran upstairs away from Belle.   

AHG Lock-In

What was Ruby's favorite part about the AHG lock-in, well, you have to scroll to the bottom to find the pictures of the white bunny.  I don't think should would have ever left it, but had to finally share with others.   While I was not at the lock-in (NO BOYS ALLOWED!), I did enjoy the small livestream that Robbie shared.   It was fun seeing all the girls having fun, and Mom getting stuck in another conversation with MakeUp.   

And the stories I heard about on this evening was Belle trying to actually blow up her mattress, not realizing that I had sent the pump in the van with them.   I heard that Helen was coughing all night keeping people up.   And a funny story about Ruby waking in the middle of the night hearing Marianna blowing up her mattress, but thinking that someone was vacuuming the floor.   And while I heard a little about "Jinglebutt", a game where you shake boxes on butt till jingle bells fall out, I am kind of glad this game has never ended up at any other scouting event.   haha.  Oh, and the rabbit was named Peter.   Ruby played with Presley mainly, and ended up sleeping on a mattress with her.   And one last memory from Ruby, little Michaela was squirming alot keeping people up.