October 24, 2020
United Nations 75th Year Celebration
Centre County Chapter of the
United Nations Association
Because of COVID 19, we are happy to invite you to our first virtual United Nations Day celebration. It will premier at NOON on October 24, United Nations Day, and be available for future viewing.
Our program for the 75th Anniversary of the UN features:
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Welcome and Introduction from our President. Robert Lumley-Sapanski
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Videos: 75 years of UNA – USA and United Nations
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Michael Pipe, Centre County Commissioner. Reading UN Day Procamation
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Brian Massa: United Nations Foundation Director for Global Health Advocacy-Immunization and Global Health Security
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Keynote speaker: H.E. Professor Dr. Judi Wakhungu:
Click to watch the Keynote Address separately
Kenyan Ambassador to the French Republic, Portugal, Serbia, and the Holy See.Her talk is entitled: “The United Nations at 75: Reflecting on our Global Commitment to Multilateralism.” She is a "designated energy expert" for the Gender Working Group of the United Nations Commission of Science and Technology for Development
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Closing Comments, President Bob Lumley Sapanski
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Celebration Song by the Playing for Change Foundation Children
Donate to our 2020 Make a Difference Project
The project chosen for this year is the "Shot@life Program," administered by the United Nations Foundation. The mission of the Program is to fight the spread of childhood diseases around the world.
This UNITED NATIONS DAY celebration is dedicated to the memory of former Centre County UNA board member Bonnie Willey who passed away on October 12, 2020
Bonnie Willey joined the Board of Directors Centre County United Nations Association in 2005, after retiring from an extremely successful career teaching children. Because of her devotion to the goals of the United Nations and her career as an educator, Bonnie was the perfect board member to take over the leadership of our Education Committee. With great energy, enthusiasm and creativity, Bonnie led our Chapter to do its most important work - teaching citizens of Centre County about the vital role played by the United Nations and offering opportunities for citizen involvement. To this end, Bonnie and her committee helped developed local programming on the Millennium Development Goals and identified the role each of us could play in honoring and striving to reach these goals. While she helped people of all ages, her talents were unequaled when the focus was on children. During a year when our United Nations Day worked on education related to climate change, Bonnie's submitted a successful proposal to the Centre Foundation and our Chapter was awarded the funds to purchase age appropriate books on climate change that would encourage child involvement in "making a difference." Bonnie and fellow board member Latha Bhushan spent endless hours reviewing and selecting what they considered the most meaningful books for Centre County children and adolescents. On United Nations Day, with great thanks to Centre Foundation, Bonnie and Latha presented many, many amazing climate change books to every elementary and secondary school and every library in Centre County.... fellow board members will always remember that Bonnie's favorite was "Theo and the Giant Plastic Ball."
In addition to her work with the Education Committee, Bonnie worked with our Council of Organizations members to help develop and promote outstanding UN Day dinner celebrations, which attracted up to 150 guests, many of whom are internationals. With her creative writing and artistic abilities, Bonnie designed attractive theme-based programs and centerpieces. Bonnie was also a proud member of UNA-USA at the national level. On a most memorable occasion, Bonnie and fellow board member Norma Keller enjoyed a beautiful, snowy train ride to New York City to attend a UNA international conference held at the UN. Norma remembers that Bonnie dazzled guests from 50 nations as she spoke with great pride about the many accomplishments of our UNA Chapter in Centre County Pennsylvania......Bonnie was the key to so many of those accomplishments.
In 2011, Bonnie had to leave much of her life behind to move to Oregon to receive highly specialized health care in her relentless battle against recurring lymphoma. It was lymphoma that suddenly claimed Bonnie's life only 12 days ago. Bonnie's daughter, Savonn Weyland, wrote a stirring obituary which touched the hearts of all who loved Bonnie. Our favorite line summarized the Bonnie we all knew so well and loved so dearly. "She was a kind, strong, principled woman, endowed with a deep well of wisdom. She inspired the best in the many that she touched, encouraging them to embrace life." For those of us who had the joy of working with Bonnie, every one of these words ring true.