Q: Mary, How did you become involved in the UNA?
A: I presume the way I became involved was through Dr. Brown. He was a member of the Political Science Department at ISU. He at one time was my teacher, then a colleague, when I became a teacher at Metcalf Elementary School. Dr. Brown was very active in the UNA. He suggested that this would be something that boys and girls in intermediate grades should know about, so I joined. I looked at my membership card and it says that I became a member in the 70's, but I do believe that it was probably earlier.
Q: How did you bring the information you learned with the UNA back to the students in your school classroom?
A: There were many sources of information. I depended on our library more than our meetings. But of course the meetings were of interest. I did learn valuable material. I also integrated the UNICEF drive at Halloween.
Q: What was your favorite program topic from the meetings?
A: I don't know that I can say. But since I was very interested in social studies, I highlighted various countries that were part of the United Nations. We would spend some time learning about the countries. They were new to the kids. I believe in the project approach. The kids selected their own countries and they researched it at the library then presented what they found. I'd find pictures to show them the different parts of the United Nations. For example, the New York site, I'd introduce them to the positions like the [Security Council] President, and Secretary General, and other various posts.
Q: What did they find most interesting?
A: Children of that age are most interested in other countries. They were more interested in learning about the countries and customs of how people lived and possibly more so than the actual make-up of the organization.
Q: Did you integrate any peacekeeping mission work that they could grasp onto?
A: We organized our classroom and had meetings. I think that probably there might have been some carryover. We did have a mock session, and we did have problems that had to be resolved. It was a mock mediation. The children had an opportunity to have leadership roles, so that was building toward hopeful leaders in their school and adult lives.
Q: Did Adlai Stevenson's commitment to peace and the United Nations inspire you and your work with the UNA?
A: Definitely. He's a remarkable man. Now Mrs. Ives actually lived on Washington St. It is now going to be a museum. She would go out east when the weather got bad. So, Buffie did not attend these ceremonies in the last few years. WJBC would fly her back and forth. But her son Tim Ives would come to the ceremonies when they were in town to represent the family. The gravesite service has been a remarkable service for the children and has advertised that there is such a thing as a United Nations to the choir members.
Q. What impact has the McLean County Chapter of the UNA had on promoting international peace and justice in our community? How do you make local global connections in your life?
A: I teach English as a second language. Also, I am on the board for Crossroads in downtown Bloomington.