Chairs

Virtual Chair Guide

Read the information below to learn what to expect in key aspects of a virtual MUN conference. These tips and tricks will be used in all UNAGB virtual Model UN Conferences. Other conferences may use different variations but the general guidance should give delegates a strong start in any conference. 

If you are interested in chairing for a UNAGB conference, reach out to info@unagb.org.

Directing Delegates to “Find” Their Placard

At the start of in-person Model UN, delegates walk into the room and find their placards. At the start of virtual MUN conference delegates will be asked to join a Zoom meeting and to re-name themselves upon entrance. For UNAGB conferences delegates will be asked to use the following naming protocol: Country/Name/Pronouns. For example: USA/Jazmine/(She/her/hers).  Chairs should all change their names to: Chair/name/(pronouns).

Once all the delegates have entered the Zoom room. Instruct them to change their names using correct format. The reason we ask for first names is because sometimes delegates may not recognize that they are being called on with their country name. In an in person conference the chair can make eye contact or use other non-verbal cues to prompt the delegate. Since that isn’t available in the virtual setting we find names to be helpful.

The chair will want to mute all delegates at the start of the conference.

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Provide instructions to delegates

• Tech Chair: Kindly correct any country typos via private chat

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates

Roll Call

Roll Call functions in the same way as it does during an in-person MUN conference. Read the Roll Call using an alphabetized list, not the participant list that you see on Zoom. (If you use the participant list it will go in the order by which delegates signed in, not alphabetical). 

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitate the roll call

• Tech Chair: Record motions, speakers list, and create breakout rooms

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates

Opening the Speakers List

The simulation begins when the chair opens the debate and sets the speakers’ list.

If the chair may open the speaker’s list by asking the delegates to make a motion or by simply opening the Speakers’ List themselves. The chair will then ask for delegates who wish to speak to be added to the speakers list.

Delegates will raise their hands using the “Raise hands” feature in zoom. to be called on. 

The Tech Chair will add delegates to the Speakers’ List.

PRO TIP: For in-person facilitation it’s important for the chair to call on delegates in different areas of the committee (not just go in order right to left). In the same way, it’s important for chairs to call on delegates from the top, bottom, and middle of the raised hands list in zoom. If the chair were to simply call on delegates from top to bottom it would favor delegates who raised their hands to go first). 

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Call on delegates

• Tech Chair: Records order on Facilitation Document 

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates

Points

Common points in Model UN include:

• Point of Personal Privilege: For a matter related to a delegate’s personal comfort

• Point of Information: For a clarification question related to the rules of parliamentary procedure

• Point of Order: To correct the chair on a procedural matter/rules of parliamentary procedure

In virtual MUN, some points can be addressed through the chat.

A “point of order” should be public so it should be done verbally or by chatting “everyone.” A point of “personal privilege” is private and should be sent to the Tech Chair and the Support Chair.

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitate verbal/whole-room points

• Tech Chair: Facilitates points that come via the chat feature 

• Support Chair(s): Support in breakout rooms, take notes regarding awards, communicate with secretariat

Motions

Making a motion is done in a similar way to in person model UN: a delegate raises their placard (hand) and makes a motion for a moderated or unmoderated caucus.

For a moderated caucus delegates need to propose a:

• Time (total and speaking)

• Topic

There is one significant difference between making motions for in-person vs. online un-moderated caucuses: In virtual MUN the delegates name 3 subtopics for an unmoderated caucus. These will become the 3 break out rooms. Therefore in an unmoderated caucus delegates should propose a:

• Time (total)

• Topics

  • Topic One:

  • Topic Two:

  • Topic Three

Tech Chairs should record motions in the moderated section of the chairing template. 

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitate taking and voting on motions

• Tech Chair: Records motions on the Facilitation Document 

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates, record notes for awards

Moderated Caucus

At the start of a Moderated Caucus the chair should give delegates a minute or so to jot down their thoughts about a particular topic. Then call on delegates 3-4 at a time. 

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitate caucus

• Tech Chair: Records the order of speakers on the Facilitation Document 

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates, record notes for awards

Unmoderated Caucus

Once an unmoderated caucus has been voted on the chair will re-name each topic as A, B, or C:

• A - Topic One

• B - Topic Two

• C - Topic Three

Delegates chose which of the rooms they would like to go into by changing their name to adding a letter in front that corresponds with the unmoderated caucus that they are most interested in joining by putting a corresponding letter in front of their name:

• A - USA, Jazmine, (She/her/hers)

This will make it easy for the chair to send delegates into different break-out rooms.

If a delegate realizes that they want to leave a break-out room and join another one they may return to the main room (leave break out room) and ask the chair to re-assign them.

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Instruct delegates to rename themselves based on which breakout room they’d like to be added into.

• Tech Chair: Create breakout rooms based on which choice each delegate chose. To do this, click “Breakout Rooms” and click “Create Manually.” Important note: the tech chair MUST be made the host (not just co-host) of Zoom in order to do this. Remain in the room in order to redirect delegates who get bumped out of their breakout rooms.

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates, record notes for awards

Voting

In Model UN, voting takes place following the chair’s instructions. In a UNAGB conference the chair may ask delegates to raise their hand if they are in favor of something. Alternatively the chair may ask delegates to vote using the yes (in favor)/no (opposed) feature. 

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitates voting

• Tech Chair + Support Chair(s): Count votes to double to confirm accuracy 

Writing Resolutions

To write a resolution delegates type into a Google Doc. Before the conference the Chairs will have a folder for their committee room that they will share with the delegates. The delegates should create all of their resolutions in this folder for easy sharing. 

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitate voting

• Tech Chair: Share the committee Google Folder with delegates

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates, record notes for awards

Passing Notes

In virtual Model UN delegates may pass notes by using the chat feature. Note, even though these notes can seem invisible to the rest of the committee they are read by UNAGB staff at the end of the conference to ensure that no bullying has taken place.

Chair Roles:

• All Chairs review notes at the end of debate to ensure there was violation of the conference Code of Ethics.

Presenting Resolutions

Chairs facilitate the presentation of resolutions by asking delegates to read their resolution aloud and facilitating a Q and A.

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Facilitate reading of Resolution and voting

• Tech Chair: Show resolution

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates, record notes for awards

Ending the Committee session

The Chair ends the committee by calling for a Motion to Adjourn. Once it passes, the chair leads delegates in a virtual round of applause and gives instructions for completing a survey on the conference and how to go to closing ceremonies for awards.

Chair Roles:

• Chair: Lead the closing

• Tech Chair: n/a

• Support Chair(s): Communicate with Secretariat, support delegates, record notes for awards