Presidents' Letter

Welcome to Harvard Model Congress 2009!  We would like to take this opportunity to briefly introduce ourselves and HMC as the student group, the non-profit organization, and, finally, the conference.

We are the co-presidents of Harvard Model Congress 2009, Meaghan Graul and Brittany Lin.  We spend a lot of time together, because besides planning HMC, we are also roommates residing in Dunster House and are both senior economics concentrators.  Previously, Meaghan and Brittany have been exposed to both the administrative and programmatic sides of HMC conferences.  Meaghan has served as the Faculty Liaison for HMC 2008, the executive assistant to the Chief of Staff for HMC 2007, and a chair of the Cabinet for both our San Francisco and Europe conferences.  Previously, Brittany has acted as the President of the Senate for HMC 2008, the Faculty Liaison for our Asia conference, and a chair of both the House and the Senate.

At its most basic level, Harvard Model Congress is a student group, an extracurricular activity for Harvard students to help actively engage the next generation of civic leaders in today’s relevant issues and have a great time doing so.  Founded in 1986, HMC has consistently been soliciting its staffers for feedback to improve the experience for both the Harvard and high school students.

Although Harvard Model Congress has always unofficially acted as a non-profit organization, it was not until 2006 that we were granted the 501(c)(3) status.  As a non-profit organization, our focus has always been the students.  None of our executive board or staff members get paid for the many hours of work they dedicate to making Harvard Model Congress and incredible learning experience and memorable event for student, faculty and fellow staff member.

Thus, every year, Harvard Model Congress creates the best and most dynamic simulation of the American government for high school students from all over the world.  The Boston conference brings together 1,500 high school students to take on the roles of governmental officials from all three branches who may possess views and ideas that differ from their own.  Guided by the Harvard staffers, these students participate in lively debates, draft legislation to resolve current global issues, lobby Congress on behalf of various interest groups, publish conference-wide newspapers, hold trials in the court of law, and much more.  After the conference, students are able to walk away with more enlightened views of the topics discussed, stronger public speaking and debate skills, a more open mind to different perspectives, and even an elevated sense of self-confidence.

Harvard Model Congress has always attracted some of the brightest, most ambitious minds to come together to work towards a compromise.  When we turn on the television or pick up a newspaper covering the current election, we see just how important it is to participate in the realm of US politics.  The issues agreed or disagreed upon by the candidates remind us what is at stake.  While Harvard Model Congress models the federal government, we like to think that the skills and experiences each delegate takes away from HMC will motivate him or her to apply these lessons first at their local level and then perhaps someday at the federal level.

We encourage you navigate through our website for more information.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about the registration process or the conference itself.  We look forward to seeing you at our next Harvard Model Congress conference!

Sincerely,
Meaghan Graul
and
Brittany Lin