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The Lake Erie International Model United Nations (LEIMUN) is a non-profit organization, based in Ohio that organizes Model UN conference in Cleveland and Ashtabula. Its mission is to "To promote and encourage awareness, understanding, tolerance, and acceptance of the world's peoples, cultures, beliefs, values, and attitudes by organizing, sponsoring or promoting conferences, which model the United Nations and other international organizations and forums."

The Lake Erie conference, usually in late October hosts approximately 300 college students, while their Northcoast conference typically hosts between 400-600 high school delegates in late March.

History
In 1980, Dr. John Hammond identified an opportunity to challenge youth to understand international forums by founding a Model United Nations conference for high school students at Kent State University's Ashtabula Campus. This program came to be known as KSUAC-MUNC. The conference came to be known as the Northcoast Conference and has been held annually at the end of March. This conference strives to strike a balance between education and competition. It distinguishes itself from other high school conferences by offering a three day event and smaller committee sizes, thereby allowing delegates to participate more fully in the Model United Nations experience. The Northcoast Conference continues to be held at Kent State University's Ashtabula Campus.

In 1994, based up the success of the high school conference and with the devotion of a handful of Senior Staff, KSUAC-MUNC launched a conference for college students. This conference came to be known as the Lake Erie Conference and has been held annually at the end of October or beginning of November. Like the Northcoast Conference, this conference strives to strike a balance between education and competition. It distinguishes itself from other college conferences by offering smaller committee sizes, which allow our delegates to participate more fully in the Model United Nations experience. In 2006, the conference moved from Kent State University's Ashtabula Campus to the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2009, the conference moved to Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 2000, the Lake Erie International Model United Nations Corporation was created to ensure that Dr. Hammond's vision would continue well beyond his retirement. Corporate bylaws and a Board of Trustees were created in order to guide and oversee conference and corporate operations. In 2004, LEIMUN received its official 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt status.

Stucture
The Lake Erie International Model United Nations Corporation is administered by a 5-member Board of Trustees. The Trustees have taken on the conference planning and operating responsibilities formerly handled by Dr. Hammond and Kent State University, as well as taking on the responsibilities of operating the non-profit corporation. Trustee are Gold Members of the corporation, who are elected ny the Gold and Silver Members, to 3-year terms on a rotating basis.

Each year, the Trustees appoint one individual to serve as Secretary-General and four individuals to serve as Corporate Directors. The Secretary-General is primarily responsible for assisting with conference administration. The Directors are responsible for specific organizational areas - Research, Recruitment, Staff Development, and Fund Raising.

Current Board of Trustees and Secretary General

Rita K. Drew - Trustee Warren Matthew Buckey - Trustee Samantha Drew - Trustee Brittiani (McNeil) Ketcham - Trustee Andrea D. Norris - Trustee

Brian McWha - Secretary General

Past Board Members

2000-2001 Michael D. Brennan, Julie Garbutt, Jennifer Hill^, Rocky Kurchak, Lori (Lalak) Lee, Monica Perelmuter*

2001-2002 Michael D. Brennan, Pirooz Dadbeh*, Julie Garbutt^, Rocky Kurchak, Lori (Lalak) Lee, Monica Perelmuter

2002-2003 James W. Bacher, Michael D. Brennan, Christie (Frey) St. Angelo, Rocky Kurchak, Lori (Lalak) Lee

2003-2004 James W. Bacher, Rita K. Drew, Jessica Francis, Lori (Lalak) Lee, Christie (Frey) St. Angelo

2004-2005 James W. Bacher, John Beeton, Darci Capp*, Rita K. Drew, Jessica Francis^, Christie (Frey) St. Angelo

2005-2006 James W. Bacher, John Beeton, Marquise Blakeslee*, Warren Buckey, Darci Capp^, Rita K. Drew

2006-2007 James W. Bacher, John Beeton, Warren Buckey, Pirooz Dadbeh, Rita K. Drew

2007-2008 James W. Bacher, Warren Buckey, Pirooz Dadbeh, Rita K. Drew, Samantha Drew

2008-2009 Warren Buckey*, Pirooz Dadbeh^, Rita K. Drew, Samantha Drew, Brittiani (McNeil) Ketcham, Andrea Norris

^Resigned
 * Appointed to fill a Trustee Vacancy

Previous Secretary-Generals

1994-1995 Lou Carloni

1995-1996 Rocky Kurchak

1996-1997 Rita K. Drew/Dean Sabetta

1997-1998 Lori Lalak Lee

1998-1999 Julie Garbutt

1999-2000 Michael D. Brennan

2000-2001 John Diemer

2001-2002 James W. Bacher

2002-2003 Rita K. Drew

2003-2004 Andrew Zupscan

2004-2005 Jessica Francis

2005-2006 Pirooz Dadbeh

2006-2007 Andrew Zoretich

2007-2008 Hilary Gianantonio

2008-2009 Daniel A. Ramos