A dais note is a written communication exchanged between a delegate (or a pair of delegates) and the dais — the committee's chairing staff, typically composed of a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Director or Rapporteur. It is the formal channel through which delegates ask procedural questions, request clarification on the topic, flag concerns about another delegate's conduct, or — in crisis committees — submit substantive directives, communiqués, or private actions for the backroom to adjudicate.
In a General Assembly–style committee, dais notes are usually procedural: a delegate might ask whether a motion is in order, request a speaking-time extension, or ask the chair to clarify the difference between a moderated and unmoderated caucus. They are passed on paper through committee staff or, increasingly, through digital platforms used by online conferences.
In a crisis committee, the dais note takes on a more strategic function. Delegates submit private directives — such as ordering troop movements, authorizing covert operations, or contacting fictional or historical actors — which the crisis staff then resolves and incorporates into the evolving narrative through crisis updates. The quality, specificity, and feasibility of a delegate's notes often shape their crisis arc and award prospects.
Conventions vary by circuit. At many North American collegiate conferences (e.g., NMUN, HNMUN, WorldMUN), dais notes are expected to be concise, signed with the delegate's portfolio and country or character, and addressed explicitly ("To the Dais" or "To the Crisis Director"). Some conferences distinguish between dais notes (to the chairing staff in-room) and crisis notes (to the backroom).
Typical uses include:
- Procedural clarification (e.g., "Is a motion to divide the question in order?")
- Reporting decorum issues confidentially
- Requesting a tour of speakers list update
- Submitting private crisis directives or joint personal actions
- Asking about award criteria or position-paper feedback
Dais notes are generally not read aloud and are treated as confidential between the sender and the staff.
Example
During HNMUN 2023's Historical Security Council, a delegate representing the USSR sent a dais note requesting a private bilateral with the United States before submitting a joint crisis directive on Berlin.
Frequently asked questions
Not quite. A dais note goes to the in-room chairing staff and is usually procedural, while a crisis note goes to the backroom crisis staff and typically contains private substantive directives. Some conferences use the terms interchangeably.
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