Note Runner

In a traditional Model United Nations committee, delegates are usually barred from speaking directly across the room or using phones during formal session. To communicate privately, they write short notes on paper, fold them, address them to another delegation, and pass them to a note runner — typically a volunteer or junior staffer — who walks the note to the recipient.

Note runners are most common in conference formats that emphasize procedural realism, such as those modeled on Harvard, NMUN, or WorldMUN traditions. They are usually high school or university student volunteers, and the role is often an entry point into MUN staffing before moving up to roles like rapporteur, assistant director, or chair.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Collecting folded notes from delegates' placards or raised hands.
• Delivering them quietly so as not to disrupt speeches or moderated caucuses.
• Screening for content the dais has flagged as restricted (e.g., notes to observers, notes during a crisis blackout, or notes containing prohibited subject matter).
• Passing notes to the dais when delegates wish to communicate procedurally with the chair, such as requesting a motion clarification or a personal privilege.

In crisis committees, the role takes on added weight: notes to the "backroom" or crisis staff function as the delegate's primary mechanism for directing portfolio powers, ordering troop movements, or launching covert actions. Runners therefore double as the logistical link between the front room and the crisis director.

Many modern conferences have partially replaced paper notes with digital platforms (Discord channels, custom note-passing software, or conference-issued tablets), but paper notes and runners remain standard at conferences that prioritize the in-person, no-electronics experience. Etiquette generally requires delegates to write legibly, address notes clearly (e.g., "To: France, From: Brazil"), and avoid sending notes that mock other delegates or distract from substantive debate.