2006-07 Action Teams

Introduction

In order to strengthen the role of Congress Reps as a student voice in their programs and to the Foundation, we aim to articulate four key areas for this coming year. Working within these areas, Representatives will spearhead initiatives that improve the Bonner Programs and Foundation as a whole.

The function is two-fold: Action teams help Congress Reps to organize in smaller groups and carry out concrete activities specific to the area as well as provide valued input to the Foundation in each of the four areas. During the Summer Leadership Institute, each group will begin to devise a statement of purpose, sketch actions for the coming months, and begin to create an action plan for 2006-2007.

Action Team Work in 2005-2006

In 2005-2006, students in the Congress worked on four major themes, including:

• Academic connections: students worked to foster the creation of courses, involvement of faculty in service projects and trips, and Civic Engagement Minors or academic programs on their campuses. They created new resources which are found online (click on Academic Connections).
• Common Commitments: students worked on fostering the integration of the six commitments into all of Bonner’s work and programming. They helped create and lead innovative reflections on campus.
• Networking: students worked to organized National Bonner Service Days on 20 Bonner campuses. They created a unified vision for the day and the resources to carry them out.
• Student Voice and Leadership: students worked to assess and strengthen student voice in their own Bonner Programs and nationally. They identified best practices, and many students wrote these up as resources for others that you can also find here online (click on Student Voice).

Description of Action Areas from June 2006

1. Bonner Program Improvements

Student ideas and input are crucial to the development of the Bonner Program. Members of this group will work to identify areas of confusion within the Bonner Program (as well as individual Bonner schools), and to develop ways to eliminate that confusion. Recognizing that student voice is essential to the success of the Bonner program, this group will also work to ensure that all program improvements take student opinions into account.

2. Community Building Projects

Bonner Programs currently exist at 74 college campuses, including the 27 Bonner Scholar and 47 (and growing) Bonner Leader network. More than 2,500 students are Bonners at this time and another 3,500 are alumni of the programs. Members of this group recognize the importance of continually fostering a sense of community among Bonners from different schools. As a result they will work to develop ways for Bonner students to connect through out the year. Along with that group members will work to develop ways Bonner students can reach out to the communities they serve.

3. Environmental Projects

As time passes the state of our environment is becoming a serious concern. Members of this group recognize the importance of environmentally based community service, and will work to explore ways to create positive ecological change. This group will also work to develop templates for different environmental service projects that other Bonners can use at their individual schools.

4. New Service Projects

Has there ever been a service project you wanted to do but were unsure how to begin? Or maybe you are tired of seeing students opting to participate in the same service projects over and over? Members of this group will work to develop new and original service projects for their schools and the Bonner Program as a whole. They will also reach out to new service sites, in an attempt to form new connections with the outside community.

5. Recruitment & Retention

Choosing new Bonners as well as keeping current Bonners motivated can be challenging. Members of this group will explore what it means to be a Bonner Scholar or Bonner Leader, and work to develop new recruitment techniques. They will also work to develop ways to motivate, encourage, and recognize current Bonners.

6. Service Trips and International Trips

While it is important to see what service is needed in our immediate communities, it is also critical that we take the time to recognize the needs of communities that extend beyond our own. This group will work to plan service trips that reach out to all communities in need as well as develop ways for Bonners to serve all over the world.