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II. The Bonner Program: Goals & Strategies
C. Program Components
4. National Bonner Network
a. Bonner Advisory Committees
1. President’s Advisory Committee
Presidents have been gathered in small
groups to discuss ways to work better as a consortium of
schools. “President’s
Summits” are now held every two years (see Chapter
3-D-3. Summer Leadership Institute); in the alternate years
the Foundation sponsors a fall gathering of all the Bonner
Presidents. The Foundation requires the attendence of the
Presidents.
2. Directors Advisory Committee
The Directors Advisory Council (DAC) began
to take shape after the Summer Leadership Institute in 2001.
At that event, held at the Lawrenceville School, it became
clear that there was a need to create a smaller group of
directors and coordinators with whom the Foundation staff
could communicate on a regular basis.
Membership on the DAC includes one director
from each cluster and two at-large coordinators. Nominations
are made to the foundation and members serve a three-year
term.
Generally, the DAC holds monthly conference
calls during the school year and meet twice a year prior
to the Fall Directors Meeting and the Summer Leadership
Institute, while also encouraging communication between
directors and coordinators within clusters. This is has
meant regular phone calls and emails to Directors and Coordinators
from DAC representatives.
The creation of the Directors Advisory
Council has played a significant role in improving the lines
of communication and strengthening the Bonner community.
The Directors Advisory Council exists
alongside the Presidents Advisory Committee, the Bonner
Student Congress and the newly created Bonner Leaders Advisory
Council. All four groups will help strengthen and lead the
Bonner program.
3. Bonner Congress
Since the inception of the Bonner Scholars
and Leaders Programs, student leadership has been a vital
component in creating, implementing, and strengthening the
Bonner Program. Over the years, Bonner Scholars and Leaders
have come together from all participating schools to develop
ideas, plan initiatives and give important feedback and
input in the shaping of policy concerning the Bonner Scholars
Program. The Bonner
Congress is designed to offer leadership opportunities
for students and provide a chance for students from different
schools to come to know each other better through working
together. The role of the Congress is to create opportunities
for students to advise the Foundation on policy and programs,
provide critical feedback, and where possible, implement
certain Bonner-wide activities. Congress members are expected
to represent students’ ideas and concerns to the Foundation
and, in turn, represent the Foundation’s ideas and
back to their peers. The Bonner Congress has also represented
the Bonner Program regionally nationally and internationally
at various conferences, events, and service activities.
b. Bonner Alumni Network
There are already more Bonner Scholar alumni
than current Bonner Scholars spread out all over the world.
Employers have begun to spot the scholarship on a resume and
make connections at churches, in businesses, and community.
The Foundation seeks to create the Bonner
Scholars Alumni Network to accomplish the following:
- Create a network of graduated Bonner Scholars, linked
to their communities through other Bonner graduates, current
Bonner Scholars, and all the Bonner campuses.
- Encourage Bonner graduates to seek employment in service-related
fields.
- Provide opportunities for those not in a service-related
job to continue their meaningful service experiences.
- Track Bonner Scholar graduates and produce publications
such as directories and newsletters.
- Recruitment efforts including visits from alumni to local
schools, community centers, and churches.
c. Annual Gatherings
The following list the regularly scheduled
meetings organized by
the Bonner Foundation. Visit our web site for an up-to-date
calendar of events.
1. New
Directors/Coordinators’ Meeting
Because of the high turnover of Coordinators,
we started to have New Coordinator Orientations. During
these times, both new Directors and Coordinators are introduced
to guidelines, consortium-wide projects, and job related
tasks. This time also serves as a space for coordinators
to build relationships with foundation staff and other colleagues.
2. Fall
Bonner Directors’ Meeting
Each year in early to mid-November, the
Foundation organizes a gathering of all Directors and Coordinators
and Directors to share ideas, in community and for the Foundation
to make announcements and get input on current inititiatives
within or related to the BSP. The two and a half day meeting
includes large group discussions, workshops, and free time
to esxplore the area around our meeting site. It serves
as a time for coordinators.
3. Summer
Leadership Institute & President’s Summit
The Summer Leadership Institute is an
annual event held in early June; every other year, we extend
the SLI to include the President’s Summit Meeting.
The SLI is organized for Bonner directors, coordinators,
and students; the President’s Summit adds presidents,
faculty, and community partners to these campus teams. These
meetings are the equivalent of the Bonner Scholars Program’s
national conference, with concurrent workshop sessions,
and large group sessions where also part of the schedule.
Students and coordinators as well as foundation staff and
outside facilitators are invited to present.
4. Bonner
Student Congress Meetings
The Bonner Student Congress began in 1993
when a group of students voiced their need for a national
group to share ideas, and network across the constituency
of Bonner Schools. These meetings are typically packed full
of program nuts and bolts, evaluation, training workshops,
and time devoted to planning the next year’s activities.
5. All Bonner Service Events & Bonner
Alumni Reunions
In conjunction with the Summer Leadership
Institute (SLI), an All Bonner Service event is held in
and around the community where the SLI is hosted. All participating
in the Bonner program are invited and encouraged to attend.
The All Bonner Service event runs from Thursday morning
through Sunday morning the first weekend of June. Times
and dates are subject to change. Participation in the All
Bonner Service event is one way to fulfill the sophomore
service exchange. Bonner alumni are welcome to attend.6.
Bonner Cluster Meetings
Schools participating in the Bonner Scholars
Program are currently organized into six regional clusters:
- Georgia,
- The Carolinas,
- Tennessee- Kentucky,
- Indiana-Ohio,
- Pennsylvania-West Virginia, and
- Virginia-Maryland.
Bonner Leader Programs are encouraged
to connect with the cluster that geographically relates
to them. Over the years, the regional clusters have served
as a way to organize the Bonner Program including:
- The directors who serve on the Directors Advisory Committee
are selected based on regional clusters. These members
are encouraged to stay in contact with, and when appropriate,
communicate information to other directors in that cluster.
- Cluster meetings and service projects are organized
to encourage networking between schools. Such gatherings
serve to communicate to students the multi-campus nature
of the Bonner Program. Over the past several years, all
first-year Bonners were required to attend a regional
cluster event. The cluster events are no longer required,
however schools are still encouraged to convene for joint
service projects and trainings.
- Now that second-year students are required to participate
in the sophomore service exchange (where students are
required to perform service with students from another
school), the cluster offers a valuable opportunity for
planning such events.
Resource Documents
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