Who? | What? | Why? | Stay In Touch

The Bonner Student Congress is the heart and soul for student leadership in the Bonner Community, connecting Bonners and their programs with energy, information, and opportunities across the country. Who is the Bonner Student Congress? What do Congress Representatives do? Why do we need a Bonner Student Congress?

Who?

Who makes up the Student Congress? You do! 

• History of the Bonner Student Congress: In the summer of 1994, students and administrators at the Summer Leadership Institute proposed the formation of a Student Bonner Leadership Group and the idea began to take shape. As it stands today, representatives chosen by each school attend national meetings every year to network, share ideas, participate in leadership activities, and have fun! Now, the members of the Bonner Student Congress are essential to the Bonner Programs' success.

• Congress Members: The Student Congress is made up of Bonner participants with at least one year of Bonner experience behind them. This means they are familiar with the Bonner Program and can be a great resource.  In general, Bonner Congress Representatives serve at least two years, and often longer.  Every school has two Congress Reps (or more). Congress Terms typically last two years.

What? 

What does it mean to be a part of the Bonner Student Congress? What exactly do you do?

• Represent! 
  • Congress Representatives share their peers' ideas, new initiatives and projects, and concerns to Bonner Foundation.  For example, Reps developed the Bonner network-wide All Bonner Service Day.
  • Likewise, they communicate ideas and concerns from the Bonner Foundation to fellow Bonner participants at their schools.  For instance, Congress Reps participated in voter registration and education training, and started these initiatives back on campus.
  • As ambassadors, Reps share their Bonner experience with others on campus, nationally, and even internationally.  For example, a delegation of Reps traveled to New Mexico in 2006 and to South Africa in 2007.

• Step Up!
  • Lead your Bonner Program to success! Be both a resource and a guide to the rest of your Bonner Program, keeping them engaged, motivated, and supported. For example, Reps have participated in Action Teams during annual meetings in which they've developed strategies for promoting social justice in their Bonner Programs and on campus.  

• Commit!
  • We hope that every Bonner Congress Representative can commit to serving in this role for at least two years.
  • We ask each Bonner Congress Representative to attend the year's major meetings: Fall Bonner Congress Meeting (generally in October/November) and the Summer Leadership Institute (generally in June). 
  • We also have a big meeting of Bonner Congress Reps and other Bonners at the annual Impact (formerly COOL) Conference, generally in March.  Students often recruit others to attend this national gathering of 1,200+ students engaged in service, advocacy, and social justice work.
  • In between meetings, we ask you to stay in touch with us, using the Wiki, responding to emails, and letting us know what you're doing on campus.

Why?

Why are you involved? You tell us! And while your at it, check out what Bonner Student Congress Reps have said in the past.

• Student Statements: In 1998, the first Bonner Congress Meeting developed a student 'Oath of Duty' to represent the pledge made by students when they make the commitment to be a Bonner Congress Representative for their school. Following up on this Oath, students at the 2004 SLI developed a 'Statement of Recommitment' focused on declaring their commitment to student activism and social change. Check out these links to see copies of those statements and join the ongoing dialog of student statements about the Bonner Experience.

Oath of Duty  By the Original Congress class, 1998

Statement of Recommitment   To Civic Engagement, 2004

The Next Bonner Commitment Statement: Create your own Statements of Duty and Commitment

Stay In Touch:

Here are some tools you can use to stay in touch after Congress or SLI. 

• Facebook: Check out our Bonner Congress Facebook Group and continue conversations from Congress and SLI.
• Get news from the Bonner Network Blog on Wordpress.
• Go to del.icio.us where the foundation has bookmarked the Bonner pages from programs at other colleges and universities (http://del.icio.us/BonnerNetwork/ProgramSites).
• Make use of the Bonner Congress Wiki.

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