The document discusses the Bonner Congress, which aims to give Bonner Scholars and Leaders a voice and promote their leadership. It established regional networks in 2010 to foster identity and cross-campus collaboration. The 2011 Rider University Bonner Congress retreat seeks to motivate representatives and have them take action on meaningful projects. Attendees will determine facilitation roles and ideas to increase commitment and follow-through within the National Bonner network.

1. bonner congress
RIDER UNIVERSITY 2011

2. background
★Started in 1997 OATH OF DUTY
★Congress has
Developed in 1998 by Congress
"I pledge to do my best to represent
expanded and serve my peers in the Bonner
Program. I promise to help shape and
articulate the visions and policies of the
★Bonner Scholar program as well as promote
communication and sharing of ideas
and Leader equity between consortium schools. I, as a
representative of the Bonner Student
Congress, understand that my role is
★Core source of significant not only to my peers, but to
the entire program. I will do my utmost
student voice & in spreading knowledge and
understanding of the program
leadership
whenever I am needed."

3. planning strategies
★Summer Interns
★Leadership Team
★Network
Participation
★Real Roles
★Tied to Real Work
• Common Commitments (2000)
• Voter Education (2004)
• Action Teams (2006)

4. must do’s
★ Communicate the role
— REPRESENT!
★ Leadership & skill
Development
★ Model best of Bonner
★ Build sense of
national network
★ Safe social activities
★ Housing

5. nice to do’s
★City or local
immersion
★Service
★Scavenger hunts
★Games
★Social media
★Talent / dances

6. Your stories
★Favorite moments
★Programming you
remember
★Informal things you
remember
★A wish

7. bonner congress
big idea project introduction

8. background
★SLI Student
Feedback
★Campus
Administrator
Feedback
★Summer Survey
Results

9. what we want
★ Increased student buy-in
★ Focus on specific projects
★ Connected to issues
★ Structure of National
Congress Meetings
★ More committed participants

10. big idea theme 2011
★ Roosevelt Institute
★ Think 2040 Sessions
★ Blueprint Report
★ Projects that lead to “vision”
★ Specific categories TBD
We are a student policy organization that engages new
generations in a unique form of progressive activism that
empowers young people as leaders and promotes their ideas
for change.

11. think 2040

12. project guidelines
★ Develop a 2-3 page Project
Proposal OR make a 2-3
minute Video
★ Submit through the wiki
★ Review by Congress
Leadership Team
★ Bring proposal to National
Congress Meetings

13. rider’s big ideas
★ 2009: Bonner
Leadership Team
★ 2010: Community
Service Council

14. rider’s big ideas
★ 2009: Bonner
Leadership Team
★ 2010: Community
Service Council

15. rider’s big ideas
★Let’s get some feedback from
you all about how Big Ideas
have helped your program.
What have you learned? What
could be done better?

16. bonner congress
regional organizing introduction

17. regions: launched 2010
★ Sense of identity
★ Opportunity for cross-
campus networking and
campaigns
★ Regional Issue Conferences
★ Rust/Midwest—Environment @ DePauw
(September 21-23)
★ Gold/Georgia—Four issues facing Atlanta @
Morehouse & Spelman (October TBD)
★ Jade/Kentucky—Local Issues @ Centre
(November 4-6)

18. bonner advisory board
★ Launched in January, 2010
★ Open application
★ Now 14 members
★ Constitution, roles, work
plans developed
★ Regional networks & events
★ Finding & sharing best
practices
★ Student Voice (articles)

19. regional “bonner love”

20. 2010 regional competition

21. regional spirit @ rider
★How might you want to
integrate regional competitions
or activities into Bonner
Congress 2011 @ Rider?

22. bonner congress
today’s retreat goals

23. what we need to achieve
★ Committed, motivated
Congress Representatives
★ A meeting that leads to
action on campus
★ Increased support for
Congress Representatives
★ More follow-through
communication within the
National Network

24. how do we make this work?
★What can and will
YOU do?
★ Demonstrating the
project for Rider
★ Team Facilitation
Roles — Interests?
★ Individual Ideas