BWBRS.

Lately I have been working at the Bonner Leader Office helping with the upgrade of Bonner Webbers 3.0. It's been a huge undertaking to train the other Bonner Leaders on how to use the new system. BWBRS 3.0 is the system Bonners use to tally up their service hours with community partners. 

This week we had three different training sessions that Bonners attended to receive training. I ended up co-leading these sessions with the other Bonner Leader Senior Intern. Hopefully all the Bonners learned how to use the new system and will continue to log their hours with ease. 

I found out that this week one of our community partners, Green River Animal Shelter, is in great need of volunteers. There was an emergency situation. Another local shelter director was arrested this weekend for multiple counts of animal cruelty. Many of those animals came to the shelter and are in need of urgent care. I am hoping to get several of my residents and Bonner Leaders involved in this effort. 

Call to Service

Obama helped make history as he became our new President of the United States of America. He pledged his loyalty and urged for a new "call to service." Forty-eight years ago, John F. Kennedy issued a call to national service using a still novel technology for political communication: television. "Ask what you can do for your country," he commanded. Barack Obama is reprising the call to service. But rather than using television, he has sent out his message primarily over the Internet, through millions of e-mails, hundreds of thousands of YouTube views and a new social-networking site created by his Inaugural committee. "I will ask all Americans to make a renewed commitment to serving their community and their country," the President-elect announced.

As Bonner Leaders we are volunteers. We are committed to and engaged in service and civic engagement to strengthen our communities, nation, and world. And now, President Obama has urged that there should be "no idle hands." Obama is all about change and it's our turn to step up and take action. In times of economic distress we need citizen service. Lets face it, we're living in tough times. A Northeastern University study found that the percentage of summer teen employment has dropped from 45% in 2000 to 33% last year. There are increasing stories of graduating seniors, like me, facing a tough job market. My hope is that we can overcome this hardship and turn America back on track. This will be no easy battle but if we work together nothing is impossible. Service is a continuing commitment. Skills we gain from our Bonner experience will travel with us long after our college degree is in hand.

“This country is great because of its people. And when all of our people are engaged and involved in making the community better … we can accomplish anything,” Obama said

8.

My fall break was very enjoyable. I chose to travel with the RA's here at LWC to New York City to work with God's Love We Deliver. The week was eye opening. I’ve made a life out of service. Empathy and compassion for others is a key attribute that contributes to every fiber of my being. So it was natural for me to want to work with God’s Love We Deliver on our annual RA service trip to New York City. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to give back to a world that is in such desperate need. With every dish I helped prepare and every meal I delivered I was humbled by the kindness and generosity of others. There is good out there, there is light that shines in dark places. I made new friends and networked in new places by pouring my heart into an organization that feeds the soul. I want to offer many thanks to those who helped make this trip possible. I will never forget the faces and the love that was shown to me or the love I was able to show others.

7.

This week has been insane with mid-terms and such. I'm currently finishing a class this week, my introduction to counseling techniques class only lasts a half of a semester so I have been working on my projects and final. This week I worked in the Bonner office and hammered out an agenda with Tyler for the meeting we had Tuesday night. We also looked into BWBRS to see who hadn't logged any hours. We're hoping to get everyone on the right track with logging their hours so they don't get behind.

In other news I've been starting a work out routine this past week with my friends. It has been going pretty well. I'm trying to stay committed to it, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some positive results.

6.

This week has been kinda stressful. I did some work at the Bonner House on Monday for two and half hours. I found a really cool online quiz that lets you read two different quotes, one from Obama, one from McCain, and it doesn't tell you who said which thing. You then have to chose which statement you most agree with. There are 15 different quotes and from that the site tallies your choices and tells you which presidential candidate you are more in line with. The quiz was really neat because it let you go in and make choices without a bias. I sent the link to this quiz to the other fellow Bonners.

I also got certified to drive the Lindsey Wilson vehicles this week. I'm glad that I was able to do that so that I can help with any transportation needed with the Bonner Group. This will also be useful with Humanity Hands.

I hope to be able to complete the story Tyler and I were working on about Camp Casey this week or the next week. So far, even though I'm stressed, everything is going great!

5.

"What cause are you most passionate about? How important is this issue in your choice to support a particular presidential candidate?"

I refuse to choose a presidential candidate due to my feelings about one particular issue. My choice for president will be someone who will work for the betterment of our country and the world. No, I don't think our country has the responsibility to get involved in the affairs of everyone else but I feel we are required to help out those in need, wherever they are. This means not neglecting our own needs as a country in this process. There are battles that need to be fought here in the U.S.A that can't be ignored. Our country is plagued with disease and apathy that have run rampant.


Children need better access to quality educations where they can freely work at their full potential. I was an education major because I wanted to be a voice of change in children's lives. I wanted to give them knowledge. Knowledge would give them power so that they could be more informed and more prepared for life than the generations before them. However, I've recently learned about new ways I can be a voice of change. I have found new causes that I am passionate for. That doesn't mean that I still don't care about education, thats a issue that will always be close to my heart.

I think that we need a focus on reducing poverty and forming a complete healthcare system that works for the people. Poverty is all around us. Thousands upon thousands of people are homeless in the United States and there is little out there that is working for them, to help get them and their families off the streets and into jobs. Millions of people are not getting the medical attention they need because they can't afford it. Our country needs more than a temporary band-aid fix when we're looking at problems that need stitches.

Our economy is a wreck and agree with the war or not, it is also a pressing issue. Our new president will have a lot on their plate. These issues need to be addressed and not scooted under a rug. Our country needs a change, it needs a shift. We need to take pride in our country once more and who we are and what we stand for. Our president needs to represent that change. I'll be voting Obama in November because I think he can set that change in motion.

4.

This week has been pretty busy. I went into the office on Monday since Amy had returned. It was so wonderful to see her. She brightens my day! :) Tyler and I worked for a couple hours on some BWBRS and blog things and planned for the all-bonner meeting Tuesday. We had our second all bonner meeting in the library. Because Amy and Elise weren't able to be there, it was student lead. We talked about alot of different projects going on. We're doing some exciting things! A couple Bonners weren't there, which makes me sad. I always look forward to seeing everyone. I've had alot of schoolwork and other obligations this week so I haven't been back to the office or made it to the animal shelter. I am going to go into the Bonner office again this afternoon to get some more work done. Tyler and I were planning on doing a story for the opening of Camp Casey on Monday, but the opening day has been delayed a week. Oh well, that gives us more time to plan! I'm going home this weekend to spend some time with my family in personal news, and I'm super pumped about that. I guess this is enough for my fourth blog entry. Later.