| BonaResponds! |
Upcoming Dates
October 20th: Deposit for January trip due for $20 price reduction.October 22, 2006:
BonaResponds to Buffalo!
October 29, 2006
BonaResonds to Buffalo!
November 10th $50 deposit due for January Trip
November 29th: remainder of money due for January Trip
January 2-January 12
January Trip:
January 22nd: Meeting for those going on Spring break trip
February 7th
Deposit due for Spring Trip
February 14th Remainder of money due for Spring Break trip
Spring Break Trip:
March 3-March 11, 2007
* If you are interested in learning more, please visit www.bonaresponds.org or email us at bonaresponds@sbu.edu.
The newsletter is just one tool in this effort. We have also started a new website (BonaResponds.org), blog (BonaResponds.blogspot.com), and even podcast! So no matter where you are, you can keep up to date with what is going on and be an active member of BonaResponds!
We invite you to submit your own news, stories, and reflections to us for possible inclusion. Email to BonaResponds@sbu.edu.
Whats Going On?
BonaResponds has been very active so far this fall. Our biggest project has turned out to be our response to the "October Surprise" snow storm in Buffalo. BonaResponds was on the ground removing tree debris only 2 days after the storm. The blog has several very good audio interviews (everyone should especially listen to the interview with Jason!) and links to many pictures. In fact we were the first volunteer group to respond in the area we were operating from.We worked in Lancaster NY (a suburb of Buffalo). More excitingly, we are going back and want you to come!! On Sunday October 22nd and Sunday October 29th we will be coming up to help. Our base of operations will be the Village of Lancaster Maintenance garage in downtown Lancaster (It is near the intersection of Central and Broadway. We hope to be there by 11:00 AM and will wrap up with a meeting back at the garage at about 5:00. We'd love you to join us. Please email BonaResponds@sbu.edu to help us plan the day. (Special note to the Bona community: if you live in the area and need help, please let us know and we will make your house a priority job).
Even before the Buffalo snow storm it had been a very busy semester. September 1st was our first local service day. Even though it was the first Friday of the new semester, we had over 50 volunteers at Archbishop Walsh High School. We painted, cleaned, landscaped, and even fixed some ceilings. While we did not get done (there are over 20 classrooms to paint plus halls, bathrooms, and a cafeteria) we did make much progress.
Two weeks later, on September 16th we had a community-wide service day where we recreated the atmosphere found at a Gulf Coast volunteer center. We met in the Walsh HS gymnasium and then after a quick discussion of what was to follow, split up into teams to go to various work sites. We worked at 9 sites across Cattaragus County. As in the Gulf the day closed with a meeting where each team reported on the work they done. Fr. Dan then wrapped up the day by reflecting on the work that had been accomplished and how it was important to both the community and the individual. There were more than a few people who had tears in their eyes as they came to realize the impact that their actions had had.
Here is a blog article on the day.
In addition to the local service days, the last month also included both the Bonaventure Organizational Fair and Bonagany (the latter of which corresponded with parents weekend). BonaResponds was well represented at each and many new volunteers expressed an interest to join.
As you can see we have been VERY busy and really need more leaders. If you can help out for a few hours a week it would definitely be a big help! We'd love you to join us. As with all BonaRespond projects this is open to everyone, so bring a friend (or better bring an enemy and make a new friend!)
Update from the Gulf:
Throughout much of Mississippi and parts of New Orleans the focus has shifted from cleanup to rebuilding. This shift affects BonaResponds in several different ways. First of all, we need to be more skilled. It is more challenging to build up than to tear down.
Jim's July report is here.
Secondly, it is unlikely we will be able to take as many people on this year's trips. For instance, just this week Handson GulfCoast (Biloxi) told us they will be capping the size of groups at 25.
That said, there is much work to be done. It will take years and years (a decade) to recover so there is work for everyone. However, this changing work environment will force us to be more creative in finding places to stay and the logistics will be more difficult. So please sign up early if you want to go!
In the News:
* Local Service day from Inside Bonas* Local coverage from BV.
*Video of our Trips by Meghan Backus:
* PBS video from which the idea of local service days came.
From Jim's Desk:
First the facts. BonaResponds is going great! Almost everything is going as planned. We have expanded our goals from just the Gulf (which limited us due to distance and time) to helping out locally as well. While the Gulf trips will no doubt be what people most associate with BonaResponds, the local trips have proven very fun, helpful, and rewarding. On our first two local service projects we put approximately $7000 of services into the local community on budget of less than $250! Talk about your return on investment! And that says nothing of the sense of community, good PR, and learning that went on...moreVolunteering words:
We'd love to put together a book of reflections on your time working in the Gulf. People always say that their time in the Gulf was life-changing, we'd like to document that! Not only will this be a learning (transformational) experience for you, but it will help us get more volunteers in the future.So please take a few minutes and write up a page or two of your what you went through, what you got out of it, and what it meant to you. Please email it to us at BonaResponds@sbu.edu.
If you would prefer, we will also put up a 90 second audio reflection of this. Just ask us and we will let you know how.
If we get enough, we will publish the book in time for Christmas! If we do not get enough, we will use them on the BonaResponds website and in coming newsletters.
Projects
* Music Drive! We have added a musical instrument drive to our projects for the Gulf. If you would like to help organize this or to find out more, email us!* Basketball drive: we will be working with various sports teams to collect basketballs for Katrina Survivors. Details to follow.
* Want to start a new project? Ask us, we are always willing to work with new groups either on campus or in the Gulf
Blog articles of note
The changing work in the Gulf.Ripple effect
Friends in low places
Molding to the Oldies
Update on Hancock County Little League
What can you do?
- Forward this newsletter to all of your friends and even a few of your enemies (we get along with everyone ;) )
- Come work in Buffalo with us!
- Sign up for a trip to the Gulf!
- Volunteer on a local service day
- Write a reflection piece for a fund raiser
- Donate: we can always use money, food, tools, or sponsor a volunteer to go in your place
- Become a leader---this may be the most important!
Quote of the month:
“Paul Revere earned his
living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him
for?
His volunteer work.”---Susan J.
Ellis