First Annual BonaResponds International Service Day

The Idea:Dr.James Mahar, professor of finance at St. Bonaventure University, and lead contact forBonaResponds, has proposed an annual BonaResponds International Service Day.

What is it:Organized by BonaResponds and working with the National Alumni Board, Alumni Chapters, the Alumni Office and individual volunteers – this effort is asking all SBU alumni, past BonaResponds volunteers, parents and friends to gather for a day of helping and reconnection with SBU to better their local community. Local alumni chapters will approve and coordinate a project for area volunteers.

What being A simple act of taking a shift at a soup kitchen to something as

involved means:complex as coordinating a service day with hundreds of volunteers, small acts can mean big things to a lot of people.

Large groups can break into teams, each working on a unique project for 5-6 hours. Following the volunteer service, the whole group can get back together for a reception where each team shares their experience and reflect on the day. As our Franciscan heritage tells us, we are not just working to accomplish a thing but to bring our Franciscan spirit into what we do, not only for the project but sharing with each other.

When:The proposed date is Saturday, March 27, 2010. This date corresponds with the 3rd annual BonaResponds-Buffalo Day. If March 27 does not work for a particular chapter, they are encouraged to find a date that will work best for the volunteers and the service project they choose.*

Where:Service can be done anywhere. Every community needs volunteer help and we encourage our volunteers to keep their service local. To find out if a service project is being coordinated in your area, please go to bonaresponds.org/nsd.html.

What to expect:Volunteers will enjoy fulfilling experiences with fellow SBU alumni and friends while contributing to their local communities.

Our hope is that you will share with us your experience so that we may share them with other alumni and friends through:

  • Pictures and video from the projects
  • Brief summary of your volunteer work
  • Stories and reflections that you want to contribute

How do I getVolunteer activity will be coordinated thru local alumni chapters

involved:or may be done as an individual or small group. Alumni wishing to volunteer for the event must contact their chapter president/leader. Contact information will be provided on the International Service Day web page that will be housed in the alumni section of the web site. To view projects being coordinated in your area, please visit bonaresponds.org/nsd.html.

Please note – There are a number of waivers which need to be completed the day of the program, both for SBU and for the agency where the work is being done.

Questions:Jim Mahar is the go-to person. He can be contacted through:

Twitter.com/BonaResponds and Bonaresponds.org.

Chapters already aligned w/BonaResponds Local Chapter Coordinator

Philadelphia/S. NJFr. Jud & Jim Noto (Jim: tua68652 at temple.edu)

CharlotteErin Farrell or mark.evers at wellsfargo.com

ChicagoTom Cullencullentj at yahoo.com

BinghamtonDan Hennesseydhennessey1 at yahoo.com

BuffaloDave Whalen or Kim Kotz kkotz at villa.edu

ConnecticutJen Kanejenekane at yahoo.com

DenverMorgan Mitchell

HoustonStacy Hotaling stacy_hotaling at hotmail.com

N.NJChristian Warner & Fr. Kevin Downeykdowfm at stmarys-compton.org

NYCKevin Clearykevinacleary at yahoo.com

RochesterJames Kane & Greg Schaller

San DiegoRob Hoffman not sure who sarah_ljack at yahoo.com

SingaporeSean Lynch

SyracuseSean Lieber slieber at ewcny.rr.com

WashingtonD.C.Joe Tavares & Anthony DiMario anthony.dimario at gmail.com

Warren PaBob Crowley

Additional Opportunities*

Sr. Suzanne Trips

Syracuse - February 28, 2010

Boston- March 5, 2010

Complete list from BonaResponds website

Atlanta

Belize

Binghamton

Buffalo

Cambodia: Siem Reap

Charlotte

Chicago

Chile

China: Chengdu

Connecticut

Dallas

Ethiopia

Haiti

Harlingen, TX

Houston

Minneapolis

New York City

New Zealand

North Georgia

North New Jersey

Olean

Philadelphia

Portland

San Diego

Syracuse

Uganda

WashingtonDC

We hope you will join us in showing the world how great the Bona community is.

*Sr. Suzanne Kush, director of the FranciscanCenter for Social Concern at St. Bonaventure University, and working through University Ministries, is working with Bona students for service trips to Syracuse and Boston over Spring Break. We would consider coordinating with her efforts and this would be with the spirit of the BonaResponds service program.