Courtney Week 5

All is quiet on the home front. I finally put the finishing touches on my part of the proposal for the summer program and I plan to meet with Savannah tomorrow to discuss it. Then we have another meeting next week with everyone involved to solidify some of the plans for the upcoming months.
I met my mentee yesterday. Her name is Emily (so now I have 'big' Emily and 'little' Emily). She is so fantastic. I am so ready to get started working with her and hanging out. The first meeting was just a meet and greet type of thing. We went over the requirements for the program, discussed her interests and possible activities, and then I drove her to her summer camp and we got a chance to talk some more. I forgot how much 12 year old girls talked.  I signed her in to her summer camp and she gave me a hug before I left.
The program only requires one hour a week for 12 weeks. I would love for more Bonners to get involved with this program and work in the group homes (which are all very close to Stetson!) or work one-on-one with a foster care child.  Male volunteers are matched with boys to mentor and female volunteers are matched with girls.  There are a lot of kids in the homes and the program is totally based off of a voluntary mentor and a child who wants a mentor. It has to be a mutual want, so no one is forced into the relationship.

Other than getting these things situated, I've been trying to compile a list of potential internships in the nonprofit industry for future Bonners. My goal is to have some semblance of a program organized when I graduate so the new Senior Interns can update it and give other people opportunities. Some internships I've found so far: Make-a-Wish Foundation, Foster Grandparent Program (highly encouraged!), and NASCAR. I've also looked at a few organizations in DeLand that might be good for internships like Haven Recovery, a substance abuse clinic that literally has internship-like positions all over Volusia County in law, counseling, nonprofit management, clerical duties, etc. I hope that someone will take advantage of these because the more I go looking for a job, the more they want experience!

To finish up the last couple of weeks, I've been working on Bonner Love packages for the newly instituted 'Bonner Buddies' program that Lead Team is heading up.  We are trying to welcome all the new students really early by sending them handwritten letters, gifts, etc.  Here's a picture of what I recently crafted.

Jay DeDon Week 3

I think I am losing complete track of time. I have been here for a little over a month now, and I am just now writing my week 3 post... I will stop calling them weekly posts and just label them as they are done. Session one is over!!! Those twelve days with the campers was INCREDIBLE!!!!! The eleven guys in my cabin were unbelievable, and it was extremely depressing to watch them leave. There were too many amazing moments to count! Everything from our counselor super hero dress up (Southern Magic), to our man downs, to our bed time reflection discussions. These fifteen year old kids shocked me with how mature they could be. Their willingness to participate in personal/philosophical discussions blew my mind. They formed into one open, cohesive unit. I truly was able to make an impact on these eleven guys and help develop them into better men. I was also able to help grow them musically by giving various types of lessons during my free time. They were all so willing to learn and open to new ideas. Aside from helping my guys, I was able to get some help as well. I had a free lesson with Dr. Rulli from University of Arkansas. This lesson was the most educational and inspirational lesson I have ever had. That one lesson with him helped me further my trumpet playing beyond what I could imagine! I now feel more set to be a music educator because of it. I am so sorry that I didn't write a blog every day because that would be the only way I could share enough of my experience. One day at Blue Lake is equivalent to three days in the normal world! This session was an unbelievable experience that has changed me for the better, and now I can not wait to get another cabin! Hopefully I can make as large of an impact on their lives too!

Jay-Week 2

Orientation is over, and now the kids have just shown up. Life is crazy hectic!!! The kids arrived here on Wednesday. I am still getting to know them, and so far they seem awesome! My days are jam packed with rehearsals, giving lessons, cabin meetings, games, monitoring, lifeguarding, and late night discussions. It feels so good to finally be working with students again, it has been over a month since my last time! It is starting to get really lonely though, I miss my girlfriend a lot. That is really the only not awesome part of this experience. I am surrounded by a whole lot of new friends, fellow Sinfonians, and 1400 incredible campers, but Ashley is missing. I am can't wait to fill every one in on how awesome this session turns out!

Courtney Week 4

This week I worked a lot on getting more programs for Orientation organized. It's really tedious, sending emails, waiting for responses and then reworking everything I've already planned. We have some great guest speakers coming in for orientation though!

I had a meeting with Traci to discuss Ambassadors and how to make it better next year/expand.

The proposal for the summer program is coming together even more now, so that's exciting! I am currently trying to put together a picture collage of Bonners hanging out, doing service, and showing off our organization that hopefully will be ready for the Org. fair at the beginning of the semester.

Hope you're having a great summer :)

Lauren - Week 3

Week 3 was filled with a bit more paperwork, and a lot more baking. I have become somewhat of a cookie monster in the kitchen, and patients, nurses, and CNA's have taken notice of the kitchen mischief. In the last week we have had a few new volunteers join the forces and even though I have only been here for a few weeks they are having me do some training of the new volunteers.

My boss Debra has made it incredibly easy to always have fun and have something to keep busy with. At times in between shifts in the kitchen she will quiz me and help me get ready for my subject area test, and I will quiz her on the same questions to see if she knows any of them!

Overall I am having very positive interactions with the various people around the care center, but as it is with any other area you are bound to find that one person that you might not always see eye to eye with. This is something I am working to learn how to work through because as you might agree it can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude when you can't get along with someone.

I am so grateful for my experiences so far and can't wait to see where the next few weeks take me. Something that I learned this week was that regardless of where a patient is with the amount of time they have left they are still people, and still deserve the common courtesy of politeness, and gratitude for everything that they have done in their lives and all they have achieved.

Lauren - Week 2

Week 2 of my service at Halifax Health Hospice was eye opening. I never realized just how important it is for people to contribute to their community until I started doing full meal services on my own. It is difficult to explain the frustration and anxiety that goes into cooking for 10 people by yourself where everything has to be perfect and you are by yourself.

Whilst frustration however I have found a new appreciation for the those who do come in and help at this site. I have grown to appreciate each of them as people, as well as role models. Many of the people I have begun to establish friendships with are older and wiser, and there is something to be said for contributing guidance from your elders.

Kou Week 3

This week involved a lot of research. The first project was updating the unemployment benefits flyer. I had to look up the new regulations and procedures for receiving unemployment benefits and make a flyer for FRLS to post on its website and mail to its clients. The next project involved two steps. The first step was going through a chart of all the clients from this year and last year who were denied food stamps and looking at the reason why they were denied. Once this was completed, I had to make a chart so that the advocates and attorneys would know the top reasons for clients being denied food stamps. This was all part of the process for updating the food stamp benefits flyer. This flyer was more difficult because there was more information that needed to be included so that the clients of FRLS would not have that many difficulties when applying and keeping their food stamp benefits.
Towards the end of the week, I had to update the client contact list so that the managing attorney could send the client letters and follow-up with a phone call. It was a pretty hectic and busy week.