Students see the posters and flyers beckoning them to join the various clubs around campus, but many don’t know that starting a club is a simple process that takes very little time.
The very first step to starting a club is coming up with an idea and a purpose for a club that is interesting and gains attention from people.
“Figuring out how to make sure the members wanted to join the club so they had some benefit to themselves,” was the solution to the attractiveness of the club by John Hansen, the President of the Computer Synergy Club.
After finding an idea and a purpose for a club, and before getting too creative with ideas of grandeur and success, finding a full time faculty member or administrator who is willing to be an advisor on the proposed club is the next step.
Once an advisor is found, hunt down a minimum of five students who are currently enrolled in the school who want to join and share the passion. Anyone from the community can join but it is required you gain these five students before the first meeting.
After you finish the necessary paperwork, schedule a time when you and your advisor can meet with the Clubs and Organization Advisor to review your work so far. The Clubs and Organization staff wants to help you.
“People will help you and walk you through it,” Lisa, a staff member at SLCC in the Student Involvement Center said.
Next, hold a practice meeting with your advisor and your members. You can have elections, set up regular meeting times, figure out membership dues and talk about the club’s purpose. One requirement that is not as well known to setting up a club is creating a constitution, which is basically a mission statement of your club.
There are many benefits after you have completed all of the required paperwork and gotten approval from the Executive Council as an official SLCC Student Life and Leadership club.
Fundraising is an excellent way to have club socials or raise money for your cause, but you also get financial support from the school in an on-campus bank account.
The fun doesn’t stop after the financial backing. Philanthropy is a required quality at least twice a year from each club. For example, the racquetball club cleaned all of the scuff marks off of the court one year for their service project. The two projects have to be approved through the Thayne Center.
The hidden benefit from starting a club other than sharing your passion with similar people is the leadership skills you gain.
Tsujimoto knows firsthand the benefits of joining a club. As a former Student Senator at SLCC, she was well involved in the leadership aspect.
“Getting involved changed my life. It gave me leadership skills I didn’t know I had or needed,” she said. “You learn things you didn’t know you didn’t know.”
Starting a club also gives one insight into how politics in group-settings work and looks great on a resume.
For more information on starting a club, go to the Clubs and Organization room on the second level of the Student Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.