Whether it is Cru, Equality Alliance or Leaders for Fishers, clubs can define students and help them connect with other students within the school. For some, starting a club they are passionate about can be difficult, and recruiting members to join could be unsuccessful.
English teacher Erin Domokos has had a few students ask for her sponsorship, but unfortunately the new clubs were unsuccessful. A paintball club and a cosmetology club were ideas for a club, and they may have been attractive to some, however they never became popular due to busy schedules.
“I think it takes a lot of organization and time that they do not realize initially it will take, and then they get started and they realize that on top of their homework it is just a lot to handle,” Domokos said.
Several small clubs stay unknown within the school because they are not advertised enough, which results in failed membership. Leadership is imperative when starting a club. Instituting leaders allows a sense of ownership and organization of the club to occur. This organization of meetings and events within the club helps in the interest of students.
Sometimes, getting excited about an idea for a club is not enough to make a club fruitful. According to Domokos, staying organized, brainstorming and delegating help to make a club attractive to potential members.
Social media is an influential tool when recruiting members for a club. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are all widely used sites that many students check often. Cru, for example, uses social media to keep members up to date with events, and the benefits can be seen by the large amount of members are involved.
“I think word of mouth and staying constantly in people’s faces with announcements [makes a club successful],” Domokos said. “Include food and things like that that will keep kids there initially and get them to come back.”
Creating a club can be beneficial for the members and a great way for students to get involved at school. If anyone has an idea for a club, talk to a teacher about that idea and ask for their sponsorship in the proposal.
