Panel Discussion on How to Run a Successful Club:
Hosted by Eco Action, Spring 2017
Overview:
- Build leadership early
- identify who wants to be a leader within your organization and train them while mentors are still around
- don’t let last-semester seniors hold important positions so they are around to mentor the upcoming exec board
- Always plan ahead
- plan out club events at least a month ahead to time, if not a semester ahead
- Build friendships within the club
- frequent parties
- social activities outside of club work
- hang out after meetings
- have meetings in more casual settings than in a classroom
- Have a good advisor(s) who can help you navigate through Penn State
- It is a pain to fill out all of the paperwork to become a new club, so work with one that already exists.
- Write down how to do everything to pass on to your successor. Organize a panel discussion on student leadership? Write down how you did it.
- Network with students in other organizations to collaborate with them. Support their organization so they will support you.
- Work with institutions/programs/departments within the University that align with your purpose to plan events.
- Value new members. Get to know their names and invite them to a social.
- Have a presence on campus. Attend as many involvement fairs as you can and participate in events that will get your name out there.
- Have a presence on social media. Post regularly and show off all the events you are organizing.
- Be creative! There are so many clubs on campus, what makes your club unique?
- Take attendance and keep track of what types of events people like attending. If you lose members, reach out to them and see why they didn’t come back.