Starting a Club

God made us social creatures, and some of us have a hobby or passion that we would love to share with others and have others share with us. The problem is, it may be hard to find people with similar interests. However, if you’re passionate about doing something in a community, nothing is stopping you from creating a club. Well, starting a club still comes with work and hurdles, but if you are willing to put in the work, here are some things to consider.

What’s the Point?

Do you want to have a place where people can just casually do similar things in one place? Are you looking to bring a group together to collaborate on some project? You need a clear, concrete goal or objective with your club. This sets a foundation for what kind of events or activities will be involved, the target audience you want to attract, and the sorts of materials you may need. What are you even going to be doing? How much commitment will be expected of members? Do you need another person to help with management? Do you have a location to meet? Do members need to bring anything? All these questions trace back to the central question of why you are doing this.

Find Your Audience

No one is going to join a club they do not know about, so you need to advertise. There are several bulletin boards around campus to put up promotional flyers. However, you should check with a student or staff member who works in the building you want to advertise in to make sure you have permission to put flyers there. Also, if you know a professor associated with students who may be interested in your club, you can ask them to give a short promotion before a class. I cannot promise all professors are able to do this, but it has happened with some of my animation professors. Whatever way you try to get the word out, remember to keep in tune with the Community Life Agreement.

Getting the Thumbs Up

If your club is on campus, make sure nothing violates University polices or regulations. Do you need registration and approval for your club? Are there any regulations or restrictions on club activities? Also, does the location you want to hold club meetings conflict with other activities and classes? Depending on said location, it is a good idea to get some insight from a professor or other staff member who works in the same building. Information about existing clubs and who to contact for club information can be found here, so that may be a good place to ask these questions.

This may seem like a lot of work, but several students, including freshmen, have created their own clubs. Anyone can get the ball rolling, so don’t be afraid to get something started.