Learn how to utilize your leadership skills to start or join a club

Joining a club is an opportunity available to all students; just locate an interesting club, make contact and attend. Starting a club is also an option available to all and the process begins at the student life office.

Clubs and Organization Senator, Allyson-Marie Shoemaker, encourages students with ideas or strong interests to consider starting a club. “Even if you don’t have immediate friends with the same interest there will probably be 100 people on campus who do love your idea,” said Shoemaker “so don’t be afraid to share it.”

Shoemaker recalled a story of a student dinner she attended where one student said she wished there was a knitting club and then witnessed at least a dozen other students respond enthusiastically that they did too. “It just takes a little confidence in your idea,” she said.

The first step to starting a club is to pick up a Clubs and Organizations Handbook at the student life office, which contains an application. Five student attendees and an Advisor (faculty or staff) are required to complete the application.

Shoemaker says she is available to help if these requirements seem out of reach or if a student wants to discuss ideas on how to complete this.

Next, identify goals of the club and how often you wish to meet. When the paperwork is completed and returned to Shoemaker or the student life office, the club will be issued an action item number so that it can be voted on during the next open student government meeting. 

Once ratified, a club is active for the rest of the school-year as long as it meets some simple requirements throughout the year.  The student government is able to offer help through promoting the club around the school and making funds available to them for club use.

A Club Council, which is a committee comprised of at least one representative from each club, meets several times throughout the quarter. This is a requirement to keep an active status. During these council meetings, clubs give reports, members network, share ideas and discuss their needs. “One member might ask how do I throw a pizza party for my club?” says Shoemaker. Funding is available to clubs and is one of the benefits of keeping an active status through participation in the council meetings. The council as a whole votes on funding requests. Clubs can be issued up to $500 per quarter.

In addition to meeting and spending time with students who have common interests, starting a club also offers leadership skills development. “The leadership experience that you get when you start a club is so beneficial. You have an idea, you execute the idea and you lead the club with your ideas,” says Shoemaker. 

Any student interested in joining a club can look for club posters displayed between the Fireside Lounge and the Performance Lounge.  For more information about starting a club contact Allison-Marie Shoemaker at [email protected] or call 253-964-6750 or stop by the Student Life Office.

Current ratified clubs:

Japanese Game and Watch Club

Urban Creators Club

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Club

Pop Music Club

(there may a few more after Wednesday’s meeting at 1:00 pm)