Step 4: Help Spread the
Word
Make fliers advertising the club’s first meeting. Include a photo or
artwork to grab people’s attention. Make sure the flier includes the
date, time, and location of the meeting. Include some of the goals that
your club hopes to accomplish. Then help post the fliers in your community. Good spots are at
school, libraries, community centers, and supermarkets. Just make sure
you have permission before putting up a flier. You can also ask your
local newspaper to include an announcement in their community events
section. Call the newspaper or go on their Web site. Be prepared to give
the information outlined in your flier.
If your club will meet at school, ask to use your school’s P.A. or closed-circuit television system to make announcements. Write down what you want to say so you won’t forget important details. Speak slowly and clearly. Keep your tone upbeat and inviting. Be sure to say that everyone is welcome to join.
Click here to print a form that will help you form your club.
Step 5: Your First
Meeting
Your club’s first meeting will be exciting. Everyone who attends will
have something in common—a love of animals. This is a chance for you and
your advisor to welcome members.
-
Animal Allies. Have your advisor
explain why you decided to form the club and what you hope to
accomplish. Discuss a few problems facing animals and why they need
help. Your advisor can explain some of these issues. Good sources of
information are www.kindnews.org,
www.humaneteen.org, and
www.humanesociety.org.
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Keep a List. Collect the names of
everyone at your meeting. It will become your club’s membership
list. Include space for club members to write their name, e-mail
address and other contact info, and an area of interest (for
example, art, homeless pets).
-
The Name Game. Choosing a name for
your club is a fun first task. Ask members for suggestions—then vote
on it.
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Logos are Lovely. Your club may
decide to have a logo—a picture or design to go with your club name.
If so, your advisor may ask members to put their ideas on paper and
bring them to your next meeting.
-
Operation: Organization. Your
advisor may decide it will help to have club officers—a president,
vice president, treasurer, and/or secretary. These are club members
who help lead the group and organize activities. The second meeting
is a good time for members to vote for club officers. Your advisor
might also ask a different officer to lead each meeting so all can
play an active role.
- Decide How Often You Will Meet. Keep in mind that members will be busy with other activities during the school year. If your group schedules meetings too often, there may only be a small turnout at each one. If you don’t schedule enough meetings, members may lose interest.
Step 6: Take Action
There are a lot of things your new club can do to help animals. You
will have the greatest effect when you work on one at a time.
Consider joining the Mission: Humane program. It includes
step-by-step projects to help animals where they need it most. The
next sections of this guide will help you complete them. When you
do, we’ll send you fun stuff as a reward! Click
here to sign up and get
going!
Step 7: Recruit
As your club moves forward, you’ll gain and lose members. In all
that you do, think about getting new members. Bring sign-up sheets
to all events and keep getting the word out about your meetings with
fliers.
