To decide whether to start a club you need to read this manual and ask yourself a few questions:
- What is the purpose of the club?
- Is the club necessary?
- Do similar clubs exist?
- Are they active?
- What will be the clubs special appeal?
- Potential membership?
- Initial and continual support for the club?
- Contribution to community?
- Worthwhile services to its members?
Make an appointment to see the AuSM Clubs Officer to discuss your ideas and what you need to do to get your club up and running. Once you have decided that starting a new club is what you want to do you need to hold your first meeting to confirm student interest.
See the affiliation policy for a more comprehensive breakdown on what it takes to become affiliated
Advertising the First Meeting
How widely a formal public meeting is advertised depends on the size of the club. You could advertise your first meeting via computer notice board, debate magazine, or posters around the campus on notice boards.
The First Meeting
At the first meeting you might discuss and make decisions about:
- Whether the club should go ahead; formation of the club and its purpose
- Set up a steering committee. Define its role, duties and powers
- Appoint interim or acting officers and decide on their role
- Appoint a person to take minutes
- Membership Forms/Fees
- Set Goals and Objectives giving the club purpose and direction
- Discuss affiliation to AuSM and fill out forms
- A membership pack
- Structure of the club – committee or collective
- Meeting times and venues
- Finances
- Set an AGM date to officially create club
Goals and Objectives
Setting goals and objectives for the club is important; it gives your club direction. Also linking the purpose of the organisation with the objectives helps members measure progress.
Goals aim to give a club an end target, a path to follow, and a reason for its formation.
Objectives are the way that the club aims to meet its goals. They should be achievable, measurable, clear and precise, while also relevant, honest and flexible enough to meet your needs.
