A Guide to Making the Most of Your Clubs

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You might think you’re a bit inexperienced, but maybe the club is looking for a blank slate to teach and pass their experience on to

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The only asterisk is this: you have to make your presence known. It won’t really do you much good if you just go to the meeting and sit in a corner in your own bubble. Go ask a question, or meet someone new. Find out something interesting about them – what they do for the club, what they study, or what they find most interesting about the club or their field of study.

3. Audit Other Clubs

As students, we’re on a very limited budget. Understandably, you can’t sign up for all the clubs you really wanted to join. You pick a few that are at the top of your list or priorities – but what do you do with the rest?

Here’s an idea: connect with an executive member from the other clubs you were interested in, and ask if you can sit in on a members meeting, a seminar, or an event. Tell them that you wanted to test the waters before joining their club – they’ll understand, because they’re students too! They’ll provide you with information, you’ll have unofficially connected with them (and so it’ll be easier to start a conversation as well as ask for more information), and you now know where and when they’re holding the meeting. Of course, only do this if you actually intend to join. I don’t advocate mooching (or trying to mooch) a free membership off the club. They need the money to survive!

If you’re already an executive of another club, this is a great way to get in touch with clubs and make connections that weren’t there before. Cross promotion is a wonderful thing in university, and everyone could use a little more love and support at their events. Maybe the Economics Students Association will give your club members discounted rates if they sign up for their exam bank through your club, or maybe the social club on campus will send members to your lectures if you can get them more attendees to their events. You’re going to be adding value for both parties, which is a beautiful thing for members and executives alike.

Gear it up!

You might learn something new about university, the world, or yourself. Clubs week is over at UWO, so I’ll have to party away the blues on the weekend, but the school year is just beginning! The possibilities are endless. Grab your trusty inky pen, and start filling out those executive application forms that you just printed out. Cheers!