MICHELLE'S PORTFOLIO
I was the role of club Secretary last year but I knew that this year, I wanted to renew the club. I established several main goals over the summer including:
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Properly trainning new execs so they can lead next year
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Stop the need for permission forms for every single volunteer event
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Improve organization for each meeting, including establishing an activity per meeting
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Have better communication with our teacher and club advisors
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Establish a set event procedure
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Make the club more known in the student body
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Develope a trademark event SJAM Key Club can do every year
CREATING THE WEBSITE
Over summer, I made a website for SJAM Key Club. The website turned out to be an amazing idea and it really impacted our club this year. Because of the calendar on the website, we were able to stop needing permission forms for every single event. This changed our club because prior to the website, we would have to look for events that gave detailed information atleast three weeks in advance. Now, an event only has to give details one week prior so that we can inform our members and update the website. As a result, we have been organizing a lot more events than usual.
The website also allowed us to really improve communication with members because they know that they can access the website anytime if they have any questions. There is even a link for parents or students to contact us. As well, we were able to put all forms and past pictures onto the side, also enabling this site to be used for future years ahead.
I learned several things through this process. First, I learned that it is important to always ask. Before, the fear of rejection, or my presumption would hold me back but this year, I learned that no is the worst case scenario from asking, but it never hurts to ask. Additionally, I learned that if there is a need, a leader will think of innovative or creative ways to address that need. As distict webmaster, creating the school website was the natural idea and my response to the forms problem. Lastly, I learned that persisting and believing in my own idea is crucial to achieving any goal.
PREPARATION
Over the summer, I was determined for this year's executive team to develop a team dynamic by getting to know eachother and also plan for the school year ahead. I organized an executive meeting where we all gathered to bond, plan, and prepare. From this meeting, we developed an excell document that established all the activites we are planning to conduct each weekly meeting. In addition, we prepared for the club extravaganza that happens on the first week of school.
I think this meeting was extremely beneficial. In leadership, we learned about the importance of mutual understanding and the establishment of a common goal that is needed to suceed. Through our chatter but also work and planning, we all left the meeting confident with each other's aibilities and the success that SJAM Key Club will have this year.
PROMOTION
In accordance with making our club more known, we heavily focused on promoting the club in the beginning of the year. We had annoucements, participated in the club extravaganza, and made posters for the first few events we did. Additionally, we are actively using social media with a facebook page and group.
STRIVING FORWARD
I love Key Club because I can see firsthand our members growing as leaders and fostering new friendships as the result of the events we organize. We have met the majority of our goals through the passion and commitement of members, teachers, and the executive team. We started to hold weekly meetings with our teacher advisors as well, and sending regular emails to our Kiwanis advisor for the meetings he could not attend.
We will continue to strive towards our remaining goal of establishing a trademark event. Additionally, with DCON being held in Waterloo, I have the highest hopes that all members will attend because speaking from personal experience, it really was the event that inspired and changed me to become a better leader.