How To Start A Club

Before you begin the fun process of forming a new student organization, check out the listings to research what organizations already exist. These groups have been formed to meet a variety of personal, social, political, recreational, leadership and religious interests. You may find that there is already a group on campus doing exactly what you wanted to do. It is often more effective to combine forces that duplicate efforts and/or services thereby creating competition for resources–financial or people.

Maintain contact with area Phis through a consistent schedule of meetings and events.

Advance the ideals and principles of Phi Delta Theta: friendship, sound learning and rectitude.

Provide social and professional outlets for all members of Phi Delta Theta.

New clubs receive a $50.00 startup budget, and members should attend Finance Board/Programs Board Budget Hearings and Fund Appeals to propose a budget for their club.

Contact Student Director of Campus Organizations, Michele Hoffmann, to receive a Club Leader Handbook and other club leader materials.

All forms pertaining to clubs can be found in the Student Activities Office and on the website.

Funding and Budget

Most clubs need to spend money in order to perform activities, print flyers, host a lecture, etc. In order to spend money the club needs to get money and there are a variety of ways to fund the club’s activities. Funding can be accomplished from the members themselves through membership dues, activity fees, donations. Funding can be also obtained through a variety of fundraising activities such as a bake sale, garage sale, car wash.

Many corporations and government institutions also fund and sponsor groups. Grant applications can be filled out to see if you qualify for this type of funding. Not all funding needs to be cash. Some companies for instance might provide equipment, or a place to hold an event or practice. They may ask for some form of sponsorship, for instance, a banner displayed at an event.

Establish a “government” in your club. You’ll need: a leader (president), a deputy leader who’s in charge when the leader cannot make it (vice president), a secretary, and, if you’ll be collecting “dues” (donations from the members that *usually* go towards the club in some way, such as to go on field trips and other fun things), a treasurer. Add as many sub-groups as you want. You can really go nuts here!

Now that you have order established in your club, you’ll need to have some rules. Get together with all your members and make up rules that everyone thinks are fair. These rules should have imaginative punishments to go along with them when they are broken (i.e., if you yell at the esteemed leader, you will be kicked out of the club for two weeks). These rules are subject to change; make sure the best ones are kept.