<p>Ever since I transferred to another college, I was a member of a certain club. Now that some student board members graduated or left the club, I decided to take the chance to continue the club with me being acting president. I still have a few board members who were running the club from last semester who would be willing to continue as board members this semester and I found another few new board members. I'm having the first orientation meeting next week.</p>
<p>Is there any advice that you can give me? This is the first time I stepped up to the plate and took the initiative in continuing the club under my leadership. I'm a little nervous about speaking in public (coincidentally, I'm taking a public speaking class right now). I'm also worry about making bad decisions or saying something stupid in meetings or with the board, and I worry that if I make too many mistakes, the club or the board members may not want me as president.</p>
<p>For those students who have been club president, have you been stressed out between schoolwork and managing your club? I already noticed that I spent more time trying to run the club than do schoolwork these days and I'm a little concerned that my grades would slip.</p>
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<li><p>Don’t be nervous. Even if you make a mistake people won’t care as long as you’re not a ******/overzealous.</p></li>
<li><p>Maintain a good balance between the goals of the club and about having fun since people will quickly become disinterested if the club isn’t “fun”. </p></li>
<li><p>Maintain your grades. Give more responsibility to other people if necessary.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>REmember the 80-20 rule: 20% of the people will do 80% of the work. Surround yourself with that 20%. But make sure the other 80% don’t feel closed out of a clique of people running the club.</p>
<p>On top of what has been said already:
Stay organized
Don’t think you have to be the only one coming up with ideas.
Most importantly, have fun. Its a great experience to be president of something and being the leader of a group, so have fun and don’t stress out too much.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Being president of the club is keeping me busy trying to balance school work, club stuff, and relaxing time. But I guess it’s a good kind of busy.</p>
<p>Take “surveys” (by handing out actual surveys, making a point of talking to members, and/or having an open forum during a meeting) regarding what the members want to get out of the club and what they would like to do.</p>
<p>I have been in a few clubs where the President/Office Holder has a vision that nobody else is on board with; it hurts the club and its membership.</p>
<p>@LonelyHapax, yes I do plan to ask members for suggestions. I do have lots of ideas in mind but I want to get the member’s suggestions and inputs. I even have suggestion sheets to hand out to the members at the meeting tomorrow!</p>