<p>Hey! So I'm a freshman in high school and I noticed that my school doesn't have a Key Club. I've recently taken an interest in our region's local Kiwanis Club, and I found it weird that my school doesn't have a Key Club. Our school does have an Octagon Club though, and I'm not really sure what the difference between Octagon Club and Key Club is. My question is though, do you think I'd be allowed to create a Key Club at our school, even though I'm a freshman and we already have an Octagon Club? What's the difference between the two clubs anyways? And also, the Octagon Club at our school is REALLY popular and has a ton of members, so I'm afraid that if I create a Key Club, no one will want to join since they're probably already in Octagon. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>The other option that I've been debating is creating a Literature Club? I think this would probably be much less work. I was thinking of doing something like a book club, for people who are really into reading. So maybe we would do a book a month and then hold meetings to discuss the book so far. Like I said, this wouldn't be as much work. It'd probably also be easier to find a sponsor, and members, since I can already name a ton of my friends who would be interested in joining. So do you think that this would be a better idea? </p>
<p>I know this is a lot to take in, sorry I rambled so much haha, but any help or suggestions would be really appreciated!</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the Octagon interfering with Key Club. Our school has Key Club, Octagon Club, United Nations Club, Interact Club, Junior Society, Ministry Outreach Program, 2 Homework Programs, and another club but I can’t remember the name. All of these are community service clubs/societies my school has off the top of my head (there might actually be more). So just because one service club is already there doesn’t mean you can’t have another. My school is an example of that with at least 9 of them.</p>
<p>Hey! I’m the president of my school’s Key Club, so if you’re seriously considering creating a branch at your school I can help (:</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of octagon club, but with most service clubs, they are probably very similar to Key Club: an international organization sponsored by a community service organization for those older than high school/ college.
Key Club is the oldest and largest of these high school organizations though.
at my school, we have Key Club and Leo Club (high school Lions Club, also a volunteer service based club); at first there were some weirdish interactions with them but I talked to the president of Leo and we’re actually planning on doing some volunteer activities together now!
Even though you’re a freshman, if you really want to make a club and show that you are PREPARED and RESPONSIBLE, things can work out. However, you will most likely have to start the club sophomore year, as the deadline for Key Club dues has already passed for 2010-2011. Your local Kiwanis or Key Club district can back you up, and your school’s ASB probably gives a bit of funds to new clubs.
Key Club will be a ton of work for you, as president. I suggest selecting your officers in advance, so that you can spread out the work evenly as you start out.
WORK WITH YOUR LOCAL KIWANIS CLUB AND CONTACT YOUR KEY CLUB DISTRICT OFFICERS! I can’t stress this enough. They are so so so so much help. Your district officers will help you with the process of starting out and work out the details of meetings, funds, etc. with you. Make sure you know how they run meetings, the division/district events, and so on so that your club runs smoothly from the start! You could maybe even visit another school’s Key Club nearby and see how they run it. Your Kiwanis will probably be willing to help fund you, and also oversee as you start out.
Key Club is a lot of work, mine was pretty much dead last year with the previous officers, but this year our board is trying our best to revive it (: We went from 10 official members last year to 50 this year! Shows just what a little work can do!</p>
<p>Most of all, don’t be overwhelmed with all of this haha. It sounds like a lot, but the payoff is amazing, more than just something you can put on your college applications. The K family is always willing to help you out and I couldn’t ask for another extracurricular I enjoy as much (:</p>
<p>go4cornell - Wow, that’s incredible. My high school is relatively small, about 1200 total student body, and there are only a few clubs that garner much student body attention. Still though, if there’s 9+ service clubs at your school, I don’t see why my school couldn’t have 2 of them. (: Thanks for all the help! </p>
<p>1004soul - Oh wow, first of all, thank you SO much for posting here! Your post really encouraged me and now I’m pretty much convinced that I should start a Key Club, haha. (: So my first question is, when was the deadline for the 2010-2011 dues? (I’m just curious, so that I can be prepared for next year!) And second of all, how should I go about starting the club? Should I talk to my guidance counselor? Should I ask my friends if they’d like to join or help out?</p>
<p>My school only has 1200 students overall too But we have around 60+ clubs and sports with new ones constantly being created. I guess you could say we have “ambitious” students lol but good luck!</p>
<p>Point of information(Key club lingo :D)- One piece of advice, plan activities for each meeting such as games. The service clubs at my school do this after they talk about how successful the last projects were and speak about the upcoming ones. I mean, you can’t really expect students to sit down in a room for over an hour just talking about services all day long, they need something fun and entertaining to do. Bonne chance!</p>
<p>Ahaha, from looking at the clubs list, it doesn’t seem like my school has very many ambitious students. I guess that’s why it’s kind of intimidating for me to go up to my counselor and tell her that I want to start a club (besides the fact that I’m a freshman, haha). Plus, Octagon Club has around 60+ members, so going up against that would just be impossible …but yeah, thanks for all the help and encouragement!</p>
<p>Counselor, I think you would go to your principal, after you have all your proper documentation of course and I think you would need permission from Kiwanis but I’m not too sure about that part btw I don’t know if the dues in the table I attached will remain the same for next year as even though it says 2010-2011 but at least it will give you a fair idea.</p>
<p>Oh, I didn’t even see the link! That’s weird though, I can’t find Virginia on the list… or maybe we fall into some other region that I’m missing? D: Thank you so much for the link, though!</p>
<p>At my school, we’re required to go to the ASB office for all club activites. I don’t know how it works at your school, but maybe ask the president of another club about how they’re funded, permission for fundraisers and such?</p>
<p>virginia falls under the capital district, so district dues this year were $11</p>
<p>edit//
oh, and try not to think about the other club as competition! haha at my school i know people who are members of both of the two service clubs we have. Talk to their president and just try to have a good relationship between the clubs (:</p>
<p>I started a group my freshman year for people of ALL ages. . .
It CAN be done. Like SharkSAT said, older high schoolers might not want to listen to you. However, maybe you have some sort of networking that can enable you to overcome this. For example, see if a Junior is interested in helping you. This way, you can say you started it, but it will be more successful with the backing of an upperclassman from the start.</p>
<p>As far as whether or not to start a Key Club, I don’t know. Unless your school is big, then I think one volunteer club would be enough. However, a little competition may not be a bad thing. It just depends on whether or not your school has the staff/amount of students to support it. </p>
<p>Lit club sounds great, too. Maybe some book talks, writing exercises, and even some volunteering! Maybe read with younger kids at an after school program, present stories that you’ve written, etc. </p>
<p>If you get this done, it will look great on college applications. However, don’t just do it for that sake. Do it because you truly have the desire. That way, you will truly achieve something remarkable. If it’s just for an app (not saying it is), then you will quickly loose steam and dedication. Otherwise, your dedication will stay with you a long time! </p>
<p>Hope I’ve helped.
I hope you are able to have a successful and beneficial club.</p>
But we have around 60+ clubs and sports with new ones constantly being created. I guess you could say we have “ambitious” students lol but good luck!</p>