So You Don't Have a Club Anymore

This title of this blog is called So You Don't Have a Club Anymore and is aimed at those who have graduated high school/college. The question is what can you do after your education to stay involved to motivate people.

There are organizations you can be involved in after school is over such as food banks, politics, church groups, or other volunteer organizations. These would be productive to whatever your cause is and what you want to help others with.

Another thing is to get the word out there. What do you want to help? How can you do that? For myself, my club was the Red Cross so I could volunteer, donate blood or money, or post on my social media about their causes. This generation has the internet widely available to them, so use it for good!

I would suggest is random acts of kindness as well. Writing positive messages in public places, sending flowers to others, and seeing to those who are often ignored. I have seen a lot of these wonderful things on the internet which are totally attainable. Here is a list!

1. No One Sits Alone-Find a person who usually sits alone at your work and sit with them. Super easy! I know the link is for middle schools but I think it still applies.

2. Positive Sticky Notes-A movement that started in England, people started placing positive messages in subways and now it is a world wide movement. Even my club did it a few years ago.

3. Crochet for Care- If you are crafty then you can do this one. There are a ton of crochet projects that have gained popularity including one for premature babies and for those with cancer.

4. Got old books? Donate them! What about clothes? Donate them!

5. Cup of Coffee-At many coffee shops you can "pay it forward" by offering to buy a cup of coffee for the next customer. Usually the next person will pay it forward until it is a long line of paid coffee. Great way to start the day.

One last item, do not be indifferent to others. I assume if you are reading this blog that you aren't (or I hope that you aren't). Seeing a problem and thinking that there is nothing you can do and there is no point in acting is being indifferent. Even if you can't vote, talk about voting. Even if you can't donate money/goods/etc., talk about it. Even if you aren't an international diplomat, talk about it. You will feel useless and angry at times but don't let those who are doing something wrong, keep doing it.

Elie Wiesel said that Holocaust was not caused by hate but by indifference. I know that seems like a big jump but to me it isn't. When Jews were labeled and categorized, how many protests were going on? How many politicians were known to stand up and say it was wrong? How many of the Jewish people's neighbors watched as they were taken away, eager to take their things? They didn't care what happened to them, they didn't hate them, they simply didn't care. I encourage you to at least talk about the wrongs in this world, even if you loses you friends and family. All we have is humanity and dignity, don't lose it because you are indifferent or afraid.

I'll leave with this.

"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.”― Elie Wiesel.

First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

End On a Happy Note: Have you heard this song? It's amazing. 

Pass the Gauntlet

So I have graduated college and gotten a job. However, I wanted to make sure my club would be okay without me.

Here are ways to help your club thrive after your gone.

Find your most responsible and hardworking club member. You need to find out if they want a position in your club. Odds are that good club members are very active and might be offered offices in other clubs.

Give them more responsibilities step by step while you are still in office.

When (or if) they get elected give them starting materials. What do they need to know about fundraising, doing events, or gaining members? Do you have raffle tickets, t-shirts, or bank account numbers that they need?

Give them a calendar of what you did when you were in charge. I wish I had that when I was president. It is an excellent guide for your future officers.

Give them a copy of the constitution. You have no idea how often I was asked to forward that on. Give them a hard copy and a digital copy.

Once they are in office let them have your number and email. They will ask questions. If you can, show up to the first few meetings with them in charge. Afterwards talk to them about what they did well. This will boost their confidence and encourage them to stay a leader.

Be supportive as much as you can but let them have the reigns. I slowly took myself out of meetings while those students were in charge. That way they didn't rely on me so heavily and it gave me a chance to focus on graduating.

END ON A HAPPY NOTE:
It has been shown that little children and older people together improves mood and gets them both motivated. How cute is this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI9ye459YMk