Tag Archives: clubs

An Artsy Afternoon

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Contemporary art and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes we get along, like two dancers weaving to a rhythmic beat, and other times we tip-toe in each others’ spaces, like hesitant friends at an awkward dinner party.

So it was with a bit of a sense of the unknown that I made my way to the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery to check out the current exhibition, I Thought There Were Limits. As I stepped into the gallery, I reacted as I usually do when it comes to contemporary art exhibits. I wondered: where is the art, and why is there so much space? I like creating art, but my paintings and drawings are a mish-mash of colours and shapes, words and half-finished poems, swirls, strikes, dots, random pairings of patterns and symbols…absolutely nothing like the art that stood staring back at me, daring me to take a leap.

And so, I leapt.

According to the colourful program that I picked up, the exhibit brings together five artists who “engage with both the material and conceptual dimensions of space”. Ah, Space, that most elusive of things. The exhibit spans two rooms, with one room hosting most of the art pieces, and the other engulfed by Kika Thorne’s piece titled Singularity (pictured below). I won’t go into detail about each work of art. I want you, my friend, to go and take a look!

Singularity by Kika Thorne

However, one piece caught my eye. It took the shape of a giant shiny silver blanket of sorts, slightly crumpled and lying on the floor. Not surprisingly, the piece was called Space Blanket, by Josh Thorpe. Yet it was the sound recording that formed the backdrop for the blanket which got me thinking. At first I thought I was hearing noise from the subway cars (if you’re ever in a lecture at OISE, you know what I’m talking about). Then, as I listened more closely, I realized that what I was hearing was a succession of footsteps that got increasingly louder, and then simply fell away. Intertwined with the sound of footsteps was the sound of classical music.

It could have been my imagination (that afternoon sunlight can play tricks sometimes). but every time the footsteps grew louder, the silver blanket moved ever so slightly – just enough to make me believe that perhaps it was moving on its own.

All of which got me thinking about Space. I was the gallery’s only visitor. I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. It seemed as though time had stopped, and I was carried by whatever note the music played next. I opened my eyes and found myself in rather empty space filled with sound and a few works of art. I realized that the title for the exhibit – I Thought There Were Limits – fit really well. There are no limits, until you create them. The art that did have physical limits in that open space did not have limits in my mind. Now that, my friend, is profound.

Since I had thought all the deep thoughts I had inside me, it was time to go. I really enjoyed Josh Thorpe’s work, but I could only reflect for so long on potential interpretations. So, off I went, only to be bowled over in Hart House’s next corridor by the Hart House Camera Club’s annual exhibit.

According to their website, the exhibit ended on April 21. I managed to catch it, and you may have a chance as well in the next couple of days. I must have spent a good 20 minutes immersing myself in all of the photographs, and creating stories as I went along. The photographs are fantastic!

Aaron Tan’s Tension is a compelling piece:

Tension, by Aaron Tan

Art Chow’s work is also wonderful:

Observer, by Art Chow

I was pleasantly surprised by both Justina M. Barnicke’s current exhibit, and my spontaneous discovery of the Camera Club’s eye-opening exhibit (its 91st edition, I might add). Have a spare hour or so? Treat yourself to an afternoon of art at Hart House. You may just be inspired to create spaces and stories of your own!

-Aziza

For more information about Hart House’s Camera Club, check out their website.

From Spectating to Participating: the time to get involved is now

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With the first week of March now upon us, we students are entering that proverbial ‘crunch time’ of late nights, libraries, and fancy lattes to help us cope with it all.

And this year, more than most, seems to have a lot of stuff crammed into the final six to eight weeks of the semester.

In addition to the assignments, tests, and exams, this time of the year also features plenty of activity in the world of student life as many groups, clubs, and student organizations begin turnover processes, paving the way for next semester – starting September 2013. While you may feel that you don’t have much time to devote your awareness to anything other than your textbooks over the next few weeks, I implore you to keep an eye on the goings on in the student communities you are a part of, as the way in which these communities are shaping up at the end of this semester will have a very real impact on the way they look when classes resume six months from now — unless you’re a graduating student, of course. (If you’re in this boat you have plenty of bigger concerns to deal with………anyone looking to hire a Student Blogger, available for work immediately in early May?…Please?)

The elephant in the room being all this University of Toronto Students’ Union secession business that has been dominating student politics at the university as of late (for the seven of you interested in undergraduate student politics, that is). And while this issue is definitely an important one – especially as the consequences of all of this hullabaloo have yet to be borne out - this is not the only thing happening in student life right now that you should be concerned with.

Student communities take all shapes and sizes, from small college-based clubs to inter-campus wide student associations. What I hope to emphasize is that many of these organizations are holding elections/seeking membership for positions for the upcoming year and if you have ever thought about trying out for one of these positions, the time to do so is now. Don’t simply get caught up in being a spectator to everything going on around you. As cliche as it may sound, the four or five years you spend at the University of Toronto is short (trust me) and if you have ever considered the possibility of enhancing your undergraduate experience through some extra-curricular activity, now is the time to seek those position out.

I know first hand that this can be a daunting task for the uninitiated, but trust me: go for it. The first ‘major’ thing I did in the realm of student life involved running for an executive membership position on the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council at the end of my second year. I had dabbled a bit in Vic’s student life before then, but I was a relatively unknown candidate and was up against someone who had already been on the council previously and was a somewhat of a known entity around the Vic community. Needless to say I lost the election and while it definitely sucked I gained invaluable insights into how student life functioned at the college as well as had the opportunity to meet a number of people I would not have otherwise met. The experience of running, despite losing, no doubt played a factor in my attaining an elected position on the council in the following Fall election at the beginning of the new term. Leaving my comfort zone was, you’ll be surprised to hear, uncomfortable but the experience was essential in my personal growth (overcoming social anxieties) as well as integrating myself in a community I now have grown to love and adore. There is not a doubt in my mind that if I hadn’t run in that Spring 2010 VUSAC election you would not be reading this post right now.

The moral of the story is, I’m sure, quite obvious. You’ve heard it before but it is worth stating again: your experience as an undergraduate student is what you make it and oftentimes the best experiences in life involve a little risk. Students at the U of T have been known to complain that they experience a lack in communal-feeling with their peers and while this may be true the opportunities to remedy this feeling are out there; you just have to be willing to look.

carry on, leaders. carry on.

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What’s up U of T? How was this week – we had a snow day that turned into a slush day. For some reason whenever I see slush, I feel the need to go to 7/11 and get a slushie. Another lesson to be learned from that day is that Front Campus is just as bad under slush as it is in mud. There seriously needs to be a “wade with caution” sign there. Nonethless, that didn’t deter the busloads of tourists who come to take pictures of UC. But slush is a good sign U of T, it means spring is near! The campus will be green and cool again. Also, the Harlem Shake also no longer appears to be “a thing” so that’s good.

So, this week – I was pondering upon what exactly I should write and I remembered that this the time of year for elections in clubs, college councils and unions — and that I have gone through this process. But you know what, I’ve talked plenty about elections and student politics this year.  If you are planning to run in one of them — good luck, but I’d like to tackle something different (albeit still related) but different.

Being involved this year in both the Arts and Science Students’ Union, the Muslim Students’ Association, Student Life Community Crew and The Varsity, I have found a lot of inspiration. This inspiration does not come from a speaker I heard at an event, nor does it come from the subject of a Cinema Politica documentary. It comes from the student leaders I work with day in and day out, that continue to impress me by how much they do. These people, often do what they do with the best of their ability and don’t ask for recognition or thank-yous. They are passionate about what they do and the students they represent. In my daily interactions with students, I come across a lot of these leaders and I find that too often, they aren’t recognized for their efforts. Or there are just too many of them to recognize. So, busy student leader; this post is for you.

There are student leaders who commute from Markham, Durham Region, Mississauga and as far as Hamilton and close as the Annex. Yet, they can often be seen on campus on weekends and late in the evenings, staying for events and taking care of business at their office. They can be seen preparing for events, tabling for their club and often have a litany of emails to respond to at the end of the night. Meetings dominate their schedule, and it often astounds me that these leaders have the time to take five courses and maintain a good GPA. Despite this sounding rare, I actually find this in a lot of student leaders.

There are other leaders who represent their fellow students and speak their mind when they feel something is not right. They are open and willing to listen to the concerns of their students and attend countless meetings to ensure that student interests are being taken into account. But leadership doesn’t necessarily have to be conventionally speaking out for you students, or planning great events for them. There are countless amounts of students who spend weekend nights in front of computer screens dutifully editing and preparing the campus newspapers for the next day – making sure the student voice is heard. Others spend time in Hart House, making sure the student voice is broadcasting through CIUT.

Above all, the best leaders conduct themselves in a manner that respects the rights of all their fellow students, regardless of whether they agree with them or not. It’s not easy being a student leader, sometimes you are faced with attacks, sometimes uncooperative executives, the stresses of school, GPA, post grad life, the possibility of an event not going as planned and finally, just life. It is difficult to be a student leader and all I have to say to you guys is: keep doing what you are doing and carry on. :)

- Abdullah

 

 

Little Joys at U of T

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There’s always Joy at U of T, and like the Book of Awesome, I’ve compiled a list of the small joys; the little victories and successes that help us get through the day(s):

On Friends

When they get into ________ school, program, internship and you want to keep pressing “like”.

Having some friends who let you rant/de-stress/deconstruct the difficult situations (or people) that you may encounter.

…and then offer the best kinds of advice (the best is when it’s what you want to hear, nothing is more joyous than gratification).

When they read your mind at wanting to order Pizza Hut at 2am, and if anything, praise your approach to a healthy lifestyle.

Making a friend in class or just having class with a friend.

Friends who tell that person to shush at Robarts (while you were working up the nerve to say something about those potato chips and conversation for five minutes).

On Campus

Appreciating the busyness of Sid Smith amongst questionable newspaper publications and an endless amount of goodies and cupcakes.

When ROSI is good to you…(this one speaks for itself).

Having that prof, you know that prof, the one you secretly adore/idolize/kind of fangirl over; even three years later (after POL 101) when he walks past you.

Majoring in something you couldn’t be more excited about, without a care in the world about how obscure it is.

Finding extra-curriculars that click.

Free things; all of the free things!

College pride, finding it and never letting it go.

In Class

Contributing to a class discussion and immediately noticing the impressed look your Professor gives you.

Having the AHA (Ah-HAH? Ahh-haa?) moment in class.

Coming to terms with a new idea during your lecture and realizing your mind has indeed, been blown.

Connecting with a stranger in class, who later on becomes one of your closest friends.

When someone remembers something you said in class and later comes to you to let you know how insightful they found it.

Making it to your Con Hall class on time while managing not to drown in the muddy wrath in front of it from Winter-Spring.

…Getting WiFi at Con Hall!!!

On Essays/Readings/Work

Double spacing before your final print job.

Having all of the books you need (still) available at Robarts (or better: the closest/preferable library to you).

Concluding with a sentence that could inspire a screenplay, revolution (or just a grin from your esteemed professor that you pretty much idolize).

Realizing the last five pages of your reading are all endnotes/references.

Getting a last minute writing centre appointment shortly after getting on the wait list.

Finding a study spot that is surprisingly tranquil during exam season.

What are your joys at U of T?
-Vahini

Finding the High Road

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Every now and then, you’ll encounter someone that may not be the easiest person in the world to work with.  It can happen anywhere and everywhere, and in our last community crew meeting, we ended up talking about the various situations we’ve been stuck in and how we’ve dealt (or not dealt so well) with it.

Personally, I’m a pretty passive person, I mean besides saying what I really think silently, I seem to have a lot of issue facing difficult people head on.

Sometimes it actualizes into being passive-aggressive, which isn’t really any more of an improvement and which has me retreating back into being passive.

We came with up a few scenarios and solutions:

1) The difficult group member- In every club or group, there’s always a breakdown of which members do what, or an executive council. Difficult situations here can include everything from having absentee members who are impossible, to other members who may overstep their boundaries of responsibility.

The major solution here was to ensure that early on in the club or group dynamic, a structure of constructive feedback is set up. Crystal calls it the red light/green light game, where everyone anonymously submits what they think could be changed or improved (so for example, if you feel like the leader of the group should take on a stronger voice, you green light that). This is probably one of my favourite solutions because of the anonymity and how it can save the group a lot of awkward interactions.

2) The friend or acquaintance who has strong and passionate opinions that causes group tension. The main consensus here was to talk to the person, perhaps with the members of the group, and gently let them know how you feel. While I can see how this works, I’d be nervous about said person feeling ambushed, or (this has happened personally for me before) having it seem like it really only bothers the one friend who is being vocal (when it really affects everyone). I find this to be one of the more tricky situations. What would you do here? More often than not, I’ve resorted to the ducking method of simply trying to skirt around the issue, or being a slightly passive aggressive grumpy cat, which never ends well.

3) The annoying assailant in the library, you’ve all encountered at least one. This is the person whose movie is blasting from their headphones (for everyone else to hear) or who is trying to make sweet music with their potato chip crunchin’ (while avidly avoiding librarians!). The best solution for this person would be to kindly remind them that it’s a library, or let them know that you can hear them. In first year, I’d actually spent minutes on end debating if I should say anything to these noisy neighbours, and finally when push came to shove, it was necessary. This is probably the one situation that I’ve come to master well with a mix of being firm but polite (or hoping for the librarian to see them first, hehe).

I mean at the end of the day, if the world of sitcoms (and celebrity feuds) have taught us anything, it’s that you won’t always encounter the most pleasant of people. What are some of the best ways you deal with difficult encounters?

-Vahini

Breaking out of holiday mode.

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Well, I don’t know about you, but my Christmas break was a whirlwind of family, friends, food, and more food. It was pretty darn cold back at home in Northern Ontario. So even though I got out to shovel snow and got to spend a day downhill skiing, a good portion of my holiday was spent inside lounging around…

But hey, it was a much-needed break that helped me recharge. Now that I’m all rested up, I’m pumped and ready to get back into work-out mode. I know, I know, “going to the gym” is one of the most clichéd New Year’s resolutions ever. But that’s why I’m not thinking of it as a “resolution.” I’m just thinking of it as something else that’s a part of my schedule, the same way lectures, tutorials, and club meetings are. I took some time over the break to browse the schedules for drop-in fitness at Hart House and the Athletic Centre to see which classes fit into the rest of my schedule. I also made a note of the women-only hours so I can plan to hit the SCC. With exercise, I find that making a schedule and specifically allotting time for working out helps ensure that I actually
make it out to the gym.

Time to get moving again!

Another great way to stick to something once you start is to join an activity that requires regularly meeting up with others. There’s even research that shows incorporating exercise into your social life can help keep you on track! Luckily at U of T, we have lots of cool opportunities to do so. I’ve decided to try something new this semester – tennis!! Lessons start next week and I can’t wait! The AC offers a bunch of other registered programs too, from Tae Kwon Do to gymnastics. Check out the schedules/fees and if you like what you see, register online or at the main office!

Hart House also offers registered classes in their fitness centre. Did you know that you could learn hip hop or archery there?! All it takes is a few clicks to sign up!

And of course, there’s winter intramurals! Get in touch with the intramural rep(s) from your college/faculty if you’re interested in playing indoor co-ed ultimate frisbee or indoor soccer (men’s and women’s). There’s even competition between the U of T campuses through tri-campus sports, and tryouts are coming up very soon for men’s and women’s indoor soccer, and men’s cricket.

Finally, UTSU is giving you a second chance to check out the hundreds of U of T clubs with their Winter Clubs Fest in the Varsity Dome. And don’t forget to drop by the Varsity Arena for some awesome music and free skating at the Winter Warm-Up!

I hope that you were able to rest up over the holidays and are ready to tackle the new year. I’m looking forward to another semester of sharing fun ways to get active at U of T!!

-Lesia

PS: One more thing I need to mention – getting a gym locker makes a HUGE difference!! If you are going to be there several times a week and you don’t live on campus, I say it’s a REALLY good idea. I got tired of lugging around my gym stuff pretty quickly last year, and definitely would not have gone to Hart House as much if I didn’t end up getting a locker there.

Goals That I Probably Will/Might/Probably-Won’t-But-Like-To-Tell-Myself-I-Will Accomplish This Year

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Hello bloggies!

I hope you enjoyed your holidays!

I feel like I haven’t posted since last year. (Ha, see what I did there?)  I’ve spent the past few days trying to actively pull myself out of Holiday Mode (somewhat unsuccessfully I may add).  I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions because I forget what I resolved to do come January the 2nd.  But in an attempt to remind myself that I can’t lie in bed forever, I wrote up a list of goals that I probably will/might/probably-won’t-but-like-to-tell-myself-I-will accomplish this year:

1) Express my appreciation to family and friends: We live in a fast-paced world and it seems that saying “thank you” has become underrated. And so, despite having a “Go! Go! Go!” mentality, I want to spend 2013 slowing down and smelling the roses.

2) Try new things: I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I don’t like change.  I prefer predictability.  I’m used to ordering the same thing at a restaurant, shopping at the same stores, and watching the same shows.  Needless to say, my world can get somewhat repetitive and uninteresting. In 2013, I am determined to try the strangest dish on the menu the next time I go out.  Or shop at the small vintage clothing store between the bank and the bakery.  Or watch the slightly questionable T.V. show that all my friends are crazy about. I’ll mention the new things I try in a follow-up post! Stay tuned!

3) Get my G2…finally: I realize that most 20-year olds have a driver’s license by now.  But I have an excuse, I promise!  When I was 16, the “I can finally drive now” realization didn’t hit me as hard as it hit some of my friends.  And when I entered university, the subway was more practical than a car, so it became very easy to put off my driving test. But it’s probably time to get on that.

4) Watch a football game: A friend of mine is football-obsessed. Truly. He actually schedules his classes according to game timings. (I know!)   He’s been begging me to watch a game since I’ve met him.  And because I’m athletically-challenged, I’ve been avoiding it as long as I possibly can.  But sitting through a game would be the perfect way to achieve Goals 1 and 2 (see above).  So I hereby decree that I will force myself to watch 22 sweaty men chasing an inanimate object football at least once this year ;-) .  If I’m honest, though, this is one of the goals that I probably-won’t-but-like-to-tell-myself-I-will accomplish in 2013.

5) Complete all readings for my courses in the week that they are assigned: Seems like the easiest way to avoid procrastination, right?

6) Fit in fitness: Have you ever noticed that laziness gives rise to more laziness?  I always seem to get more accomplished when I am swamped.  I recently found a mobile app called MyFitnessPal that calculates your caloric intake based on food choices and activity level (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/).  I’m planning on using it to track my diet and exercise.  It’s not about losing weight.  I’m just hoping that keeping a “Fitness Journal” of sorts will reduce the amount of junk food I eat!  Maybe adding regular exercise/fitness to my schedule will increase my productivity ten-fold!  Wouldn’t that be lovely?

Looking at my list, I’m proud to say that many of my goals seem doable and realistic.  I might actually achieve them!  If I do, I’ll let you know. And if I don’t, please remind me!

Good luck with your goals this semester! I hope 2013 is your best year yet!

Till next week,

Ishita

Office Hours

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So this week has been hectic and rough for I’d say a fair amount of students. I’m not going to talk about my midterms and my coffee (I don’t drink Starbucks - my taste buds revolt) and my lack of sleep. We’re halfway through the semester, so keep calm U of T. Before you know it, it will be three weeks of the holidays, Frank Sinatra music, fireplaces, and perhaps snow? :D This week, I’m going to be blogging about the office hour.  Chances are if you are an executive in a club, a union or student government, you have to do an office hour/multiple office hours in your designated office.  I recently, as you know was elected to ASSU (I promise this will be the last ASSU post for a while :P ) and as part of my responsibilities I have to do four hours of office hours a week. Our office is in Sid Smith, Room 1068 by the way.

Now generally the responsibilities of office hours vary from club to union to student government. But they all involve sitting in an office (I know! The name “office hour” doesn’t lend any hints as to what an office hour is.) So, I’m just going to describe what I do in office hours.

1)  Sell tests.  Most of the time, I’m either selling tests packages to students or getting tests for smaller courses out for them from our test library.  This is how about 75% of the time in my office hours is spent getting tests. Whenever life science students walk in (and this is often), I’m like “oh hey I’m in life science too!”, and their like “oh wow, no way, no way!” and the stress in their eyes completely dissipates (okay, so maybe that doesn’t exactly happen).

2) Tell people where things are in the building, in the campus. Sell pop (ASSU offers non-brand soda for 50 cents) and answer the phone when it occasionally rings.

3) Checking my Facebook, Twitter and e-mail accounts and watching funny cat videos.

4) Telling people one of the bathrooms in Sidney Smith is actually the Chamber of Secrets.

5) Not studying. When I really need to study, I do it in a library without distractions.  Other than the occassional small reading, office hours generally aren’t a good place to study.

6) Eating leftover timbits.

7) Eating my lunch.

8) Telling students who wish to know more about post secondary education policy, about the shortcomings of the Ontario government in properly funding U of T and other post secondary institutions.

9) Talking and greeting to students who walk in the office, sometimes offering to do my various impressions to which they always decline.

Yes, there is no #10.

So, that’s what I do in office hours. Involved in a club or group? What do you do in office hours? I’d love to know, drop me a comment.

This midterm season U of T, keep calm and carry on. :)

- Abdullah

 

 

Hey U of T, it’s time to get moving!

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Can you believe two weeks of classes have already flown by? Life just seems to get insanely busy for us students once the term begins – we are immediately bombarded with quiz dates, assignment deadlines, and mid-term schedules. With a never-ending to-do list, I know that one of the first things we put on the back-burner (besides sleep) is exercise. I think we’ve all been in a situation before where it felt like there just wasn’t enough time to squeeze it into a chaotic day.

Although it can be challenging to strike a healthy balance between work and play, my goal is to show you that it is indeed possible, and that it can be really fun! I am super excited to be a part of the Student Life team this year, and to get out and explore the countless opportunities available for getting active on or near campus.

This year, I want to dispel a lot of pre-conceived notions, myths and rumours about active living and inspire people to think outside the box. You don’t necessarily need to have the latest high-tech running shoes or flashy spandex apparel to get started; some old shorts and a comfy tee work just fine (and is what I would usually wear). “Working out” isn’t limited to just pumping weights or running on the treadmill – you might prefer an outdoor activity instead. Maybe you’ve already been playing team sports your whole life, or maybe the word “athlete” is a completely foreign term to you. That’s ok! We don’t all have to be gymaholics, hockey stars, or yoga gurus. The wonderful thing about exercise is that the options are virtually endless, and range from absolute beginner to total expert. All you need is a little creativity and a willingness to try something new.

My hope is that this post, and those to follow, inspire you to get up, get out, and most of all, get moving! Sometimes the difference between heading out for a brisk walk or run and spending that spare hour on Facebook is a little extra motivation…

…So I will do my best to help you out by sharing tips to keep you in the know on FREE, or almost free, events and offerings on campus throughout the year!

All pumped up but don’t know where to start? Then check out the extensive list of athletics and recreation clubs at U of T – there are so many options, from longboarding to Kungfu Dynamics and everything in between. You can also see if any of the FREE drop-in fitness classes offered at Hart House or the AC fit with your schedule; printed copies of the current schedules are available at both facilities. Full-size day lockers are free to use, but remember to bring your own lock!

- Lesia

Club Transition and What You Should Know

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Student life is alive and kicking on campus. More new clubs are sprouting each year, and, contrary to popular (dis)belief, students at U of T actually go out and do things like – no, not study – like… Like go out! And have fun! Every year, we have tons of events and initiatives started and run by people like you and me. That’s the amazing thing about student life.

But can you imagine the amount of planning and thought that goes into putting a club together and running it throughout the year? For old and new clubs alike, the summer holidays is when club leaders do their paper work and planning. Transition is a long and tedious process, but it helps make sure that the club full of awesome during the year.

I’m in the process of wrapping up my own club’s transition from the old exec to the new exec. It’s not as simple as just saying “There you go! Huzzah!” (though I wish very very much that that were so). I wanted to share some reminders and things to keep in mind as clubs – whether you’re a veteran group or looking to start a new one – get ready for the new school year! Hopefully  I don’t miss anything. Lezgo!

1. Apply for club recognition. 

On the St. George campus, you need to apply for recognition in two places – UTSU and ULife. What’s the difference? ULife recognition is done through U of T’s Office of Student Life. You get UTSU recognition, which helps you get funding from the union. You should do both.

Both recognition processes need to be done every year – think of it as renewing a license. UTSU recognition happens in June while ULife recognition happens in September.

2. Check your finances. 

Very important if your club is planning on being financially ambitious.

Reality dictates that in order to run a club, you need money to do it. Fortunately, booking campus space is free most of the time, save for special days or holiday/weekend rates. UTSU also provides club funding if you choose to apply for it – which is why it’s so important to apply for recognition!

Make sure you know where your money is, and who’s in charge of it. This usually falls under the jurisdiction of your club’s treasurer and the signing officers. The signing officers are necessary especially when you keep your club money at one of the banks around campus that works with student clubs. Those accounts are called community accounts, and have multiple safeguards – like having more than one signing officer – to protect against mutiny. Okay, maybe not mutiny. It does help with accountability and transparency though, which are very important if you want to have your club running like a well-oiled machine.

It is also important to establish good budgeting practices. Treasurers everywhere – I know it’s tedious to record everything as soon as it happens but trust me when I say it will make life a lot easier come June, and you need to present your budget to get the final installment of your UTSU funding. Trust me.

3. Plan! Plan! Plan!

What my (old) board and I did was come up with a year plan, divided into semester and month. It can be a chronological list or you can print out blank calenders and fill out dates accordingly. My club did both. The list was just a long list of events we know are going to happen or want to make happen from August to  May. The calendars were made and planned semester by semester – once in August for Fall term, and end of December for Winter term. It’s less overwhelming and much more realistic if you break it down.

When you have your list or calendar, fill it in with things you know are going to happen first. It’s a good idea to fill in holidays, exam dates and annual events that you know your club is going to do. Then fill in meetings – if you can’t pinpoint an exact date, highlight the week it’s going to happen. My club meetings are biweekly, so this was especially important for me.

Now that you’ve got the dates set, mark down when you’re going to start planning/organizing/mobilizing to make those events a reality. It can be as simple as a reminder for so-and-so to buy cookies for this particular meeting, or as extensive as multiple dates spread over three months assigned to many people for a giant charity gala you are planning.

Most important: Be realistic and make sure everyone knows that there needs to be room for flexibility. We’re students. Things happen that might make it hard for some to meet a deadline or attend an event. Keep in mind that, at this point in the summer, no one really knows their exam and assignment schedule.

4. Don’t forget Clubs Day. 

Clubs Day is organized by UTSU every year and is the time to get your club out there. Froshies will be led there by their frosh leaders, eager and bright-eyed. That means you need to put your best food forward. Basics would include having some sort of display, some pamphlets (keeping in mind the amount of paper you’re using) and a sign-up sheet. By Clubs Day, you should have the location, date and time of your first meeting set so that potential new members can come out and see what your club is all about.

This year, UTSU is having two Clubs Days. Twice the fun! Remember to register ASAP.

Seasoned club leaders, do you have anything else to add? New club execs, do you have any questions, comments, concerns? Share them in the comments below!

- Crystal