Club Summit
The Senate Networking Project organized a Division-wide event to connect students for ideation and discussion on club projects.
On April 26, McNally School hosted a gathering of students from high schools across the Division, convening for the inaugural EPSB Student Senate Club Summit.
Facilitated by speakers from the University of Alberta, the event provided an enriching platform for club leaders to engage in a series of focused sessions throughout the afternoon. The sessions centered on the importance of fostering connections, not only within the high school but also extending into the realms beyond graduation. Topics included leadership opportunities, career readiness, networking strategies, interviewing techniques, as well as engaging with startups and navigating job opportunities.
Student leaders also participated in a group challenge, designed to encourage collaborative problem-solving. Participants tackled common obstacles inherent in leading a student club, fostering innovative solutions and enhancing their leadership skills.
Problem-Solving Summary
Problem: Difficulty maintaining long-term engagement.
Solutions:
Focus on the needs of general members, asking what they want to see from the club
Make meetings fun and enjoyable, something for members to look forward to
Change meeting locations for a change of scene
Having membership positions to promote leadership within the club
Start planning early to prepare for a smooth transition into the next year
Have a well-developed Google Classroom page with regular updates
Problem: Limited promotion leading to lack of interest.
Solutions:
Host club events early in the year, such as introductory meetings and club “open houses”
Make sure the student population is educated on all aspects of the club
Allow the personalities of club members shine through during promotion, create personal connections with potential new members
Increase documentation of events and meetings to share over social media
Have a team within the club specifically designated for advertising
Focus on the strengths of the club and build on that, maintain originality
Problem: Insufficient funding.
Solutions:
Create networks with other schools, combine funding
Schedule a meeting with administration to “prove your club’s worth”
Organize larger tournaments and events to gain more popularity and support
Reach out to local donors, look into sponsorships
Problem: Unmet desire for expansion.
Solutions:
Reach out to other schools, form connections with similar clubs
Create an inter-school clubs communication platform
Host regular events that connect students across the city
Hold tournaments to promote the interests of certain clubs
ie. “Edmonton Public Schools Chess Tournament”
Problem: Struggles with decision-making in large groups.
Solutions:
Make smaller committees within the club to delegate group work
Create a voting system for big decisions
Working as a team to find a means of compromise
Attendee Feedback
Many attendees also mentioned positive feedback about the Summit itself during the shareback.
Benefits of the EPSB Club Summit
Hearing what works for other schools, and what they think is important
Applying information from the guest speaker presentations when problem-solving
Gave club members more time to focus on problems that are not typically discussed in a regular club setting
More in-person connection with students from other schools
The ability to hear a variety of perspectives within a similar community
Hearing objective feedback and advice, “power of discussion”