CLUB LEADERS TO MEET FOR FIRST SYMPOSIUM
First quarterly meeting serves to act as a discussion for Career and Technical Student Organizations
After being announced as the new VP of Fundraising, junior Colin Chamberlain participates in the “Penny for Your Thoughts” icebreaker. FCCLA plans on attending the upcoming symposium. “I can’t wait to show people what’s in store with FCCLA this year,” FCCLA President Karim Abd-Elmalek said. “We plan to display our projects and spread the word about our upcoming events.”
September 19, 2022
To find new ways to support each other and work together, club advisers and leaders will be meeting for a one-hour club symposium on September 20 in Room C123.
“Mr. Laporte and I have found that over the last decade the club communication at Southwest has been an issue,” NHS adviser Laura Penrod said. “We’re hoping to use this symposium to share events that are coming up for us, and find ways to support each other for school-wide events.”
The quarterly symposium will give a chance for each club leader to communicate with the other clubs about their plans and goals for the quarter.
“I believe it is important for our clubs to meet together,” Speech and Debate adviser Henry Evans said. “We can coordinate fundraisers together, attract talent and ideas from other clubs, and strengthen our sense of community.”
One of Penrod and Laporte’s goals is to have all the clubs collaborate on an event once a quarter.
“We are hoping to use the parking lot in October to run a Trunk or Treat,” Penrod said. “That’s definitely something we need to talk about at the symposium.”
The symposium also allows clubs to share opportunities for fundraising and service hours that would previously be limited to their respective club members.
“For instance, NHS is hosting a conference,” Penrod said. “I want to offer that as a service opportunity to StuCo or HOSA or Key Club. If I share that information with the other clubs ahead of time, those students can take advantage of those newly acquired opportunities.”
HOSA officer Daphne Huang thinks this symposium can benefit HOSA and herself as a student.
“Last year, HOSA wasn’t communicating much with the other clubs that much and it led to some conflict,” Huang said. “If we communicate more with other clubs in the symposium, we can get the word out about our toy and book drive. Also, I can get opportunities to complete my service hours for HOSA with other clubs.”
A support system to help struggling clubs succeed is also expected to be established at the symposium.
“The quicker we are able to communicate what we are working on, the better that outcome we have for support and for students,” Penrod said. “Clubs and seniors drive a lot of the spirit, and so if we want spirit to return, I think we need to all be invested together.”
