Club Presidents do not truly have a leadership role. In most clubs the president’s job is to start the meeting and introduce the club , no actual work and planning is done by the president. (Photo used by permission of Rob Clark)
There are programs at Leesville that have class roles which help develop students and teach them transferable skills. Transferable skills include communication, organization, and taking responsibility for their actions. Being president of a club like Irish Dance Club does not compare to the responsibility taken on by someone like the Editor-in-Chief in Newspaper or Yearbook.
The role of club presidents should be to plan and budget for the future and carry out the wishes of the members. In reality, the president opens up the meeting and shares announcements passed down by the teacher in charge. The only responsibilities of the club president is to meet the wishes of food and a social hour, instead of being productive and doing what the club is designed for.
Students start clubs like Hiking Club, Travel Club, and Chess club for their college resumé. Starting and running your own club may stand out on a resumé and show leadership skills. Writing down that you have leadership skills versus actually being a leader is completely different.
For example, being drum major does not compare to being club president because a drum major has more responsibility. The drum major would be at fault if the band does not do well at competitions: They are responsible for making sure the bands show looks at its best. The major responsibility most club presidents have is having enough snacks for members and sending out meeting reminders.
Roles like being editor-in-chief, president of chorus, or captain of the band would be considered real leadership roles. These students develop skills that they will take in the real world with them.
Although being a club president should develop students, but it does not. That should change: club presidents should also be given responsibilities that will help them grow as a young adults. All it takes to start a club is a list of names and a teacher — instead students should have to make a proposal of why their club is needed in the school.
Club Presidents should have more responsibilities, maybe a monthly report due to the administrators. The monthly report would give the president the opportunity to learn how to manage time, organize thoughts, and be truly in charge of something.
