Club leaders fall into two categories: reactive and proactive. It’s clear that proactive leaders tend to achieve greater success. Planning your calendar of events before the year starts can be the difference between feeling on top of your game or always playing catch-up. However, planning can be complicated, with many variables to consider. Here are steps to help you plan a calendar of events that you and your members will love.
1. Understand Your Club’s Mission
A common mistake club leaders make is creating events for themselves, not their members. The goal should always be to create events that fulfill the needs of your members. Start by understanding your club’s mission. Take the time to internalize your mission.
2. Set a Goal for the Year/Semester/Month
The stage of your organization will determine your goals. For example, a newly founded club might aim to adopt more members, while an established organization might focus on engaging existing members. Knowing your big goal will help you plan events that achieve this goal.
3. Understand the Types of Events
Events can be divided into two types: frequent and one-time events
- Frequent events: Weekly meetings, monthly socials, etc., focus on core community building and engagement.
- One-time events: Fashion shows, robotics tournaments, etc., aim for exposure and cross-organizational engagement.
Knowing your event types allows you to maximize their effectiveness. More on this in future guides!
4. Pay Attention to the Sequence of Events
The sequence of events is almost as important as the type. Think of your year as a story, with each event representing a chapter. This approach keeps your members engaged and ensures your events build on each other.
By following these steps, you’ll find it easier to adopt new members, keep members engaged, and grow your organization while staying true to your mission. If you have questions about applying these steps to your specific organization, email us at contact@zationapp.com and join our communities on LinkedIn and X.
Stay Tuned for Product Launch this Summer - A product designed to meet all your membership management, club engagement, and fundraising needs.
