Woman's Club Work and Programs First Aid to Club Women

Excerpt

HOW TO BEGIN CLUB WORK

The time has long since passed when a special plea is needed for the existence of women's clubs, for actual demonstration has proved their worth to the individual and to society. Multitudes of women on farms, on remote ranches, in little villages, in great cities, have felt their impetus to a broader and more useful life. They have instructed those of limited education; they have given a wider horizon to those hemmed in by circumstance; they have trained the timid to speak, and, of late years, they have prepared the way for women of leisure and influence to take up what is called "the larger housekeeping," the bettering of social and civic conditions.

But many women to-day still feel a certain timidity about venturing to start a club, and an inability to make out a consistent line of study. They have a lingering idea that it is all difficult, and that only the expert may try to handle these things. So for these women here are the simple, fundamental things about club work, which any one can follow.

If you would like to organize a club, begin by making out a list of ten or a dozen of your neighbors and friends, those whose interests are much like your own, and tell them that you think it would be pleasant to have some sort of a little circle for reading, or study, or social companionship. Probably they will all have something to say about this, and various ideas will be advanced as to the sort of club which is most desirable. Then, after it is talked over, you, as the one who suggested the meeting, will call the women to order and ask some one to nominate and second a temporary chairman, and, after she is elected, a temporary secretary.

When these two have taken their seats and the secretary is ready to begin taking notes, the chairman will appoint several committees, with perhaps two members on each.

The first will be the Nominating committee, to present to the club the names of candidates for the offices of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.

The second will be on a Constitution, which is to draw up very simple rules to guide the club, telling of its aims, the number of officers and how they are to be elected, the dues, the time and place of meeting, and whatever else is thought necessary.

The third committee will be on Name; it will prepare a list of titles to be chosen from.

The fourth committee will be on Program. This will offer possible lines of work.

These committees will be sufficient to begin with. The chairman can then tell when and where the next meeting will be held and declare this one adjourned.

At the second meeting the same chairman as before will take her place and call for the reading of the minutes of the last meeting. When these are read and accepted, she will ask for the report of the Nominating committee, and when it is presented, the officers will be voted for, either viva voce, or by ballot, as the club prefers.

The new president and secretary will then take their chairs, and the business of hearing the reports of the other committees will go on....