Becoming an E-Board Member Is Easy!

Vice President Chealsea Czawursky (far right) of Circle K International smiles as members of the group hold up their no-sew-blankets to be donated to the “Family of New Paltz” Organization. (Courtesy: @sunynpcki on Instagram). 

As the semester reaches the midpoint and the workload increases, you may be finding yourself struggling to figure out how to handle the additional workload while staying involved in the campus community and maintaining a social life.

For most students, this is the moment where they’re beginning to realize which clubs they signed up for at the club fair are a good fit for them. Do you find yourself wanting to be more involved but aren’t sure how? Well, you’ve landed on the right page: I’m going to tell you the tips, tricks and benefits of securing an E-Board position for any club. 

With leadership comes responsibility. Fortunately, when you join a club, there are many leadership positions to choose from. It can be overwhelming with all the prestigious titles, but breaking down the expectations of each role can help determine if it’s right for you. (Each club may differentiate the expectations of certain positions, so always be sure to inquire current E-Board members.)

The basic roles are: 

  • President: Oversees and plans meetings and should be able to answer any questions while helping other E-Board members.
  • Vice President: Mostly assists the president with planning and organizing when needed. 
  • Secretary: Someone organized to keep record of attendance and projects.
  • Treasurer: Controls the collection and disbursement of money and submits purchase requests.
  • Historian: Keeps records of the club’s accomplishments and activities throughout the year, collects memorabilia such as photographs and news articles that are important to the club.
  • Public Relations: Good with connections and writes emails, sends out reminders and reaches out to those necessary.
  • Council of Organization Representatives: Attends meetings that represent the club.
  • Editor: Documents visuals that advertises the club and keeps it looking freshly updated 

Now that you’ve learned the roles, here are some tips to help you enable a position.

  1. Be present. If you’re looking to earn the title, you have to attend as many meetings as possible. Doing so will allow current E-Board members to recognize your dedication and commitment to the club. 
  2. Be passionate. Why waste time doing things you don’t like? If you really enjoy something, you should devote your energy to it. Finding yourself looking forward to future meetings and amused by the activities where you’re talking about it with others, means you should stick with it.
  3. Narrow it down. Yes, it can seem exciting to try multiple clubs at once, but keep in mind that committing to too many things can lead to burnout. Try to stick to a maximum of three clubs: one you’re passionate about, one you’re curious about and one that introduces you to new people. The timing of clubs can conflict and feel stressful when the schoolwork piles on. Remember, you don’t have to feel obligated to attend every meeting, but the more you attend, the better your chances are. 
  4. Show off your skills. Feeling crafty? Pretty organized? Know how to talk to people? Having these capabilities are a great asset as most E-Board positions require a certain level of skills, so why not show them what you can contribute? 
  5. Leave feedback. If you tell a club how much you enjoy an event, the members will not only appreciate the effort that went into planning the event, but also will note to do it again, depending on the turnout! Even better, if you offer ideas, it will show how much you care and are willing to be an important member of the club.
The president, co-president, and vice president of CKI pose with club member Gage showing off their origami skills. (Courtesy: of @sunynpcki on Instagram). 

Circle K International (CKI) is a club on campus that focuses on volunteering and giving back to the community and others. This club is one of the world’s largest university service leadership organizations and strives on improving the lives of others. 

The American Sign Language (ASL) Club is inclusive to all students, whether they are Deaf, hard of hearing or hearing to participate. Regardless of how minimal or advanced your signing skills are, this club is a great place to practice and pick up a new language outside of class time. The ASL club seeks to spread Deaf awareness by immersing the language and culture.

Networking: Makaylei Thrane, president of CKI, wanted to become president because of her passion for community service, especially since all it costs is her time. Not only has it improved her time management skills, but earning the presidency title has impacted her life. Now, through the club, she gets to meet other leaders of Circle K in New York State, allowing for useful connections in the future. 

Tess Robin, historian of ASL club, notes that “being on the E-board has made me more equipped to work and collaborate with others.” She is looking forward to planning events that merge with other clubs so that the language can be shared amongst other groups.

Self-Confidence: Sarah Trimboli, vice president of CKI, searches for “dedication, dependability and trustworthiness” in potential candidates. In order to become one, you have to prove yourself worthy of a role. She believes that being vice president has improved her public speaking and leadership skills immensely. 

Learning to be bigger than yourself: Rebecca Shaw, public relations of CKI, adds that it is very helpful when people bring ideas such as “sharing organizations or nonprofits you think we should support or help.” Not only does it bring beneficial information to the table, but shows that you genuinely care about the morals of the club and seek more involvement. Shaw strongly believes that “offering your time is one of the best things you can do for our community.” Holding a leadership role has allowed her to devote “more time to an organization whose values align with my own.” It has allowed her to be a voice for those who seek extra support. 

Becoming a leader: Jill Amposem, a former vice president of CKI from 2018, recalls impacting moments with the club, such as taking on the global water crisis. Being a leader of this organization showed her the “potential I had to influence the world around me if I pushed myself out there.” She remembers being shy and not wanting to “disturb the peace,” but being a part of this, she realized she had to make some waves. Amposem says, if you want to be able to work with and help people, “you need to know how to talk to them.” The skills she learned from the club not only transformed her as a person, but how she chooses to interact with others.

Elaine Theodorou, president of ASL club, has been signing for 8 years, and has been a leader for 4. She enjoys not only “spreading word about ASL and teaching others about the language and history,” but is hoping to see the community evolve.

Now that you’ve learned some tips and tricks, go on and make lasting connections. Surround yourself with what inspires you. Thrane says to share your pride and get your friends involved. Doing what you love will never feel like hard work. In the end, you’ll get out what you put in, so give it your best shot!

It’s all about teamwork, making connections, and working together to create a difference in the world! (Courtesy: @sunynpcki on Instagram). 

Julie Marasco

Julie Marasco is a 21-year-old journalism major at SUNY New Paltz, originally from Oceanside, New York. She previously copyedited for an internship at The Culture We Deserve. Having been published in WFNP, The Teller Magazine and The Poodle on campus, she hopes to become an editor or a writer with a beat in arts and entertainment.

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