Organizing  A New Club

HOW TO GET STARTED…  

1. Request a copy of the New Club Membership Kit from your District Second Vice President or District Junior Membership Chairman, from the GFWC Virginia Second Vice President or GFWC Virginia Junior Membership Chairman, or from GFWC Virginia Headquarters. This kit provides a complete guide to organizing a new club.  

2. Carefully plan your first organizational meeting.  Determine meeting date, location and time. Extend invitations by mail, email, telephone or personal contact. Appoint someone to preside. Invite your District Second Vice President and District Junior Membership Chairman.  

3. At the first organizational meeting, present a resolution that a club be formed. (The adoption of this resolution does not bring the club into being.  This occurs when the Bylaws are adopted and the membership roll is signed by those who initially join the club.)

4. At the first organizational meeting, provided the resolution mentioned above is adopted, appoint a committee to draft Bylaws.  The New Club Membership Kit contains sample Bylaws that can be adapted to fit the club’s needs. Proposed Bylaws should conform to the general provisions contained therein. The first draft of the Bylaws should be submitted to the GFWC Virginia Parliamentarian for review before being submitted to the membership for adoption.  This review will allow for necessary corrections before presentation.

5. Plan a second organizational meeting to present the Bylaws for adoption and to elect officers, in accordance with the Bylaws. Determine a regular meeting date, time, place, etc.

6. There are expenses associated with the organization of a new club.  GFWC and GFWC Virginia dues as explained on the Dues & Contributions Form in this book. There is a $10 Chartering Fee payable to GFWC Virginia.  District dues are determined by the district in which the club is located.  Other expenses to consider are the opening of a bank account, purchase of checks, cost for minute book, a copy of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, gavel, and printing costs for stationery, handbooks and newsletter.

7. Remember, it takes ten (10) members to form a GFWC Virginia club, regardless of class of  membership: woman’s club, junior woman’s club or juniorette club.

8. A sponsoring club or district or state membership committee is responsible for getting the new club started and for follow up for at least one year. A member of the sponsoring club should be appointed to serve as a liaison to the new club.