How to Start a New Club

OR

How to Re-activate an Inactive or Suspended Club

The process for starting a new club or re-activating a club that has lost its status due to inactivity or suspension is the same. The entire process may take several weeks from start-to-finish, depending upon your organization and the time of year. You will need to follow these steps in order to apply for recognized club status:

1. Learn the process for forming a new club by reading Chapter 2 of the Sport Club Manual.

2. Contact rsclub@wm.edu or call Greg Henderson at 221-3499 with a brief proposal for your club. If your club seems as though it would be viable within the Sport Club program, you will be directed to continue with step 3 below. If, however, your proposal for a new club more aptly fits a definition of a student organization within Student Activities, you will be directed to contact the Student Activities Office with your proposal.

3. If your proposal is deemed a viable, you will need to write a constitution. Read Developing a Constitution: Helpful Tools to aid in this process.

4. Complete Appendix N: New Club Request Form. When completing this form, you and your fellow officers will need to: demonstrate that there is sufficient interest, need, and organizational leadership for this club; provide evidence that the club is a true sport; provide a brief description as to your practice space requirements; and read and understand the safety guidelines found in Appendix S: Safety Officer Agreement . Read Section II.B.2 of the Sport Club Manual for more detailed information regarding the New Club Request form.

5. Complete Appendix O: Organizational Update Form. This form will eventually go on file with Student Activities.

6. Submit all documents to Greg Henderson in the Recreational Sports Office. Documents may be hand-delivered, sent through campus mail, or emailed as attachments to rsclub@wm.edu.

7. Within a few days, you will receive feedback on your proposal and instructed to make any revisions, if necessary.

8. Once approved by Recreational Sports, then your constitution will be sent to the Student Activities office for final approval.

9. Once final approval has been given by the Student Activities office, you will have access to a club email account and webserver space.

10. Before beginning any activity, you will need to meet with the Assistant Director of Recreational Sports and/or the Graduate Assistant for Sport Clubs to clarify policies and procedures within the Sport Club program.