As the first semester comes to a close, the longevity of clubs is revealing itself. The excitement at Club Rush was palpable, with students flooding the Green and clubs receiving dozens of signups. However, as the school year continues and coursework becomes increasingly demanding, club attendance often wanes. To combat this risk, many club leaders have implemented an array of strategies to ensure students return.
French Culture Club
One success story is the French Culture Club, which continues to see around 20 students per week, with little to no change in attendance. French Culture Club educates students about various aspects of French culture, including music, short films, information about French-speaking countries, and more, all accompanied by French snacks.
“The snacks, for sure, people like food. And interesting presentations,” senior and Club President Sarah Meyer said about what has ensured students’ return. The French Culture Club takes place every Friday in E-13.
Trader Joe’s Club
Once a month, on a Friday, students gather in C-15 to vote for their favorite Trader Joe’s snacks. “We vote on everyone’s favorite snacks so that at the end of the year we can have a big feast with all the highest-voted snacks from each meeting,” senior and Club President Penelope Chapman said.
With over 75 sign-ups, and an attendance rate reaching up to 50 students over the course of lunch, Trader Joe’s Club really catches people’s eyes (and stomachs). The club’s primary form of promotion is extensive advertising through their Instagram account. Of course, the food and atmosphere also keep students coming back.
STEM Fair Club
Held annually, the M-A STEM Fair is an opportunity for students to create and showcase intriguing scientific projects in the spring. “We promote an enthusiastic environment for science, where we try to encourage and guide everybody through mentorship and equipment,” senior Co-President Isaac Chuang said.
With around 25 students coming every other week, as a collective, these students are working toward a goal with a chance to expand their knowledge every meeting with various mentors and a multitude of previous STEM fair winners. The experienced mentorship, along with the creative freedom granted to members, makes the STEM Fair Club stand out. It takes place every other week on Thursday in F-13.
Theater Tech Club
“We basically teach people how to do theater technical skills. We also just have fun, like we have culture segments and we do little politics chats,” junior President Alma Dunlap-Worthey said. Fresh out of club rush, the club saw around 20 attendees, but in the more recent weeks the number has hovered around 10-15 students weekly.
To make the club engaging, Dunlap-Worthey considers student feedback so she can create a collaborative atmosphere where students feel fully involved. The Theater Tech Club meets in the PAC on Thursdays.
Investment Club
Despite not appearing at Club Rush, the Investment Club manages to keep a steady crowd of about 35 students in D-7 every Thursday. “We give strategies, we have lessons about stocks and financial advice and risk management and how to diversify your portfolio,” freshman Co-President Ariya Zaheri said. “We have some great presenters. I think that keeps a lot of people,” Zaheri said. Captivated by thoughtful presentations on intriguing topics, students continue to return to the Investment Club.
