How to Organize a College Service Group

Organizing a service group on a college campus can seem like a daunting task, but it is not as difficult as it seems. I am the co-chair of a service group at my college and over the past three years I've noticed what works and what doesn't work in the unique setting tat college campuses provide.

The first thing to do is find a small team of people willing to help you. Even if it is only you and one other person, that is fine. It is better to have a small but dedicated group than a large, apathetic one. Set up a time to meet and come up with a plan at the beginning of the year, complete with a tentative schedule.

Once your core group of people is on the same page, you should set up a regular meeting time for your group. Make it a regular meeting time, because it is much easier for people to remember to show up every Wednesday than every other Wednesday. Also, make sure not to hold your meeting during meal times unless you are willing to provide food.

The next step is to start recruiting. Do this early as possible in the year, before all the students are already overcommitted. Keep in mind that although thirty people may show up to the first informational meeting, most of them will probably be too busy with a myriad of other activities to come to all the meetings during the course of the semester.

Now that you have your members, discuss your agenda and decide which activities will help your cause. The simpler the activities, the more likely they will be a success. Bake sales, petition signings, letter writing campaigns, and informational movie screenings are almost always successful. If you plan on going on field trips or to conferences, keep in mind that shorter is better. Most students have too much work and too many activities to attend a three-day conference.

Money is also a big concern for students, so try to make sure your members don't have to spend much of their own money. Membership fees are generally not a good idea. Try to apply to your college for funding for any trips or equipment you may need. If funding is not available, hold bake sales and other fundraisers to help allay the cost to your members.

One last important consideration is that college students are generally hungry and broke. So bribing people with food is good tactic when you want more people to show up to meetings. Even a bag of candy can work wonders.