Due to the pandemic, all Aragon clubs will be operating virtually this school year. Although the basic requirements of a club have stayed the same, several changes have been implemented to adjust to the online setting.
“This year we want to make our presence known and have club officers know that we’re here to support them,” Duong said. “We want to make sure that they’re enjoying what they’re doing”
Like always, clubs must have a charter approved by the Associated Student Body council and the district. This year, however, every club must submit a charter due to a new policy stating that teachers can only oversee one club, which will likely lead to a change in clubs’ advisors from previous years. In addition to lunch, club officers can also choose to meet during the club period or Enrichment Time from 2:45-3:15 p.m on even days or Wednesdays.
“Having the lunch meetings open is definitely a good idea, because it would be terrible if the only club options were on Tuesdays or Fridays,” said senior Eric Gan, president of Chinese Culture Club. “But I get the feeling people will be more unwilling to go to lunch meetings because it’s a little earlier, and it’s only 30 minutes.”
Food fair and donation collections, events that clubs greatly depend on to raise money, cannot be physically hosted at school. Thus, many clubs are attempting to fundraise without in-person contact.
“We [had] a dare fundraiser where you could Venmo someone to do a dare,” said Key Club president junior Courtney Tai. “All the money that was paid to dare someone ended up going to charity.”
Key Club has been successful so far shifting to online payment. Tai has noticed that online fundraisers are more convenient and help promote their cause.
“It’s easier for people to pay,” Tai said. “[Y]ou can use something like Venmo where it’s two clicks of a button … [instead of] having to find them and exchange in person.”
In contrast, Celine Wen, president of Women of the World Club, found the electronic process less efficient. In the past, WOW Club met on weekends to pass out flyers and collect cash to buy feminine hygiene products for San Francisco’s homeless population.
“If you want to go on a field trip or if you want funding, then it’s much easier to go to the office at school or fill out forms for money,” Wen said. “Now if I want to communicate, I have to send an email, and it’s hard to get immediate feedback. … It’s hard to know how much you’re [helping homeless people], because our club is not in contact with the homeless anymore.”
Challenges are also present in the new club charter sections that require officers to fill lesson plans and match the club to its financial accounts.
“I think, especially in a distance learning environment, where everybody’s already unfamiliar with what’s going on, [adding to the club charter is] new territory that we’re stepping into,” Gan said. “I think generally the method of communication between ASB and school administrators and club officers is not the greatest over distance.”
Despite these presented challenges, the ASB council is striving to help clubs ease into virtual operation.
“This year we want to make our presence known and have club officers know that we’re here to support them,” said ASB President senior Kaitlyn Duong. “We want to make sure that they’re enjoying what they’re doing, so I think I may be attending a few club meetings to see how it is or just have club officers fill out a Google Form and show us what they’ve been presenting … for us to ensure that everyone is still active.”
Nearly 200 people attended the Club Information Meeting on Sept. 1 in hopes to reactivate or start a club.
“A lot of people have told me that they have friends that want to start clubs,” Duong said. “That’s understandable because we don’t see our friends, and this would be an opportunity to meet and discuss interesting topics together outside of class. … Everyone at home is very comfortable in the environment that they’re in and maybe that’ll make students want to participate.”
After the virtual club fair held on Sept. 23, approved clubs will officially begin to meet for the rest of the school year.
