To standardize club chartering, Los Altos High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB) has changed the club creation process.
In previous years, to charter a club, students were required to find a teacher to serve as adviser and three peers to serve as starting members in the club. This year, however, ASB has implemented a system to follow the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistant Team (FCMAT) guidelines more closely.
FCMAT is a state-funded agency that provides California’s public schools with financial, operative, and directional assistance and information. The program also includes a guidebook with rules for all California ASBs. These rules include strict policies on how clubs can be created and how they can function.
“FCMAT gives us guidelines about best practices, how our school and ASB should operate, as well as rules for chartering, constitutions and fundraisers,” ASB adviser Nicolas Betancur said. “We weren’t following them super well, but we are fixing that this year, and we have a team working on implementing changes.”
ASB’s ratified system is now a multi-step process that involves creating a club constitution, an adviser contract and filling out a club charter contract. Additionally, this year, clubs are required to meet at least once a month and submit a meeting minutes form to ASB detailing the highlights of each meeting.
ABS President senior Lauren Holm is enthusiastic about the new chartering system, but acknowledges the challenges the policies bring.
“I am really excited to see what happens with our clubs this year, and I really like how it’s working so far,” Lauren said. “It is a little bit more work for club presidents and advisors. However, they are necessary steps that all ASBs in California should be following, and it’s important that we follow these guidelines.”
The club charter contract and additional information and resources such as the club constitution template, club adviser contract and fundraiser request form can be found at ASB’s website (lahsasb.com).
Kickstarting club culture at the school, LAHS’ Club Day will be on September 22, and will feature several clubs that will have stands in the lower quad with information on how to join.
