Last week, we examined the ten primary responsibilities of a booster club chaperone. Our focus was primarily on the chaperone’s role, and how to lead a school group with confidence.
Today, let’s broaden our scope and discuss the four essential rules of the road for every school group. These rules will help you to maintain safety and order while traveling.
Are you anxious because you’ve volunteered to chaperone your child’s school event? Are you wondering just what you’ve gotten yourself into?
Well, rest assured, you’ll get through this. Today we’re going to look at the role of the chaperone. Once you understand these ten responsibilities, you’ll be ready to lead with confidence.
Embezzlement continues to be the greatest threat to the livelihood of any booster club, and it pervades in epic proportion. Sadly, too many booster clubs make it easy for dishonest – or potentially dishonest – people to steal. The most common factor – putting one, unsupervised person in charge of all financial duties.
The best way to prevent theft and fraud is to make it difficult to commit theft and fraud. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Well, as simple as it sounds, this is where many booster clubs fail. They do not build proper checks and balances into their operating procedures.
Transparency is the foundation of a booster club’s financial integrity. Therefore, separate financial roles and reporting among two or more people.
Every booster club should have at least two financial officers: treasurer and bookkeeper. Separating financial duties between the two officers creates checks and balances that make it very difficult to embezzle funds.
Last week, I shared with you nine proven ways to speak with confidence. Speaking with confidence helps you assert your influence in leading a group of volunteers.
One of the best ways to develop your public speaking and leadership skills is through Toastmasters International. When you join a local club, you begin working toward two certifications: Competent Communicator and Competent Leader. I am certified in both.
Leading a thriving booster club starts with effective communications. As the spokesperson for your booster club, you must conduct meetings with intention and passion.
Many parents will only see you leading meetings, and they’ll form opinions of the booster club based on the example you set. Use this opportunity to win them over and draw them into active membership.
Here are a nine pointers to help you improve your public speaking skills:
Fall is right around the corner and football teams and bands will soon be taking the practice fields. They’ll hone the fundamentals, learn the play book, and put the halftime show on the field. Along with the fun and excitement of beginning the new season comes hot weather outdoor practices.
Booster clubs play a vital role keeping everyone safe during summer practices. Here are five ways booster clubs can help instructors – coaches, band directors, and staff – keep students and volunteers safe in the summer heat.
Many booster clubs’ budgets are comparable to those of small businesses. Therefore, banks often competitively pursue booster clubs’ business. A strong partnership with your local bank will prevent many opportunities for theft and fraud in your booster club.
Photo by Katelyn Caldwell
Carefully select a bank that understands the needs of a nonprofit – preferably booster – organization and is willing to stand beside you as a partner. Select a bank with a branch manager who is willing to be your central point of contact. In the spirit of transparency, each authorized officer should establish a professional relationship with the bank’s branch manager.
Nearly every booster club leader will tell you their club’s greatest priorities are fundraising and recruiting volunteer labor – and they’re right. Booster clubs cannot function without financial support and volunteer leadership.
Although these are a booster club’s most urgent needs, there is another, silent risk that threatens every club – embezzlement by a volunteer.
Recently, I shared Five Essentials to Create Your Booster Club’s Midterm Plan. These five proven steps help a leader develop a vision for the organization’s future.
Once you’ve developed a vision for the future, it is time to refine that vision into actionable goals. Dave Ramsey says that, “Goals are visions and dreams with work clothes on.”1 Well-defined goals give the booster club leader a platform and a call to action to rally the troops.
Here are three best practices when converting your vision into goals for your organization:
When you volunteer to lead a booster club, you’ll wear many hats. But when you distill the role down to it’s most important attributes, there are two: taking care of people and taking care of money.
Booster club leaders touch many people: parents, volunteers, instructors, alumni, and community members. You must motivate and lead by influence for your booster club to thrive.