Each year during the final home football game of the season, the Blaze Band recognizes its seniors and their parents for the students’ participation and dedication to the program. Each year, I never ceased to be amazed at how many parents I didn’t know. It was like, “who are you, and where have you been?” Remember, these were parents of seniors, not incoming freshmen, and I simply didn’t know them.
I realize that each family has its own unique challenges, commitments, and priorities. Life is full of “curve balls” that seem to hit us unexpectedly from out of the blue. However, I firmly believe that what gets prioritized gets done. I always left the stadium on senior night feeling as if many parents hadn’t prioritized their children’s activities and, subsequently, hadn’t participated in the booster club.
I contrast these parents against Steve, our Truck & Equipment Committee chair. Steve selflessly volunteered his time and developed one of the most thriving committees in the booster club. During his tenure, he grew the committee in numbers never before realized. He created a culture of acceptance, teamwork, and pride. Steve acted on the ideas and suggestions of his committee members, and achieved unprecedented accomplishments.
During March and April, booster clubs across the nation will elect officers for the coming school year. They’ll appoint committee chairs and make plans, aiming to have the most prosperous and successful year in the history of the student program. And they need you. Booster clubs need dedicated volunteers who are willing to step up and make extracurricular programs possible through their volunteer labor and financial support.
Common Excuses to Not Volunteer in a Booster Club
During my tenure as booster club president, I heard many excuses from people who did not volunteer. Here are three of the most common.
- I don’t have enough time. This is probably the most common excuse I hear. There are many volunteer roles in a booster club, and the time commitment varies for each one. Most roles are for seasonal activities, meaning you’re not on the hook for the full year. For example, the majority of Steve’s work with the Truck & Equipment Committee was during football season. After that, the workload declined for the rest of the year.
- I’ll embarrass my child. Your child will probably tell you you’re embarrassing her, and that’s normal. However, it has been my experience that serving in a booster club actually builds your child’s self esteem. His peers will see and respect your leadership, and they’ll show that same respect to your child.
- Volunteering will conflict with the work I do for my employer. Actually, volunteering gives you the opportunity to reinforce the skills you have learned and use on the job. You’ll also have the opportunity to try new things in your booster club (develop a new fundraising campaign strategy, design a new website, etc.). You can apply your newfound skills to projects you do for your employer.
Which Parent Are You?
The teenage years pass all too quickly. Before you know it, you’ll be looking back, wondering where the time went. Now is the time to volunteer. Now is the time to create memories with your child that you’ll cherish for years to come.
Not everyone has the opportunity to impact the next generation. But you do. Take that step. Volunteer. Make a lasting impact by doing something significant.
Which parent will you be? Will you be the one no one knows on senior night, or will you be Steve?
The Booster Leader
When you step up and volunteer to serve in your child’s booster club, you’ll need a resource to guide you along the way. My book, The Booster Leader, 35 Leadership Essentials for a Thriving Booster Organization, is just that resource. The Booster Leader consists of…
- Thirty-five proven leadership essentials that are quick and easy to implement
- Eighteen inspirational stories that bring the leadership essentials to life
- A twenty-nine point checklist to help you identify risks that may jeopardize your organization if not properly addressed (and the answers to help you resolve every issue!)
Now is the time to start leading your own thriving booster organization. In The Booster Leader, I show you exactly how to do it!
Question: What booster club role will you volunteer for? You can leave a comment by clicking here.