The Formation and Establishment of a New Migrant Club Roberto V. Garcia Migrant Education Counselor Edinburg High School.

The Formation and The Formation and Establishment of a New Establishment of a New

Migrant ClubMigrant Club

Roberto V. GarciaRoberto V. Garcia

Migrant Education CounselorMigrant Education Counselor

Edinburg High SchoolEdinburg High School

Why should we begin a migrant Why should we begin a migrant club?club?

Student interestStudent interest Student prideStudent pride School prideSchool pride Compliance and Compliance and

commitment for commitment for student servicesstudent services

Self-InterestSelf-Interest

What are the benefits of having a What are the benefits of having a migrant club in your school?migrant club in your school?

The major benefits are:The major benefits are: A sense of belonging (worth)A sense of belonging (worth) Networking opportunitiesNetworking opportunities Guidance and directionGuidance and direction Keeps members on task towards Keeps members on task towards

attaining a higher education goalsattaining a higher education goals Helped shape the lives of our migrant Helped shape the lives of our migrant

population who have many similar population who have many similar interests but remain diverse in their interests but remain diverse in their goalsgoals

Helped members that could have Helped members that could have otherwise taken a different route otherwise taken a different route towards joining undesirable groups towards joining undesirable groups such as gangssuch as gangs

What benefits will the members What benefits will the members receive?receive?

Members are able to learn leadership skills and how Members are able to learn leadership skills and how parliamentary procedures according to Robert’s Rules of parliamentary procedures according to Robert’s Rules of Order are executed. They will also have a chance of Order are executed. They will also have a chance of meeting other students who share their same interests. meeting other students who share their same interests. Joining this club will also give them an opportunity to Joining this club will also give them an opportunity to participate in various activities in and around the school participate in various activities in and around the school and community. and community.

One of the biggest benefits that I have seen in our One of the biggest benefits that I have seen in our members is the pride that they exemplify to other students members is the pride that they exemplify to other students within our school. within our school.

What should we name our club?What should we name our club?

Come up with some name that will make Come up with some name that will make the members proud. I always had the the members proud. I always had the name of “La Excelencia” in mind since the name of “La Excelencia” in mind since the idea of first starting a migrant club at our idea of first starting a migrant club at our school. “La Excelencia” simply represents school. “La Excelencia” simply represents the excellent members in this outstanding the excellent members in this outstanding youth organization.youth organization.

Better yet, leave it up to the members, they come up with Better yet, leave it up to the members, they come up with some brilliant and interesting names for their clubs. Let some brilliant and interesting names for their clubs. Let

them take ownership of their own club names.them take ownership of their own club names.

When should migrant clubs begin?When should migrant clubs begin?

Many migrant students begin school later than regular Many migrant students begin school later than regular

studentsstudents. . By the time that these students begin school, By the time that these students begin school, sometime in October or November, most of the regular sometime in October or November, most of the regular clubs have already been established. Thus, migrant clubs have already been established. Thus, migrant students are left out from joining many of these clubs or students are left out from joining many of these clubs or ever having a chance of ever becoming an officer of any ever having a chance of ever becoming an officer of any school club during their high school careers.school club during their high school careers.

The best time in beginning a club is early October when The best time in beginning a club is early October when

migrant students are arriving school. It is wise to have the migrant students are arriving school. It is wise to have the last meeting of the year towards the end of April when last meeting of the year towards the end of April when migrant students begin to withdraw from school. migrant students begin to withdraw from school.

Who can join?Who can join? Make sure that you open Make sure that you open

membership to everyone membership to everyone interested. We can not interested. We can not discriminate any student from discriminate any student from joining as per every school joining as per every school districts policies enforced by the districts policies enforced by the Board of Elected Officials. Board of Elected Officials.

Our club became very popular Our club became very popular this year when we opened it up this year when we opened it up to both migrant and non-migrant to both migrant and non-migrant students. The members decided students. The members decided that only active migrant students that only active migrant students could be elected officers. could be elected officers. Everyone else was welcome to Everyone else was welcome to join in as members of this join in as members of this prestigious youth organization. prestigious youth organization.

Who prepares the Constitution and Who prepares the Constitution and BY-Laws?BY-Laws?

The Constitution and By-Laws The Constitution and By-Laws which include the name, mission which include the name, mission and purposes, organization, and purposes, organization, membership, officers and duties, membership, officers and duties, election of officers, meetings, and election of officers, meetings, and dues are written each school year dues are written each school year by the club sponsor and the by the club sponsor and the elected officers. A copy of these elected officers. A copy of these By-Laws and Constitution must By-Laws and Constitution must be submitted to the school be submitted to the school administrator in charge of school administrator in charge of school activities. They may not be activities. They may not be changed within the school year. If changed within the school year. If members see a need to make members see a need to make necessary changes, they must necessary changes, they must wait until the following school wait until the following school year to bring these concerns year to bring these concerns before the club. before the club.

Are club dues a requirement? Are club dues a requirement?

A $1.00 per year club due is a requirement. Upon payment, students A $1.00 per year club due is a requirement. Upon payment, students become official members and are entitled to all of the available become official members and are entitled to all of the available benefits and services including elections, and the participation of benefits and services including elections, and the participation of all club activities held throughout the year. all club activities held throughout the year.

Members are awarded a membership card. They must show this card Members are awarded a membership card. They must show this card to enter every club meeting. to enter every club meeting.

Note that many other school organizations charge annual Note that many other school organizations charge annual membership dues of up to $35.00. We’re inexpensive because we membership dues of up to $35.00. We’re inexpensive because we do not want for money to be a factor in those wanting to join. In do not want for money to be a factor in those wanting to join. In some cases many migrant students do not have the financial some cases many migrant students do not have the financial resources to join clubs that have an expensive membership fee. resources to join clubs that have an expensive membership fee.

Are fund raisers a requirement? Are fund raisers a requirement?

Fund raisers are not a Fund raisers are not a requirement for any requirement for any organization. Should the organization. Should the organization decide to have organization decide to have social functions, go on trips, social functions, go on trips, make club contributions towards make club contributions towards scholarships or any other local scholarships or any other local charities, then they should charities, then they should organize a fund raiser. Most organize a fund raiser. Most schools allow each club schools allow each club organization to hold two fund organization to hold two fund raisers per year. Funds raisers per year. Funds generated from fund raising generated from fund raising projects should not be used to projects should not be used to pay for events that include non-pay for events that include non-members. Raffles should not be members. Raffles should not be part of any fund raiser as stated part of any fund raiser as stated by our central office accounting by our central office accounting personnel.personnel.

What type of fund raisers can we What type of fund raisers can we have?have?

Every school differs. School districts have very tight Every school differs. School districts have very tight regulations on fund raisers and how they are to be regulations on fund raisers and how they are to be executed. As money is being collected during a fund raiser, executed. As money is being collected during a fund raiser, you MUST turn in that money on a daily basis to the school you MUST turn in that money on a daily basis to the school accounting office. No money should be left behind in your accounting office. No money should be left behind in your own possession or in your offices over night. You must also own possession or in your offices over night. You must also give every member a receipt for any amount of money that give every member a receipt for any amount of money that he/she turns in to you during a fund raiser, for dues, or any he/she turns in to you during a fund raiser, for dues, or any other financial activity taking place.other financial activity taking place.

Candy sales, brochure items sales, Bar-B-Q’s, car washes, Candy sales, brochure items sales, Bar-B-Q’s, car washes, concession stand sales, are a few of the many types of fund concession stand sales, are a few of the many types of fund raisers available.raisers available.

Are migrant clubs worth the time Are migrant clubs worth the time and efforts that members invest?and efforts that members invest?

Once students enter their Senior year during high school, Once students enter their Senior year during high school, they will begin to apply for numerous scholarships and they will begin to apply for numerous scholarships and admissions into colleges and universities. A major decision admissions into colleges and universities. A major decision factor that these scholarship and college applications ask factor that these scholarship and college applications ask for is their involvement and participation in clubs and for is their involvement and participation in clubs and organizations. The migrant clubs are an excellent organizations. The migrant clubs are an excellent opportunity for students to qualify for a better chance of opportunity for students to qualify for a better chance of obtaining these scholarships and to enter the colleges and obtaining these scholarships and to enter the colleges and universities that they have always dreamed of entering. universities that they have always dreamed of entering.

Is a migrant club something your Is a migrant club something your school should have?school should have?

The choice is yours. A lot of time and effort will have to be The choice is yours. A lot of time and effort will have to be invested by the club sponsor. Are you willing to invest this invested by the club sponsor. Are you willing to invest this time and effort? In doing so, you will give an opportunity of time and effort? In doing so, you will give an opportunity of a life time to many deserving migrant students as we help a life time to many deserving migrant students as we help prepare them to graduate and attend college and become prepare them to graduate and attend college and become productive citizens.productive citizens.

It has been said that high school years are the best four It has been said that high school years are the best four years in the lives of people. Help make these four years years in the lives of people. Help make these four years more rewarding and memorable years for all students by more rewarding and memorable years for all students by providing them with opportunities in joining clubs like that providing them with opportunities in joining clubs like that of migrant organizations. of migrant organizations.

““La Excelencia” Migrant Club helped us get here!La Excelencia” Migrant Club helped us get here!