Grant McKenzie is a 1993 graduate of the USAF Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. After 10 years in the U.S. Air Force in the fields of engineering, project management, and leadership development, he became a consultant for in the areas of leadership, team-building, and communication skills.
Overview
A charter is an organizing document that officially defines what a club is, what it does, and how it is organized. Some clubs, like those that are officially recognized by a university, are required to have a charter. The level of detail will vary widely depending on the size of the club and the requirements that are placed on it. There is no recognized format for a charter, so the way it is organized will be flexible. However, there are some key pieces of information that should be included.
Writing a Club Charter
Step 1
Write a mission statement for your club. A mission statement includes a declaration of the club's purpose with a brief explanation of how that purpose will be performed. In essence, it is the summary statement of the club's charter.
Step 2
Define what is required to become a member of the club. In universities, members will most likely be students enrolled at the university. Some clubs may be restricted to a particular age group, while others may require a tryout or entrance test. Be thorough and specific when defining membership requirements.
Step 3
Define the governing structure of the club. Include roles and responsibilities for each position you define as well as methods for selecting individuals for those positions. Some traditional positions are president, secretary and treasurer, but these titles are not required. Use position names that will be most effective in governing your club. Clearly define the role of every every position to include the day-to-day activities that will be expected from them.
Step 4
Define the day-to-day activities of the club. Using the mission statement as a guide, fill in the details about what the club does to achieve that mission.
Step 5
Define how the charter may be amended. This procedure may not be used often, but it will prevent the need to rewrite the charter should a minor change be needed in the future.
Step 6
Choose a format that fits your club and write the charter. Allow all the members of the club the opportunity to review the draft, and when all the necessary corrections have been made, have everyone sign it.
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