How to start your Vespa club
If you are planning to start a Vespa club, the first thing to consider is that time commitment is often underestimated. The thrill associated with starting a club is often closely followed by realizing how much effort it really takes. Just as in any other venture, a great plan works as long as there is commitment and dedication, and every club succeeds when leaders, organizers and key participants are willing to donate their own spare time and effort to keep the club going.
That said, here are ten tips that might help. Just make sure you have everything organized before officially launching your club.
1. Think of a name for your Vespa Club, better if catchy.
2. Decide on a club symbol.
3. Create a motto or a slogan to keep everyone in the club on the right track. Make it inspirational.
4. Decide where and when your Vespa club will meet. Will you be meeting just once a month or twice a week? It is important to have these details ironed out so that your members do not get confused. Make sure everyone can get to the meetings easily. If they can not come to every meeting, it is okay! On the other hand, you need to try to always attend your own Vespa club meetings - if you are not interested in your own club, other people won't be either.
5. Begin recruiting members for your Vespa club. Make sure that your club does not become (or is perceived as) an exclusive one, which would give it a negative connotation.
6. Have your first Vespa club meeting or event. Contact members to remind them of this inaugural appointment. Usually a periodic meeting or event helps to keep things going in the club and to increase activity. It is also a great way for club members to get to know each other better and share information.
7. Decide what (if any) officers your Vespa club will need. Members should vote on who the officers will be. This can happen at the first meeting or at a later meeting. Typical officer roles include: president (runs the club, meetings, and enforces the rules), vice president (is in charge when the president cannot make it), treasurer (handles the club's money; keeps track of dues for memberships; pays the bills for the club's operations and activities; keeps records of all debits and credits for accounting purposes), secretary (keeps minutes of every meeting; assists with the club activities and events), historian (keeps a record of club events and achievements), organizer (coordinates and delegates club members to help in planning and hosting activities), communications coordinator (responsible for flyers, newsletter, website, social media).
8. Have a good constitution to help clarify what your Vespa club wants to achieve and how - this will help your officers know what they should do and how to behave.
9. (Optional) Print the Vespa club identification cards with the member's name, rank (if you decide to have any), contact info for the club, club location, and the time since the member joined the club.
10. Advertise your Vespa club by creating an email list group or an electronic newsletter for communications with the club members; by setting up a website to showcase the Vespa club to members, prospective members, the media, and the general public; and by using social media (MeetUp, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest) to engage existing members and recruit new ones.
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