Club Secretary/Publicity Manager Interview Notes

Candidate Overview

• Name: Evan Sun
• Grade: $9^\text{th}$ grade
• Applying for: Secretary (primary), Publicity Manager (secondary)
• Snapshot from the interview: "I"m pretty simple, but most importantly, I would say I\'m willing to put in the work. I have quite a bit of knowledge in how to manage a club."

Current Club Experience

• Currently on the board of United Sciences (Science Olympiad club) as Activities Director.
• Previously Treasurer in $8^\text{th}$ grade ASE; the speaker notes, "and as you guys were there too, I hopefully did a good job."
• Clarifying question from interviewer: "What club?" → Answer: United Sciences (Science Olympiad) as Activities Director.

Fit for the Role

• Candidate asserts fit due to:
  • Already serving on another club board, bringing experience and knowledge of club management and execution.
  • Past leadership roles (Treasurer in $8^\text{th}$ grade) demonstrating financial oversight and governance.
• Reason for selection among candidates: Existing board experience translates to a quicker, more effective contribution to this club.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Advantages:
  • Willing to do as much work as needed.
  • Some leadership skills; capable of guiding peers and assisting with tasks.
• Disadvantages:
  • Gullible: "you can lie to me and I\'ll believe it."
  • Oversees others' opinions: "I care a bit too much about what other people feel about."

Growth Plan for the Club

• Observations:
  • The club is new and currently running at a basic level.
• Proposed approach:
  • Leverage systems learned from another club to implement a structured operating system for this club.
  • Build a sustainable, well-running framework so the club functions correctly.
• Specific steps:
  • Create a good running system and processes; ensure consistency in execution.

Priorities and Time Allocation

• Question: Where does the club fit relative to priorities (school, extracurriculars, etc.)?
• Response:
  • The candidate indicates it would be at or near the top priority since they have relatively few other extracurriculars.
  • Clarifies that this refers to extracurriculars and general school balance rather than specific course load.

One Change You Would Make to the Club

• Perception and awareness:
  • The club is underinformed about its purpose; people know it promotes cleaning up the earth, but not the specifics of what the club will do.
• Suggested changes:
  • Clarify the club\'s purpose beyond a broad statement; articulate concrete goals and methods (how the club will operate).
  • Improve promotional messaging to explain what the club does and why it exists.

Problem-Solving Approach for the Club

• Action plan:
  • Set up systems to handle promotional activities more effectively.
  • Integrate social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook) into all promotional activities.
  • Align the board and club members on a clear purpose and actionable goals.
  • Establish measurable goals for the club and communicate them to members.

Position Flexibility and Interests

• Question: If offered a different position (Vice President, Treasurer, etc.), would you accept, or are you set on Secretary/Publicity?
• Answer:
  • Publicity and Secretary are the best options, but the candidate is willing to take any role and put in the work if needed.

Questions for the Board (from the Candidate)

• Has the club begun preparation for school-year objectives?
• Have cleanup opportunities outside of school been identified?
• Are there plans for school-related activities or collaborations with other clubs?
• Fundraising and communications:
  • Has there been consideration of creating a Discord channel for fundraising? The candidate notes Discord could create competition between clubs and may add complications.
  • The club sees fundraising as optional: primarily to earn function points and potentially fund clothing/attire for members.
• Donor philosophy:
  • If fundraising occurs, there is eventual interest in donating funds to causes aligned with the club\'s mission (e.g., environmental initiatives, AI and air pollution efforts).

Fundraising and Financial Considerations

• The club does not view fundraising as essential; the funds would primarily support function points and clothing attire for members.
• Alternative objective: donate funds to larger environmental organizations to amplify impact (e.g., pollution reduction initiatives).

Final Reflections and Next Steps

• The board will review and follow up on acceptance for the board position.
• The candidate expresses appreciation and willingness to contribute regardless of the exact role.

Ethical, Practical, and Real-World Implications

• Transparency and purpose clarity are emphasized as essential for club credibility and member engagement.
• Resource allocation ethics: preference to reinvest funds into environmental causes rather than internal perks if fundraising occurs.
• Social media integration is proposed as a practical tool for outreach but requires governance to avoid over-promotion and ensure consistent messaging.

Summary of Key Takeaways

• Evan brings relevant leadership experience from a different club and a willingness to work hard.
• Strengths include readiness to take on tasks and a track record of leadership; weaknesses include Gullibility and sensitivity to others\' opinions.
• Action plan focuses on building a formal operating system, clarifying club purpose, and leveraging social media for outreach.
• He is flexible about role assignments and asks important questions about preparation, school involvement, and fundraising ethics.