10 Qualities of a Great Club Member
You’re a member of an RC, Social or Non-profit Club. You want to be a good club member, so what do you do? Here are ten qualities of a great club member.
Contribute Your Unique Skills – You all came together with a common interest or passion. But each of you also has unique skills and backgrounds. Are you a finance person? Have excellent webmaster skills? An awesome fundraiser? Carpentry skills? Use your skills to enhance the Club. Utilizing your skills can also significantly reduce the Club’s operating costs, leaving more funds for the core mission.
Be Positive – Always have the betterment of the Club in mind. When you question something, do it towards improvement or change. Nobody likes a complainer. Remember, if members push collectively in a positive direction, others will gladly join in; offer positive feedback. Question positively.
Respect - Respect the mission of the Club. Respect the officers (remember they are probably volunteers contributing their talents and unique skills). Everyone joined the Club for a reason, so don’t stray too far from that collective mission.
Communicate with Confidence - Great team players communicate their ideas honestly and clearly and respect others’ views and opinions on the team. Clear, effective communication done constructively and respectfully is the key to getting heard.
Trust by Verify – We continuously see the news on the latest club fraud. As a club member, you do have a responsibility to understand and question the finances. Pay attention during the Treasurer’s report! Everyone has a responsibility to make sure the Club’s finances are appropriately controlled and spent. If you happen to be the club treasurer, see my post on being a good Club Treasurer.
Positively Build your Club’s Community – Create a welcoming club. Members are typically on different journeys with their skills or desires. Help these club members grow and advance in the Club. Be a bridging vs. an exclusive Community. This post is written during the global COVID pandemic, so community needs have never been greater.
Teach - Grow the members’ skills. Maybe within your RC Club, flying is your passion, or perhaps you understand the technical side of the tools, whatever your unique talent, actively helping the membership.
Embrace all your Stakeholders – Understand how your Club can mutually benefit and contributes to your stakeholders, be they your local community, close neighbors, or a broader group or organization. Be a good citizen, and things will be much easier.
Consistent and Reliable – Displaying genuine commitment and reliability is a great way to drive your Club forward. Create positive relationships within your Club and do this consistently.
Reliable Volunteer – Don’t be the volunteer that never volunteers! They volunteer in name but never show up. When you volunteer, do more than asked, adapt quickly and easily, come with a 110% commitment to getting things done. Remember, you are either part of the problem or the solution, don’t be a problem.
Embrace these attributes, and there is no doubt that your Club will move forward. Maybe incorporate these operating principles into your charter or bylaws. That may be a subtle way of building these attributes into your Club’s culture.