AHS Prospect Season Encourages Students to Join Service Clubs

KENNETH HOU
MADELEINE PARAGAS
Staff Writers

As the school year comes to an end, service clubs at AHS have begun to prepare themselves for the recruitment of new club members.

Each spring, students are given the opportunity to join one of 10 service clubs that seek to aid the community in various ways. The current service clubs are LASO, Junior Civitan, Kokua Lima, Leo, Key, United Royals, Campus, Interact, Kaibigan and Pequenitas.

“Although the clubs may differ in size, environment and service attendance, each [allows] prospective members the ability to serve the community while meeting new people and making new friendships that may last for a long time,” Campus general member Zhayne Tanyag said.

From promotional events to charities, club members volunteer their time to help community events run smoothly and efficiently. Such events include the Electric Run, Color Run, Elevators are for Wimps and Firecracker Run. At these events, service clubs perform a variety of tasks to help event organizers as well as event participants.
“I love being in [a service club.] I have met so many people who have the same interest as I do and people [who] actually care about the community,” LASO webmaster Stephanie Rubalcava said.

All service clubs share a similar application process: they use stamp cards given in the beginning of prospect season. Each club holds two open meetings in which officers and members can explain the purpose of the club and how the club functions. Club socials, in which club members and prospective members will have time to socialize and interact with each other, are organized. At these events, there were also games to help members and prospects introduce themselves to each other. Lastly, clubs will hold a fundraiser that all prospects are encouraged to attend.

Before being considered for acceptance, prospective club members must complete a certain set of prerequisites. To be entered into the raffle, students must also complete a minimum of ten approved service hours. Additionally, each prospect earns one stamp for every club event they attend. At the end of the tryouts, the stamps will be entered into a raffle. The more stamps a prospect has, the higher his or her chances of getting into the club will be. Most clubs require that prospective members only attend one of two open meetings. The club social and fundraiser are optional.

“I believe the [raffle] system is definitely fair; it allows everyone to have an equal opportunity to be a part of a service club. Service clubs [serve] as a great way to support our school spirit and spread awareness,” ASB Assistant to Clubs Rodger Lee said.

However, some people believe that joining service clubs is unnecessary.

“Service clubs are not necessary for community service because there are other ways to do community service,” junior Kassandra Sanchez.

In addition, various individuals assert that the time devoted to a service club may interfere with their schedules.
“[Service clubs can] be time consuming and [take up time that can be used for] homework, friends, family and other extracurricular activities,” sophomore Dakota Dena said.