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Make Your Club Attractive with Exciting Programs

by Kevin T. O’Connor, Programs Vice President, Serra International

As we begin our new Serra year, it is time for presidents of Serra Clubs and vice presidents of Programs to make certain that their club has a game plan for their internal programs. Remember that Serra Clubs are to be “Universities of Christian Principles.” It is up to the club leadership to make certain that this goal of Serra is being met. In so doing, your club will be more attractive to current and new members and you will be much more effective in our other main goal of Serra, to foster and promote vocations.
 
Here are some key program elements that all Serra Clubs should implement for a successful year.

Does your Club have a Program Committee?

The Serra Club Program Committee has the responsibility to develop the University of Christian Principles for the club. This committee will conceptualize, plan and execute a full year of continuing Catholic education. This committee should be of a size that will allow good progress but also diverse enough to make the programs work and provide wider access to potential speakers.

Program Committee Planning

To achieve a successful program, two main objectives need to be achieved:

To identify worthwhile Catholic subjects as themes and topics and then obtain speakers to adequately present these topics.

To prepare the calendar for club programs.

Let’s break these two objectives down briefly.

Themes

These are subjects that are so broad in nature that it is impossible to cover all aspects of the subject in a single meeting. After the theme is identified, the committee subdivides the theme into sections or areas. Speakers are then chosen to address one section so as to provide a minimum of overlap to the other areas.

Topics

Topics are subjects covered in one meeting. They typically deal with current and highly visible issues. Serra International, for example, currently has a number of topic programs that are available for clubs and speakers to include:

The Heart of Serra

Vocation to Holiness

Social Teachings of the Church (abortion, capital punishment)

All five of these programs can be located at the Serra International website, www.serrainternational.org.

Preparing the calendar for club programs

The club should create a spreadsheet of programs as a working calendar. This would include your scheduled speakers for your club meetings but also the external programs that are planned for your club for the coming year. Some other internal/special programs might include:

Honoring the newly ordained

(Arch)Bishops Dinner

Annual Club Retreat / Day of Recollection

Installation of Officers

Induction of New Members

Visit of District Governor

Report on the Serra International Convention

In addition to the Serra International Website, you can also find downloadable program .PDF files and more information about programs at the USA Council of Serra International’s site, www.serraus.org.

Proper planning now will insure that you have a successful program year with exciting speakers and a more attractive club. In so doing, you will be contributing greatly in helping ‘obtain more fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls.’

Good luck on your Serran journey.

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