Step 1: Find an Advisor (if you don’t already have one).
Approach a teacher, public health nurse, coach or guidance counselor and ask him or her to serve as advisor for your club. Contact your
Tobacco-Free Schools Lead if you need assistance identifying a staff person who might be interested in advising your group.
Step 2: Meet with Your Principal.
Set up a meeting with your principal to obtain his or her approval and support for your club. Choose a spokesperson for your club, and bring other potential members with you to the meeting. Secure a monthly, weekly, or biweekly meeting time and space for your club.
Step 3: Have an Information Session.
Gather a group of interested students together to meet and discuss the reasons for starting a club. At your first meeting brainstorm on some activities your club may undertake. Be sure to include non-smokers, ex-smokers and current smokers in your club, and to ensure your club survives after you graduate, recruit students from all grades. Announce this meeting over your PA and with posters so everyone has a chance to participate, not just your friends.
Step 4: Have your first official meeting.
The purpose of this meeting will be to begin laying out an action plan for the coming months. Have your group brainstorm on activities you could do during the school year, and write them down. Each activity will need a leader (usually the person who suggested the idea) and that person will be responsible for the task. Of course, the leader will need help from other members.
Print a copy of the
Action Plan, it will help you keep track of your activities, dates, details and who is working on them.
It is also a good idea to choose a meeting chairperson and two secretaries. Your chairperson will lead the meeting and make sure things stay on track and that all important issues are covered for that meeting. Your secretary keeps track of your club's papers and information, he or she makes sure ideas are written down and keeps tabs on who attends each meeting.
Another important activity will be to name your club. All members can brainstorm together on some cool names and take a vote to pick the winner. Here are some ideas to get your started, but feel free to create your own!
- TATU: Teens Against Tobacco Use
- SWAT: Students Working Against Tobacco
- Butt Out
- Kick the Nic
Step 5: Keep it fun and they will come!
Continue to meet on a regular, consistent basis and always keep the door open to new members. Put a reminder announcement for all meetings on the PA...some people might forget!
Always remember and remind each other that you are working against smoking, not smokers :)
Tips for Recruiting Members
