Introduction

Much of what follows is taken with little alteration from the original Action Course material from 1959.  The importance of Political Clubs has changed in the intervening 55 years.  It is the author’s opinion, supported by the comments from many political professionals that just as the Republican and Democratic Parties have significantly reduced their emphasis on organization at the precinct levels they have also reduced their commitment to, and support for, political clubs. Do political clubs exist today?  Of course the answer is yes.  Do organizations exist today that call themselves a club, i.e.” The Club for Growth” but are in fact just another PAC or Super PAC?   Of course the answer is yes. Can clubs still be relevant? Here also the answer is “YES”.

Three basic channels of political participation are open to the average citizen— working in his precinct, working at headquarters during a campaign, and working in a political club.

The active political citizen will probably engage in all three types of work. But for the beginner, the third channel —participation in a political club— when they are active in the area –is especially suitable because:

1. Clubs are active all year-round.
2. Almost anyone can join.
3. Clubs provide an excellent opportunity for learning about politics and politicians— and developing political organizing and leadership skills.

Clubs offer:

• A chance to develop organizing and managerial skills for those who have not yet had an opportunity to do so in their job.
• An opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in public affairs that will be useful to a person if he should attain a position of major responsibility.
• A broadening experience to those who work in highly specialized jobs.
• New personal and business contacts.
• And—this is not to be sold short—a lot of fun and some long-lasting friendships.

 The Origin and Functions of the Political Club

THE FIRST ANCESTOR of the political club, perhaps, was a “school of politics” organized in ancient Athens by the legendary philosopher, Socrates, to discuss political theory and practice.

Elements of the political club developed in many institutions through the centuries. The coffee-houses of Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century London, for example, served as centers of conversation on literature and the philosophy of politics.

The genial atmosphere of the coffee- houses foreshadowed the social aspects of today’s political clubs.

That familiar political institution—New York’s Tammany Hall—began as a discussion group. Although the character of Tammany was altered over time until it became synonymous with the New York County Democratic Committee, its charter members were the leaders of an anti-Federalist faction, and one of the most prominent figures was Aaron Burr.

Heavy immigration in the nineteenth century spurred development of the “big city” clubs. Immigrants were eager to become Americans, to be part and parcel of their new land. By offering the newcomers membership in political clubs, political leaders provided them with a chance to learn the ways and language of America. Club leaders helped them find jobs, too.

In exchange for these services and opportunities, the political leader received the loyalty—and the votes—of these new citizens. The clubs were at the heart of this exchange.

Direct descendants of these early groups, which were largely ethnic in character and often bore such names as “the Irish-American Club” or the “Polish-American Society,” are still active in many metropolitan areas in the eastern united State although according to an article that ran in the New York Times in 1969 the relevance of the clubs in New York City had already been significantly diminished;..

The politicians who organized the “big city” clubs were concerned with votes. The growth of clubs was linked inevitably to the goal of obtaining votes for the party, and to the development of party leadership and workers.

Functions of Today’s Political Club

How closely does the original purpose of obtaining votes and party workers parallel the purpose of today’s political club?   Keep in mind that many organizations that have club in their name are in fact some form of a PAC that has a very limited agenda that is far narrower than the past typical club.

Many political clubs today may closely, or loosely, align themselves with either conservative of liberal causes.  In many instances their efforts are in opposition to the either the Democratic or Republican party leadership.  An example would be the Log Cabin Republican Club(s) whose advocacy of the rights of the Gay and Lesbian community is often in stark contrast to more conservative positions a large number of Republicans.

Political clubs often spring up following a popular and charismatic candidate of one of the major parties, whether they won on lost, is no longer a candidate.  The individuals who were active during the campaign strongly identify with the candidate and have only weak allegiance to the candidate’s party.   Barack Obama attracted wide support from many first time votes and young educated voters during the 2008 campaign and to a lesser extent in the 2012 campaign.

That loyalty often failed to transfer to the Democratic Party.  After the 2008 presidential election many political clubs sprang up formed by former Obama loyalists but with a more progressive agenda than that advocated by the formal Democratic Party represented by the so-called “Inside the Beltway” insiders.

Political clubs may also be formed around a single idea or position.

A Political Club has Four Principal Functions:

1. Keeping workers together all year-round. Club activities keep workers from drifting away from the organization between campaigns.
2. Enlisting new party workers. Clubs continually recruit new members and act as a catalyst in changing politically non-active citizens into regular party workers.
3. Serving as a manpower pool to supply volunteers to the party for precinct work and campaign headquarters work.  The new version of political clubs that are formed around an individual candidate or idea or position may often find their membership only lukewarm to the general support of the Democratic or Republican Party candidates.
4. Providing a political training ground for workers and leaders. The organization and operation of a political club provide basic training in political mechanics and management.

Some clubs serve two additional functions which, while not quite so basic as the four above, are also important:

Providing members an opportunity to study—and so better understand—issues and government organization. Such understanding and knowledge can be used in developing campaign issues and better informed party workers.

Raising money. Some clubs make a point of recruiting people who are potential donors to the party war chest. Their membership causes them to identify themselves more closely with the party.

Types of Clubs

Political Clubs have fallen, generally, into one of three basic types: party clubs, ethnic clubs, and auxiliary clubs.  However, many clubs formed in recent years are formed by groups of individuals with a strong position that is not supported by either the Democratic or Republican Party power structures.  These clubs are often representing the extreme right wing or extreme left wing of American political thinking and as such often work at cross purposes to the more party orientated clubs.
PARTY CLUBS can be considered either a regular part of the political organization or an adjunct to it. Whichever is the case—and opinions vary—these clubs assume much the same form all over the country and carry out the basic functions listed above.

Party clubs include such familiar groups as the University Republicans, College Democrats, Republican Women, Democratic Women, and county, city, town, ward and precinct clubs.YOUNG OR UNIVERSITY CLUBS 
DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN-MINORITY) CLUBS attract and hold young people that identify with either the Democratic or Republican parties and channel their enthusiasm and energies into active party work. The early development of party faithful—and leadership—is a responsibility of these clubs, whose membership is generally open to those in the 18 to 40 age group.

Usually, these clubs emphasize social activities, conducting a regular schedule of dances, parties, outings, and similar events during the year.

Club activities, of course, go far beyond social affairs. Members man the polls and campaign headquarters, do precinct work, operate sound trucks, prepare and distribute political literature, study and debate issues, conduct opinion polls, and sometimes even raise money for the party.

The value of these clubs to the individual is increased by the fact that they are organized on county, state, and national levels, as well as local, and hold conventions and meetings at frequent intervals.

Participation in the state and national organizations provides opportunities to acquire new ideas, new techniques for political action, and a broadened outlook. Skill in political maneuvering and negotiation is sharpened. Important contacts can also be made because many Young Republicans and Young Democrats of today will be the state legislators, governors, congressmen, senators, and cabinet officers of tomorrow.

Both major parties worked to actively recruit the pre-voting population, with the formation of college and high-school political clubs. But no so much today.

WOMEN’S CLUBS.
Any practicing politician is quick to proclaim the value of women in political work.
Although modern politics is still basically a men’s club, women now make up close to
20% in the U. S. House and Senate and have significant presence in state legislatures.  They serve as mayors and hold many other responsible government positions. In the party structure, too, they are city chairmen, vice-chairmen, campaign managers, and fill many other policy level jobs.

In the past much, if not most, of the feminine leadership of political parties came from women’s political clubs.

CITY, TOWN, AND WARD CLUBS are related to both geographic and political divisions. The ward club, for example, serves to hold together the party faithful in the ward.

This type of club is “co-educational.” And like the “young” club, the social activities are emphasized—without slighting the other basic purposes of the club.

It is most likely to have money raising as one of its purposes. Members may include many who are in a position to help finance the party organization. Their contact, through the club, with political leaders and political problems serves to convince them of the need for money and gives them confidence in the people who will be spending it.

Sometimes these clubs sponsor money raising social affairs and turn the receipts over to the party. In addition, having small expenses but a fair income from dues, they are often in a position to make regular, substantial contributions, as organizations, to the party.

ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION CLUBS:
Similar to party clubs in both concept and purpose are the ethnic and religious organizations that dotted the political landscape, particularly in the east. Like all political clubs their number and importance has diminished over time as the two major political parties have shifted their emphasis from local organization to top-down BIG MONEY politics.

These clubs were often named after national figures—for example, the Colombian League or Abraham Lincoln Clubs.
In addition to perpetuating land-of-origin customs and traditions, such groups served largely as a social extension of political activity.  Members were likely to be active in regular party clubs, as well.

Ethnic clubs were largely a “man’s world,” although many had associated units for women.

Ethnic clubs complemented rather than duplicated the regular party clubs by offering
the party a direct channel to the voters of various ethnic groups.

In some areas of the country the party affiliated clubs are alive and well. The Dallas area has a least 27 Democratic political clubs, including the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Latino Democrats of Dallas County and the Irving Texas Democratic Women.

AUXILIARY CLUBS.
So-called auxiliary clubs, such as: “Citizens for Ross Perot” come and go and are especially likely to show up in Presidential campaigns, but they are sometimes a factor in state, and even local, elections.

Usually, auxiliary clubs are not permanent organizations. They exist only during one campaign and are composed of those party members and independents who wish to support one candidate, rather than an entire slate. They are generally independent of the regular party organization and outside its structure.

These “Citizens for Whoosit” clubs raise money, set up headquarters, prepare and distribute literature, and engage in other campaign activities. They are particularly useful influencing the votes of those citizens who are unfriendly to a regular party. “Citizens for Ross Perot” for instance, provided many Democrats with an opportunity to work for a candidate they liked and at the same time avoid affiliation with the Republican Party.

Many independents who will not work for either party will join a club that is formed to support an individual candidate.

Many people who will not contribute to a regular party will give substantial donations to an Auxiliary Club.

Members of auxiliary clubs often transfer to a regular party club at the close of a campaign. Having tasted the excitement and rewards of politics, many lose their antipathy to the regular organization and join a party club to keep working on a regular basis.  An unfortunate fact is that if their candidate loses the election they will often drop out of political activity- never to return.

The advantages of auxiliary clubs are often offset to some extent by inherent weaknesses.  Although most auxiliary groups maintain liaison with the regular party groups, this relationship is sometimes so loose that efforts are duplicated and resources wasted. The natural antipathy between professionals and amateurs may cause friction— and friction may cost valuable votes.  Much of the inherent advantages of an organized political party are lost when these types of clubs are organized to support a particular candidate or a particular cause. Once the election cycle is completed the members of the “club” are, in most instances, no longer available or willing to help get out future party votes.

“LETTER-HEAD CLUBS.”
A common political campaign gambit is the setting up of a series of “letterhead” clubs.

While these organizations do not offer an avenue to political participation, they are often effective campaign devices but they are not true “clubs”. They consist of a group of prominent individuals who publicize their support of a candidate through publicity photographs and by circulating letters on his or her behalf using club stationery.

“Candidate Clubs.”  
Candidate clubs are just that clubs that are formed around a specific candidate and are often hard to distinguish from the activity of a political campaign.   What makes them worth mentioning is that in recent years such “candidate clubs” often morph into clubs that may have little allegiance the either of the major political parties and be of questionable support when the major party has candidates that do not strongly support the club members political positions.

Political Club Organization
PARTY CLUBS ARE generally organized along much the same lines whether they are “young” clubs, women’s clubs, or city, ward and town clubs. Auxiliary clubs—the “Citizens for Whoosit” clubs—are organized entirely differently.
In both cases, clubs may range from small, informally organized groups with few regular activities, to clubs of several thousand members with an organization chart rivalling that of a corporation.

PARTY CLUBS generally follow a simple basic format with members, officers, executive board and committees as the major elements in their organization.

Officers

PRESIDENT. The president, as the club’s chief executive officer, presides at all meetings and exercises general supervision over all activities of the club. They also make all committee appointments, generally subject to the approval of the executive board.

VICE PRESIDENT. In the absence of the president, the vice president assumes all duties of the chief executive officer. Depending on club policy, they may also be assigned other responsibilities by the president.

SECRETARY. The secretary maintains all records of the club, including minutes of all meetings, and handles correspondence.

TREASURER. As custodian of all club funds, the treasurer keeps an up-to-date record of all club receipts and expenditures.

Executive board

The executive board is comprised of all current officers plus, perhaps, the immediate past president and all committee chairmen, the executive board molds the policy and program for the club. It may include one or more directors-at-large, either elected by the membership, or appointed by the president. Frequently called the “board of directors,” or “executive committee,” this group is responsible for such things as:

• Planning club projects. • Budgeting club funds.
• Selecting meeting dates and sites.

Committees

The roster of club committees reflects the aims and goals of the organization, and forms a mechanism for achieving those aims and goals.

Committees of a party club can be divided into four kinds: Standing committees, special purpose committees, campaign committees, special group committees.

1. STANDING COMMITTEES A. PROGRAM COMMITTEE

The program committee is responsible for preparing the program for each club meeting. Competition for people’s interest and attention is high. The committee must constantly strive to plan programs that promote maximum attendance, and achieve productive results.

Political club meetings are generally held once a month to bring the members together, transact major club business, and to present speakers or other kinds of programs.

Business coming before the club is discussed and organized at the executive board meetings so that only reports and major decisions come before the meeting of the whole body. “Yes” or “no” decisions are usually all that are required, leaving plenty of time for the program.

Few things are more deadly than having a series of meetings with the same format. Many clubs fall into this habit from lack of imagination and planning so that every month the program consists of one speaker who gets up, speaks, and then answers questions.

Programs for club meetings should be planned well in advance. This is important in getting appropriate speakers and in planning meetings that are timely.

D. FINANCE COMMITTEE

To operate effectively, the club needs adequate financial resources. The finance committee’s role is to raise the money to sustain the club’s many activities.  In addition to obtaining funds, this group is responsible for preparing the club budget.

Basic sources of club finances include:

(1) Dues. In addition to the regular modest annual membership dues, usually, many clubs provide for “patron” memberships. These are frankly aimed at the party hierarchy and prominent community citizens, and dues are set somewhat higher than those for regular membership. Regular membership dues, however, are the club’s principal source of income.

(2.) Social Events. Social events should be self-supporting, not a drain on the regular budget.
With a little ingenuity even high-cost social events such as dances can “break even.” For example, if it is legal in the area, many clubs hold raffles with donated prizes.

A club may get excellent publicity and stimulate donation of prizes by giving half the raffle proceeds to a local charity.

(3) Subsidies. Some clubs accept subsidies from the regular party organization. However, experts on club operation feel the club should give rather than receive. Many prospective members do not wish to be associated with a club that is obligated to the regular leadership.  Once they are members, they will accept a measure of party discipline, but before they join, this can be a formidable barrier to interesting them in membership.

E. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

This committee’s assignment is recruiting new members for the club. Its responsibilities include:

Determining Qualifications for Membership.  A political club opens the doors to as many members as possible within the logical restrictions of age, residence and sex. While some clubs require official party membership or a pledge of party loyalty, experts say there is no need for a “loyalty oath”—that desire to join signifies loyalty in itself.  Most clubs are receptive to the “eager” and hesitate to erect artificial barriers.

Recruiting members. The most valuable lead to new members comes through personal contact by members, but there are other “recruitment” techniques a membership committee should use.

A good publicity campaign helps, and if the club has an effective program the publicity campaign virtually plans itself.

The committee can also plan membership drives, on a team or individual basis, with prizes to the team or member who signs up the largest number of new members.

F. STUDY GROUPS

Many clubs form study groups to analyze current political issues. While this procedure is commendable, it has possible disadvantages.

Sometimes study groups may wish to submit a report or a resolution on an issue. Some issues are controversial—and can create dissension. For this reason, many clubs have a ruling that all resolutions and recommendations must be reviewed by the executive board before they are brought before the membership. Identification of the club—and therefore, the party—with a stand that might alienate a segment of the voting populace can cause all kinds of political havoc.  Study groups on government structure and function are also a valuable, but non-controversial activity.

G. PARTICIPATION GROUPS

Some people like to sing; others prefer athletics, and some just like to watch others being active. The political club can capitalize on these interests by encouraging such people to form glee clubs, boating teams, etc., under the club’s auspices.

Campaign Committees

All political activity is ultimately directed toward the campaign.

Participation by clubs in campaign activities takes two forms: individual participation in precinct and headquarters work and club projects carried out through special campaign committees.

Club campaign projects should always be cleared with the local party leader to prevent duplication.

Here is how a club may organize to be effective, through committees, in a campaign:

VOLUNTEERS COMMITTEE

This committee (it may be only one or two persons) has all members fill out cards similar to those used by the party campaign committee at headquarters. The club volunteer chairperson then meets with the party’s campaign committee volunteer’s chairperson and works out assignments for club members to serve at campaign headquarters and in precincts that need help.

FIRST VOTERS COMMITTEE

This is a valuable project in any campaign, and is generally handled as a club project by the Young Republicans and Young Democrats.

A typical program includes these basic steps:

Check high school yearbooks of the most current past year—when most of those now reaching 18 were graduated—to obtain leads to the new “eligibles”. Good precinct leaders can furnish additional names.

Invite the first voters to an orientation meeting where they can learn the fundamentals of voting rules and regulations.

One or two party leaders can be present, but their comments should be strictly nonpartisan. This is an orientation meeting, not the presentation of a party platform. The fact that one party holds the meeting is enough identification.

Those who attend will carry away a favorable impression of the party that renders this public service.

Follow up. Send lists of those attending—as well as names of other first voters developed in research—to precinct leaders who can then persuade them to register and vote for the party. Follow up to get new club members, too.

Other campaign committees may handle individual assignments as a club project. For instance, a club may be asked to hire and man a sound truck, or to distribute hand bills at factory gates.

Special Purpose Committees

Special purpose committees (sometimes the technical term “ad-hoc committees” is used) are just that. They are created to take care of a specific project or look into a problem. When they have carried out their job, they go out of existence.

Here are some examples of special purpose committees: Elections Committee: to supervise club elections.

Nominating Committee: to prepare a slate of officers for approval by the membership.

Flying Squads Committee: to organize groups of members to do canvassing for precinct leaders.

Special Groups Committees

These committees generally are named Labor, Farmers, Veterans, Business and Professional, etc. Their purpose is to maintain liaison with civic organizations representing different groups of citizens, to attempt to create a good impression of the club and its party, and to find new members for the club from these groups. Where possible the chairmen of these committees will already be members of an organization of the type they are assigned to cultivate.

These contacts can be useful to the party during the campaign.

AUXILIARY CLUBS

Since auxiliary clubs are formed just to participate in a campaign, their structure resembles a party campaign committee as much as it does a club.

Without going into detail, an auxiliary club will require officers, an executive board and a committee structure. The officers and executive board are set up to handle club policy and administrative type duties much as they would in any club. However, the committee structure will be geared entirely to campaign functions such as finance, publicity, speakers bureau, research, special projects and so on.

The Relationship of Club Management to the Party

Webster defines a club as “an association of persons for the promotion of some common object.” eminently descriptive of a political club, it could apply just as well to a political party—because both are associations with a common purpose: success for the party’s principles and standard-bearers.

The definition carries connotations of unity—one of the keys to success in politics. The need for unity extends to the relationship between the party and the political club. Unity can be undermined in many ways. For example, in an area where people are employed in state government, a club resolution calling for reduced pension benefits could be the source of friction.

It is common for party clubs to have a clause in their constitution prohibiting the endorsement of candidates in a party primary. This is specifically designed to minimize friction between members of a club and between the club and the party organization.

The goal of unity does not require the club to be subservient to the party regulars.

Unfortunately for the Democratic and Republican parties many clubs that are formed around a popular candidate or around a specific issue or ideology may be unwilling to support major party activity or major party candidates.

Intra-Party Fights

Opposition to the incumbent party leadership in any given town, city or county may develop in political clubs. There are several reasons for this.

First, most of the people who join clubs are citizens who have not had much political experience. They do not understand that their political party cannot subscribe to every policy and ideal they hold as individuals, because it must also appeal to other individuals and groups with different desires in order to get enough votes to win. So club members, not understanding this basic problem of political leadership, often are dissatisfied with the present leadership. This dissatisfaction may even be the reason why they become active in politics.

Second, some members are politically ambitious. To move up, they must displace the incumbents who now fill the positions they covet.

Third clubs can be an easy and natural means to build a following. A person or a group must develop a following and build it into an organization capable of challenging party leadership in the primary elections if they wish to “take-over.”

Fourth, the training in political knowledge and skills provided by working in a leadership capacity in a club equips potential challengers with much of the “know-how” they need to wage such a contest.

Some political leaders feel that all clubs are potential threats to their leadership. It is the reason that some party leaders will discourage formation of clubs of any kind within their area of jurisdiction.

WHEN A CHALLENGE IS JUSTIFIED.  Party leadership long in power tends to decay. The leader may begin thinking more of his position and of the rewards it brings to him personally than he does of winning elections, or of backing his office holders in trying to do a good job of governing. When the leadership becomes weak, self-serving, or indifferent, it may be time for a change.

DECIDING TO CHALLENGE. One of the worst things that can happen is a premature or unjustified challenge to incumbent leadership. There are several criteria that should be examined carefully and thoughtfully before deciding to challenge the leadership:

First, is the leadership really poor? It is important to develop a thorough understanding of the problems of political leadership before deciding it is poor. A person who is convinced that leadership is poor, very often finds, after he learns something about politics, that it is actually doing a creditable job.

Second, can the leadership be beaten soundly? Again, it takes experience and skill to judge the strength of the leadership and to know “how to count votes.”

It is not enough to win. The victory must be by a secure margin so that following a successful fight the winners can afford to lose a number of their supporters and still maintain a working majority in whatever the political governing body is.  Once the honeymoon is over, the new leadership is bound to lose some support.

If party politics degenerates into a see-saw battle between two or more factions, with no leadership that can command a dependable majority, the party organization turns into a nightmare of infighting. It then loses both public confidence and elections.

Third, do the insurgents have the knowledge and skill to run the party organization if they do win? It is one thing to win.  Another to handle responsibility successfully.  Before challenging the leadership, insurgents should be sure they have the knowledge, skill, personnel and time to run the party organization. On the  international level we have many recent examples of successful challenges to the national leadership, Libya and Egypt to name a few, where the successful challengers were, after the “win, unable to govern.

Fourth, insurgents should consider the consequences of failure. Political oblivion may result if they are beaten badly.

ROLE OF THE CLUB IN CHALLENGING. While political clubs are natural vehicles for building a following and developing an insurgent organization, this is not their purpose.  It is generally advisable to leave the club out of intra-party fights. Its appeal to new members can be jeopardized by becoming associated with a faction in an intra-party fight.

The club provides an opportunity to form personal bonds that could result in an insurgent organization, but the insurgents usually wage their fight outside of the club.

How to become a “Regular” in a Party Club

How to join

There are no formalities to be observed in applying for party club membership. The phone book or an internet search will generally give the address and telephone number of club headquarters. If the club isn’t listed in the telephone book, party headquarters can furnish information on the club and the person to contact. Or a newspaper office can provide the name of the club president or party leader.

Any officer of the club can generally provide a membership application.

What to Expect

Political groups—and clubs are no exception—are composed of many types of people. Members include intellectuals, farmers, business people, office boys, mechanics, union members, housewives, secretaries, teachers,—people of all social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

A newcomer will do well not to consider any of these people his superiors or inferiors. Each of them in their own way is valuable to the party organization.

The person who joins a political club may at first be repelled by talk of party loyalty, party discipline and voting the straight ticket. They may be surprised that some of the seasoned members apparently lack convictions on ideologies or issues.

These are usually first impressions. The newcomer who attends meetings and helps with the work of the party soon learns the good reasons for this kind of talk and for the general outlook of the more or less professional politicians.

“Learning the Ropes”

“Learning the ropes” is just as essential in club work as it is in any other activity.

Good ideas are always welcome provided they are practical, well-thought out and tactfully presented. Almost everyone has ideas. The one who gets theirs adopted is the one who considers the proposal from all standpoints before springing it.

The important thing is that creative ideas (and they needn’t be grand or startling) are a sure wedge for getting into the heart of the club’s activities—for becoming a “regular.”

THE “IN GROUP.” The formal structure of the club includes its officers and executive group but while every group has a formal leadership, there is another element of leadership that sociologists call the “in-group.” This reference isn’t intended to stress the factor beyond its true importance—it’s just a note to point out its existence, and the necessity of operating with the “in-group”. Not much different than high school, right?

This term describes the element that exists in any group: the unofficial “board of advisors”—the small core whose advice and counsel are sought by all. These “in-groups” play a major role in the determination of policy, and in the making of major political decisions.  While they may not have the parliamentary power to rule on things, they are the arbiters of vital questions.

In some cases, this informal core will actually coincide with the official leadership; often, though, it will be a combination of official and unofficial “chiefs.”

It won’t take too long to identify the “in-group.” For anyone planning a leadership role, this group must be cultivated. It requires diplomacy and caution but just about everything in politics does.

How to Form a Political Club

Organizational Steps

It may be that no party club exists in your community or area. This is not an overwhelming problem. The organizational steps to follow in forming a new club are relatively simple. However, you can’t just snap your fingers, and have a full-blown party club blossom into existence. It takes planning, hard work, cooperative effort and time—but by following the outlined procedural steps, a club can be organized where and when the need exists. And where no club is in operation, that need probably does exist. There are many resources available over the internet for suggestions in the formation of a club.

A political club can be organized in any community by taking six basic steps:

1. A small, hard core of interested persons plans a pre-organizational meeting.
2. Key organizers contact the party leaders, explain their plans, and enlist the party’s active support.
3. The meeting is held to name temporary officers and plan the meeting at which the club will be permanently organized.
4. The organizational meeting is then publicized.
5. Detailed planning for the organizational meeting is completed
6. The organizational meeting is held.

Note: Care should be taken to make sure that the Club’s goals are greater than a single issue, such as defeating the current school referendum. A club formed around a single issue probably will not survive long after the “issue” is no longer front and center.

Here are some of the details involved in each of these steps:

PLANNING THE PRE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. A small group of key individuals who share party loyalty and are interested in forming an active club is easier to manage and can get more done than a larger, unwieldy group. A hard core of six or eight persons is better than 50, or even 20 at this stage.

The small number who will attend means that a convenient, comfortable place for the meeting can be selected, often some one’s home. But a small meeting does not mean preparation is unnecessary. If it is to achieve its purpose, it cannot be run “off the cuff.”

Expert advice and personal help is often available from a party’s state club federation. When such help is available it should be used. The web site of ehow.com offers a simple five step instruction in how to form a student political group (club) and these instructions could work for any age or interest group.

CONTACTING THE LOCAL PARTY LEADERSHIP. The advice and counsel of “practical politicians” is invaluable. Most party leaders recognize the potential value of an effective club to the party organization but, occasionally, one may view the organization of a club with indifference, if not hostility. Such opposition generally stems from a fear that a party club may threaten present party leadership. Sometimes, the combination of no club and leadership opposition to forming one may be evidence of a real need for a club.

Lack of cooperation by the party leadership should not be allowed to prevent organization of a club. Continuing efforts should be made, however, to sell the club and its value to the party after it has been organized.

3. HOLDING THE PRE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. This is the key step.

Here are the things to be done at this meeting:

Elect a temporary chairman or presiding officer to run the meeting.

Tell the audience why they are there—the purpose of the meeting. Invite suggestions, and reach agreement on the basic items—the club name, the dues structure, the area it will cover in the community, and so on.

Form a nominating committee and a constitution and by-laws committee.

Select temporary publicity and membership chairmen to help promote the organizational meeting.

Discuss the role of the club as it will relate to the party.

Arrange all the details—agenda, place, date, etc.—for the organizational meeting.

Those in charge of the meeting should avoid maintaining such tight control that the audience gets an impression it isn’t really needed. Everyone present should be given a chance to participate in the making of decisions and plans and in the creation of a program of work.

4. PUBLICIZING THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. Every potential member should be informed of the organizational meeting. The temporary publicity and membership chairmen can draw up—with the help of everyone—complete plans for publicizing the meeting in all media—newspapers, radio, television, posters, direct mail, email and Facebook. Party leaders can be asked to publicize the meeting at any functions they hold and to urge all eligible party faithful to attend.

Leaders of other community clubs and organizations can be invited.

Voter registration lists, rosters of members in other organizations, school and college records can be checked in the search for potential members.

Each person attending the pre-organizational meeting should draw up a list of contacts and extend personal invitations.

5. FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING PLANS. The meeting place should be selected carefully. It should not be too large—a half-empty hall is deadly. All arrangements should help create a business-like atmosphere—evidence that real planning has gone into the meeting. An agenda should be drawn up—then double-checked. Points to be considered in planning a meeting of any kind are listed in the pamphlet on “Political meetings.”

6. THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. A roster should be made of everyone who attends. An adequate supply of membership cards should be on hand, as well as copies of the proposed constitution and by-laws, and the slate proposed by the nominating committee. Robert’s Rules of order, or any reliable text on parliamentary procedure, should be followed with the temporary chairman presiding until the permanent president is elected.

Suggested format:

• The temporary chairman outlines the purpose of the meeting.
• The constitution and by-laws committee submits its recommendations; they are discussed, and a vote taken.
• The nominating committee submits its slate, and the slate is voted upon.
• The newly-elected president takes over.
• Discussion—with everyone encouraged to participate —is held on the proposed program of work. Adoption of a program of work should also indicate the committee structure that will be necessary to carry it out.

7. AFTER THE MEETING. The organizational meeting, if it is to result in a successful club, is only the start. Appropriate committee assignments must be made, membership lists drawn up, the birth of the organization publicized. Then … start organizing the next meeting!

The Future of Political Clubs: In an era of big dollar PAC’s and Super PACS, attack ads and 30 second TV sound bites political clubs have lost some of their impact and relevance. Just because money has pushed political clubs to the side does not mean that they cannot get back into the game.   It is encouraging, but not necessarily to Democratic and Republican functionaries, that there appears to be a resurgence of political club formations.  Many are formed around a single issue that weakens their impact in primary and general elections but if their enthusiasm can be channeled into specific goals their impact can be significant.