Types of Committees

There are two major types of committees and the role of each is crucial to the functioning of the club: standing committees and special committees.

Standing committees handle part of the club's regular business. They are active throughout the year and have duties that are generally constant over time and clearly stated. They are appointed each year and serve for the entire year. The size of the club often determines how many standing committees are needed. Small clubs may use committees but include all members on the committees. Committee work could be done on alternating meeting dates or prior to the start of the business meeting.

Examples might include:

• program
• membership
• recreation
• fund raising
  

Special committees carry out a specific task for a limited period of time. Some groups tend to put every issue into a committee; other clubs spend time discussing when a committee could resolve the issue more easily. Avoid overuse or underuse of special committees. The responsibilities of a special committee need to be clearly stated so the group can complete its responsibility.

Special committees might include:

• window display
• club tour
• club project day
  
• community service
  
• performance showcase
  
• club banquet
  
• holiday party
  
• parent or volunteer appreciation
  

Each committee should have an adviser who may be a parent or adult volunteer. In clubs with younger members, the adviser role is extremely important in helping provide guidance and parameters to the committee work. As members gain experience and confidence, the adult may play a lesser role.

Advantages of Club Committees

Much of what a club needs to accomplish can be best done by committees. Committees give more club members an opportunity to participate and to assume some of the responsibilities, help to avoid spending too much of the club's time on small details, concentrate the full attention of only a few club members on one subject, and offer the opportunity for training in group leadership.

• With fewer people, there is more opportunity for each member to take part. Therefore committees can work more effectively on many tasks. Determine committee size by the task; however, it's wise to keep the group relatively small.
  
  
• The informal committee encourages youth to talk and contribute more freely. Therefore, this can be an important way to involve new or less-active members.
  
  
• When individuals are picked for a job, they are likely to be more interested in the task. Larger groups are often hampered in their progress, because they are more likely to include individuals who are not interested or are unfamiliar with the problem.
  
  
• Committees reduce the number of decisions that the entire club must deal with.
  
  
• Committee members have wider contacts and can provide greater access to various facilities or resources.
  
  
• Committees permit wider participation of members. This in turn means a greater sense of commitment and greater attendance at organizational meetings.
  
  
• Committees are more flexible and easier to convene.
  

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