What to Consider When Joining a Club, Group or Organization

People can benefit from joining groups or clubs but the organization's goals and activities must be in line with personal time, budget and goals.

Joining a group, club or organization is good for networking and meeting new people. The opportunity to work with a team is also another advantage of joining an organization. While these factors are important, anyone wanting to join a club should learn as much information as possible about the organization. Then he or she should consider if the activities are in line with personal interests and the costs of joining and being a member. Another important factor to consider is the time that the club involvement will take up.

Why People Join Organizations

People join clubs for camaraderie, to be recognized, opportunities for growth and development, a sense of belonging and for adventures and new experiences. Despite the personal reason for joining a group or club, one must consider what the club offers and also what one can offer to the organization.

Do the Activities of the Group or Club Match Personal Interests

When joining a group or a club for the first time, it is important to know the organization's mission and vision. Do these match personal interests? A poet will seek to join a poetry group, a mechanic or car enthusiast will seek to join an automobile or racing club and an instrumentalist may seek out a band or orchestra. Someone who may want to learn something new can also join a group that focuses on activities that are outside of personal scope. For persons who enjoy volunteering, groups like the Red Cross or church organizations are best.

How Much Personal Time Will the Group or Club Take Up

Will joining the club or group take up too much personal time? Joining an organization should not be like a second job. As a group consists or more than two persons, then work should be equally shared by all members. This is not always the case and any person seeking to join a club or group needs to be mindful that the workload can become heavy if all members do not work together as a team. Book clubs, for example, require members to read books and then meet to discuss the book. New members must be mindful that organizations require commitment and time.

What Does Being a Member of the Club or Group Cost

Some groups and clubs have annual fees, meeting dues and other costs. There are also organizations that have no costs but this all depends on the activities. An example is joining a church choir. There may not be annual or meeting dues but there may be costs for choir robes.

Groups and Clubs Provide Great Networking Opportunities

Anyone who joins a group should consider the membership as a networking opportunity. Even if the club members are familiar persons, there will always be opportunities to network at functions or while traveling for the organization. Through networking, new opportunities can evolve professionally and personally.

Form a New Group or Club

Persons who have not found a club in their immediate area that attracts their interests can form a new group or club. Two or more persons with common interests can form a group, hold meetings and recruit more members. The members would need to set rules, vision and mission statements as well as the objectives of the organization.

Joining a group or a club gives people a sense of belonging and a way to work towards one common goal. Any organization will have its purpose and costs, and may require a lot of personal time. Anyone wanting to join a group should think carefully to ensure that the organization is a right fit in their life.