Fall 2015
A JCL Guide to PR
By Allison Kao, OJCL 1st Vice President, Shaker Heights
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In my years as a club member and officer, I’ve found
that one of the most challenging aspects of running a local
JCL chapter is publicity. Good publicity, however, whether it
be to enhance the club’s reputation in the school or to
expand existing membership, is the foundation of a
successful, long-lasting club.
Here’s a short guide of the who’s, what’s, and how’s
of club publicity from the beginning of the school year to
the end!
Starting Off on a High Note
• Hold a booth at your school’s activity fair or a table in the
cafeteria. Provide flyers with information for the first
meeting and sample Latin Club activities. Get a
membership list going and obtain the names and emails
of all prospective members – communication is key. At
the booth, you may also want to provide supplementary
materials, such as trophies, a club scrapbook, and a
running slideshow of event pictures. To attract more
students to your booth, food, specifically candy or
cookies, can never hurt!
• Give several reminders about the club’s meetings,
especially during the first month of schools. Try to
diversify the methods of promotion. Examples include
putting up posters around the school (especially on the
stairs and near water fountains), making announcements
on the school PA system, sending emails to the
membership list, hanging large banners near the school
entrance, and advertising by word of mouth in Latin
class.
Maintaining Membership
• A Welcoming Club Atmosphere. I cannot stress enough
the importance of club culture in gaining active and
enthusiastic members. Reach out to the new freshmen
and encourage them to participate in club events!
• Weekly Reminders. With academics, extracurricular
activities, and who-knows-what, all of us are prone to
forget something along the way. Send weekly updates
and announcements through email and social media
about club meetings and upcoming important dates.
Ideas for Publicity in the School
• Organize a Spirit Day! Garner all of your fellow JCLers and
set a day to wear your JCL apparel to school.
• Put together a school display case. This could include
awards, club pictures, graphic arts projects, and other
club artifacts. It’s a fantastic way to showcase club
achievements and honors to students, parents, and
school staff!
• Don’t hide your club’s accomplishments. Announce club
news on the school website, on the PA system, and in the
school newsletter.
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Ideas for Publicity in the Community
• Contact local media sources. Suggest story ideas (e.g., a
recent service event or an announcement of honors and
awards) to local newspapers and city website
coordinators. This is geared more toward small
communities rather than large cities, but it never hurts to
try!
• Have your club take part in a local 5k walk/run fundraiser.
This was a neat idea I discovered from a winner of this
past year’s NJCL Club of the Month Contest. To add a
publicity spin to the service project, carry a large banner
advertising your Latin club and wear togas or club
apparel while you walk.
VI