Written by Leah Oake

Thumbnail Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

The number of possible commonalities between two people are innumerable. People can have vastly different interests and hobbies. At Saint Mary’s, there are countless societies to coincide with people’s outside interests, but there is always the possibility of not finding a society to connect with. These instances can create an opportunity for leadership when a person decides to create their own society. If there isn’t a society that aligns with your interests, that could be the same for someone else! Creating a society can establish a place for you and others to celebrate your shared interests! To follow will be a step-by-step guide on creating your society, with tips and tricks along the way!

Step One: Come up with your theme and name.

Every society has an overlying theme which members identify with in some way. Whether it be cultural, academic or recreational. This theme can revolve around a place, a game, a sport, etc. After deciding on your theme, you need to consider what your society will be called. According to SMUSA, all society names must begin with “SMU” (e.g., “The SMU Journal”).

Step Two: Establish your society’s mission.

Each society has an objective they want to achieve. Here are some examples of different purposes that societies have stood by:

The SMU Journal - “Seeking to establish an independent student voice while promoting journalistic integrity and freedom of the press.”

The SMU Drama Society - “To support the performing arts and to provide the students of Saint Mary’s University opportunities to engage in the performing arts”

Coming up with an objective for your society is not only motivating to you—the creator— but it is also an enticer for your future members. When coming up with your purpose, you must ensure that it does not conflict with SMUSA’s mission and vision statements.

SMUSA’s mission and vision statements: https://smusa.ca/mission-vision-values

Step Three: Define the roles and responsibilities of each Executive member.

To start a society, you must have an executive board; your executive committee must have at least four members. The most common roles are the president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Each executive member must have a clear and outlined list of what they must do. This ensures that each member signs up knowing exactly what they are agreeing to.

Step Four: Compose your constitution.

A constitution governs every society. A constitution is a list of expectations and crucial topics that all the executive members to follow will have to respect. The constitution outlines the election process, meetings, impeachment information, membership hierarchies, and structure. SMUSA has a template that helps many new social creators quickly form their constitutions. The constitution is the most critical part of creating a society.

SMUSA’s constitution template: https://drive.google.com/file/d/182_-TpEFy0H-fS8E06oOIsrxwsC2cSyM/view

Step Five: Elect your Executive team.

An easy way to start your society is to find people with the same interests that your society highlights. Make sure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities. An easy way to find interested people is to create a social media account and ask other societies to help promote your search for executive members.

Step Six: Find your members.

To be considered a society, you must have twenty members. So, this is the part where you can further promote your society! Verbal communication throughout the student body can help you connect with people who would be ecstatic to join your society. Ask your friends, classmates and anyone you know who may already be involved in society. Twenty is the minimum number, but don’t stop there! Keep recruiting!

Step Seven: Make plans.

Before taking the final step, you must develop plans, events, or any society bonding activities you want to pursue with your members. These can be anything from a movie night to a dinner. A tip is to create and share a calendar dedicated to your society: go through each month and plan your meeting and event dates.

Step Eight: Submit your Ratification Form.

After gathering all of this information regarding your society, go to the SMUSA website, click “Societies”, and hit their ratification form. In this form, you submit your member list, executive member list, constitution, and proposed plans. After your ratification is accepted, there you go! Your society is ratified, which means your society is active. When you have an active society, you consistently devote a little portion of your time to the group.

Societies are a vital part of the university experience; creating your own to show your support to yourself and others will enrich your experience at SMU. Following these tips will help you create a clear society that attracts people’s attention and excitement. Be sure to take a look at the active societies to make sure the society you are creating isn’t already there!

A Guide to Creating a Society