Red Cross Club Leadership Transitions

It’s that time of the year again: flowers start to bloom, school is almost over, and Red Cross Clubs from across the country begin to elect future leaders. As an outgoing club president, I know that this is an especially trying time for any Red Cross Officer. I’ve put together a small list of tips to facilitate an effective leadership transition for your club:

• Applications
  • Include detailed questions about potential applicants’ future vision for your Red Cross Club
  • Mention that being a part of the Executive Board of a Red Cross club will require lots of teamwork. Questions that would ask potential applicants to highlight previous experience working as a team can often be beneficial
  • Ask about other club activities – running a Red Cross Club is time-consuming and future leaders need to be able to dedicate a significant amount of time to your Red Cross Club.
• Interviews
  • Interviews are a crucial way to understand each applicant’s personality and can allow them to emphasize specific parts of the application
  • Interviews should not be a high-stress environment. The applicants are all motivated students who are your peers!
  • Read each applicant’s application before their interview and come prepared with thoughtful questions. Remember, this is the time to learn more about the future leaders of your club!
• Election and Speeches
  • For some clubs, the current Vice-President of your club is the point-person in conducting the election and counting the votes each candidate receives.
  • Consult your local RVSO or Red Cross Advisor for any help you may need in setting up an election.
• After the Election
  • Meet with the new members of your Club’s leadership! They are just getting started, and it’s important that you show them the ropes. Maybe your club has a special tradition you want to pass on? Maybe they need access to the Club room? Meeting with new members will allow for a more seamless and complete transition in the fall.

Once again, this is going to be a long process. However, know that by playing a key role in your club’s transition will ensure that the future leadership will be strong. Remember, youth are the backbone of this organization. By helping empower your peers to become leaders within their school, you are doing your part to strengthen the Red Cross message and mission!

Feel free to sign up for an Office Hours appointment with me if you have any questions!

– Sujai Jaipalli, National Youth Council, Field Relations Working Group Lead