Following Beta Club’s final meeting of the 2024-2025 school year in the Multi-Purpose Room on Monday, April 21, and upcoming graduation for senior officers of the chapter, select students were nominated and announced as candidates to be named officers. Elections progressed at the end of the meeting, with results announced in Google Classroom the following Thursday. Elected officers will represent Beta Club during the 2025-2026 school year at the Beta Convention, as well as during regular club meetings and activities.
New Beta Club officers include President Emily Burns, an upcoming senior who will serve as the head of the student body for the club next school year. Her current role as treasurer and history in the club represents a pivotal position for all members to aspire towards.
“I am currently the treasurer, so I knew that for my senior year I wanted a position with higher authority,” Burns said. “I talked to Ms. Mac and she felt it would be a good idea to run for president.”
In preparation for the selection process, nominees were notified of their candidacy prior to the meeting and were given the option to decline their nomination by noon of April 15. Those who chose to maintain their nominee status wrote speeches to be delivered at the final meeting as part of their campaigns for officer positions.
“I wanted to seem very approachable, and friendly,” Burns said about her speech. “I also wanted to show my leadership abilities, and how I have put hard work into the club.”
Nominees also wrote speeches which were delivered at the final meeting as part of their campaigns for officer positions. Their speeches presented their general goals for Beta Club and reasons to vote for them as next year’s officers.
“If I’m elected as president next year,” Burns said during her speech, “I will be sure to include ideas from members. I encourage you guys to speak up and try to get involved like I have.”
The decision of which members are nominated for officer falls upon Beta Club’s advisors. Knowledge from previous years can shape nominations, but the core values of proactive participation in the community and within the club can increase the likelihood that a member becomes a candidate. Attending meetings and being available are ways a member may improve their chances.
“I attended almost every meeting, and showed up with a good attitude,” Burns said, “I also try my best at every volunteering event to be social and meet other members of the club.”
As Bryant’s Beta Club chapter progresses, so does the level of influence that members have over introducing new service projects and general club activities. New policies such as the community service committee, which will go into effect next year, offer more opportunities for officers to lead others in their position and members to participate in community service. Mr. Bradow, an English teacher and advisor for Beta Club, listed plans for the club.
“We will discuss expanding participation in state competitions, expanding volunteer hour opportunities and making our club as active as possible,” Bradow said in an announcement on Google Classroom.
Candidates focus on advertising their strengths as a core aspect of their campaign. Beta Club relies on finding opportunities to engage in community service, which some campaigners plan to capitalize upon by promoting new service projects for the upcoming school year. As president, Burns holds a degree of responsibility for the direction of the club that the majority of members lack.
“I have been very active in all the volunteer opportunities posted,” Burns said. “I also co-hosted a fundraiser for the school’s food bank, The Nest. I really want to make the meeting more meaningful and organized. I also want to get more people involved with the Nest.”
For Beta Club, officers serve as the main line of communication between the advisors at the top of the chain of command and the club members, some of whom plan to become officers in the future.
“I love all the other officers, so another goal of mine is to work with them to make sure they feel fulfilled with their role in Beta Club,” Burns said.
