Twelve active student clubs and organizations are available at Palo Alto College, and if you don’t see an organization that interests you, don’t worry. You may start your own.

Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, director of Student Life, believes belonging to a club or an organization benefits students by giving them a feel for what it’s like to belong to a larger organization in the real world. "It also provides leadership opportunities," he said.

Students must follow a process before becoming an active club. To become an official school organization, an interest group must appoint a staff or faculty adviser and document at least five members.

Then the interest group must go to Student Life, located in the Student Center, to pick up a Palo Alto College Student Organization Signature form and a Sample Constitution Outline.

The Constitution must consist of:

• A PREAMBLE- which will state the purpose and goals of a group.
• ARTICLE I -must state the official name of the organization.
• ARTICLE II -will state the requirements for membership and size limitation.
• ARTICLE III (Officers)-must contain the list of officers, and their terms of office and the qualifications and duties of each officer.
• ARTICLE IV (Executive Committee)- will outline the structure of the executive committee, the method of selection and their term of office.
• ARTICLE V (Sponsors)- must have the students submit their recommendations for sponsors.
• ARTICLE VI (Meetings)- which will designate the regular meeting dates and times and provisions for calling special meetings.

Samples of other organizations’ constitutions are on file to help you write yours.

After the constitution receives its approval from the director of Student Life, the Palo Alto College Organization Signature Form must have signature approvals from one or two faculty or staff advisers, the director of Student Life and the Vice President of Student Affairs.

After the approvals, an account is established for the new organization. All active organizations receive $400 to put into their budget every year. Clubs and organizations must renew their constitutions at the beginning of each academic year for as long as they exist.

Palo Alto College currently has 12 active clubs and organizations:

• The Baptist Student Ministry’s (BSM) purpose is to provide a loving, affirming fellowship where students are enabled to grow in Christ.
• The Catholic Campus Ministry’s purpose is to offer nurturing and caring fellowship at Palo Alto College.
• The International Club’s purpose is to promote unity among the diversity of ethnic backgrounds at PAC.
• The PAC Society of Future Engineers’ goal is to unite engineering students to provide encouragement and support in their pursuit of an engineering career.
• The PAC Horticulture Club’s purpose is to encourage educational and professional relationships amongst those interested in horticulture.
• Phi Theta Kappa (Alpha Pi Iota) promotes scholarship, the development of leadership and service, and the cultivation of fellowship among qualified students of this college.
• The Spanish Club is another organization whose purpose is to promote fellowship, cooperation and understanding among Spanish language students.
• The Veterinary Tech Association’s goal is to promote the role of the Veterinary Technician in the animal health care profession.
• The Palo Alto Sports Organization provides PAC student-athletes a forum to discuss sports-related issues by exchanging ideas and the opportunity to organize fund-raising activities.
• The Student Leadership Institute’s goals are to produce a cadre of students who have superior skills, which will enable them to lead community groups.
• The Student Government Association’s goals are to foster an awareness of the students’ role in the academic community and to enhance the quality of the policy- and decision-making processes of the college.
• Club Earth’s purpose is to promote a green lifestyle and to educate students to be environmentally friendly.

Cynthia Treviño, a Journalism sophomore, is the president of Club Earth and Student Government’s Senator of Public Relations. Treviño believes she doesn’t have as much time on her hands anymore, but she thinks that it is definitely worth it.

"The networking done as a club member gives me the opportunity to be recognized on campus," she said.

The Student Government Association also hosts Club Fairs in the Student Center Annex. They had one in early October, and they are now planning to have another one sometime at the beginning of the spring semester, said Justine De Los Santos, SGA Senator of Curriculum and Instruction.

For more information, drop by the Student Life Office, Student Center, Room 100. Their office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They may also be reached at (210) 486-3125.