Real Talk: What Challenges Is Your Geology Club Facing—and How Are You Tackling Them?
Hello geology club leaders!
At the Southeastern Section Meeting, Anishma and I had the pleasure of meeting with student officers from a variety of geology clubs—and we left inspired. These students shared everything from fundraising wins to leadership challenges, and it reminded me how powerful it can be when we come together to support and learn from each other.
So, let’s keep the conversation going here in our online community!
Here are a few of the most common questions and topics that came up during our meet-up. I’d love for you to weigh in with your own experiences, ideas, or advice!
🧠 How does your club keep students engaged—especially non-majors or new students?
Some clubs said it’s tough to keep momentum going as leadership changes or when students outside the department lose interest.
→ Have you tried something that helped boost engagement or retention?
💰 What’s your go-to fundraising strategy?
Rock sales, bake sales, and raffles were all mentioned—but several clubs noted they’re struggling with cutbacks in university funding.
→ Got a creative way to raise funds or petition for more support? Drop it here!
🌄 How often does your club go on field trips—and how do you fund them?
Trips are a big draw for students, but they can be expensive.
→ Has your club found a smart way to make them affordable or partner with other groups?
🎤 Have you hosted guest speakers or alumni panels?
Some clubs would love help organizing these events but aren’t sure where to start. GSA is actively working on building out a virtual lecture library that may be able to help bring unique speakers to your meetings virtually.
→ Got a success story to share about a speaker that you hosted recently?
🎓 What would you want from GSA to help your club thrive?
Ideas from the meet-up included:
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Ready-made resources for outreach
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Help finding guest speakers
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Social media spotlights for clubs
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A better system for officer transitions
→ What’s on your wish list?
💬 Let’s use this thread to swap ideas, ask questions, and cheer each other on. Whether you’re a seasoned club or just getting started, your voice matters—and someone else in this community could benefit from what you’ve learned.
Drop a comment below and let’s build something awesome together. 👇
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Macie Schiller
Project Manager - GSA Governance
Geological Society of America
Boulder CO
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