Students are already preparing for the upcoming Club Day on Sept. 16.

Over 50 students attended the lunchtime Sept. 1 Club Orientation Meeting in the ERC, which informed students of required paperwork, club day procedures, and fundraising policies. Students interested in starting or continuing a club needed to acquire the mandatory Palo Alto High School Club Petition form in order to be recognized as an official club. This petition must be on file before students may make club announcements in the Paly Bulletin, and students interested in hosting a table at Club Day must turn in their club petition form by tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 9.

According to Student Activities Director, Joann Vaars, students not present at the meeting may still register a club later in the year, yet they will not be able to request a table for Club Day. Paints and paper are available in the SAO for creating table banners.

With possibly 50 to 60 clubs this year, students will have a wide range of sign-up choices on Club Day.

"Clubs give us a lot of richness at Paly," Vaars said. There will be an extended lunch period to accommodate the school event in the Quad and Paly will provide a free lunch for students.

Vaars also informed students at the meeting of changing fundraising policies. Bake sales, a common club fundraiser in previous years, will not be allowed anymore, because they do not comply with county health codes and district rules.

Changes in this policy, however, will not affect many club leaders’ plans to attract potential members with food.

"We’ll probably have a banner, food, and fliers," said junior Caterina Yuan from the Youth Community Service club.

Junior Monte Emmer, from the Gay-Straight Alliance, said the club’s table would most likely have food "with rainbows on it."

"Maybe I’ll hand out free tennis balls," junior Paula Wu from the Tennis Club said. "I’ll definitely have something to hand out."

While many plan on offering incentives for signing up, others are confident that their club alone will be enough to attract students.

"Don’t you think our club will speak for itself?" International Awareness Club member senior Eren Bilir said.

Looking forward to another successful Club Day, Vaars advised students to promote their diverse selection of clubs.
"Think about creative ways to advertise your club," Vaars said. "Please tell people — spread the word."