By Madison Watts

Features Editor

Reynolds is the only school in the area that can boast such involved and tradition-filled service clubs, some of which – like Key Club – have been around for more than 60 years. What helps keep Reynolds’ service clubs around for so long? The hard work and dedication of their leaders.

Being the president of a service club is the Reynolds equivalent of being student council president or senior class president at any other school. The students selected for the job are the ones who keep traditions such as the Key Club Follies, the Homecoming assembly, the Key Club Canned Food Drive, and Octoberfest (or this year, Spring Fling) alive and well.

Recently, many clubs held elections and selected new members to take on the role of president. The election process is no breeze, as there are many competent candidates.

This year, Girl’s Council had seven girls run for two coveted co-president positions. Juniors Hayley Geis and Jordan Gross won the heated contest. Both girls’ pre-election speeches focused on their honesty, hard work and love for the club.

“I decided to run because the GC president from my freshman year basically became my big sister,” Geis said. “I wanted to be able to impact the other girls and help them along the way just like I was helped.”

Clubs elect their new leaders at different times. Juniors Evanne Timberlake and Alex Hoots won the Senior Girls Service Club co-presidency, while junior Brady Buchanan earned the solo role of Key Club president. Sophomores Lydia Odom and Alicia Paul won the Reynolds Girls’ Club co-presidency.

Other clubs have not yet had elections. Neither Reynolds Arts Service Club (RASCals) nor Ebony Society has chosen who will lead the club in 2012-2013. Junior Anita Patel is planning on running for president of RASCals, which will be holding elections soon.

“I’ve been in RASCals since freshman year and seeing all the past presidents go through, I want to be able to live up to them (if elected),” Patel said. “I also want to make sure that RASCals gets the recognition it deserves.”

Hoots has similar hopes for her term as SGSC co-president.

“I’m looking forward to being president because I’ve always wanted to be the person who stands at the front of Ms. (Scottie) House’s room giving the meetings because I felt like everyone looked up to them and really listened to what they had to say,” Hoots said. “And I’m excited for our club to brainstorm and come up with other service projects that SGSC can participate in.”

RGC advisor Camie Bell said that the most important quality of a president is the ability to do just that. She hopes that next year’s presidents will be able to find new and different events for the club.

Those who have already taken over the clubs have realized that doing so is easier said than done. Running for and then being elected is only half the battle. The second half is learning to efficiently manage the club.

As Buchanan quickly learned, taking over the big job requires both time spent in the limelight (Buchanan’s first act as president was opening the Key Club Follies) and a lot of hard work spent organizing and planning. Geis agreed that there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

“We (the presidents) are in charge of making the schedules for each week and lining up plenty of service opportunities for the girls each quarter,” Geis said about her role in GC. “The hardest part so far has just been learning the ropes and getting a feel for how to handle the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, such as making sure there are enough girls for each event and listening to all the concerns the girls might have.”

Buchanan echoed those sentiments. He said he is responsible for running the meetings, tallying the hours and writing a report of the club’s activities at the end of the year.

The job also has its perks. Geis said she has enjoyed being a part of something bigger as she watches each project come together. She looks forward to expanding the role of the club in the community and getting all the girls interested in the spirit of service, not just the hours. She also liked bonding with her co-president and fellow club members.

Added Buchanan: “I feel really good when I’ve accomplished something or worked hard, and I enjoy organizing.”