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Editorial
"BEAR Club in dire need of adviser"
Originally published in Ka Leo O Wai'anae, September/October 2003

Editorial Winner, American Society of Newspaper Editors/Quill and Scroll International Writing and Photography Contest
First Place Editorial Winner, National Federation of Press Women High School Journalism Contest - Western At-Large Division

Note: After this editorial was published, not one, but two teachers volunteered to advise the BEAR Club - all from reading the editorial.

As school clubs start off another year with meetings and activities, the Beautification, Environmental Awareness and Recycling Club (BEAR) Club is at a standstill. After only a semester, they are without an adviser. It is imperative that the club have an adviser so it can conduct the necessary environment-related activities to which the club is dedicated.

The club's former adviser has other responsibilities that have forced her to give up advising, which is understandable. The BEARs have spent the first two months of the school year in search of an adviser, but to no avail.

The BEAR Club made a successful debut at the start of second semester last school year. They co-volunteered alongside the LEO Club in the WHS chapter of the annual Great Hawai'i Cleanup. Members also hosted an after-school growing workshop, in which members learned how to recycle the school's milk cartons into decorative flower pots.

The fact that students founded the club is what makes BEAR unique. Students were also responsible for planning and organization. And unlike other clubs, there is no hierarchy; there are no officers in charge. No one student is in the spotlight or holds more responsibility than the rest of the members. Only coordinators are left to plan activities and facilitate meetings.

Another intriguing quality of the BEAR Club is how it focuses on environmental awareness. While the WHS administration banned students from eating lunch outside the cafeteria last school year due to trash problems, the BEARs proved that there were indeed a few students that cared about their surroundings. For instance, during the Great Hawai'i Cleanup, club members, with the help from some LEOs, went as far as fishing out trash from the school's canal!

Without an adviser, BEAR is unable to perform activities. Although the school activities coordinator gave permission to conduct its first meeting, they still need an adviser to supervise events the club plans to host throughout the year.

Perhaps the main solution the BEAR Club's advising problem is persistence. The club is already considering holding a meeting, open to new and old members, as well as teachers interested in advising. This way, teachers can witness for themselves the level of responsibility and dedication the students have. An announcement in the daily bulletin could also work - although it would require teachers to actually read it.

It would be a shame to have this incredible, student-run club, dedicated to improving the local environment, lay to waste. With so much potential, all it needs is an adviser to help guide it.