PUBLIC RELATIONS - UPDATE

District Conference District PR Committee Chairs 7070 Chairman: Dave Andrews, Oshawa – Parkwood 7080 Chairman: Steve Rhodes, Brampton

District Conference Our Goal Today  Our Goal today is to:  Update you on the Multi District PR Grant Application  Show you a PR Checklist for your Club  Provide some PR do’s and don’ts  Show you some PR resources & tools  Encourage the use of social media to enhance Rotary’s Public Image  Share your “best PR practices from your own Rotary club with all of us

District Conference Our Goal Today  A more detailed version of our presentation will be available to you on the 7070 and 7080 websites on Monday, October 22, 2012  So sit back, relax, and join in the fun as we travel through Rotary and Public Relations

District Conference Why is Public Relations Important?

District Conference Survey- Who knows what about Rotary From Jan 2012 The Rotarian Magazine – page 53 –In 2010, RI surveyed 1,000 people in each of 6 countries: Argentina, Australia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, USA: – To gauge the general public’s awareness and perception of Rotary The results are consistent with those found in 2006

District Conference Survey- Who knows what about Rotary Pauline Leung, Rotary’s Public Image general coordinator says: –"Sometimes Rotarians are doing too many things and can get people confused about Rotary. –We must have consistency when promoting the image of Rotary. –Rotarians should receive training so they can clearly express our position, our vision, our values, and our areas of focus."

District Conference From Rotary’s Strategic Plan One of the 3 Strategic Priorities in the Plan: Enhance Public Image and Awareness

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Multi District PR Grant for  The Rotary International Board of Directors has approved the continuation of Public Relations (PR) Grants in  PR Grants are designed to assist districts to reach the general public by promoting Rotary and improving Rotary’s public image.  Grants are awarded to districts worldwide on a competitive basis.

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Multi District PR Grant Details  Only districts are eligible to apply. One application will be considered per district OR  Districts can combine their efforts and submit a Multi District Grant.

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Multi District PR Grant Details  PR Multi District Grant application was signed and approved by 5 District Governors and sent to RI Headquarters before the March 4, 2012 deadline. Here is what we were awarded: $45,000.00

Humanity In Motion V The Missing Piece

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Multi District PR Grant Details  Humanity In Motion V Public Television Service Announcement entitled “The Missing Piece”…. …..

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Multi District PR Grant Details  Humanity In Motion V Public Television Service Announcement entitled “The Missing Piece”…. It goes like this …..  “Making the world a better place is an intricate puzzle and piece by piece, the women and men of Rotary have worked hard to fight hunger, promote literacy, and move the world toward peace. But there is still much to be done, still some missing pieces, and one of those missing pieces is you. Learn how you can help Rotary put together a better world at Rotary.org…Rotary… Humanity in Motion.”

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Multi District PR Grant Roll Out Plan  Ask Club Presidents to  Inform all of their club members with the broadcast schedule.  Encourage the Club members to see the Humanity In Motion V Public Service Announcement. They must be familiar with the PSA in case they get questions from their friends and family and the general public.

District Conference A PR checklist for your club PR Checklist: 1.The importance of getting Rotary's image out to the public. 2.Does your club have a Public Relations Chair? 3.Do you know the media in your area? 4.Do you send out press releases? Regularly? 5.News media as members of your club? 6.News Media Theme Week at a weekly Rotary meeting? 7.Who are our publics? Who are your audiences? 8.Tools of the trade

District Conference 1. Getting Rotary’s image to the public  Public Relations informs communities around the world that Rotary is a credible organization that meets real needs.  When your Rotary club has a positive public image, your members are motivated to be active and to be looking for prospective members to join your club.

District Conference 2. PR chair for your club Does your Club have a Public Relations Chair?  Does your Club have a Public Relations Committee?  Do you have the Club PR Manual?  Has The PR Committee read the Club PR Manual?  Has The PR Committee met?  Does your PR Committee have a plan?

District Conference Club PR committee role Your PR committee’s role in your club:  Has your club developed a plan to provide the public with information:  about Rotary  about your club’s service projects and activities

District Conference 3. Know the media in your area Print – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Regional, SNAP Radio – Local Stations TV – Local, National, Cable Do you know the news editors at each media location?  Give them a call.  Invite them to a Rotary Meeting

District Conference Some media tips What the media don’t need  Another bingo/fundraiser function  Another handing over a cheque You are competing for time and space. Spoonfeed when necessary.

District Conference 4. Press releases Do you currently do your own press releases? Use the RI Website: Use the search bar and type in: “How to write an effective press release”

District Conference 5. News media as club members Do you have any News media as members of your club?  Are they on your PR Committee?  Are you actively searching for one to become a Rotarian?

District Conference 6. “News Media Day” Rotary meeting Do you have a News Media Day at one of your regular weekly Rotary meetings ?  Once a year?  Do you ask one of the media to be your guest speaker?

District Conference 7. Who are your publics or audiences? Rotarians and potential members Potential organizations or people who may become good sources for fundraising Potential organizations or people you have helped or may need Rotary’s help. General public – building social capital

8. Tools of the trade Evangelists Newsletters- District and Club Marketing/advertising /regular mail The media (press releases) Community events E newsletters (ClubRunner) Websites (ClubRunner) Social Media – FB, Twitter, LI, Pinterest, YouTube, Flickr, Google+

PR resources Training Manual (267) Handbook (515) Downloadable from the rotary.org website. Search media and news or search public relations Other resources Club and District newsletters..do you have one? Websites – RI, District, club – do you keep yours up to date Social Media Visit

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 The good old days We talk. You listen.

Web interaction Content is king Help people find information on membership Outline programs and activities Invite to experience Rotary Add videos – You Tube Post more photos - Flickr Cross promote (use social media)

RI’s Social Media Presence

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Rotary is on Facebook Facebook pages:  Rotary International, Rotary Foundation, End Polio Now, Rotary peace Centres, RI President Sakuji Tanaka, RI Secretary John Hewko  Rotaract Clubs  Rotary Districts  Rotary Clubs Why not your Rotary Club?

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 What is Twitter? Take Post tweets with links Retweet Use the hashtags “Simplicity has played an important role in Twitter's success. People are eager to connect with other people and Twitter makes that simple. Twitter asks one question, ‘What are you doing?’ Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web.” – Twitter

District Conference Cost effective PR Are you active in promoting your club? Local media Events Speakers tour Online In Social Media Do you allow club members to advertise and link to your website?

District Conference PR chairs and your Local Media: District Media databases for : Please send to Dave Andrews and to Steve Rhodes Your Club Name Your PR Chair name and contact info The media that you use or would like to use in your area.  Media name  Name of news editor and address

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 District PR Awards District Awards for the Club with the “best” Public Relations Practices  Show us what you have done in throughout  The PR Committees recommend to our District Governors who should receive this high honour

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 For More Information: Go to the 7070 and 7080 websites look under Public Relations Tab Links to RI PR newletters Press release writing tips Ads you can use And a gaggle of downloadable resources.

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 District websites: Provides on-line resources and up-to-date information on all aspects of Rotary in District 7070 and The 7070 website is totally new. GO Surfing.

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Best PR Practices  We want to hear from you:  What has worked for your club so far this year?  Any success stories?  What has not worked for your club so far this year?

District ConferenceOctober 11, 2015 Are you Interested? Interested in serving on the District PR committees? We can use your talents to help increase Rotary’s Public Image. For 7070, Contact Dave at or For 7080, Contact Steve at or