1. Rotary needs a strong public image
Christina Bredin
RC Västerås-Rudbeckius, D 2340
Rotary Public Image Coordinator zone 15
Vårda vårt varumärke och skapa förtroende på kort och lång sikt
One of the key priorities of Rotary’ strategic plan is to enhance public image and awareness.
We all know very well that the general lack of understanding of Rotary’s good work impedes membership growth and hampers The Rotary Foundation’s efforts to partner with corporate and individual donors to generate support for key humanitarian initiatives, such as the PolioPlus program.
Improving Rotary’s public image is critical to making sure our organization remains a vibrant community force for good.
Encourage club and district efforts to tell their story
Develop materials for clubs to help them do that
Recognize that Rotary’s public image is the responsibility of every Rotarian

2. What is
image?

3. What is
PR?
What is PR
PR - the practice of managing communication between an organization and its publics
Distinguish between PR and advertizing.
PR is unpaid, advertizing is paid for. Therefore PR is often more trustworthy. It's this third-party endorsement that gives PR its power and credibility.
PR is used to gain trust and understanding between an organisation and its various publics - whether that's employees, customers, investors, the local community - or members.
What you do, what you say, and what others say about you.
PR is what can be read in the newspapers, said on TV, everything Rotarians say about Rotary, how Rotarians act, wearing your pin, shirt, cap, etc. It is also very much about who is saying. So the higher position a rotarian has, the more he/she has to think about what he says and how she acts.
What people say becomes the truth, what they believe is true, whether you like it or not
So let’s make sure Rotarians say the right thing.

4. This Rotary ”monument” stands when you entert the town of America in Argentina.

7. Branding of your own car7

8. Effective PR always starts at home
To be effective PR has to start internally, inside the organization.
Educate the members about Rotary.
The more you know about an organization the better you like it.
In Rotary you get very impressed by all the good Rotary has done in the world.
We talk too little Rotary at the Rotary meetings because it is boring!!
Membership committée should find the non-boring way.

9. Elevator speech What is Rotary How does Rotary add value
What makes Rotary better or different from other organizations
You need to communicate your main message quickly, clearly and distinctly to someone who does not know you.
What would you most want the listener to remember about Rotary
Will help the listener to understand How Rotary adds value to the listener
What are the unique benefits of Rotary. What does Rotary do better or different than others
Easy to understand
Create a number of phrases that answers the above questions
Keep it short, max 30 seconds to deliver

10. What is the best PR for Rotary?
The best PR for Rotary is all the good projects clubs do, in particular the local ones.

11. Examples of ads used by clubs
Examples of ads used by clubs. The one to the left reads: This is why we are rotarians. Rotary. Much more than lunch meetings.
The one to the right: well known people in the community who were rotarians told why they were rotarian and what it meant to them.

12. Dates to remember October February 24 23 12
24 Oct World polio day (but also the UN day). 23 Feb Rotarys anniversary. Good opportunities to have events or activities. 12

13. Social Media A website that appeals to non-Rotarians
Add your Rotary assignements to your LinkedIn profile
Share stories through Facebook, Twitter, etc.
In Rotary we have to follow the trends among younger people and use modern ways of communication.

14. Examples of club websites in Finland
Examples of club websites in Finland. We have to create web sites that appeal to non rotarians!

15. A good start PR strategy for your district/club
PR plan for social media
Rotary stories – find them, write them, publish them
Appoint web editor
Number one is to appoint a PR chair and then create a PR-committee (three people is enough).
Then you have to develop a strategy and a plan for PR in your district/club. If you don’t, nothing will happen.

16. PI Grants For external marketing
Districts must match at least one-third of amount requested
More grant information available at
Public relations grants help districts promote Rotary to the general public and enhance Rotary’s public image. Over the last three years, Rotary International has awarded US$6 million in PR grants worldwide and received more than $31 million in complementary in-kind public relations and advertising space, indicating a strong return on Rotary’s investment.
Grants of up to US$15,000 per district. Districts must contribute at least one-third of the total grant amount requested. 15, ,000 =20,000.
Important dates and deadlines
4 March All grant applications must be submitted by this date.
1 July PR grant approval or denial will be ed to the district governor.
1 June PR grant projects must be implemented and all reimbursement requests submitted.
Creative materials
Preference will be given to districts that use Humanity in Motion and This Close materials and to customize them for their communities. Materials can be found at rotary.org/mediacenter .
Watch a short video on different ways districts have placed Rotary creative materials.
Reimbursement information
The Public Relations Grants program is a reimbursement program . When a grant application is approved, the district is responsible for implementing the PR project and paying the vendors. Districts can then submit a reimbursement form. Download the forms.
Preference will be given to districts that use Humanity in Motion and This Close materials and to customize them for their communities. Materials can be found at rotary.org/mediacenter . The Public Relations Grants program is a reimbursement program . When a grant application is approved, the district is responsible for implementing the PR project and paying the vendors. Districts can then submit a reimbursement form.
So you have to put money in your budget för PR.

17. Good projects Good PR Good members The magic circle
Good projects makes it possible to make
Good PR which will attract
Good members, who can do more good projects….
Good members

18. When people understand what Rotary does
then they will choose to join us.
PR efforts help recruitment and retention
each Rotarian MUST rememeber that he/she is a walking PR component of Rotary. Our language, our behavious, our courtesy or lack thereof -- all portray to the public is a visible proof of the character of Rotary itself. Let us never forget that. And so wearing the Rotary Pin with pride becomes a valuable plus-point. For, if you do not take pride in Rotary, how can you boost its image ?
Without good PR the Rotary club doesn't grow or get it's message out to the communities it serves.
media is hungry for "good news." They may not use everything, but keep sending it and usually it will be used when one least expects it coverage.
People cannot join us if they do not know who we are.
Make a plan
когда люди понимают, что РОТАРИ делает, то они могут выбрать, чтобы присоединиться к нам