GOVERNOR'S NOTES

January 18, 2006

Boosting Rotary club membership

with great Public Relations

By Christine Sanders

From: The Rotarian Web exclusive

"Rotary has been doing a lot of advertising in my community recently, surrounding the centennial celebrations. Hearing the radio advertisements piqued my interest, and I went looking for more information about Rotary. I am very interested in becoming a member of a local Rotary club."  — from Robert Kasian's prospective member form, submitted on 23 February 2005, Rotary's 100th anniversary. He joined the Rotary Club of Kamloops Aurora Centennial, British Columbia, Canada, on 1 May.

Throughout the 2004-05 centennial year, Rotary clubs worldwide pulled out the stops to publicize Rotary in local newspapers, magazines, TV broadcasts, and other media outlets. One clear measurement highlights the campaign's success: an increased interest in membership.

Following heightened media coverage during 2004-05, the number of prospective member forms submitted worldwide increased by 13 percent, compared with 2003-04. Non-Rotarians complete these forms, available at www.rotary.org, to express interest in joining a club.

Many clubs and districts that launched previous public image campaigns can attest to the benefits of publicity:

• In January 2003, an interview with past RI President Luis V. Giay about Rotary's educational programs aired on "CNN En Español." Over the next month, there was a 683 percent increase in prospective member forms submitted from Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Nearly all of the prospective members reported that they had seen the television program about Rotary.

• In July 2004, the London Times published an article and a letter to the editor about the changing membership and activities of Rotary clubs in the United Kingdom. BBC Radio also aired a segment about local clubs. Nearly three times more prospective member forms were submitted from the UK during this period of heightened publicity than during a typical month.

For materials designed for clubs, visit the Effective Public Relations section.  [Also, forward this article to your club's Public Relations Chair.  If your club does not have a PR Chair, appoint one today and have fun building the Awareness of Rotary in your community]

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

 - Club Projects -

NOTE: Submit your Club's project information and photos

to Kevin Barron for publication

WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE

OPPORTUNITY STILL AVAILABLE FOR ALL

OF OUR D-6760 CLUBS!

By now you have heard District Governor Vanderford endorse the project undertaken in Honduras by the Franklin Noon Club.  Each year it has gotten larger and more aggressive in addressing basic needs in the second poorest nation in this hemisphere.  If your club has not already dedicated itself to a WCS project, the Honduras Project might be an opportunity for you.  In this, we have a historic Rotary opportunity to leave a huge District 6760 “footprint” in an area of the world that currently has little more to look forward to than a miserable, daily survival.  To this end, 100% of any funds entrusted to this project are used solely in the project. 

An additional benefit, beyond helping the people of Honduras and meeting your WCS goal, is promoting your club and the objectives of Rotary within your community.  To this end, I will submit a press release to the local news media that you designate, documenting your club’s involvement in this international project on two occasions.  First, prior to initiating the project, outlining your contribution and second, upon completion of that year’s project, giving the results of the total effort, including pictures.  By committing your club, you can create community awareness of Rotary’s international involvement, enhance your image within your community and spark interest in Rotary.  Being an active, vibrant club will promote opportunities to recruit new members as well as retain your present membership.

The project for this Rotary year is providing both water and electricity to forty houses, 240 people, of the La Libretad neighborhood in the city of El Triunfo on the Nicaraguan border.   A budget has been firmed to accomplish this goal.  However, the desire is to make this a model project by adding latrines to most of the homes and providing an above ground cistern called a “pila”.  

For more information contact any of the following Rotarians:

Ronnie Strickland, Franklin Noon Club ( honduron@yahoo.com)

Dan Florida, Franklin Noon Club ( dflorida@mtemc.com)

Harrison Crabtree, Franklin Noon Club ( hcrabtree@fidata.com)

David Hartley, Spring Hill Club ( dhartley@mtemc.com)

Mike Woods, Smyrna Club ( ezstore@bellsouth.net)

Neal Beard, Lawrenceburg Club ( nbeard@lorettotel.net)

Yours in Rotary,

Ronnie Strickland

Chairman, World Community Service

District 6760

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

- Supporting Our Foundation -

SURVEY: TRF Needs Your Feedback!

CLICK HERE to Participate in The Rotary Foundation's Future Vision Committee Survey of Rotarians

District 6760 Rotary Foundation Banquet

January 24, 2006 in Murfreesboro, TN

Who: Rotarians who received a Paul Harris or multiple level Paul Harris award during calendar year 2005 – be sure to bring your award with you to the event.

When: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 6 p.m.; dress in business attire

Where: Stones River Country Club, 1830 NW Broad Street, Murfreesboro

The banquet will feature special guests from The Rotary Foundation to present awards.

Space is limited! The cost is $25/person and paid reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please complete the bottom of this form and return with your check to the address below. RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 16, 2006.

Your hosts for the evening will be the Rotary Clubs of LaVergne, Murfreesboro Breakfast, Murfreesboro Noon, Shelbyville and Smyrna.

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District 6760 Foundation Banquet

Reservation Form

Rotarian Name ________________________________________ ($25 fee)

Guest _______________________________________________ ($25 fee)

Club Name ___________________________________________

E-mail address ___________________ Phone ______________________

___ Paul Harris Fellow to be awarded on Jan. 24; bring your Foundation certificate, pin and medallion

___ Multiple level Paul Harris Fellow to be awarded on Jan. 24; bring your pin

___ Major donor to be awarded on Jan. 24; bring you pin and crystal

Please send check (payable to Rotary District 6760) with reservation to:

Suzie Lindsey

Annual Campaign Chair

6944 Scarlet Ridge Drive

Brentwood, TN 37027

Questions?  Call (615) 941-5053

It's 2006, Have You Made Your Annual EREY

Contribution Yet?

Do it now, through the secure server link below: