PDG Gina Growden, Rotary Public Image Coordinator 2018-2021 has sent us the Zone 8 Public Image Newsletter.
Features are:
Do we need Rotary Police?
Bushfire relief update
Polio: Goal within Grasp, but Help is Needed
For the cost of a cup of coffee: How to win with Facebook advertising
Relating to the media
TELLING OUR ROTARY STORIES
To my mind Past Rotary International President, Ron Burton will forever be remembered for two things. Firstly his statement that there is no such thing as Rotary Police, and secondly his demonstration that Rotary’s bible—the Manual of Procedure –is not a rigid book by flexing it vigorously during a presentation to incoming District Governors at the Penrith Zone Institute in 2016. The message was clear: although there were guidelines to how Rotary should be run, clubs and districts have permission to include some flexibility in how they implement those rules and regulations whilst going about their Rotary business.
Unfortuna
tely, this flexibility has often been liberally applied to our public image, and in particular to our use of the Rotary logo which, I believe, has been detrimental to us achieving the public image we strive for.
I’m still not sure if it’s through ignorance or a ‘near enough is good enough’ attitude which results in clubs and districts continuing to use outdated or non-compliant logos when promoting their events or service projects.
If it is through ignorance then it’s you—the club & district leaders (who are the main readers of this newsletter!)—who have failed in your roles. You haven’t educated your members properly! You are the ones who need to take responsibility for ensuring that your clubs and your districts are using the correct branding at all times. You are the ones who have the influence to ensure that your club and district merchandise is up to the required standards. Every time a Facebook post, an event flyer, a club or district website is viewed displaying the old or a non-compliant logo, or your club members are seen at a Rotary fundraiser or service project wearing club polo shirts and name badges with a old, outdated logo, our public image is weakened.
And if it’s through apathy, it’s still your responsibility. As a club or district leader you need to ensure that all material that emanates from your club or district is correct!
Rotarians have been known to criticise me and my public image team for not organising a nation- wide event that will ‘put Rotary on the map’ and raise our public image to the level they desire. I’ve always advocated that we need to get the basics right before we even contemplate such an event—if we could ever afford to run one! In my experience achieving the basics is still a long way off!
So maybe we do need Rotary Police so we can ‘encourage’ recalcitrant Rotarians to do the right thing. Maybe then our public image will really start to improve!
PDG Gina Growden
Rotary Public Image Coordinator 2018-2021