DISTRICT PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

District Public Relations Team

 

District 5470 PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

This committee promotes Rotary to external audiences and fosters understanding, appreciation, and support for the organization’s programs. It also helps Rotarians understand that effective external publicity, favorable public relations, and a positive image build support for the organization, inspire potential donors, and attract possible candidates for membership.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain contact with the district governor and key committee chairs to stay informed about district projects and activities that can be promoted — particularly those that are of interest to the general public.

• Promote Rotary to external audiences, such as the media, community leaders, potential partner organizations, program beneficiaries, and the general public.

• Contact the media with newsworthy stories of district projects and events, and share district and club stories via social media.

• Share Rotary public relations materials with clubs and encourage them to make public relations outreach a priority, using both traditional and digital media.


• Seek opportunities to speak to individual clubs about the importance of club public relations, including developing websites geared toward the general public.

• Promote all aspects of Rotary activities, such as PolioPlus, the six areas of focus, grant successes, alumni activities, and awards to districts and the Rotary community. Training and Support Committee members should attend public relations workshops held in conjunction with Rotary training meetings whenever possible, as well as the regional seminar held by the Rotary public image coordinator.
 KEY MESSAGES • Strategize public relations outreach as part of project planning. • Incorporate both traditional and social media in public relations efforts. • Club members, as members of the community, know the local media and should use that knowledge and their connections.

• Clubs should take good public relations outreach ideas and make them fit their local needs.

RESOURCES

• Rotary’s Media Center — Multimedia site featuring the latest news stories, Rotary advertisements, and links to Rotary social media sites. • Rotary PR Tips — A brief e-newsletter that provides examples of Rotary in the news, PR tools and training, and outreach ideas.

• Weekly Update — E-newsletter highlighting the latest Rotary news.  It can be used for club and district newsletters and websites.

• Endpolionow.org — New website that has compelling stories about polio eradication that you can share; interactive, dynamic graphics that help you tell the story; information about how donations can be used to fight polio; and links to polio communications resources that will help you educate and inspire others to end polio now.

• Rotary public image coordinators — The 41 RPICs appointed by the RI president-elect work to enhance the public image of Rotary by increasing recognition of the organization’s humanitarian efforts among Rotarians and the general public. This involves helping clubs and districts communicate Rotary’s success stories to the media, local government officials, civic leaders, and communities. RPICs can help with applications for public image grants and assist and train at district seminars.