Everything we do to interact with fellow Rotarians is a conversation. Meeting announcements, the club newsletters that are sent out, the items we post on our website and Facebook pages … each tells a story and engages our Rotarians in conversation.
As those responsible for fundraising for The Rotary Foundation (TRF), we know that communication is key. We are (or should be) engaged in conversations with our fellow Rotarians about supporting TRF on a regular basis.
Here are some conversations you can have with fellow club members at meetings, in person, on the phone, in your newsletter, on your website, and on your Facebook site (listed in no particular order):
1. Outcomes – Tell fellow members about the impact we are making through their donations by showing the outcomes of your work locally and globally.
2. Recipients – Share stories about your club projects and how they are helping recipients to change lives.
3. Founding – Share how Rotary was founded, and how it has grown and evolved over the past 100+ years. Check this article out for more.
4. Donors – Share why Rotarians give or have donors talk about their passions.
5. Community – Talk about the community you serve and how it has been impacted because of your club’s work and the generosity of your Rotarians.
6. Volunteers – Get Rotarians to tell their stories - why they joined, why they got involved and what motivates them to stay involved in your programs and projects.
7. Case for Support – Know why there is a need for support for your club projects and make it educational through brief “Rotary Minute” presentations during announcements.
8. Fiscal Stewardship & Leadership – Remind your Rotarians that TRF is a worldwide non-profit leader. Share our recent Charity Navigator Four Star Rating of the The Rotary Foundation and our 10-year string of perfect scores.
9.Programs/Projects – Have Rotarians share one or more of your club’s local and/or international projects and how district designated grants helped multiply the amount of money available to implement the work.
10. The Problem – Keep fellow Rotarians apprised of “the problem:” the disease (polio or other), a situation or a struggle that The Rotary Foundation and/or your club is in business to solve or help.
There is plenty to talk about with your club members. The more you engage them in educational conversations, the better your relationship with them will be … and as we all know, great donor relationships lead to stronger and more stable fundraising endeavors.
*SPECIAL NOTE: The $100,000 PolioPlus campaign of Denver Club 31 to recognize Grant Wilkins for his past Rotary International Board of Directors’ leadership and emphasis on polio eradication has raised $99,859 (99.9859%). Clubs are encouraged to achieve their own polio goals for 2017-18.
District Designated Funds (DDF) for local and small international grants are being awarded daily. Funds are almost expended for this Rotary year. If you intend to submit a grant, submit it to Carolyn Schrader soon. Global grant funds are still available.
Our District 5450 Polio Committee has developed a speakers bureau of seven Rotarians to present programs to our clubs. Consider what areas of information are of greatest interest to your members and contact one of our presenters. See each speaker’s topics and contact information here.
No new paralytic cases of wild polio virus (WPV1) were reported on February 21. Circulating virus-derived poliovirus cVDPV is now present in Nigeria, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. These are all isolated from environmental samples, and the only reported paralytic cases are in The Democratic Republic of Congo. Emergency responses are underway. Our efforts are making this happen!
Poliovirus Weekly Update 21-Feb-2018, World Health Organization
New wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 0
Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 3 (Afghanistan)
Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2017: 22
New cVDPV cases reported this week: 3 (not confirmed)
“Money alone does little good. Individual service is helpless without money.
The two together can be a godsend to civilization.”
Arch Klumph, father of The Rotary Foundation -
Your financial resources combined with your time, energy, and talent is critical to Rotary’s mission ... click here to make your gift to The Rotary Foundation today.
For more information on any of these stories or the Foundation
contact Gail Lehrmann at glehrmann@aol.com
