1. Getting Started

Review your marketing and membership goals. Is your club’s priority to build membership or to enhance your club’s image and visibility in the community? Or both? Are you specifically interested in younger members? Female members? Specific classifications? Defining your desired outcomes will help you determine your strategies.


2. Evaluation

What is your current image in the community? Step back and take a good look at how others view your club. Does it match your own view? If necessary, ask family members or friends to take a look at your brochures and promotional materials.


3. Inventory

What tools do you have at your disposal? Television, radio, newspapers, the internet, posters, brochures, letterhead, stickers, promotional items are all possibilities. What do you need? There are many support materials available from RI, check out the Public Relations section of the RI web site and the on line catalogue. CD’s containing billboards, posters, radio and TV ads are all available from RI and easily personalized for your club. You might not have to reinvent the wheel - if you take advantage of materials that already exist. You’ll simply need to add your club’s contact information to customize the materials.


4. Be Relevant

The number of not-for-profit organizations has exploded in recent years. Every affliction or cause seems to have organized as self-standing organizations. They all contribute to society, but they also all compete for public attention. When you pick your club’s philanthropic activities have a plan of how Rotary will be recognized. Will the local news media give your event attention? Will the project make your club more attractive to prospective members? These considerations may sound selfish, but the greater your club’s visibility, the more members you can recruit and more service you can give in the future. Every Rotary club must make promoting itself a priority.


5. Go Online

Take advantage of e-mail and other computer-related opportunities such as community chat sites and message boards to spread the word about your Rotary club. Meeting notices, minutes, and general updates can be e-mailed to your club members, prospective members, and important community leaders with the push of a button. Check with your local chamber of commerce and newspaper to see if they will post your club’s banner ad or link on their web sites. Stay on top of technology! The future opportunities are unlimited!


6. Create Community Partnerships

Historically, Rotary clubs have partnered with organizations, but often that relationship involves Rotary donating to a cause without asking for anything in return. Create a true partnership. If your club donates funds to the local hospital, school or community organization find out what that they can do in return. Possibilities include: designating at least one employee for membership, providing a speaker for key events, acknowledging Rotary in its printed materials or advertisements, sponsoring your newsletter with an advertisement, using its staff to produce Rotary public-service pieces, etc. What does your partner have that would benefit your club? Rotary’s generosity benefits other organizations, but Rotary has neglected to ask for anything in return. Ask, ask, ask! By expanding Rotary we can expand service.


7. Tell Your Story in a Club Brochure

At the center of its promotional materials, every club should distribute a simple but concise brochure.