Posted by Julie Johnson, District 9510 Rotary Public Image Chair

When your club makes public image a priority, be prepared to see engagement rise. Showcasing how your projects make an impact in the community and touch people's lives gives the public an understanding of what Rotary does. Even better, it inspires people to get involved, says Julie Johnson, District 9510 Rotary Public Image Chair.....

“The more the public sees our brand out there in the community, in the media, and on social media, the more opportunities we have for the public to connect with us,” says Johnson. “The rest – fellowship, professional development, connections – will grow from there.”

Having a Public Image Chair is a great way to prioritize your club’s image. They can coordinate club messages and provide a consistent Rotary voice in communications. And the Brand Center is where they can find tools such as templates, images, and videos to create compelling ads, flyers, social media posts, and press releases. Learn more about making public image a priority in this Rotary Voices blog post.

 

Why your club needs a public image chair

Posted on 

By Bernd Meidel, District 1950 Public Image Chair (Germany)

Bernd Meidel

Bernd Meidel

It’s important that Rotary and Rotaract clubs tell their stories in ways that help communities understand what Rotary does and why our work matters so as to inspire others to get involved. Appointing a club public image chair can increase your success at making the club’s communications consistent and unmistakably Rotary.

As the District 1950 Public Image Chair (Germany), I have been responsible for promoting Rotary and its activities on the district level and helping clubs develop their public image. Here are a few things I have observed:

Why you should have a public image chair

When a club promotes itself and its work, they are increasing Rotary’s awareness in the community. But it’s also difficult for those club members who are organizing service projects to be responsible for marketing them too. A public image chair can help with all of that. They can manage the club’s public relations, press, and marketing in a coordinated and consistent way throughout the entire Rotary year, across projects.

What a club public image chair does

The chair is responsible for designing flyers and posters, writing press releases, updating the website, managing the club’s social media presence, and making sure the club logo is used properly and consistency. Ideally, the club public image chair would manage a team with the appropriate skills to help, all working together to showcase the club and their members as people of action.

What qualifications are needed

The chair should have experience in marketing, journalism, copywriting, or digital media. Photo or video creation and editing is also a plus, as is having existing contacts to local journalists.  

Available resources to help you succeed

The Rotary Brand Center contains templates that are extremely helpful. I also recommend club public image chairs meet regularly with the district public image chair via digital networks or events to share ideas and strategize.

Bernd Meidel is a member of the Rotary Club of Schweinfurt-Peterstin, Germany.