Two U.S. Rotary clubs recently gained high-profile local media coverage by using a news release template provided by Rotary International. When the White House honored Carolyn Crowley Meub of the Rotary Club of Rutland South, Vermont, and Anil Garg of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, California, as Champions of Change last week, their clubs issued press releases customized from the template. Crowley Meub was then featured on Vermont Public Radio, and Garg was interviewed by the Ventura County Star. You can watch a recording of the Champions of Change event here.

Build your website with a public audience in mind with help from Rotary’s Media Center. Make sure your home page has something to offer non-Rotarian visitors, including web videos, high-resolution images, and news about club activities. Your club’s online presence directly affects its public image, so focus on showing what Rotary can do, both in your community and around the world. Read more tips.

If you are attending the 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, 6-9 May, share updates through your online social networks. Whether you’re meeting new Rotarians or hearing inspirational speakers, your stories can help enhance Rotary’s image. Post inspiring quotes, images of new friends, or even a video.

 

And during the week of the convention, follow the official Rotary account on Twitter, which will include both preconvention and convention news, including information on a Tweetup. Follow the convention hashtag #ricon12 on Twitter to stay connected.

 

If your district submitted a 2012-13 PR grant application, thank you for all the effort you put into it. Rotary’s public image team has received many excellent applications and will consider each one carefully. If any items are missing from your application, you will be contacted soon. All notifications of grant awards will be sent by 1 July.