Rotary Day demonstrates the value of Rotary to the community, to the world and to our members. It is not just about finding new members. It is also about raising awareness about what Rotary stands for and what we do.
This awareness needs to be raised across all demongraphics, not just people better off financially, not just people established in their careers, not just people thinking of retirement, but everyone, every income level, every generation. Clubs need to showe that they are diverse in their membership and in how they engage in their community through their projects and supporting publicity.
Although it could be, Rotary Day need not be a one-off event for clubs. It is best regarded as an activity that can accompany all our projects. It is a way of doing great publicity.
The Rotary Day brochure can be Downloaded at https://my.rotary.org/en/document/rotary-days-brochure
Look at https://www.rotaryoceania.zone/page/snapshot-self-help-series for more resource and ideas about great publicity including placing every project and event into your club calendar and making this visible on your district calendar so others can support you, and finishing with the creation of a great story on your club website and further distributed via your social media and district newsletter.
In an effort to increase membership and highlight Rotary’s inspiring work, RI President Barry Rassin is urging clubs and districts to organize fun, informal community events called Rotary Days.
"Rotary Days events will offer you the chance to have an impact in your community, build long-term partnerships, increase interest in membership, and improve Rotary’s image," Rassin said.
Any club, big or small, can host a Rotary Day. Neighboring clubs can pool their resources and co-host an event, and entire districts can come together for a large-scale Rotary Day.
Tips for planning a Rotary Day:
- Consider including a hands-on service project as part of the event to let visitors see for themselves how Rotary benefits the community.
- Feature guests that appeal to a non-Rotary audience. Consider young leaders, inspirational speakers, celebrities, musicians, or other public figures.
- If the event will offer food, keep it simple — for example, a self-service buffet rather than a formal, sit-down meal.
- Advocate on local issues related to Rotary’s areas of focus by calling attention to challenges that affect people in your area.
- If you charge admission, keep prices low. Ask local businesses to sponsor your event.
- Welcome families and make the event enjoyable for them.
- Present Rotary as an appealing opportunity for potential members to make new friends, exchange ideas, and take action to improve their community and the world. Avoid using Rotary jargon or referring to club traditions.
- Highlight the work of local Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, Rotary Community Corps members, and other community members who do extraordinary humanitarian work.
- Recognize non-Rotary community members who demonstrate Rotary’s service ideals.
- Sponsor an event with a partner organization to show that, by working together, we make a deeper and more lasting impact on communities.
- Ask local news media to cover the event.
- Collect participants’ contact information, and invite them to future club events.
- Partner with local civic groups, service organizations or local businesses.
During and after your event, post photos and videos with the hashtag #RotaryDay to social media. We’ll collect photos of Rotary Day events around the world and show them at the 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany. Some may also appear in Rotary media throughout the year.