1. District 5790 Public Relations To view this PowerPoint show, hit your F5 button or tell PowerPoint to Play Show. Use enter, space bar or your right arrow key to move to the next slide.

2. District 5790 Public Relations Spreading our Message A special how-to with tips and resources for clubs Rotary District 7590 * www.rotary5790.org

3. About this show This show is third in a series meant to give tips on spreading your Rotary messages and resources to help you find answers to questions. Space bar or hit enter to progress to next slide. Hyperlinks and bookmarks should be active. You will need to view the PowerPoint in “show mode” (hit F5) for them to work. Use your mouse to click on them.

4. Planning your public relations Story ideas may pop up, but ideally your public relations effort will be planned.

5. Places to look for ideas Planning your Rotary public relations Look in editorial calendars published by publications. Look for months where they are focusing on things that your club focuses on…education, health, nonprofits, etc. Sometimes these are located online in media kits or advertising kits. Look at special sections or segments about community leaders. One example is the Dossier section of the Fort Worth Business Press where local business leaders are highlighted. Your new president might make a good dossier feature. Look at District 5790’s calendar (more in a later slide) Look at Rotary International’s calendar

6. Places to look for ideas Planning your Rotary public relations Create a calendar or list of your programs Identify which programs have potential newsworthiness Watch the PR e-mails from the district (upcoming slide) and Rotary International Look through Rotary International’s collection of PSAs (public service ads/announcements)collection of PSAs See what media opportunities and outlets exist in your area Look for other stories in the media spotlight that tie into your programs or events

7. District 5790 Calendar Planning your Rotary public relations  July 1 – New Rotary Year – a short blurb to the local media about your new president and/or other leaders  Sept. 18 – End Polio Now Night at the Texas Rangers – This is a district-wide event at the game against Los Angeles  Ideas: If a group from your locale travels in, take pictures for local media or blog from event. You could send a “brief” report from the game to the sports desk. Sports writers & columnists are looking for human interest to attract other readers to their section.  Oct. 24 – World Polio Day – District would like all clubs to focus a polio-related project on this day

8. Rotary International Calendar Planning your Rotary public relations August--Membership and Extension Month September--New Generations Month October--Vocational Service Month November--Rotary Foundation Month December--Family Month January--Rotary Awareness Month February--World Understanding Month March--Literacy Month April--Magazine Month June--Rotary Fellowships Month These month celebrations might help with ideas for newsworthy stories

9. Rotary International Calendar Planning your Rotary public relations World Polio Day – Oct. 24 World Diabetes Day – Nov. 14 International Volunteer Day – Dec. 5 World Leprosy Day – Jan. 31 World Cancer Day – Feb. 4 Rotary’s Anniversary – Feb. 23 Earth Day – April 22 World Environment Day – June 5 Rotary Calendar Online Other calendar items that might help with ideas for newsworthy stories

10. Experts and sources Rotary is a gold mind for potential sources and experts who can help reporters better tell stories to their audiences.

11. Experts, Sources & Ideas Building relationships with media outlets You may not have a story to pitch, but you can build relationship with reporters and media outlets by being a resource for them. Your club has a wealth of knowledge to offer. See if members would agree to be added to a list of experts that you can submit to media outlets. There are times when reporters are hustling to find sources. Some are predictable and others depend on breaking news. Does your club have a WWII vet with a great story that could be shared on Memorial Day or V-Day? Example: Look at your local college’s Web site. Typically, it will list campus members who are experts in their field and are available to talk on subjects.

12. Experts, Sources & Ideas Building relationships with media outlets If you have a story idea, even if unrelated to Rotary, share it with a reporter. This positions you and your club as a media-friendly. Reporters are grateful for story ideas.

13. District 5790 PR Network Connecting club public relations chairs and others to share ideas, successes, etc. Public relations chairs are encouraged to join the network Simply send an e-mail to Rotary5790PR- subscribe@yahoogroups.com (use “Subscribe “as your subject line)Rotary5790PR- subscribe@yahoogroups.com Rotary District 7590 * www.rotary5790.org

14. Resources for Your Club Rotary International site: www.rotary.orgRotary International sitewww.rotary.org RI Public Service Ads/Announcements District site: www.rotary5790.orgDistrict site PR Network for District 5790: Rotary5790PR@yahoogroups.comPR Network for District 5790 PR Tips e-mail: through www.rotary.orgPR Tips e-mail Jeff Crilley’s e-newsletter: www.realnewspr.comJeff Crilley’s e-newsletterwww.realnewspr.com Effective Public Relations: a book from RotaryEffective Public Relations

15. Great Resource for Your Club Effective Public Relations is a book available through Rotary.org. Rotary.org. Rotary District 7590 * www.rotary5790.org

16. Concluding Thoughts ALL of us are responsible for spreading our message Journalists are not the enemy You CAN spread Rotary’s message Think newsworthy, not noteworthy District PR Committee is here to help Rotary District 7590 * www.rotary5790.org

17. Sources & Contact Images and logos from Rotary.org Effective Public Relations: A Guide for Rotary Clubs (pr@rotary.org)pr@rotary.org Inside Reporting by Tim Harrower The PR Style Guide by Barbara Diggs-Brown Sarah Maben, Rotary Club of FW South District 5790 PR Chair, 817-291-1997 mabens@charter.netmabens@charter.net, http://www.rcfws.orghttp://www.rcfws.org Rotary District 7590 * www.rotary5790.org