Survey says PR an important tool for membership

Survey results

Public relations efforts help increase membership recruitment, according to about 70 percent of Rotary clubs that responded to a recent RI survey. About half the respondents said that PR also helps with retention, and 87 percent credited their club’s public relations work with raising community awareness of Rotary.

According to survey results, 80 percent of the responding clubs include PR in their annual planning, and 77 percent launch PR efforts to coincide with specific events or projects. Of the responding clubs, 57 percent have a Web site, most of which provide club information directed to the general public. Almost all respondents reported obtaining newspaper coverage, but less than 50 percent had secured coverage on television, radio, Internet, or billboards.

The most significant barriers to public relations efforts cited were lack of interest from the media and lack of funding. When asked about resources provided by RI, respondents ranked Rotary Basics (595-EN), What’s Rotary? (419-EN), This Is Rotary (001-EN), and Humanity in Motion PSAs as the most useful. Many respondents also reported using The Rotarian, or their regional magazine, and the RI Web site in their PR efforts.

The results of the survey, conducted by RI’s Membership Development and Public Relations divisions, are based on 756 responses from a random sampling of 3,269 Rotary clubs worldwide. Download the complete survey report, and order RI resources designed to help you spread the news about your club’s good work.

From the January 2008 issue of Rotary World.

17 Comments:

At 9:21AM on 7 July 2008, Karim Iqbal Bhuiyan (Noman) wrote: PR is the most important technique to get potential person as member of ROTARY. Potential members are the asset of our Rotary movement. They will help out to achieve our national & international Goals

At 8:18AM on 28 April 2008, Damisola Matti-Balogun wrote: PR is a vital role and this is the main means by which the world can know what ROTARY is all about. It will actually acquire more members, retain members and as well show the globe what we do as a ROTARIANS. Damie

At 10:16AM on 26 March 2008, manuel mack wrote: rotary is an org known for meeting the needs of the least previledge once manuel

At 9:18AM on 10 March 2008, PP Arrow Sinha Roy wrote: A core PR activity should be directed towards creating public awareness of the 'work we do'. So attractive 'signage' at every location where a Rotary project is going on -- is a MUST. Each District has hundreds of such locations -- of good efforts past & present. We now need to erect signs adjacent o all of them, using a uniform design & colour-scheme, so as to achieve synergy of impact. Secondly, each Rotarian MUST rememeber that he/she is a walking PR component of Rotary. Our language, our behavious, our courtesy or lack thereof -- all prtray to the public a visible proof of the character of Rotary itself. Let us never forget that. And so wearing the Rotary Pin with pride becomes a valuable plus-point. For, if you do not take pride in Rotary, how can you boost its image ?

At 8:48AM on 27 February 2008, Karen Bridgeman, President, Oak Ridge-Breakfast, Oak Ridge, Tenn., USA wrote: I want to express my thanks for the excellent materials available through Rotary's Humanity in Motion program. We were able to use these materials, along with local stories and photographs, to produce a 24-page, full-color special section that was distributed in 8,000 copies of our local newspaper, The Oak Ridger. The special section was published Feb. 20 in connection with our celebration of World Rotary Day and Rotary International's 103rd birthday, and it focused on the good work our Rotary clubs do in our community and the world. RI's materials -- ads and information -- made the task much easier and the final product look spectacularly professional. Partnering with RI gave us a great boost in a PR vehicle that also raised more than $5000 for our local charitable efforts.

At 8:24AM on 21 February 2008, Thaddeus wrote: PR is indeed a major factor. Another factor to help promote membership is helping out local communities in charitable work! I am not a member of your organisation, but am an active member of the American Legion ( veteran service organisation) and one way we increase our awareness to the American Public is fostering community help and aiding disasters across the country!

At 9:26AM on 18 February 2008, M.Sugumar,Dist.3230,Club:51285 wrote: PR is the best way to promote membership.

At 10:34AM on 11 February 2008, Rtn. Syed Azmatullah, Dist:3230 Club:70895 wrote: Public relations, nodoubt, help increase membership development. But, sustaining membership is another area. Simplicity and accessibility by most of the public are the means for sustaining membership.

At 3:00PM on 5 February 2008, Theresa wrote: Being a Public Relations practioner by education, I too feel public relations should be a number one goal in every Rotary club. Without good PR the Rotary club doesn't grow or get it's message out to the communities it serves.

At 10:27AM on 28 January 2008, William Bowden wrote: Membership is increased by a good public relations chair in each Club, all working with the policy set by RI and the District Governor plus the District Public Relations Chair. They do some of the most important work in Rotary.

At 10:28AM on 28 January 2008, ashok wrote: According to me PR is essential, people throughout the world will get connected to the ROTARY CLUB.

At 10:45AM on 28 January 2008, John T. Capps III wrote: We have discovered the media is hungry for "good news." They may not use everything, but keep sending it and usually it will be used when one least expects it coverage. Relationships with media decision makers is an on-going development building trust and respect. Rodger Baier, Rotary Club of Morehead City-Noon, NC, USA, D-7730 has achieved 90% acceptance from the area media this year!

At 10:52AM on 28 January 2008, AC Peter RI PIRG Zone 5 India wrote: Rotary's public relation efforts start giving dividents by attracting more potential members. A good PR effort is always through good project - like Gift of Life - which is saving lives, building peace and strengthening Rotary public image.

At 11:01AM on 28 January 2008, Mary Chapman wrote: One of the advantages of the Club Leadership Plan is that it lets clubs know that their good works should have a PR component. This is critical in growing membership. Last year was our first year ever to have a Public Relations Budget. We were able to do incredible things to increase awareness of our club in the community. We used the money, along with a matching grant from RI, to buy cable TV ads. However, our best PR came from a party we gave for Chamber of Commerce members. The Chamber has become one of our biggest sources of new members. Every service project should have some planned public relations component, and we should have a formal plan to do this. People cannot join us if they do not know who we are. Mary Chapman Rotary Club of Peachtree City, Georgia , District 6900

At 8:37AM on 24 January 2008, Dan Herbert wrote: Spreading knowledge of what Rotary is, and what Rotary does, is the single most important ingredient to attracting potential members. With the expansion of services available through the internet, and the freedom of access that most Rotarians have to making it work for them, the general public should be well aware of what Rotary is and what it does. It is very important that Rotary Clubs keep fresh and relevant content on their club websites and keep the media informed that the updated content is there for their use.

At 8:36AM on 23 January 2008, DRFCC SANDIE SAN DIEGO, DISTRICT 3770, PHILIPPINES wrote: Let Rotary be known to everyone. This is the 3rd mission of rotary - "Communicating worldwide the work of Rotary". This will attain rotary's 2nd mission - "Strengthening and expanding Rotary around the world" which is actually increasing membership. So, PR is really an important tool for membership".

At 2:30PM on 22 January 2008, Maureen A. McKinley wrote: As chairman of The Rotary Rose Float Committee, I could not agree more that we need to support all Public Relations efforts. I will certainly continue to do so to the best of my ability.

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