Public Image

Public image focuses on comprehensive efforts to expand public knowledge of Rotary and its activities, whether in the local community, the national, or the global one. While every club will naturally, in accord with the motto “Service Above Self,” determine what projects to undertake on the basis of community need, every club’s overall planning for its activities should consider the potential for “getting the word out” about Rotary. 

The Public Image Committee will determine its own criteria, keeping in mind that clubs might be successful in a variety of different ways.

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Among the factors that may be considered are:

• Does the club’s activity record reflect public image planning? 
• Has the club been successful in achieving favorable publicity for its projects in the print and/or electronic media?
• How often?
• Does the club’s website support its public image efforts?
• Has the club conducted activities that have served to expose significant numbers of the community to Rotary? (Examples: a membership campaign bringing many local business leaders to a club meeting; a visit program bringing the community into closer contact with Rotarians.)
• Has the club awarded a Citizen of the Year Award with appropriate publicity?
• Have steps been taken to ensure all members appreciate the importance of our public face?
• Have (paid) Rotary announcements been used?

Vocational Service

Vocational service is focused on improving the quality of life for hardworking members of the community who need direction and expertise.

It includes mentoring programs, support for career days, business assistance, and club presentations on vocational issues; efforts to assist youth in choosing careers; help at all levels in developing skills (literacy, for example); education; scholarships; and awards aimed at specific vocations (teachers, police, or others). Also included is support for Interact and Rotaract activities, and the promotion of Rotary ideals – especially the Four-Way Test -- in the community and in the vocations.

The Vocational Service Committee will determine its own criteria, keeping in mind that clubs might be successful in a variety of different ways. They may want to consider factors such as the following: 

• How many people were reached, or assisted by the club’s projects/activities?
• Did the club address real community needs?
• Was the overall program successful in achieving its stated goals?
• Did it further Rotary ideals?
• Has the club done a classification survey, or made other specific efforts to broaden vocational representation in its membership?

International Service

International Service is focused on encouraging, fostering, and advancing international understanding, goodwill, peace, and world fellowship. It may include sponsoring or supporting international projects, including RI programs, or joint activities with clubs in foreign countries. International projects might include, but are not limited to, health-improvement, hunger, water, peace, or humanity projects. Participation in exchange programs such as GSE or Friendship Exchange, and furtherance of international education, including the Rotary Ambassadorial and World Peace scholarships, are also included.

The International Service Committee will determine its own criteria, keeping in mind that clubs might be successful in a variety of different ways. They may want to consider factors such as the following:

• Number of people served or reached by the activity or project.
• Whether the projects met their stated goals.
• Whether the club took advantage of special funding programs from RI, matching grants, etc.
• Did club activities meet a real need?
• Did the club’s activities focus on priority areas identified by RI and by the District Governor? (i.e., pure water, literacy, family of Rotary, HIV/AIDS, or polio eradication).
• Did it involve other Rotary organizations?

Community Service 

Community Service focuses on projects and programs that identify and meet the real social needs of the local community. RI encourages concentration on children at risk, disabled persons, health care, international understanding, literacy and numeracy, population, poverty and hunger, the environment, and urban concerns.

The Community Service Committee will determine its own criteria, keeping in mind that clubs might be successful in a variety of different ways. They may want to consider factors such as:

Club Service

Club Service focuses on activities that improve the basic operation of the clubs, including fellowship, membership, information, and public relations. Fellowship includes programs or projects that bring members together and make them more effective Rotarians, ranging from workplace exchanges, social events, Rotary information programs, involvement of Rotary families, interaction with other clubs, Fireside Chats, and similar. Membership includes the overall membership program, as well as new member mentoring and information, and retention efforts. Information and public relations include programs devoted to spreading information about Rotary, and publicity for the club. 

The Club Service Committee will determine its own criteria, keeping in mind that clubs might be successful in a variety of different ways. They may want to consider factors such as the following:

• Did the club’s efforts enhance fellowship and “esprit de corps?”
• Are the club’s activities in other areas planned so they also promote fellowship?
• Did the overall club service effort identify and address any specific problem areas?
• Was there an active membership recruitment program?
• How relevant/successful was that program?  (Note: There are separate awards for clubs with highest membership gain and retention so the raw numbers should not be the major factor; the focus here can be on planning, method, concept, and member involvement, rather than numerical results.)
• Were there new member mentoring and existing-member retention efforts? Did some activities serve to spread the word in the community about Rotary?
• How often/how well is information about Rotary made a part of club meetings? 
• Is the club an active participant in District meetings and activities?
• Has it partnered often with other clubs?
  

Best Web Site and Best Bulletin

A club’s bulletin and web site have one purpose in common: the dissemination to members of information on club activities, projects, and the speaker program. The web site should also represent the club to prospective new members, and supply information to prospective visiting Rotarians, especially regarding club location and meeting time. The club bulletin may also serve as a historical record of the club’s doings, and supply member news and other items that might not be appropriate for dissemination outside the club. 

A winning club bulletin should offer:

• News of club members
• Upcoming speaker program
• Plans for projects and announcements
• An attractive and user-friendly format
• Be posted on the club’s website, if there is one
  
  

A winning club website should:

• Be up-to-date at all times. 
• An attractive and usable format – consider use of photos, color, etc.
• Serve members: Provide information on upcoming club speakers/programs and projects, passworded member directory, photos and member news.
• Serve visiting Rotarians: Provide program, meeting time/place, directions and/or map to the meeting place, dates when club isn’t having a regular meeting.
• Serve the public, especially potential members
• Welcome prospective new members
• provide info on how to learn more
• offer info that gives a picture of Rotary and its activities
• links to relevant RI web pages.