PR Tips from Park City and RI

The Rotary Club of Park City serves a relatively small residential community.  The majority of the population of Summit County resides in Park City and the surrounding unincorporated area commonly referred to as the Snyderville Basin. The population of the Snyderville Basin area has been estimated at 16,000 people, with an additional 7,558 residents living in Park City proper.

In the Greater Park City area there is one non-profit public radio station (KPCW 91.9 FM), one bi-weekly newspaper (The Park Record), and one FCC licensed television station (PCTV – Park City Television).  The Club continues to make sure there is a representative of each of these organizations as Club members.  Currently the KPCW General Manager, The Park Record Publisher, and the PCTV Owner are all members of the Club.

By having representative of the local media in the Club they are knowledgeable of the Club’s activities and constantly help promote Rotary Club events and other activities Club members participate in.

Following is a short list of other ideas to assist Rotary Club’s in their PR efforts:

• Partner with other Clubs in your area to create a challenge that financially benefits a local non-profit.  The Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Park City created a “Club Challenge” to assist the local radio station, KPCW, with their on-air fundraising campaign.  The on-air time provided a great opportunity to talk about Rotary in general and the community service the local Clubs provide.
• Work with other non-profits in your community to assist them with their projects.  Again, both local Clubs provided volunteers for a Middle School Program, Reality Town.  Giving young residents experience in balancing a check book and making life choices to do so.  This outreach provided a one-on-one opportunity to exposure Rotary service to students and facility.
• The Club’s largest fundraiser, “Miners Day”, occurs on Labor Day.  All funds raised on this day go towards a grant program for local non-profits.   The Club organizes all the community activities associated with this celebration.  The “Running of the Balls” is a fundraiser prior to the Parade (people purchase numbered golf balls that are sent down Main Street with prizes going to the winning balls), and a multitude of activates in City Park for resident of all ages.  To ensure community awareness, pre-event media interviews allowed the Club to talk about Rotary and the goals of the Club.  Again, having representatives of the local media in the Club was instrumental in getting the service message out to community residents.  In addition, promotional materials (flyers/posters), banners in the parade, and signage in City Park included the Club logo in prominent positions.      

Project partnerships have broadened the Club’s exposure, and increased opportunities to provide community service.

Here are more PR tips for the holiday season when your local media will be looking for stories of service to the community.  Be sure to share your club’s holiday service projects with your local media outlets.  Whether your club is collecting winter clothing, shoes or money for those in need or just spreading goodwill and cheer, make sure to get the word out about how Rotary is making a difference in your community and don’t forget to tell RI, too, by sending your write-up to pr@rotary.org.

Because January is Rotary Awareness Month it’s a great time to reflect on what it means to be a Rotarian.  Rotary’s strength for worldwide good is in its 34,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas, so this is the time to make sure your community knows who you are and what you do.  Consider these activities for Rotary Awareness Month.

·         Place a localized Facebook advertisement to promote an upcoming event or service project.

·         Invite a non-Rotarian friend or colleague to attend your next service project or social event.

·         Partner with your local Rotaract or Interact club for a joint service project, social event or fundraiser in fundraiser in order to make Rotary more visible in your community.

·         Share why you are a Rotarian through your Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin social network.

·         Get to know young professionals in your club or community.  Listen to their ideas and ask them to share their thoughts about how our club can attract more young professionals.

Celebrate a Rotary Day on February 23 when RI will celebrate 108 years of making a difference in the world.  Every club is encouraged to plan an activity or event on or around that day, especially to promote the End Polio Now campaign. 

But, any day can be a Rotary Day in your community!  Focus on service and spread the message about what Rotary is . . . and does in your community, the state, the nation or the world!!!