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Rotary Days

 
Rotary Days event:
A new category this year for the Presidential Citation is Light Up the Family of Rotary! and there is no better way to light up Rotarians than through hosting or participating in a Rotary Days Event!  An RI brochure is available that provides some general ideas for qualifying an event for Rotary Days.  But we would like to offer some more specific ideas for a qualifying Rotary Days Event in District 5650.
  • A qualifying Rotary Days event cannot be held during a regular club meeting.  Each club needs to step out of their ordinary Rotary activities and reach out to people who are not normally exposed to Rotary.
  • Projects funded by District Grants do not qualify as a Rotary Days event.
  • A Rotary Days event should be community focused, including Rotarians, their family members and friends but also of interest to members of the local community.  This should not be an event that is strictly a fundraiser for Rotary but an opportunity for the community to actively interact with Rotarians, side by side.
  • It is preferred that a Rotary Days event is a new event, but if it is an established event, it should be significantly revamped so that your community will see Rotary in a new way.
  • Information about Rotary should be available at the event, but not as a hard sell or in the form of a speaker or presentation.  It might almost be an “Ah-Hah” moment for those who don’t already know what Rotary is or what we do.   
  • Consider including a hands-on service project as part of the event.  For example, partner with a non-profit organization in your community to staff an event - even an event that already exists.
  • There should be a way for your club to gather contact information for those individuals who attend the event.  You can follow up with them in a few weeks to invite them to a club meeting or another event.   Information to collect could be as simple as name, e-mail address and/or phone number.
  • Consider partnering with other clubs in your area.  The hosting club receives more points than a participating club, but from a big picture standpoint, look at the impact a multi-club event can have on your communities and the increased visibility for Rotary.  If not a joint event, how about several Rotary Days events on the same day in different communities?  Several non-profit organizations in Nebraska have multiple locations that Rotary could partner with.
 
In an effort to track Rotary Days events in our District and to provide feedback to you on your planned Rotary Days event, please complete the Rotary Days Questionnaire and send it to leslie.volk5@gmail.com.  Hosting, and participating in, a Rotary Days event is an integral part of the Presidential Citation (click here for the 2014-15 Rotary International Presidential Citation flyer).  The event is not something that needs approval, but reviewing the Rotary Day plans before the event can help avoid confusion when the Presidential Citation applications are submitted in March 2015.
 
Thank you for embracing the Rotary Days concept that is an important aspect of RI President Gary C.K. Huang’s presidential year.  Let’s have fun and create a new way to positively present Rotary in our communities!
 
Check this page often for additional information, new ideas, and photos of Rotary Days events.
 
Rotary Days activities will be coordinated through:
Leslie Volk
Rotary District 5650 Community Outreach Chair 2014-15
 
Awards will be coordinated through:
Nicolette Klein
Rotary District 5650 Awards Chair 2014-15