Area of Focus:
Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
The month of February is very special in the Rotary calendar because it includes the anniversary of the first meeting of Rotary held on February 23, 1905, in chicago. That day is now designated as the "World Understanding and Peace Day".
On February 23 Rotary celebrates the 109th anniversary of the first Rotary club meeting. This is an opportunity for Rotary clubs and districts to promote Rotary’s public image.
There are a variety of tools available at the Rotary Media Center:
(www.rotary.org/en/public-relations)
on the Rotary International website and in the new Rotary Brand Center: www.Rotary.org/BrandCenter.
Here are 8 ideas to celebrate Rotary Day:
- Create a Rotary history speakers bureau. Have Rotary club members in the community speak at the Library, Chamber of Commerce, and schools on the value of volunteerism, using project examples from Rotary’s century of service.
- Have the members of your Rotary club commit to a total of 109 hours of volunteer service during the week of Feb 16 to 22. Announce the total on Feb. 23
- Write a newspaper article or letter to the editor to highlight what Rotary has accomplished locally and globally in the past and why it remains relevant today. Place it in community or school newspapers. A template for a Rotary Day news release is available at: Rotary Day Press Release Template https://www.rotary.org/en/
document/858. This should be updated and personalized for the local media. - Request your community’s mayor to proclaim February 23 “Rotary Day” in your town. A sample proclamation is available at: https://www.rotary.org/en/
document/859. This also needs to be updated for 2022 and for your community. - Write an article on the history of Rotary in your community. Focus on vocational, community, youth and international service. Submit it to your local newspaper for possible publication.
- Coordinate with a local television station or radio station to have Rotarians appear on a morning talk show or evening news segment in honor of Rotary Day. They can highlight Rotary history and local and international service efforts.
- Collect items for distribution to those in need, such as shoes, school supplies, coats, gloves, and eyeglasses, and distribute them during a Rotary Day event.
- Create a giant birthday cake in the shape of a Rotary gearwheel to mark Rotary’s birthday, and invite the community or media to share it.
These are just 8 ideas to celebrate Rotary Day on February 23rd and promote Rotary and your club in your community. The anniversary is a great opportunity to tell the Rotary story and engage others in our vision of doing good in the world.
The Concept is to give all the clubs of the District a Ready Reckoner of the types of Service Projects, which could be indulged, during the Year, and help plan the activities of the year, mostly based on the Rotary Calendar i.e. Rotary Designated Months.