Best Practices for Implementing a District
Communication Strategy
Zones 24 – 32 Institute October 16 2014
This Session
• High level overview of the system
• Best practices on how to build a strong and cohesive communication strategy with your District team. – Build multiple streams of communication based on club leadership,
district leadership, or all Rotarians.
– Discover the capability of the online directories and how to customize and adapt to your own needs.
• Showcase how other districts have setup their online strategy to involve multiple teams and committees to accomplish the District’s goals
• Invite participants to share what has worked for them.
Slide 2
Agenda
• Membership Database
• District Communication Strategy
• Your website presence
• What’s New in ClubRunner
• Q&A
Slide 3
Set your goals
• Assess any weak points or gaps in service E.g. Ask immediate past presidents – Club surveys (anonymous) – Unbiased critique of existing resources
• Determine end result and deliverables E.g. Proactively inform key club executives of District strategy in each area – Guide all AGs in promoting DG goals within clubs – Inform every Rotarian of news and available opportunities
within District – Promote Rotary to general public within geographical area
of District
Slide 4
Plan your strategy
• Starting with each goal, set a strategy within that area:
– Club Support (Presidents, Secretaries and other Execs/Directors such as Foundation chairs)
– AG Support
– All Rotarians
– General public relations
Slide 5
The Membership Database and Directory
Slide 6
Key elements of a good database
• ClubRunner’s features rely on certain aspects of a good membership database
Slide 7
RI Integration
• Very important that clubs opt-in to have their membership integrated with RI
• The club does not need to have ClubRunner in order to opt-in for integration
• The District cannot opt-in all their clubs (Rotary needs it on a per-club basis)
• Note: RI Integration flows up to RI, but not the other way back down
Slide 8
RI Integration
• Integration icon in the club list:
Slide 9
• Integration status box:
Compare & Synch
Slide 10
Dashboard
Slide 11
District Directories
Slide 12
Download Member Data
Slide 13
Anti-Spam Legislation
• Canada’s CASL law went into effect July 1 2014 and affects all communication from clubs and districts to non-members
• You need express consent (unlike the implied consent in the United States)
• 3 year grace period to get consent
Slide 14
Communication Approaches
Slide 15
Set your goals
Slide 16
Communication Approaches
• Many ways to do this, some better than others
• Here are some examples of what various Districts have done in the past.
Slide 17
The Bird’s Nest
Slide 18
The Funnel
Slide 19
The Ambassador
Slide 20
The Bull’s Eye
Slide 21
Which is best?
Slide 22
Email / ClubRunner / Bulletin?
Slide 23
Regular Email
ClubRunner Email Service
ClubRunner Bulletin
Why It’s Great Quick Great if dialogue is expected and all recipients need to receive the replies
Lots of recipients Centralized lists
Efficient way to send a lot of information without overwhelming people Good for repeated info and reminders
Watch out for… Address book is perpetually out of date
Easy to have too many recipients Can be risky to allow access
Perceived as less urgent
Why have a bulletin?
• Traditionally a club feature
• Districts can have more than 1 channel:
– District Officers (once a month)
– All Presidents (once a month)
– All Rotarians (once per quarter)
• A very under-utilized concept and is great for sharing information
• Esp. for repeated content (upcoming events)
Slide 24
Communication / PR Committee
• In the past, there was a “Webmaster” role in the District
• Over the years, this has changed to a “Communications Chair” or committee
– Handles website (PR)
– Handles emails and newsletters (Comm.)
Slide 25
Ex. District 7820 Policy
Slide 26
Your Website
Slide 27
Leaders Support
• Dedicate a page to each leader with full resources
• Commit to a monthly or quarterly newsletter sharing ideas (e.g. Membership News)
Slide 28
Information
Slide 29
District Org Chart
Slide 30
Slide 31
Slide 32
Slide 33
Slide 34
Post Good, Current Content
• Keep content current • Post events and content, even if it has been emailed
or sent in a bulletin • Keep prospective members in mind and invite people
to experience Rotary with membership guidelines – many people think you can’t get into Rotary!
• Include news from your local clubs, district, and internationally to increase visitor’s perception of Rotary’s scope
• Add the Rotary International RSS Feed widget • Don’t assume your visitor knows about Rotary!
Slide 35
What’s New
• Volunteers Module
– Released September 2014
• Attendance Module (Beta)
– Currently in Beta
– Can be added on request
– General release approx. Nov/Dec 2014
• Grants Module
– Released last year for Districts
Slide 36
Open Discussion and Q&A
• Do you have a great strategy that worked?
• How do you motivate clubs to keep their membership and officer information up to date?
Slide 37
Discussion Groups
• To discuss CR features with other users, join a LinkedIn group!
Slide 38
ClubRunner Users Group • Started by a Rotarian, and not
official • We participate but don’t
moderate • Great for best practice topics
and sharing knowledge
ClubRunner Beta and Early Access Participants • Owned by us • For discussions related to new
features in beta before general release
Thank You
Slide 39
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