As a past, present, or future District leader, you’re already committed to Rotary’s Action Plan to Increase our Impact, Expand our Reach, Enhance Engagement, and Increase our Ability to Adapt. You make an effort to expose new people to Rotary membership and encourage donations to The Rotary Foundation. But what actions have been proven to get others’ attention in the first place?

Now, more than ever social networks are the key to amplifying our actions and impact. Using social media, we have a fast, easy opportunity to focus attention on who we are and what we do. Here are five things to keep in mind:

• Show our humanity – Tell human interest stories. Post pictures and short messages of and about real people, showcasing your club’s work and its impact on real people in your community or elsewhere in the world.
• Communicate what we do – Every day our clubs are working on projects to benefit their communities. But people outside our circle will only know about these if we tell them. Post promotions of upcoming events, share action photos of hands-on projects and what they achieved. These work to enhance our public image and inspires like-minded individuals to join us or partner with us in service.
• Think globally – Most people out there and too many of our own members only see Rotary as one of many civic clubs in their community. Look for opportunities to share Rotary’s International work on high-impact initiatives, such as the eradication of polio, our funding of peace scholars, and our work to protect the environment. Letting people know the true scope and magnitude of our work can appeal to those with a broader world view and wanting to make a more far-reaching difference.
• Be a reliable source of Information – People are subjected to such a constant barrage of information overload, with much of it unreliable or unsourced, we have a great opportunity to enhance our image by being a clear, concise, credible source. By sharing short, accurate, and relevant information pieces about our activities, we build credibility and strengthen community ties.
• Share the work of other clubs – No one member or club is in this alone. Our Rotary International is global. Sharing the work of any club enhances our brand. When you read about or see the great work of another club, don’t hesitate to click “share” or to talk about the great project another club is doing, or what one is accomplishing on a global scale.

By adapting to the use of social media as a means of communication, we give non-Rotarians a way to connect to our work. By sharing and communicating the effects of our work in our communities around the world, we increase our impact, reach new audiences, engage our members and build a stronger and more recognized Rotary.