Rotary branding and themes

1. Promoting your club

Promoting your club can be undertaken in a number of ways. How we present to the community will influence opinions and behaviour, both internally and externally.  Promotion can be achieved through various communication channels, including websites, social media, press coverage and more.

In this resource you will learn how to promote your club effectively. 

2. Marketing versus Public Image

Unfortunately, many people conflate Marketing and Public Image (Public Relations), but they are quite different things .

Marketing focuses on selling products or services, driving sales, and reaching customers. At the same time, public relations, or PR, concentrates on shaping and maintaining a brand or organisation's overall reputation and public perception.
 
Marketing employs paid advertising and promotional campaigns, whereas PR seeks to earn positive media coverage and foster relationships with stakeholders without payment.  

 Public image is about managing the image and reputation of a Rotary Club. 

Victoria Hollick Public Image and Marketing Committee April 2025

3. Importance of Marketing and Public Image

Director Cathy Mason talks about the importance of marketing and public image. This is vital to making your club a vibrant club that projects a professional Rotary Brand. 

4. The Rotary Brand

A brand is important because apart from a logo it is also a perception, an emotional connection, a promise and a distinct concept. To learn more about  the Rotary Brand go to the My Rotary Learning Centre and search for the  the short course on 'The  Rotary Brand'. This is a great resource and urge you to complete the course. Please note: You need to be logged into MyRotary to access the Learning Centre.

Gina Growden, Rotary Public Image Coordinator for Australia

You may also like to listen to a recent webinar by Gina Growden. With Gina is Andrew Best, Supervisor, Club and District Support Rotary International. Gina and Andrew are also available for any questions you may have on the Rotary Brand.

5. Rotary Brand Center

The Rotary Brand Center has a site to support Rotarians using the Rotary Brand effectively. The Brand Center has resources on:

• People of Action - get everything you need from Rotary's latest public image campaign
• Guidelines - apply Rotary messaging and visual guidelines to your communications to tell Rotary's story in a consistent and engaging way
• Logos - download high-resolution logos and Rotary graphics
• Materials - customisable materials to promote your club, projects and programs
• Ads - download online, print, outdoor and radio ads to promote Rotary in your community
• Images and video - select images and videos that capture Rotary's essence and reflect Rotary's work and members

Go to the  Rotary Brand Center and explore. 

Some resources that may be helpful

Voice and Visual Identity Guidelines 

Dos and don'ts of using the Rotary Logo

Identity at a glance

Rotary Brand FAQ

6. Ways to promote Rotary

Rotary international has a great site with information on how to promote Rotary and your club. Take the time to find out what is available. Go to Promote Rotary. You don't need to login

7. Public Image Courses

There is a wealth of courses available in MyRotary. 

Go to MyRotary:

• login or create an account if you have not done so
  
• then go to the Learning Centre and Public Image. Browse the available courses.

8. Rotary theme 24-25

Each year Rotary develops a theme for the Rotary Year. This year the theme is 'Rotary Opens opportunities', certainly something that is important in these present times! Clubs need to apply the theme to their printed material, website and social media sites etc. 

To find the theme for the year go to this link or search 'Rotary Theme for 24-25'. You will be able to download a file that has a number of different file formats that can be used for print, the web and also guidelines on use of the colours used in the theme.