Embracing Technology to Do Good...Uninterrupted

Holger Knaack, President Elect 2020-21

Rotary District 3080 DGE Ramesh Bajaj assisted by PDG Arun Sharma initiated PETS-SETS for their incoming Trailblazers Team 2020-21 through Zoom. 

Starting on 7th April, with inaugural session being addressed by the Past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo, Rotary International President Nominee Shekhar Gupta, and Rotary International Director, RI Director Dr Bharat Pandya.

Next day on 8th April, incoming Rotary International President Holger Knaack shared his Vision for Rotary year 2020-21, while on the 9th April again Trustee of the Rotary Foundation Gulam Vahavaty and RI Director Kamal Sanghvi addressed the training seminar.

RI Director Dr Manoj Desai and Chairman of the Rotary India Water Mission PDG Ranjan Dhingra inspired the participants about Rotary's challenges in membership development and water management respectively, on the 9th April.

Saturday saw PDG Surendra Seth and formerly Zonal Chair of Rotary Public Image talked about public image and media, which was followed by a Rotarians showcasing their talent in the cultural evening.

Monday morning the business sessions started with PRIP Rajendra K Saboo delivering the keynote address with different sessions conducted by the Past District Governors of District 3080, culminating in the evening with a spouses' session by Usha Saboo, Rekha Bajaj and Sunita Sharma.

Rotary International President Nominee
2021=22) Shekhar Mehta 

PETS-SETS culminates on Tuesday with various business sessions with valedictory remarks by PDG Pramod Vij, who is an elected member of the legislative  assembly from Panipat.

In short the cloud meeting was a joyful experience for the participating Rotarians.  The attendance numbered from 140 to over 160 in different sessions .  The ability to interact with their fellow Rotarians from different cities, and leaderships beyond Indian borders, excited everyone, as they shared their involvement in managing the COVID19 challenges.

Technology has definitely bonded the Rotarians, the People of Action, together through such meetings, filling them up with the hope that they can meet any challenge with ease, not letting their enthusiasm waning in any way.   

The Trailblazers of 3080 meet on the Cloud today

The Trailblazers of District 3080 for 2020-21 under the leadership of its incoming District Governor Ramesh Bajaj meet online for the Presidents-Elect and Secretaries Elect Training Seminar.

PETS-SETS begins today at 7pm on Zoom platform with the keynote address by Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, Rotary International President Elect 2021-22 Shekhar Mehta, and Rotary International Director Dr Bharat Pandya.

Tomorrow at 5pm the Rotary International President Elect Holger Knack  shall be sharing his vision with the Trailblazers of District 3080 2020-21. 

Speech Mr Manoj Kumar Parida, IAS, at Rotary Club Chandigarh

How to Strengthen Rotary's Public Image`

One of the major element that contribute to the strength of Rotary is its visual identity.  Rotary International undertook a massive exercise to unify and standardise the way we use Rotary's logo and other images on our printed material, signage, videos, etc.

You can try this for your business.  Just check out your visiting cad, letterhead, and signage on your outdoor, packaging, vehicles, etc, and check out whether they are uniform?  If not, it is time to standardise them.

Standardised visual identity not only provides consistency and credibility to your organisation, but also builds up a trust and dependability in your organisation.

Check out the material, the manual, and templates at Rotary Brand Center.  Of course you would require your myrotary account, which I'm sure you would have already created.

https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-GB/Guidelines

How to let the people know about you!

Tell Your Story in a Way that  People shall like to Read about It. 

Most often the Rotary clubs find themselves at a loss as to how to take their project report into the media.  Many of us however have become experts in sharing the project photos on Whatsapp or Facebook, and at times, much to the recipient's dismay, they come in large number only showing mug shots or posed group photos of Rotarians where more than the beneficiary, they themselves are in the picture, ending up with many heartburns for those left out in the queued-up shots. 

And especially tree plantation shots are the worst where volunteers would hold the banner in the background while the photo is being taken. 

Let us refine the process.  

a. Select the photograph that shows the project highlights or the beneficiaries. Those who are getting benefitted from your project.  Tell their story. 

b. How the project came about. What was the trigger?

c. Why the project was undertaken?  Definitely not to have the photos of all committee members together and having their photo seen in the media.  The Club wanted to make a difference and that is why a particular section of society was chosen to help them. 

d. Talk to a few beneficiaries and find out their life stories and how your project is going to impact them.  

Check out this short story roll out plan. Create your story line.  Pick up two or three photos.  Share them with Rotary community : 

a. On Club facebook / youtube / website

b. On District facebook page 

c. on facebook pages of other clubs and districts 

d. On Rotary Showcase and Rotary Central (Hope you have myrotary account already)

e. In Club Bulletin 

f. In District Governor's monthly letter 

g. To local media 

h. To Rotary South Asia office

i. The Rotary News / The Rotarian