Resources to help you celebrate Rotary's birthday

Arnold R. Grahl

Rotary International News

February 2009

School children raise funds for Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge in advance of Purple Pinkie week, sponsored by District 1240 (England) 23 February through 1 March to celebrate Rotary's anniversary. Photo courtesy of District 1240

District 7720 (North Carolina, USA) has big plans for celebrating Rotary's anniversary, 23 February, this year.

All 45 clubs in the district have committed to carrying out a service project, ranging from reading in schools to improving home accessibility for residents with disabilities, sometime between 20 and 28 February as a way to let their communities know about Rotary's good work.

"It's actually an idea from our assistant governors," says District Governor Vivian Mott. "We're calling it the District Days of Dreams. The projects were varied to cover all of this year's emphases, including child mortality.

"Many times, the service that happens in our communities comes from the Rotary club," she adds. "This is just another opportunity to be more explicit about it."

Every club and district is encouraged to use the anniversary of the first Rotary club meeting, designated as World Understanding and Peace Day, to share the story of Rotary's local and global contributions.

Clubs in District 1240 (England) are planning a Purple Pinkie Week with club members visiting schools, colleges, universities, and shopping centers 23 February through 1 March to gain public support for ending polio. Advertisements in major newspapers have been promoting the event, which gets its name from the purple dye applied to a child's little finger during National Immunization Days.

Plans are also in the works to project End Polio Now onto the sides of several well-known landmarks on 23 February. Last year, the image was beamed onto a section of the House of Commons in London.

RI provides many resources to help your club or district celebrate. Here are some suggestions:

Download a sample press release.
Check out a list of 100 ways to celebrate.
Download a Rotary Day proclamation.

Download a poster. 11 x 17 inches (PDF)18 x 24 inches (PDF)

Use Rotary Images to help tell Rotary's story.

Find out how to contact your Public Image Resource Group coordinator.

Learn how clubs and districts can use PR tools to boost Rotary's public image.
Read more about the anniversary and how other Rotarians are planning to celebrate.