The 2016 Rotary Has Heart program is a Community Service Program which is a continuation from last year’s program, originally initiated by PRID Anne L. Matthews and expanded by DIR Robert Hall. Zones 33-34 want all of its approximately 1600 clubs in the 29 districts to do a community service project in the 1st quarter of 2016 and let the community be aware of what Rotary is doing. In so doing, we as Rotarians, can help those in need and improve Rotary’s image in each of our communities at the same time. The Rotary Foundation Trustees and RI Board consider this awareness a critical element in our membership strategy which is key to Rotary’s future. This is especially important in Zones 33-34. Therefore, publicity is a key requirement for Rotary Has Heart.
67,000 Rotarians in Zones 33-34 are being asked to help their communities in the first quarter of 2016. Zones 33-34 Director Robert Hall has asked clubs to designate one of their first quarter 2016 events (because Valentine’s Day fits into this period) as a Rotary Has Heart project and seek significant community awareness from the event. Clubs may choose any of their projects that fit within one of the six areas of focus:
- Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water and sanitation
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Economic and community development
Each club may decide for itself how it wants to participate. It could be something as simple as donating money to an established program or something as complex as organizing a full-fledged club service project all following the six areas of focus. While this is first and foremost a Community Service Project, it is also a chance for us to show thousands of communities throughout our zones what Rotarians can do to be a gift to the world.
This is the beauty of Rotary Has Heart - any project can work! Clubs do not have to spend more money to do a Rotary Has Heart project - all a club has to do is use the Rotary Has Heart tool kit to help promote a program in your community! The best projects will be those that:
- Engage as many members of your club as possible
- Addresses a community need
- Reflects and incorporates a Rotary Avenue of Service and Focus Area
- Attracts news and you use social media to help promote the event and work the club is doing!
- Uses the Rotary International Brand Guidelines and Logo
- Helps build the community’s knowledge of your club!
We are not doing this to brag, but to help the public better understand what Rotary is and what Rotarians do to make their communities better. It is our hope that clubs will use this effort to develop their membership and to promote giving to our Rotary Foundation. Rotary Has Heart is the over-arching theme each Rotary Club can use to promote the work being done in their community. By using a common theme, and common social media, clubs will be able to share their good work with others across the Zone. Together, we can all help our friends and neighbors see the great work being done each day by thousands of Rotarians. Your club can use an existing program, or develop a new service program to highlight how your club is showing heart in your community.
Director Robert Hall believes that with this single focus we will not only be a gift to the world but will also capture the attention of so many people who are willing to support our causes and want to become one of us. We expect some of our clubs will join together to organize a community wide effort, while others will participate in a less demanding although just as important way. Whatever way your club chooses to participate, we hope you will bear the Rotary banner proudly and tell your story boldly. After all, Rotary has heart and there is no better way to show this collectively than during this first quarter that holds Valentine’s Day.
There is strength in numbers!
Imagine how hard the fight to end polio would have been had Rotarians across the globe not joined together to build the momentum and funds needed to make this effort work. For all the good work being done by our Districts and Clubs, most people simply do not know what a Rotary Club is, what a Rotary Club does, and why they should be a part of Rotary. This is a chance to help build better publicity across the entire Rotary Zone by working together to promote the good work we all do each and every day. We need to talk about what Rotary does, and make sure our local communities know how much our clubs care about our communities. With over 1,600 clubs in Zones 33-34, if we all work together, imagine the impact we can have on promoting the image and work of Rotary!
Director Hall also announced a recognition program in which all clubs and districts can participate. Zone 34 RPIC Betsy Owen will coordinate the program working with and through the RPICs and ARPICs. One club in each district will be recognized at the Zone level for its efforts. Each Governor will select what he or she considers to be the best Rotary Has Heart club community service project with related publicity in his or her district. The club president will receive a painting by George Lewis “The Waterman”, along with 1,000 Paul Harris recognition points. The club president can use the painting and/or 1,000 recognition points to honor a Rotarian or non-Rotarian who has made a significant contribution to their community or use for fundraising for PolioPlus. The District Governors in each Zone (33-34) with the highest percentage of participation will receive a painting as well. The paintings from which the winning clubs may choose are similar to those George Lewis created last year. You can view George Lewis’s paintings on his web site: georgelewis.fineartstudioonline.com
If you need help please contact any of the people below:
- Chairman PDG Betsy Owen - pdgbetsyowen@gmail.com - 561-251-3582
- Zone 33 Sue Poss – RPIC, Chris Jones – ARPIC, Jen Reider - ARPIC, and Brenda Shaw - ARPIC
- Zone 34 Betsy Owen – RPIC, Sheila Bethel – ARPIC, Carol Colon, ARPIC, Jamie Mick - ARPIC
You can find more information on the associated links on this page, as well as, on the web site rizones33-34.org under events. You will find a sample proclamation, sample press release, and new logos for your events.