Rotary 110th Anniversary Toolkit
Contents:
Introduction
Graphics
Four Ways to Celebrate Rotary in Your Community
Social Media Messaging: Twitter and Facebook
Sample Press Release
Sample Op-ed
Introduction:
February 23, 2015 marks Rotary’s 110th anniversary, and serves as an opportunity to share
the organization’s great work in your local community and around the globe. For more than
a century, Rotary members have worked to provide clean water, improve maternal health,
award scholarships, advance education and improve lives.
This year, also marks the 30th anniversary of the PolioPlus program. Since the fight to end
polio began, more than 2.5 billion children have been immunized, 10 million children have
been saved from lifelong paralysis and 125 countries have been declared polio-free.
During the week of February 17 – 23, share your voice- tell others that we are “this close”
to ending polio and highlight Rotary’s 110 years of service.
The materials in this toolkit will help you get started.
Share these graphics through your social networks: http://ow.ly/J8Xmz
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
Four Ways to Celebrate Rotary in Your Community
1. Host a birthday party on 23 February 2015 or at your next club meeting in honor of
Rotary’s 110th Anniversary and 30 years of PolioPlus.
a. Invite all club members, family members, friends, local community partners,
Rotaract/Interact clubs in your area, etc.
b. Decorate your meeting space and have a fun social gathering with food,
drinks and a birthday cake featuring the Rotary logo
c. You could also leverage this time to recognize key club members that have
contributed to your club or Rotary’s success.
2. Create a branded birthday card wishing Rotary a happy 110th anniversary and
thanking local Rotary clubs for all their years of service in the local community and
around the world. Place card throughout your local community in stores, office
buildings, on cars, etc.
a. A call to action could be learn how you can get involved. Showcase your
club’s website and Rotary.org.
3. In honor of our 110th Anniversary, highlight a family that has generations of
Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, or Youth Exchange students. Share the family
story with the media and on social media.
4. Take out an ad in your local paper commemorating the 110th anniversary of Rotary
and thanking all current and past club members as well as partners/volunteers for
making a commitment to local service in your community and around the world.
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
Social Media Messages
During the week of February 17-23 and throughout the year, feature the work of Rotary and
your club on social media by posting photos, videos and messages on your Facebook,
Twitter or Instagram pages. Use #RotaryDay in all of your social media messages.
Make sure to follow Rotary on Twitter and Facebook for the latest graphics and information.
Download graphics for social media, here: http://ow.ly/J8Xmz
Additional images are available for download: http://ow.ly/IUotn
Sample Tweets
Economic and community development
 .@Rotary members carry out projects that enhance economic development and
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create opportunities for better lives. #RotaryDay
.@Rotary is reducing poverty in underserved communities by investing in people
at the local level. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXw2a
.@Rotary helps community members develop the leadership skills to work
together to create change. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXwzP
Disease prevention
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.@Rotary educates and mobilizing communities to help prevent the spread of
disease. http://ow.ly/IXx4T #RotaryDay
.@Rotary and its partners have reduced polio by 99%. Join the fight to #endpolio.
#RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXxLo
Triple your impact. Every donation to @Rotary for polio eradication will be tripled by
@GatesFoundation. http://ow.ly/Ekfeo #RotaryDay
.@Rotary improves community-based health through education, mobilization,
supplies and health care worker training. #RotaryDay
Maternal and child health
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Worldwide, childhood mortality has declined from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6
million in 2010. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXyux
Rotarians support maternal and child health care that improves health for women,
mothers, and children. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXyux
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
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.@Rotary members support training of health care workers and provide needed
medical supplies. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXyux
Water and sanitation
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Did you know that 768 million people do not have access to safe water? Get
involved with @Rotary. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXA7u
.@Rotary members carry out service projects that enhance water access, sanitation
and hygiene in communities around the world. #RotayDay
In Ghana, @Rotary members supply clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent
the spread of disease. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXA7u
Education and literacy
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774 million adults cannot read or write – two-thirds of them are women. You can
create access to education through @Rotary. #RotaryDay
.@Rotary members carry out projects that improve basic education and literacy for
children and adults. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXBBZ
.@Rotary members are bringing computer literacy to a small island in Fiji. Get
involed with Rotary. http://ow.ly/IUlHN #RotaryDay
Education is limited to many children and adults. With @Rotary you can provide
access to a bright future. http://ow.ly/IXvFz #RotaryDay
Peace and conflict resolution
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Around the globe @Rotary members support peace-building in communities and
regions affected by conflict. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IXD2A
Up to 50 scholars a year train at six @Rotary peace centers around the world to
become the next generation of peacemakers. #RotaryDay
Meet Erinma. A peacemaker trained by @Rotary, she traveled to Australia to help
Sudanese refugees. #RotaryDay http://ow.ly/IUnKh
Sample Facebook Posts
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Investing in woman can create sustainable impact that helps end child labor and
alleviate the cycle of poverty. Rotary helped woman in India create brighter futures
for themselves and their families. Learn more: http://ow.ly/IUoWW
We invest in people to create economic improvement in their lives and the
communities. Get involved with Rotary to develop communities around the globe.
http://ow.ly/E53ol
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
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Over 1.2 million children have been orphaned in Uganda due to HIV/AIDS. Support
Rotary and its partners to help children and orphans receive the medical treatment
that they deserve. Learn more: http://ow.ly/IUpfQ
Looking to triple your impact? Every donation to Rotary for polio eradication will be
tripled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Give the gift: http://ow.ly/Ekfeo
Since Rotary started its fight to #endpolio in 1985, more than 2 billion children have
been immunized and the disease has been reduced by 99%. Help Rotary end polio.
http://ow.ly/IUqAN
Haiti has the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere.
To help prenatal care providers reach remote areas of the country, Rotary
Foundation provided a fully-equipped medical jeep to carry 11 volunteers anywhere
they are needed in the country. http://ow.ly/IUpzy
Clean water is a most basic need. When people have access to clean water, they
live healthier lives. Get involved with Rotary to support a water project.
http://ow.ly/IUpNM
Rotary members build wells, install rainwater systems and teach community
members how to maintain new infrastructure. Help Rotary improve health through
clean water. http://ow.ly/IUpNM
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of New Orleans. 110 schools were
completely destroyed. With help from Rotary and more than 6,000 volunteer hours,
students returned to Warren Easton high school. You can help support education:
http://ow.ly/IUq5Q
Worldwide, 75 million children – 41 million of them girls – do not have access to
basic education. Support education and literacy through Rotary. http://ow.ly/IUqfz
Up to 50 scholars a year train at six Rotary peace centers around the world to
become the next generation of peacemakers. Get involved with Rotary to promote
peace. http://ow.ly/IUqnP
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
NEWS RELEASE
Sample Press Release
CONTACT: [NAME, PHONE, E-MAIL]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[NAME/GROUP] of [CITY] [AMOUNT RAISED/ACTIVITY]
to help eradicate polio worldwide
[CITY, COUNTRY, DATE] – As part of a yearlong celebration to mark Rotary’s 110 th
anniversary and its 30th year in the fight to end polio, Rotary clubs worldwide are holding
events to raise funds and awareness needed to eradicate this paralyzing and potentially
fatal disease – once and for all.
The Rotary club of [CITY] [INSERT PLANNED ACTIVITY OR A SYNOPSIS OF HOW THE
CLUB HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS].
This [CLUB ACTIVITY] follows a succession of significant developments that have brought
the world closer to eradicating only the second human disease in history.
In 2014, the entire World Health Organization-designated Southeast Asia Region (SEARO)
was declared polio-free, which includes: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and
Timor-Leste. Polio cases in Africa dropped by nearly 90 percent.
"We are encouraged to see the tangible progress made against polio in 2014," says Mike
McGovern, chair of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee. "However, until we
eliminate polio from its final reservoirs, children everywhere are at risk from this disease.
Rotary -- along with our partners -- will work hard to ensure that the world's most vulnerable
children are kept safe from polio."
Rotary launched its flagship PolioPlus program in 1985, and in 1988 became a
spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) with the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. Since the global initiative began in 1988, the incidence of polio
has plummeted by more than 99 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to less than 370
in 2014.
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
More than 2.5 billion children have been immunized in 122 countries, preventing five million
cases of paralysis and 250,000 deaths. Polio today remains endemic in only three
countries; Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, although “imported” cases in previously poliofree areas will continue to occur until the virus is finally stopped in the endemic countries.
Through PolioPlus, Rotary has contributed more than $1.3 billion in support, along with
securing over $10 billion from donor governments. Most recently, in January, Rotary
announced grants of $34.8 million to support polio eradication efforts in 10 countries. And
through the 2013-18 “End Polio Now: Make History Today Campaign,” every dollar Rotary
contributes to polio eradication will be matched 2-to-1 (up to $35 million per year) by the
Gates Foundation.
[INSERT QUOTE FROM LOCAL CLUB MEMBER- WHY THEY ARE WORKING TO END
POLIO]
In addition to ending polio, Rotary members contribute their time, energy and passion to
sustainable, long-term projects in local communities across throughout the world. Projects
focus on humanitarian issues like peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and
treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and
economic and community development.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the
world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of
more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work
improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in
their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. The first Rotary club was
founded in Chicago in 1905.
Visit rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio.
Video and still images will be available on the Rotary Media Center.
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
Sample Opinion Piece
Rotary at the forefront of the world’s fight to end polio
[ROTARY MEMBER’S LEAD-IN]
Last year’s spike in polio cases in Pakistan and outbreaks in Africa and the Middle East,
the worst-ever epidemic of the Ebola virus, and flare-ups of West Nile virus, measles, and
whooping cough in the U.S. are all vivid reminders of the threat posed by infectious
diseases to people everywhere in this global age.
Rotary International is on the front lines of the fight against polio, a vaccine-preventable
disease that still cripples and sometimes kills people who aren’t immunized.
Rotary, which celebrates its 110th anniversary on February 23 rd, is the volunteer arm of the
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership that includes the World Health
Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. The effort is on the brink of making polio only the second
human disease ever to be eradicated, after smallpox.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Rotary’s PolioPlus program -- the catalyst for
the GPEI’s creation in 1988.
Polio afflicted more than 350,000 people each year in the 1980s. Since then, the number of
polio cases has decreased by 99 percent. In 2014, just 358 cases were reported worldwide,
and the GPEI celebrated the eradication of polio in Southeast Asia, including India, once
the global epicenter of the disease. Also, the number of cases in all of Africa dropped by
nearly 90 percent.
Today, the disease remains endemic is only three countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and
Nigeria.
Through PolioPlus, Rotary has helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio
and contributed more than $1.3 billion in support, along with securing over $10 billion from
donor governments. Most recently, in January, Rotary announced grants of $34.8 million to
support polio eradication efforts in 10 countries. And through the 2013-18 “End Polio Now:
Make History Today Campaign,” every dollar Rotary contributes to polio eradication will be
matched 2-to-1 (up to $35 million per year) by the Gates Foundation.
[INSERT INFORMATION ON LOCAL ROTARY CLUB FUNDRAISING/AWARENESSBUILDING ACTIVITY]
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG
Many of Rotary’s 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs also join health workers in polioaffected countries to immunize children against polio, along with raising funding support
and awareness of the disease.
"We are encouraged to see the tangible progress made against polio in 2014," says Mike
McGovern, chair of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee. "However, until we
eliminate polio from its final reservoirs, children everywhere are at risk from this disease.
Rotary -- along with our partners -- will work hard to ensure that the world's most vulnerable
children are kept safe from polio."
ONE ROTARY CENTER 1560 SHERMAN AVENUE EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 60201 -3698 USA • WWW.ROTARY.ORG