(May 12)
Rob Katherman, our Membership Chair, presented a social media proposal for both of the Palos Verdes Rotary Clubs to share costs on initiating a social media presence for us, in order to increase public awareness and membership interest over time. People join Rotary because they want connection, community service, networking, and purpose. Social media should make these objectives feel welcoming, with photos & short videos of members helping students, cleaning parks, supporting veterans & funding scholarships. They can share short stories about who was helped and why it mattered, and individual members describing why they joined Rotary and what Rotary means to them.
Members of both Rotary Clubs can share posts, using Facebook for community groups and older professionals, and LinkedIn for young professionals. Photos and short videos can have a 30-second service project illustration, quick interviews with members and student scholarship recipients, community leaders thanking the Club, and publicizing flagship annual projects. Relevant local issues can include food insecurity, environmental projects, education, youth mentorship and senior support. Membership promotion can include “Interested in learning more? Join us for lunch or dinner”, and “Guests are always welcome.”
Social media are an increasingly prominent feature of communication for young and middle-aged adults, and can be a powerful tool for visibility and engagement, if used strategically and consistently. The question for our Club is, will the benefits to our Club and community outreach be worth the cost and effort? The proposal is to hire an “Intern” part time at $25/hour, 10 hours/week, or $1000/month ($500/month for each Club). The cost for 6 months would be about $3000 for each Club. Our members had an open discussion and questions about potential benefits and costs, and a finalized proposal is expected.