Newspaper readership, both print and on-line, has been trending down for many years, network news viewership is on the decline and confusion over what is true or false is only increasing with the advent of AI and unverified social media messaging. It’s no wonder why we have become a much more polarized society! We often are not discussing issues from a shared body of facts.
But it doesn’t have to be that way for individuals, society or Rotary Clubs. We can dedicate ourselves to relying only on credible, sourced information. And that includes telling local communities what our Rotary clubs are doing. The impact we are having with polio prevention, scholarships, Rotary Exchange Students, clean water projects and more cannot be overstated. If more people understood what Rotary is doing, more would gladly join and be part of something so positive and impactful.
So, let’s not hesitate to promote what we believe in. Supporting our communities through service and then letting the larger public know what we’ve achieved. We can do that through Club newsletters, the District newsletter, news releases to the local media, conversations with friends and neighbors and yes, posting to social media!
When you have success, talk about it. Rotary is all about finding solutions. So, why would we shy away from publicizing our successes when we can inspire others to join and bring their creativity and passion to our clubs?