THE VALUE OF A GOOD CLUB NEWSLETER, AND WE HAVE ONE (check ours out via the club www link to the left)

Rotary Information - The Club Bulletin
By Frank Deaver
Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, Alabama USA
An observant Past District Governor told Rotarians at a District Assembly, "There seems to be a direct relationship between the quality of a club bulletin and the quality of the local club." He avoided establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship. He could have said, "The club that has a good bulletin will be an active club," or "The active club will have a good bulletin."

But no, he only pointed out the apparent relationship, and the probability that quality in both the club and the club bulletin can best be described as reciprocal. The obvious point is that the club bulletin holds the potential for being a strong positive force in a club - while at the same time its content cannot help but reeflect the club's characteristics.

The club bulletin was for decades a printed document, even in early mimeography ("Daddy, what's a mimeograph?" ), but increasingly it is electronic - sent via email, email attachment,, or as a website insertion. Makes no difference, the content is what counts.

Some bulletins are done in a conversational tone, with generous use of personal pronouns. Others are in a more journalistic style, concise and factual. The first is more of a newsletter, the second more like a select few newspaper articles. But excellent bulletins can be found in both categories.

The content of a Rotary Club bulletin can be quite varied, but there are a few things that are obvious:

. Weekly programs. A few summary statements of the past program can be useful, but far more important is a preview of the next program. A well-written "prelim" encourages attendance, and may promote member invitations to guests or prospective new members.

. Club information. Does the president, secretary, or treasurer have an announcement that needs to be shared? Has the Board of Directors planned a project, or made a policy decision that members need to know about? Is a club committee involved in a service function that should be commended and supported?

. Rotary information. District meetings - Conference, Assembly, etc. - can be promotmoted before the fact and reported after the fact. Worldwide information from RI is of local interest - PolioPlus progress, Rotary schollars, Group Study Exchange, and more.

. Rotary fellowship. Among club members is there a new child or grandchild in the family? Has a member received a promotion or an honor at work? On the other hand, is there sickness or hospitalization of a member, or a death in the family? Personal news promotes fellowship.

Even with the best of content, the bulletin must get into Rotarian hands, and one or more methods may be employed. Printed bulletins can be mailed and/or placed on tables at meetings. Email takes advantage of speed, economy, and efficiency - butt it can leave out those members not online. For many clubs, print has not been totally replaced.

But to return to the original assertion, "There seems to be a direct relationship between the quality of a club bulletin and the quality of the local club." Yes indeed, the relationship is reciprocal and mutually beneficial.