Ruritan Club and District Officers' Handbook

Section 5: Building an Image Keep Ruritan in the Eyes of the Community At any Ruritan event and on every Ruritan publication, flier, or sign display the Ruritan emblem. Every time this emblem is used, Ruritan becomes more recognizable and its accomplishments better known. Ruritan Supply in Dublin, Virginia, maintains a large stock of low cost cardboard Ruritan emblems in several sizes. Reusable plastic emblems and road signs are also available. In addition, Ruritan Week church bulletin inserts, flags, and other available items can help your club improve the visibility of Ruritan in your community. Ruritan road signs in your area should be well- maintained and attractive. This doesn’t mean that your club should invest all its funds into fancy displays. Just make sure your signs reflect the club’s pride in its Ruritan accomplishments. Another great way to boost the image of Ruritan in your community is to wear Ruritan hats, vests, or other clothing while working at community service projects and fundraisers. Ruritan Supply, at the Ruritan National Office in Dublin, Virginia, stocks many attractive Ruritan items for every season. The Membership Pin Wearing your membership pin is another way of increasing Ruritan awareness in your commu nity. The distinctive “R” emblem is an eye-catching testament to your dedication to the community. Wear your membership pin to work, church, or to other social occasions and soon someone will ask you what the pin stands for. Then you can tell them about your Ruritan club, and the accomplishments Section 6: Handouts and Flyers Inexpensive Ways to Create Publicity You don’t have to spend a lot of your club’s resources to spread your public relations message to the community. While mass media will reach the greatest amount of people, other economical methods can also be very effective. Flyers posted around your community are an easy way to advertise your club’s events. Flyers should be easy to read from a distance and are usually more effective if printed on colored paper. Use the Ruritan emblem and make the name of your club as large as possible to get people’s attention. Include the name of the event (for example: 10th Annual Fish Fry), the time and location of the event (for example: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the local community center or your Ruritan club house), and any other

that have made your community a better place to live. After you’ve explained the pin and Ruritan membership, invite the person to your next club meeting. Wearing your membership pin may be the way you meet your next best friend. Rollin’ Down the Road Ruritan automobile decals, car flags, and license plate tags are also available to help you spread the Ruritan image. Others in your community could be seeing Ruritan “fellowship, goodwill, and community service” at the next stoplight. Image Building Basics It may seem that displaying the Ruritan emblem in all these ways is going to drive your community crazy. But think for a moment. We are surrounded and bombarded by other emblems everyday. There’s a reason that emblems (whether it’s a logo on a soft drink bottle or a Ruritan road sign) are all around us: these devices work. Can you spot your favorite products instantly in a lineup with similar products? This is called brand identity. If you answered “yes,” you’ve experienced the association of a product with its emblem or logo. When building an image for Ruritan in your community, it’s important to use the emblem as often as possible. Try to use the blue and gold colors of Ruritan too or the distinctive colors of the Ruritan road sign. Building the “brand identity” of Ruritan can go a long way in helping your club accomplish its objectives. details people may want to know (such as admission prices, if any.) Try to put a telephone number on the flyer, so people can call for more information. Flyers are the cheapest form of advertising available. Local print shops or copy shops can produce attractive flyers for your event at the cost of a few cents per page. As mentioned before, the key to getting the most from your flyers is location. Be sure to place flyers in places with a large amount of foot traffic. The more people who see your message, the more people you’ll have at your event.

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Revised 8/2024