World Polio Day on 24 October is an outstanding opportunity for Rotary clubs to enhance participant engagement and expand our reach.

Article by PP Roslyn Teirney, Assistant Regional Public Image Coordinator

Start planning now how your club will celebrate.

There are excellent resources available for download on the End Polio website. There you can register your events, discover fact-checked social media messages, and choose from suggested activities for awareness-raising or fundraising.

Rotary International Public Image senior specialist Nina Hazhala is also hosting a Zoom session to discuss how Public Image leaders can support the End Polio chairs. Write to nina.hazhala@rotary.org to enrol for Amplifying Rotary’s Role in Polio Eradication: Strategies for Public Awareness on 30-31 August 2023.

As examples, here are some ideas from District 9830 for promoting the cause on World Polio Day:

• Preparing media releases using RI materials from endpolio.org 

• Inviting the media to Rotary events in public places celebrating World Polio Day
• Pull up banners and teardrop banners carrying the End Polio message
• Sales of red socks and Christmas puddings with profits to End Polio
• Library displays about Rotary's role in eradicating polio
• A cocktail party with distinguished guests
• Using Canva to design graphics to promote your local events for World Polio Day
• Arranging public places such as buildings, bridges or fountains to be lit in red
• Hashtags on your social media posts #worldpolioday #endpolio #togetherwesavelives
• Set up a Raise for Rotary page to gather donations for your World Polio Day campaign.

Together, by our actions concentrated on this one day, we can show the power of Rotary International to take action to make the world a better place.