Technology/Public Relations Committee Forum

1. Technology/Public Relations Committee Forum Club Editor Club Webmaster Public Relations

2. Creating a Club Website! #1 Choosing a website host #2 Making Web Pages • www.freewebs.com When making web pages you want to keep everything as Informative and fun as possible. • www.weebly.com • www.geocites.yahoo.com Home – tell a little about key club, history etc. (for help look at www.keyclub.org) Officer Roster – Your club officers and contact information. (Make sure to have permission to post any contact information.) I placed these in order of familiarity, If you are comfortable using a different web-hosting site feel free to use it! Calendar, past project information – show your new club members what you have done in the past and what’s in store for the future! District Information – Show who your Lt. Governor is, if your division has a website and who serves on the district executive board. I-I Key Club Website: www.iikeyclub.org I-I Circle K Website: www.iicirclek.org

3. Using other websites and services! What's the point of putting effort into a website, when no one knows you have one? Why wait until the next meeting to update your club on important matters? By using these free services, you can keep the communication strong! Facebook/MySpace You can make a group or even an account for your key club, where you could post the link to your website! These websites are visited sometimes everyday by some of your club members anyway! Twitter Make an account and start updating! With this service you can make quick updates about club events that can be sent directly to your club member’s cell phones! Skype/AIM Using these websites you can have online meetings with your club officers, committee members etc. AIM = AOL instant Messenger*

4. Making a Club Newsletter #1 Pick a Program and layout #2 Finding Newsletter Topics • Microsoft Word • Microsoft Publisher • Adobe Indesign • Important topics include: • Theme/Major Emphasis Program • Youth Opportunities Fund • Key Club Week (November 2-6) • District Project: Spastic Paralysis • K-Family Month (November) • A promotion and summation for the District/International Convention • Include in every issue: • Club Board contact information • School name, Volume, Issue number, and date • All club projects • List of important dates • Graphic Standards These are the most common, but you can use any program Premade templates are always easy but remember to apply graphic standards. • Resources: • The Iolian or KEY CLUB Magazine • www.iidistrict.org or www.keyclub.org • Graphic Standards Manual and Public Relations Manual

5. Newsletter Tips Here are some helpful tips that are sure to improve your newsletters! • Don’t do everything yourself! Assign people to write articles for you. • Create a catchy title. Grab your reader’s attention as soon as possible. • Remember the I-I and KCI logos. • Spell check!! Also, check for grammar errors. • Use a variety of font sizes to make the page pop (min. size 10). • Pictures also make the page pop, but blurry pictures are a definite no. • Try to make a fun, but professional newsletter!! Miscellaneous Submit to the Iolian! Send me your newsletter!

6. Public Relations What is Public Relations?? Public Relations:the internal and external communication to inform or influence specific publics using writing, marketing, advertising, publicity, promotions, and special events. ?? Public Relations is spreading the word about Key Club to your members and the community through newsletters, the media, and simple communication. Public relations can be split up into two components… Internal and External

7. Internal Public Relations • Internal Public Relations involves encouraging members to get involved, getting them excited about Key Club, and to have pride in their organization. Internal Public Relations tips include: • Share all key messages with your members. • Conduct a new member training. • Submit club success to the Iolian or KEY CLUB magazine. • Help the club realize it’s importance. • Appoint a public relations chair or media spokesperson. Methods • Hold Banquets • Create a club bulletin/newsletter • Key Clubber of the Month award • Submit to the KEY CLUB Magazine and The Iolian • Hold club meetings

8. Scrapbooks • Making a Scrapbook • Making a scrapbook is a fun and exciting way to show off you club’s success. Scrapbooks can be memorable if you know some easy tips. When making a scrapbook consider the following: • Have good, representative, and appropriate pictures with captions and dates to explain event. Make the captions clear and preferably typed. • A motif that is clever and works throughout. • Make sure that the scrapbook follows the criteria set by international rules. • Make sure there is a table of contents. • Categorize the scrapbook by using sections with tabs. • Pick an interesting theme and stick to it throughout the entire scrapbook! • Scrapbook DON’Ts: • DON’T make the pages too sparse or too busy. • DON’T make it too long and tedious. • DON’T do it the night before it is due. Put in time and effort to make it as good as you possibly can!

9. External Public Relations • External Public Relations involves advertising key club, its mission and its activities so that your community can have a better understanding of what Key Club is, as well as its importance. Here are some tips for getting started: • Determine target outlets. • Build relationships. Always ask the reporter: • What do they cover regularly? • How would they like to receive information from you – phone, e-mail, fax, or mail? • What are they interested in right now and which trends are they following? • What information can you provide them from your club that would be of interest? • Methods: • Posters/fliers • The media • Ads • The Internet • Club t-shirts

10. Working With the Media The Media #1 Be persistent but don’t be a pest #2 Be consistent. #3 Be concise. #4 Repeat everything. #5 Keep your eye out for good stories. #6 Think in terms of pictures. #7 Remember their deadline. #8 If you do not know the answer to a question, DON’T ANSWER IT.

11. Public Service Announcements Public Service Announcements! Public Service Announcements (PSA) are free 10-, 20-, 30-, or 60-second radio and television/cable spots for use by public service organizations. Each year the broadcast industry donates millions of dollars worth of public service announcements. However, they are under no obligation to grant time to any specific group, and they face a tremendous demand for free public service time. Usually, a Public Service or Public Affairs Director is responsible for PSA scheduling. Contact them at least three weeks in advance to see if time is available for your message. Make certain your message is important, interesting, and presented in the best possible form.

12. News Releases News Release Tips News releases provide the who, what, where, when, why, and how to the local media. The most important information should appear in the first two paragraphs. Information of lesser importance should follow. Sentences and paragraphs should be short and everyday language must be used. Keep the news release to one page. Double-check names, spellings, and numbers. Mention important individuals who will be at the event. Include the date and release time for the story. Include photographs with advance and follow-up news releases. Identify all the essential facts in a caption that indentifies the picture. People in the photograph should be identified from left to right, with all names spelled correctly.

13. What to Publicize What to Publicize? Key Club International Theme/Major Emphasis Program Live 2 learn Children’s Miracle Network March of Dimes UNICEF Illinois-Eastern Iowa District Project: Spastic Paralysis Kiwanis Family Month (November) Key Club International Week (First full week of November, runs from Sunday through Saturday) Any club project that the community can take interest or participate in. Go to www.keyclub.org for more information on the following.

14. ImportantResources www.iikeyclub.org www.keyclub.org The Iolian/ KEYCLUB Magazine Us! (Iolian Editor and Technology Chair)