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Revised 8/2016
PR
Section 5: Building an Image
Section 6: Handouts and Flyers
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
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.
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
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.