Today, we welcomed as our guest speaker Dorian Johnson, Digital Marketing Consultant, who told us about ways we can use social media, especially Face Book, to help our businesses and to gain more exposure for our club, as well. Dorian began his own career as a personal trainer in a large gym. He became a top trainer at the club, learned marketing and, via Face Book, managed to build a following that led to other job prospects and customers. He was, due to diligent self-marketing, even noticed by Men's Health Magazine. Dorian put forth many ideas about how WE could better market OURSELVES, expand our businesses, and even increase interest in Rotary. He suggested that we consistently generate information on Face Book as frequently as possible (daily is best). Face Book is a social media platform that helps users create engagement with others. Placing photos and especially videos on your page are most effective. You get priority and increased attention on Face Book by doing video -more so than by providing copy alone. Try as often as possible to get people's attention. Share with them something you know will be of interest to them. Create special offers about what you could provide, ie., a free consultation or session. Place on Face Book an intriguing ad that when clicked on leads to a landing page that gives the possibility of obtaining the viewer's personal information (name, address, etc.), and then a "thank you page" with a give-away that compliments the 1st special offer and also provides your contact information. Dorian suggests creating a contest of some sort to attract interest, ie. the offer of a free meal or a price reduction of a specific value on a meal or service on the viewer's birthday. Dorian reminded us that our Face Book page must have content that is not only eye and interest-catching but that also shows that we are on top of things, are busy, and are ever-involved. For more information about online marketing, you may contact Dorian at Doriandigital@gmail.com or visit his website, www.DorianDigital.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS: ***Ournext meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 10th,at Cafe Spiga , at which time we will honor two Most Motivated Students, 7th grader Alexa Ayotte and 8th grader Andrew Patterson. This is also an OPEN CUPBOARD COLLECTION DAY. Please remember to bring your donations to the meeting. ( If you are unable to attend, kindly deliver your goods to another club member who can bring them to the luncheon for you. ) The need is great. Bill Curry is in the process of planning for our upcoming Raffle Sales.The date and venue for the subsequent President's Dinner and Raffle Drawing have yet to be selected. More information will be coming soon...Stay tuned! Nancy suggested a new fundraising idea: placing a "Service Above Self" donation box perhaps on a ferry that runs between Port Jeff and Bridgeport. The proceeds collected could be shared between our club and the Bridgeport Rotary Club. Sharon offered to make contact with the ferry company and, eventually, the Bridgeport club. RYLA weekend is coming up soon: April 13th-15th. Will you be a volunteer at our Annual Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck Spruce-Up, which has been scheduled for Sunday, May 20th? Weiss Nursery is again donating perennials for the annual planting activity. Dennis hopes that this day will see 100 volunteers joyfully participating in this event. In addition to the usual chores, some new ones have been added, including painting the animal barn, refurbishing cabin entry railings, and cleaning the cabin windows inside and out. He noted that prior to this event some preliminary work has to be done, such as the power washing of structures that will eventually be painted. On Thursday, 4/19 Dennis and Michael Burghardt will meet at the camp between 10 AM and 1 PM to do some of the preparatory work needed. Dennis would welcome other volunteers to help out, as well. Contact him to offer your assistance.Nancy invites you to participate in the annual Mather Hospital "Families Walk For Hope" on Saturday, May 5th, benefiting Mather's Fortunato Breast Health Center. Registration begins on that date at 8 AM. The cost for walkers: $25. The Walk begins at 9 AM. Walkers should try to collect pledges from family members, friends, and co-workers. Contests, raffle sales, the raffle drawing, and other activities will also be held as part of this event. For easy registration, visit this website: familieswalkforhope.org . If you cannot participate in the walk, you can still help out on this occasion, as many volunteers are needed to make this fundraiser a success. Contact Nancy for more information and/or to offer your help.
We still have handsome PJ Rotary golf shirts for sale ($10 each) and invite you to purchase one or more.
Bob continues to seek evening meeting places, 1 per month. Contact him if you can provide a meeting site.
***Please check out our page on Face Book- and Like Us. ***Photos from our Winter Golf Classic are posted there as are photos of the inductions of our newest members.
If you missed today's meeting, kindly inform Yvette about make-ups in a timely fashion.
***The following is a list of donation "assignments" for members' once-a-month donations via the Club to the Open Cupboard: (*If you don't see your name on this list, select an item from it for your donation.)***NOTE: This list will be updated as needed:
Black Beans- Bob H., Pat (& brown rice), Yvette
Baby Wipes- Jim, Tom
Canned Fruit- Dennis
Cereal- Jennifer, Paul, Amanda
Oatmeal- Lisa, Sean
Soap- Kathy, Paul
Canned Chicken- Sharon, Michael B.
Jelly- Debbie, Michael
Shampoo- Saranto, Nancy
Conditioner- Nancy
Toilet Paper- Judi
Diapers- John Perkins
Apple Juice- Bill C.
***Check the list for your name and assigned item. (If you are not listed, you may donate any listed item. Corporate members are encouraged to donate individually. If you would like to be listed with a specific item, contact Debbie and specify your item of choice.)
***Bring contributions to Cafe Spiga on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, or give to another Club member who will be attending.
*** If you would like to be reimbursed, bring receipt(s) to the meeting.
...WAYNE SHATTES, whose birthday was April 1st; KEVIN MURRAY, who will celebrate his birthday on April 12th; DICK NOLAN, who has a birthday to celebrate on April 25th; BILL CURRY, who observes his anniversary on April 5th; YVETTE HOHLER, whose anniversary is April 15th; DENNIS BRENNAN, who has an anniversary on April 22nd AND who is celebrating his 17th year in Rotary this month, while DALE KUHN celebrates his 36th year as a Rotarian!
