Joliet Zonta Club President Bonnie Winfrey and PR Chair Pat Perrier presented at the 2024 District 6 Fall Conference. They spoke about the ins and outs of PR and the Zonta on the Move Podcast.
After presentations from the District 6 PR Chair and Webmaster, who spoke about the various social media and gave generational facts about the populations that our clubs are seeking as prospective members, Bonnie and Pat brought the “Joliet way” to the attendees, emphasizing the need for outward-facing communication and images showing active participation in service and advocacy projects. Their aim, they said, was to eliminate the question, “What is Zonta?”
“Our emphasis is always to show our Club doing something,” said Perrier. “It’s important that the community knows that we are involved in issues important to our area and important to Zonta.” Younger prospective members prefer to know what a club is about and what they’re doing. They’re influenced more by direct action and projects that help the community.
The energetic talk involved audience participation, including asking for a show of hands regarding social media, and questions to the group about which photographs in the presentation caught their attention.
Winfrey advised that each club should pick their theme, and use that on every piece of marketing. The Zonta International tagline “Building a Better World for Women and Girls” is important, and should also be used. In addition, a club theme helps the group organize their projects and the focus of their public image. Joliet’s theme is “Zonta is on the Move!” and is also the title of their podcast. She also emphasized that it’s imperative for clubs to participate in different forms of media, such as radio, community television, and podcasts. While newspaper and online publications are important, reaching out on other formats helps to build your audience. Winfrey said that news outlets are looking for stories, and the object of each club’s PR Committee should be that their Club be considered the “expert” on subjects concerning women and girls, and the people who are actively involved in projects which make good stories. The more information clubs can provide, the easier it is for the media to cover their events.
“It was such a joy to stand with Pat Perrier to present information on Media/PR Outreach at the District 6 Fall Conference,” said Winfrey. “Through the years, Pat, Lisa Pappas and I have transformed our club’s image and taken our club PR to another level. I have worked in media for over 40 years in both broadcast and print media. To share experiences both inside the walls of media institutions,
to taking the audience on a journey on how to get their clubs and events exposed to the public was a great opportunity for me.”
The audience came away with a better understanding of how to initiate a podcast, how to approach radio and television, and how to find their own unique club voices. “It’s not our intention for all of you to copy us,” Perrier reminded them. “It’s our intention to give you tools and ideas to create your own space and your own voice for your unique community so you can spread the word about what Zonta is doing internationally and right where you are.”
The Zonta Club of the Joliet Area was founded in 1973 and is involved in service and advocacy projects in Joliet and the surrounding area. The Club’s Charitable Foundation is also actively working on long-term projects which will benefit the club and the Joliet area. In addition to service and advocacy, the Club provides scholarships and awards to young women going to college and women who are returning to complete a degree.
Information on membership can be found at www.jolietzonta.org as well as contact information.
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