The Waunakee Rotary Club often uses Facebook to spread news, but at the June 28 meeting, members learned how to possibly make even better use of social media.
Spencer Smith, author of Rotoma: the ROI of Social Media Top of Mind, talked about how businesses use social media to gain awareness of their work effectively.
Spencer said told a story – perhaps true – about how the Yellow Pages was started. The white pages were started first, with residents’ names and phone numbers published. Then AT&T went to businesses, gave them a free phone and a listing in the Yellow pages. Soon, businesses found that their AT&T began to ring off the hook.
A year later, AT&T returned to the businesses and said there would be a charge for the phone and listing, which the owners paid.
Facebook, Spencer said, followed the same model when they began charging businesses for advertising.
Home Depot is one of the fastest growing companies in history, and aspired to create a culture wherein its employees are taken care of. The philosophy was, first the people, then customers, then profit.
It created a satellite network to tell about the employees’ excellent customer service and beyond-the-call-of-duty actions.
We all have that technology available for free to say wonderful stuff about people, Spencer said, adding that people crave “feel good” stories.
In network newsrooms, those stories are often told after the larger stories about fires or homicides.
But when Green Bay Packer Aaron Jones helped a woman in wheelchair by pushing her through an airport, that Facebook post went viral.
Spencer noted that the public relations is a more than $2 billion industry consisting of crisis management communication and accessing journalists. Companies pay them to say nice things about their businesses.
But with Facebook pages and groups, Rotary clubs and businesses can publicize their achievements and work in the community on their own.

 

Other news:
–The club gave a round of applause to outgoing president Jim Kattner for his service during the year. The proverbial changing of the guard, with Jim handing the reins to incoming president Mark McFarland, was held June 27 at the Steak Fry.
–President Mark McFarland has some new ideas for the next year. The Club Assembly has been moved to the second meeting of the month. Also, in an effort to connect the members, greeters will be asked to talk about themselves for a minute and a half if they wish before they introduce the guests and visiting Rotarians.
–Plans are firming up for the July 17 Betty Lou Cruise. The cruise will leave from The Mariners. Let Bob Klostermann know if you’d prefer a two- or three-hour tour.
–The Senior Picnic is July 11 at Centennial Park.
–Signups have been emailed for Rotarians to volunteer at the WaunaFest food stand.

 

*******

Guests: David Reddington, guest of Taylor Endres; Stephen Erickson, guest of Liz Diehs; Scott Duke, guest of George Ohlendorf; Carrie Clickner, guest of Guy Stratton; Craig Clickner, guest of Guy Stratton.

 

Visiting Rotarians: None

 

Birthdays: July 10, Peggy Acker-Farber; July 10, Shelley Moffatt.

 

Anniversaries: July 9, David and Erica Weishoff; July 10, Gordy and Kris Meicher.

Greeters: July 5, Robert Lenz and David May; July 12, Mark McFarland and Gordon Meicher; July 19, Nicholas Mischler and Shelley Moffatt; July 26, George Ohlendorf and Joe Olson; Aug. 2, Linda Olson and Cindy Patzner; Aug. 9, Danny Paul and Ken Pesik.