As your club's most important means of communication, a regular newsletter should be published as often as your club meets. At a minimum, you should publish a monthly newsletter. A club newsletter is an investment that pays dividends in member participation and satisfaction.

In addition to a club newsletter serving as an important tool to convey information about upcoming events, it also serves as a permanent record of your club's history and your members.

In this busy world, it is important to do more than simply announce upcoming events at club meetings, even if every member attended every meeting. Effective club newsletters should:

Display the Sertoma logo, as well as our marketing slogan, Making Life Worthwhile Through SERvice TO MAnkind, on every item printed for your club, from bulletins to brochures. In addition, your newsletter could include pictures of your members working at recent fundraising events, receiving recognition or serving your community. Some clubs include a "president's message," as well as advertising to offset the newsletter cost. You might like to include reports on member achievements (a degree, a new business) or family issues (a birth, an illness or hospitalization). The key to using any of these items in a club newsletter is giving members a positive source of information that makes them feel part of the group.

Every club member should receive your club newsletter. In addition, you should send your newsletter to other clubs within your area so that they may support your local club events (and your club, in turn, may support their events). This fosters a sense of belonging to a larger organization and also helps clubs learn from one another. You could ask your District Governor for copies of good effective newsletters. You should also send your newsletter to your District Governor and your Region's Director and to the Sertoma Headquarters Communications Department.

To save on printing and mailing costs, many clubs e-mail or fax their newsletters to their members - or post their newsletters to a Web site. Those members who do not have fax machines or Internet access may receive the newsletter by U.S. mail.

Remember that your club newsletter is your most important communication tool. It serves as an important link between your club and your members - especially those members who are unable to attend meetings on a regular basis. Keep your newsletter positive, educational, informational and focused on the business of Sertoma.