M-T1-CL-05 · A 90-day try-out

A club plan for Rotary Policy Conversations

Use this as a starting point. Cross out what does not fit, add what is missing and make it your club's own.

Where this idea came from

Playbook entry: M-T1-CL-05 · Rotary Policy Conversations
Theme: Theme 1: Attraction & Visibility · Subtheme CL: Civic Leadership
Source material: Existing checked Theme 1 guide
Linked playbook entry: M-T1-CL-05 · Rotary Policy Conversations

1. Is this worth trying here?

What we hope will change: Helps communities understand a public-policy question through sourced explanation, lived experience and multiple credible perspectives while keeping Rotary outside partisan advocacy and electoral persuasion.

What is happening in our club or community now?What is the smallest useful version we could try? What will we leave out?

Board contactPerson leading the workPerson checking what happened

2. Our 90-day try-out

What our club will do for Rotary Policy Conversations
Step	What we will do	Who could lead it
1	Frame a neutral policy question and distinguish law, current policy, proposal, evidence and opinion.	Policy Conversation Sponsor
2	Select contributors for relevant knowledge and lived experience under transparent balance criteria.	Contributor Curator
3	Fact-check the briefing and prepare moderator prompts that surface assumptions and trade-offs.	Evidence Editor
4	Facilitate equal conditions for explanation and questions without votes, endorsements or campaign asks.	Independent Moderator
5	Publish a sourced neutral summary and refer questions to the authorities responsible for answers.	Rapporteur and Referral Lead

3. Checks before we start

Things our club needs to check
Question	What it means for us	Who will check	Done?
Rotary branding, contact lists, funds and venues must not be used to endorse or oppose candidates, parties or a predetermined electoral outcome.
Before promotion or publication, assess whether content is electoral matter and apply all required federal, state, territory, local and platform rules.
HIGH - policy education can become unlawful or partisan campaigning through framing, imbalance, reuse or implied Rotary endorsement.

4. What changed?

What we will keep an eye on
What matters	Where we are now	What we hope to see	How we will check	Who
Evidence brief passing independent source review

After 30 days

Is it reaching the right people? Is anything unsafe, unfair or harder than expected?

After 60 days

Make one useful change based on what people have told you.

After 90 days

Compare with where you started. Decide whether to change it, continue it or stop.

Before your club says yes

Does the idea fit?

Talk with the people it is meant to serve and check that the need is real.

We have checked this

Who can say yes?

Name the person or group that can approve the work, spending and any safety arrangements.

We have checked this

Are people protected?

Check privacy, consent and safety. Collect only the information you genuinely need.

We have checked this

Can everyone take part?

Check the language, format, place, technology and cost for barriers.

We have checked this

Are the facts and permissions right?

Check names, claims, images, quotations, partner references and Rotary branding.

We have checked this

How will we learn?

Note where things stand now, check in at 30, 60 and 90 days, and decide what to do next.

We have checked this

Worksheets for your club

Open them online, print them or change them to suit the way your club works.

Communications and content planner

Use this worksheet to prepare clear messages and check the facts, permissions and approval before sharing them.

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Facilitation and conversation guide

Use this worksheet to hold a respectful conversation, hear different views and tell people what happens next.

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Training and mentoring guide

Use this worksheet to prepare a practical learning or mentoring session and follow up afterwards.

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