Not every Rotary wheel is the right Rotary logo. These outdated or altered designs do not meet current Rotary brand guidelines and should be replaced with an approved club logo from the Rotary Brand Center. Image: Rotary Zones 26/27
Rotary’s logo is often the first clue the public has that Rotary members are behind a project, event or act of service. When our logos are outdated, altered or difficult to recognize, that connection can disappear.
That is why every club should take a few minutes to review its website, social media pages, newsletters, email signatures, signs, banners, event flyers, presentations, shirts and other promotional materials. You may be surprised by how many vintage Rotary wheels are still quietly spinning through your communications.
For club-level materials, clubs should use their official Rotary club signature, which combines the Rotary Masterbrand Signature with the club’s name. The Masterbrand Signature by itself is not the appropriate logo for most club communications. Rotary also states that older club logos should be retired.
Logos should not be recreated, stretched, recolored, decorated or given special effects. Avoid changing the fonts, adding drop shadows, placing words inside the wheel or modifying the logo to match a holiday or event theme. Even well-intentioned changes can weaken Rotary’s visual identity.
Fortunately, no one needs to build a logo from scratch. Rotary’s Brand Center provides official, downloadable logos and customizable templates for clubs, districts and zones.
Visit the Rotary Brand Center to create or download your approved logo.
As you review your materials, ask:
- Are we using our official club logo?
- Is the logo clear, readable and displayed in its original proportions?
- Are the colors, fonts and spacing unchanged?
- Are old logos still appearing on signs, clothing or online accounts?
- Are we ordering branded merchandise from a Rotary-licensed vendor?
A consistent brand does more than make our materials look polished. It helps people recognize Rotary, connect our club with the work being done in the community and understand that we are part of a trusted global organization.
Watch the accompanying video for a quick and entertaining tour of Rotary logo dos and don’ts. It makes the guidelines easy to remember. You can also find a quick logo reference guide here.