For many years, Sertoma has sought a national service project that would be closely affiliated with our mission and that would also provide a national identity in order to spread our mission and attract new members.

Sertoma International's affiliation with the WISE EARS!* program is a service project that will accomplish these goals with minimal financial outlay and time commitments. In fact, by developing a newspaper insert, this project is a viable fundraiser and membership recruitment avenue for the clubs. In addition, it is a program that can be expanded as clubs develop ways to implement the program in their communities.

Sertoma is a member of the WISE EARS!* Coalition whose objectives are to:

* Increase awareness about noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among all audiences, e.g., workers, employees, health professionals, teachers, parents, children, entertainment industry, state and local government workers, unions, industry and the general public.

* Motivate all audiences to take action agains NIHL by understanding the problem and its solutions, e.g., understanding that everyone is at risk for NIHL; expanding the availability of hearing protection devices; advocating changes in the workplace; developing hearing loss prevention programs.

For the immediate term, the Sertoma International/WISE EARS!* Campaign will begin with May Better Hearing & Speech Month activities. The noise-induced hearing loss campaign is focused in three areas: youth organizations/schools, workplaces and general awareness. As this is a national service project, the clubs are encouraged to participate in this campaign throughout the year and share successful activities in your communities for program expansion.

Please review the WISE EARS! attachments in the Members section of www.sertoma.org for suggested activities, media pieces, handouts and club recognition guidelines. One of your goals will be to get the media pieces placed in your communities. Additionally, the clubs are encouraged to order May Better Hearing & Speech Month merchandise items and earplugs, as well as an adequate supply of the Sertoma & You recruitment brochures, to supplement the materials on the site. This campaign is actually quite simple, so don't be intimidated by the number of items included. First steps: Review the WISE EARS! materials; advise your club members of the campaign; arrange for printing of the materials; order a stamp with your club name and contact info in order to personalize the handouts; contact the radio stations for the radio PSAs and the newspaper(s) for the newspaper insert eight weeks in advance; order an adequate supply of May Better Hearing & Speech Month merchandise items and recruitment brochures.

We are excited about this long-awaited project that will revitalize May's Better Hearing & Speech Month, while benefiting the clubs and raising awareness and growth for Sertoma. Please contact International Sponsorships Manager Marilyn Preston with questions or if you are unable to download the materials from the Web site. Thank you in advance for your participation. WISE EARS! Sertoma International Materials

* WISE EARS! Club Activity Guide

* WISE EARS! Fact Sheet Brochure (4-page) PDF (youth/schools, workplace and general awareness handout)

* WISE EARS! School Handout PDF

* WISE EARS! Workplace Handout PDF

* Wise Ears! Int'l Press Release

* WISE EARS! Club Press Release

* WISE EARS! Newspaper Insert Guidelines

* WISE EARS! Newspaper Insert PDF (Page 13 includes condensed youth activities from the School Handout)

* WISE EARS! Ad Flyer (Newspaper Insert Sales Piece)

* WISE EARS! Radio PSAs (:15 and :30 second)

* BH&SM Club Recognition

* Media Guidelines