| Communications Work Plan |
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A small informal working group has looked at communications at Christ Church and offers this work plan as a framework for immediate and longer-range considerations. There are many opportunities for you to step up and be part of any of these initiatives, so consider offering to be responsible for one of them. Many hands make light work….
Tasks Underway
l Nametags: While there is some controversy around name tags etc... the Priest in Partnership and the Communications group thinks that they are important. We think that all active members should have a permanent nametag to use (if they so choose.) Visitors don’t need to wear one but could be offered one by a greeter.
Status: Anita K and Kathy M are taking this on and will be reviewing options and samples after the 10/23 service. The plan is to move right ahead and have the vestry and other parish leaders set the example.
l Sound System Improvements: Christ Church acoustics, with the padded pews and carpet, and some seats far from the front, are far from ideal. We have many parishioners with hearing loss and the background noise of street traffic, kids and rustling adults make hearing a problem. Our sound system has level issues, where it is loud and distorted when the celebrant is looking down at notes, and much quieter when their head is up addressing the congregation. They system is old but may be salvageable with some tweaking.
Status: Dave Simpson, who has a lot of experience with sound equipment, will take a look at the system along with Danielle O’Hallisey, to see what adjustments/improvements we can make to have a satisfactory sound system. We hope that with a better microphone and appropriate settings, the present system will be satisfactory. Mid-November is the target date for completion.
l Church directory: There is a pressing need for a current directory of members and friends.
Status: Dave Simpson is in charge of the directory update which is nearly done. We will be updating the printed directory first, then begin work on a pictorial directory – perhaps online.
lService Bulletin While, thanks to the efforts of Diane Holland and Chris Brown, we have an excellent bulletin which contains most of the liturgy as well as announcements and related information, Diane has expressed a wish to move it to legal size paper, two (2) double-sided pages folded in half. The amount of information we're looking to have in it will necessitate more room, and we just don't have it in its current configuration. A larger format will allow the inclusion of service music, the entire transcript of the service text, announcements, and other missing items, while giving Diane more design flexibility.
Status: Diane will discussed the proposed new layout with the worship committee and working with the Priest in Partnership, will implement a fuller service leaflet quite soon.
lSign The Christ Church sign on the front law needs re-lettering with the PIP’s name.
Status: Dick M. is working with a sign company (Wood & Wood) to obtain a proposal. It is overdue but expected momentarily. Objective is to get it done by mid-November, if not before.
lA mobile “events” sign is needed to announce church events, Full Ladle, etc.
Status: Angie and Dave have spoken to Paul about this and will be arranging donation of a “Sandwich Board” to the Church. This will not be the “lettered” style where you have to arrange the letters individually, but is designed to accommodate a poster board behind a plexiglass sheet, so it can easily be changed for various events
l Christ Church could be better about welcoming of newcomers/visitors
Status: The Communications group is pushing "Encourage Three" - greeting three people you don't know very well or who are new, before you chat with your buddies. Note: The Sign of Peace at Christ Church is legendary for connecting long-time members and visitors alike. We need to make sure that tradition both continues and is strengthened by letting it unwind rather than being in a hurry to move forward with the service. Offer the peace to someone you don’t know.
l The parish website/blog is an important tool that should be used more intensely.
Status: The site is being updated continually to reflect CC ministries and priorities. We’ve added a strong welcome page, pictures of the vestry on the vestry page, a Google calendar and LEM schedule, and information about new ministries like the Prayer Shawl ministry. We need to integrate the Stewardship campaign as well as Youth and Adult Christian Formation in the next weeks. (Dick M is doing this.)
l As part of telling our story, we should issue press releases to local media on a much more regular basis
Status: Build a list of press release submittal email contacts. Issue a press release on our new PIP with photo. (Dick M to do in next two weeks)
Tasks – Next three months
l Signs: We need a sign indicating which door we want folks to use to get in or one pointing to the office. Additionally, we need to make it clearer during the winter months when the front doors are locked, maybe through use of the sandwich board and some type of sign/banner, that the church is open. Also, some type of sign that indicates that handicapped access is available in the rear of the building. (Anyone willing to lead this?)
l Users: Ushers need to be brought into the welcoming/Encourage Three initiative. There should be some ongoing training and recruitment of ushers. We should strengthen the usher/greeter system at the early service. (Who will do this?)
l Greeters: We should develop a dedicated corps of greeters at Christ Church to enhance our welcome and welcoming process. (Anita K and Rilla M have offered to be part of establishing this ministry but we need someone to lead it.)
l Website updates: There are a number of additional tasks for the website: Add a section something like "So you'd like to know more about the Episcopal Church" with content about basics, sacraments, some traditions, where to learn more. Add a section on How to Get Involved--link to the ministries of CC and who to call for more info. Train parishioners in online utilization including signing up for the blog posts, accessing the Google Calendar, and signing up for Facebook.
l Scheduling system for church space: There is not a clear system in place to find out which of the church facilities are in use or reserved for particular dates. This should be available online, with controlled access. A paper calendar should also be available outside the office. (Who wants to work on a system to schedule space?)
l Electronic Delivery of Chronicle: We need a better system to identify who wants to read the Chronicle online and who needs it mailed. (Volunteers?)
l Parish Database: In order to manage mailings, ministries, and email notices, Christ Church needs a more accurate database with information on member talents (skills), birthdays, etc. (Claudine B, with lot’s of database experience, has volunteered to lead this effort. Yeah!)
l Hospitality : Food and conversation are traditional means of communicating and Christ Church has an active hospitality ministry. Acknowledging and sustaining this method of communications is an element of this overall strategy. However, while we have had many special events such as newcomers brunches, harvest dinners, Mother’s Day brunches, we don’t have a plan or an infrastructure to conduct these over the course of a year. Who wants to be part of the planning and spreading the responsibility for hospitality events?)
l Saturday Suppers: Consider restarting the "Last Saturday of the Month" suppers open to the community at large, for donations...to help folks stretch their budgets at the end of the month, and also to have a presence in the community that is similar to that of the Full Ladle. (This likely comes under the purview of the previous item.) l
Tasks – Next six to nine months
l Exterior Trim: We need to paint exterior trim around entranceway. (Ruth Beard reports that this is possibly lead-based and will be part of a longer-range plan for improvements)
l Branding: There is a need to evaluate our logo, stationery - how we present ourselves. Christ Church has a logo shield which seems to have little meaning to most; the new diocesan logo is a good example of an image that captures all-encompassing ministries while maintaining a tie to traditional roots. We should establish a working group to explore the issues regarding changing our logo and our branding. (Who wants to be part of this?)
l Electronic newsletter: We should consider a monthly electronic newsletter – to supplement the Chronicle. This would likely require a signup/opt out process and might be too much work. (Who would like to take a look at this and report back?)
lMinistries Directory: There are dozens of ministries, some quiet, others more well-known, at Christ Church. We should create a directory which describes each ministry, what's involved, and who to talk with about learning more or joining. Any directory should be on-line as well as in print. (Dave S. and Rilla M. started compiling data. Who wants to take it over?)
lRecorded sermons: We might consider developing a way to bring the recorded sermon, and perhaps the whole service, to shut-ins. We could also put the sermon, and anthems, up on the web as a mp3 or YouTube item. (Who has the expertise to get us started at considering this?)
lBulletin Boards: The bulletin boards in the parish hall entryway could use a face-lifting – they are the first thing that many people encounter when entering. Photos of key lay leaders and staff should be on both the bulletin boards and the web site. A couple of volunteers, working with the PIP, could provide some good ideas for improvements. (Any takers?)
lConsider interviewing and highlighting a different parishioner/family each month, having them describe why they worship at CC, what ministries are important to them. This could go in the Chronicle and on the web.
lPublic Use: Christ Church has a lot of space that could be more effectively used for meetings, rehearsals, concerts, perhaps even offices. Part of our communications strategy should include getting the public into our spaces. (The Vestry should establish a “space” working group to consider outreach and related issues.)
Potential Projects – Next several years
Suggestions for other long-range items?
Shawn Bryan, Dave Simpson, Claudine Bodin, Diane Holland, Rilla Murray, Kathy Menninger, Corrie Wilcox, Sara Baker, Anita Krauf, Bob Uertz, Dick Mansfield
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