One of the recent discussions has been on the worth of moving ppl from ‘Attendee’ to ‘Prospect’ / ‘Miscellaneous’.

Our Lead Pastor brought up a good point in that when ppl stop attending, they are moved to ‘Prospect’, thus removed from contact lists. They then lose all regular contact from Calvary. At the moment when they might be needing some contact, b/c of whatever reason they stop attending, they are less likely to. And this may lead them to not desire to re-attend.

To help solve this figurative disappearing, I created a few new reports in Shelby. The reports show -

1) Phone Number

2) Input Date

3) Date Moved to AT

4) Date Moved to PS/MS

5) Received from: [this is how they first came into Calvary – Sunday Worship, LIFE Classes, Children’s Ministry, etc)

6) Last Date attended Sunday Worship

7) Last Date attended LIFE Classes

8) Module

9) Membership Status (card-carrying member status)

These reports will show the timeline of first visit, becoming a regular attendee, and non-attendance. It will also show if there is a certain entry point (received from) that doesnt correspond well to keeping regular attendees. The Membership Status will show how many Card Members left for each month.

Hopefully this will help us retain more ppl.

And help Calvary answer the question ‘Where Are They Now?’

Next post maybe I’ll do something on ‘Pop-Up Video’ or ‘One-Hit Wonders.’

During the service, we pause and ask our guests to raise a hand. Our ushers then give them a guest packet. The guest packet contains some print material (guest book, calendar, map, weekly bulletin, and pen) in a bright yellow bag. This serves two purposes. The first purpose being the bright yellow bag that draws attention to them so our regular attendees can know to say hi, make them feel welcome, and answer any questions. The second being that it guarantees that they are given a guest book which contains information on ministries, groups, classes, etc.

But we are rethinking this.

Do we need the bright yellow bag? Do we even need to hand them anything?

How will we get them information on our church? Do we need to make sure they get it, or in today’s culture are they finding it other places?

So I was assigned to survey other churches.

How do you handle recognizing guests?

Do you make sure they receive print material or it it available at a Help / Welcome Center?

How do your regular attendees know who the guests are?

Leave a response in the comments, please. I am looking for lots of feedback here.

thought I’d post this quick.

Its a picture of the front row at VP Biden’s mom’s funeral.

The IT industry is currently the industry most obsessed with new fresh products. And I usually like to be finding easier ways of doing the things I do for work.

I’m pretty much set for productivity and admin software. But I had read recently on CNET’s Download.com of some new anti-spyware software. So that gave me the itch to set out and find some new (software) toys.

Trading 2 programs for 1

To fight spyware I was using Spyware Terminator and Spybot S&D to run scans once a week. I was getting tired of using two programs, running two scans, and being off my computer (personal choice) to give the scans priority for that long. As part of their Security Starter Kit, CNET highlights Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It has a simple interface and options, is effective, and is quick w/ its scan time. Its a light program compared to other anti-spyware programs that offered too many options that usually go unused. So, I switched to Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It found a few files that were not found by the the two other scans I used to run. I’ve found it useful, quick, and efficient. I’m glad I made the switch.

An upgrade for screenshots

To capture custom-sized screen shots I was using Wisdom-Soft’s ScreenHunter. A very useful program. It always came in handy for website graphic stuff. It allows you to capture part of your screen, then copy and / or save as a file. CNET also has a Windows Starter Kit with software that will make your Windows experience better and more productive. Among their Image Editors, is Gadwin PrintScreen. One of the highlights is that it allows you to adjust your capture area before you save. You can also zoom the capture before you copy / save. These are handy upgrades from what I was using.

I think you will like these two new toys.

In a year w/ so much talk about the economic downturn, it’s easy to see how people need a little extra help. It’s easy to look around and realize you have way too much stuff that you don’t use. Way too much stuff. But even if you look around and see not enough stuff, not enough food, not enough clothes, remember there are still people without.

Maybe considering thanking God for what you do have, buying less, and giving more.

Listen to Seeing What God Sees, a compelling sermon on compassion by Greg Boyd.

So, I’m updating a huge stack of address.

And reanalyzing CAG’s address / phone updating strategy.

1) adding ShelbyLife.calvarydover.org/InfoUpdate to Pathway
2) InfoUpdate cards at Help Center

CAM09C
Postcards

TGV09
updating referral organizations info

CEM
A) CAM roster

and they can keep the coat rack.

***
removed new ACM from NCF invite list.

bulk mailings are becoming an issue as they now charge $.44 to return any undeliverables. the question now is what to do instead of bulk mailings and how to insure accurate addresses.
1) class rosters
2) pew callers – accuracy comes from promoting signing in

I believe in the power of the Internet to leverage change.
I believe God created the Earth and all its resources for humans to use.
I believe in being a good steward of those resources.

How can my inspiration for a Eco-themed Blog Action Day not be The Lorax

The World will go about its business, changes will not be implemented, things will be done the way the are always done, ‘Unless’.

Unless someone thinks differently.
Unless someone speaks up.
Unless someone starts a change.

Be that someone in regards to the environment.

a big emphasis in Men’s Fraternity is planning. Men usually plan in business, vacations, even tailgating, but don’t seem to plan in their lives. As members of Men’s Fraternity, we are expected to write a Manhood Plan to share with our brother in the group. The plan helps you analyze your life and has you create action steps to resolve any issues.

The first step in creating the Manhood Plan is looking back at your past.

Our past is very important to who we have become. If we look at our lives carefully, each of us has used moments in our lives to define who we are. We have either purposefully emulated or opposed characteristics of people in our lives.

Looking back must include “Unpacking” the suitcase of wounds most men carry around.

The Five Wound men must deal w/ (bold items directly from Men’s Fraternity workbook)

The Absent Father Wound
physically and emotionally

The Overly Bonded with Mother Wound
sees the shadow of his mother in all women in his life. becomes scared or controlled my women.

The All Alone Wound
won’t deal w/ circumstances. hides emotionally

The Lack of a Manhood Vision Wound

The Heart Wound
the innate desire to not do what we should, and to do what we shouldn’t

We must look back and “unpack” before we can analyze where we are now and see where want to go w/ our lives.