Original at Link Please check there as I do not update this as often
Sent (most of these) to President. Officers, and Committee Chairs
on 2/2/2011; additions since then in Blue
Suggestions for Ownbey Meeting of Officers and Committee Chairs Thursday February 3, 2011
(Here are ideas I have and of course implementation would require class approval of many of these suggestions)
- Methods of feedback including class meeting
- Use a Suggestion Box
- This (asking for suggestions) is a great start, thanks, as is the Officers and Committee Chair Meeting 2/3 to review what folks are doing , etc.
- Meeting of old and new officers and chairs at start of year.
- Class meetings
- Surveys
- President Talks as per James Howell did when he came here before classes
- Questions -What do people want out of class - service efforts or not, fellowship or not, socials, Bible Study
- Feedback during year by folks on Church Wide Committees so we understand what is going on at MPUMC. such as:
Strategic Plan, Administration Board actions, Finance Committee decisions, the current Sunday School program, the Wednesday night program
- Get the Clipboard around to all each Sunday
- Weekly report to members - email, written or what, but also to non email members.
- Training
- Periodically Barbara has Sunday School Training session; determine if done now
- and that class knows about them and that officers, chairs, and members are encouraged to attend.
- Share results of any such meeting with class.
- Share any Handouts or Training Manuals.
- Curriculum
- Good we all all invited to the meetings
- Give us chance for feedback other ways - thanks for the 4/24/2011 survey.
- Let class discuss/decide, based on recommendation of the Curriculum Committee, if we want to be a part of the periodic Church wide efforts
- Have periodic mention and a summary prepared of the Background of the Teachers; after all these years, I still do not know some basic info on Speakers.
- Periodic or Quarterly outside speakers
- Have James Howell lead a class - he promised in 2003 he would drop in when I told him we were studying one of his books, but he has not..
- Other names of interest would be Loy Witherspoon, Mark Edwards, Melvin McIntosh, Danny Watts, etc
- Invite to teach children of members such who are minister/speaker as the Thompsons, Hatfields.
- Also invite people who have been to war zones and mission trips
- Folks from South Tryon Church
- Offer the class members chance to present 7 minute lessons on various subjects of interest to them and call it "member Talks" or something similar; stick to time limit.
- Can we figure out how to get class to read books before lessons; at least encourage it.
- Summarize Class Lessons for communication to folks not present
- Each Teacher-on book taught, prepare a book review (they are brief, according to practice here and the guidelines) for the Library Web Site . With all the teachers' hours of preparation already, perhaps it would take only a few minutes to do.
- One of the benefits of this class is the exposure to so many books and thoughts over the years, and we should emphasize that in discussing with others and publicity.and in flyers about the class.
- Prepare a list of the books we have studied
- Teachers should be present as often as possible when others teaching, especially if the same Book
- Encourage families of members to come to class when in town
- All Teachers and speakers should use the mikes or no teachers use them as the switching back and forth does not work well.
- Teachers should use some books on the Reading list for the Methodist Women
- Plan and distribute Lesson Schedule well in advance of Quarter, such as by middle of previous quarter.
- Following items new to this list prompted by the 4/24/2011 Survey:
- Continue single session topics AND multiple sessions topics.
- Multi part session of up to 3 to 5 classes unless is a larger planned church wide program.
- Plan in sequence instead of skipping to other subject In multiple session topic, especially if a book,
- Teachers later to participate in Multi session topic present for previous lessons
- Use Adult Bible Series more periodically for a multi part session
- Recognize Teachers by a special dinner.
- Get a picture of all teachers annually.
- Publicize our classes in various church publications as others do.
- Add Audio Visuals (TV, DVD/VHS Player) and curtains to room to make it easier to use media.
- Handouts by teachers such as outline and notes often would be helpful
- Class on other denominations such as Baptist, Episcopalians, Mormons,etc., and even a class on Masons.
- Membership
- Some way find out why some class members have quit coming. Use one on one, assign members to check, survey written or telephone. Is it parking, teachers, conflicting services, lack of interest, room location.
- Find out why folks want to stay on list if not going to come to class or functions much.
- Have a chairman, perhaps the Class VP or Secretary if not enough volunteers for all jobs.
- New members are important, but we have a lot of class members who do not come. Concentrate on making sure they know we need them.
- Formal followup on people missing.
- Have a buddy system to stay in touch with other class members
- Study folks who have hard time getting here and have system set up similar to ones for Betty and William.
- Formal followup with visitors - who is writing them letters and saying glad they came , etc
- Have a welcoming member each Sunday
- Attention to attendance report and roll to notice quickly folks missing .
- attend new member meetings, decide how to use that as a way to meet potential members
- Have more formal various goodies on Sundays
- Encourage name tag use; hand print ones for visitors as soon as they appear
- Figure out some way we can learn more about class members. I try but I have no idea the background of a lot of our members. Where born, career, interesting facts, children/grandchildren, etc
- When Class Members move away, have the "Going Away" Service.
- Communication about Ownbey
- Include info about (some of) our lessons in Church Bulletins and MPUMC Web Page as other classes do, especially the young and new classes
- Blog and Web Site up to date
- Or newsletter to reach all including non email folks, or
- Be sure the Calling Committee is in effect. or . .
- Buddy system to match folks with emails to those without to keep them informed (see #4,4 above)
- Decide if we want to re activate and update the "Extended Family" list we once had. We stayed in touch with birthday cards, etc
- Family of class Members
- Encourage info on Bulletin Boards about Family , friends, grandchildren.
- Prepare Family sheets
- On class, and a $buck or so for our Treasury for bragging rights each time.
- Encourage family visitor attendance at class, especially if from out of town
- Birthdays
- Mention on Class
- Continue to Send Birthday Cards . . .
- Anniversaries
- Recognize
- Happiness Bragging Opportunities such as birth of grandchildren,
- On class, and say a $buck for our Treasury for bragging rights each time
- Anniversaries
- Blog or Web
- Relationship with Other SS Classes
- Meet with other classes at times
- meet with next door (Genesis) classes at times as we once did
- Invite members of Genesis to visit us when they call off their classes
- Info from Church - have someone responsible for communication about some of these areas
- feedback to Class about such things as the Administrative Board actions and decisions, especially if members are on such committees or Boards
- What is Adults Plus doing
- Retreats for Women
- Methodist Men and the New Mens' Group
- Budget. etc
- Disciple Classes and other Classes
- What are the Methodist Women and the Circles doing
- Mission Trips
- Class Actions
- Maintain records of Class decisions
- Make some organized use of the Library
- Book Club
- Encourage members to present 2/4 minute Book Reviews of books on religion or class lessons.
- Update Roster and Handbook. and pictures of members
- Consider Guidelines when there is a funeral for Class Members
- Notification to members,
- email and phone,
- Where do we sit,
- food,contacts,
- Ushers,
- help how?
- Keep in mind our 60th Anniversary is coming up in 2013; we missed the 55th.
- Just for variety, rearrange class room every now and then
- Add at least the Christian Flag to our room, I offered to pay for it and a U.S. Flag. I was pushing for this last summer until the previous administration leader asked me not to discuss the US Flag and Christian Flag on class as was too dicey so I dropped it. Someone even objected to the Christian flag but that I can't understand. I wouldn't mind a Methodist (flame) flag either.
- Be sure Markers work, Keep Room neat
- Use Maps more
- Work on class room ambiance - inviting and worshipful .
- Not sure what to do but someone is a better interior designer than I could figure it out
- add Draperies to our Class Room,
- figure cost, get estimates, get (anonymous perhaps) contributions, do it - much like we did the Audio System.
- This would help the ambiance as well as make use of overheads and videos clearer
- Install permanent DVD player (including TV monitor) so can easily use Videos - some classes have them
- Many classes have them, why do we not?
- add Draperies to our Class Room to make use of DVD's and slides and overheads easier
- Support Disciple Classes, etc.
- Encourage class participation in Church Wide efforts and Committees, with feedback to the class
- Work on some continuity plan for officers and chairs.
- use Officer jobs to train and make sure of continuity of our goals
- Secretary could be the Chair of the Membership Committee
- VP , the Social Chairman and next President.
- Retiring President, the Nominating Committee Chair
- Music
- Get Cokesbury Hymnal ($10) and use occasionally.
- Also consider the new addition to the Methodist Hymnal
- Sing different verses than 1 and 3, how about 1 and 2 sometime.
- Social/Fun
- Great start this year, thanks to Durward
- Bring family members, Grand kids, guests, fFriends
- Lake Junaluska Retreat?, US Water Park?, other destinations as the Wesley Class does
- Parties!
- Bring back the Christmas Party/4th of July one, etc
- Decide alternative for the Christmas Breakfast, in case needed!
- Eat together after Church at Queens, MP Country Club, and other places. Durward's idea is a good one, having meal in Jubilee Hall after Church
- Combine with Adults Plus!
- Encourage attendance at Hot Wednesdays as a way to get to know other MPUMC people. At times, eat together as Ownbey Class.
- Memorials
- Thanks to Carol D and Tom, we made a great start this year in encouraging people to give through Helping Hands
- Only a few people gave in last couple of years, and again we have made a good start emphasizing that more might give
- Publicity in Church Communications occasionally
- Catch up on the dedication of class Hymnals. When a member passes away, we are supposed to dedicate one of our hymnals in their honor and transfer funds as a memorial.
- Do we want to create an Endowment as other classes do.
- Helping Hands All new as not on original list
- We have a good program and these ideas are some thinking to continue and build on that tradition.
- Ask the Class for suggestions such as these.
- See what other SS Classes do and if they have guidelines
- We should highlight what we have done already by updating the Web Site. I guess few folks go to the Web Site but talking about 2010 is a little out of date without any 2011, as it is now.
- I imagine if Reatha received an email she would gladly cut and paste it there quickly, perhaps add pictures if someone has them.
- Carol Douglas was following up on this.
- Emphasize the need to give to Helping Hands. We have money because of some matching done a year or so ago, but giving to HH should be more regular and class wide.
- Emphasize ways to give to HH. Stocks of course and Matching funds perhaps if the purpose can be determined not to be religious. Would have to work with Church Office for this determination and they are not too inclined to help with this. Mention putting in wills.
- Make it clear(er) how to make check when contributing. It is ridiculous the church cannot or does not want to handle checks made to MPUMC and an account for us on their books which means it gets on the church reporting system. Make it clear whether checks are to be made to MPUMC or to Ownbey S.... Reminds me of the time the church complained about matching funds as they "wished matching funds had never started" or something to that effect
- Have Forms easily available in Class Rooms and on on the Ownbey Official Web Site, perhaps on Bulletin Board, or on table but the table organization is destroyed each week.
- We should emphasize can get forms on line, though I find
that is hard for Ownbey people to use the web to get. I have a lot of information on the
Blog about the mechanics of Helping Hands and the standards plus the
forms and procedures but again few folks use the Blog. - I do not have info on what we have done overall - other than copies of most of the
applications but no summary - as I do not have easy access to the details but we need to summarize in text form for use in Web and other publications. - Good we have the info on the Bulletin Board as Carol Douglas suggested and would be even better if we had the names of people we have :honored" by contributions and in memorials.
- Bragging about "So and so graduated phi beta Kappa from Podunk U" should "cost" the proud ancestor $$$ for Helping Hands. Minimum of $2 or $5.
- Our Guidelines suggest "The Committee will present a finacial and status report to the class twice a year." I think it should be more often, at least quarterly. in a basic income and outgo format with some details.
- Prepare a brochure with info about Helping Hands with its purpose, type of distributions, income and photos. Maybe a form or at least links to web pages.
- In various places on the Blog I have mentioned the people being "honored"
for the Southminster computer classes, the go to the Blog and earn money ,
or the the Say the books of the Bible efforts but they are not summarized
anywhere together. - Info in the various publication Cornerstone, and MPUMC Web site.Include in writeup of the class for Barbara (where does that stand by the way)
- Committee Identify areas we want to give to such as the Library, Mission Trips, South Tryon
- Redo the Guidelines to make it clearer what purposes our gifts are to address; I felt fortunate in what we have now as it was hard to get anything written down in 2003 when we started the program. See what other classes have and what the MPUMC Guidelines are. My personal guideline has been that some Ownbey member should be active in whatever cause we are helping and maybe that is not the best standard.
- I have no problem with the forms we use, but let's at least consider how to simplify; I have no suggestion but then I have used them often and am familiar with them. They are designed based on a form at the church. (We do need a spot for telephone numbers for the giver and receiver)
- Designate at least one day a year for Helping Hands, maybe half the class along with some other similar subject
- Use a new "Ownbey Matching Funds " concept, When we give funds, we ask the class members to match the gift.
- Develop a "Project" to raise money for Helping Hands. That would have the benefit of generating publicity and in turn more requests and money income and would be a reason to be mentioned in Church publications.
- We are supposed to dedicate a hymnal and make a contribution as a memorial upon the death of a member. We have forgotten to do this in the last few years. Keep this in mind going forward. The procedure in the past was to transfer funds from the regular account to the Project Account, now the Helping Hands fund.
- We need to check with the church to be sure there are not auditing issues with what we do. I have asked Joanne already about this.
- The Guidelines say the purpose of the activity is "to identify and or investigate service opportunities that could warrant financial or time and talent participation of the class. Notice "time and talent" not just $$$$.Is that something we need to pursue?
- Service -
- See if class wants to take on new service activities
- What can we do about race relations as a class
- Continue/emphasize Helping hands Habitat Room in the Inn South Tryon Mission Trips . .
- A project to raise money for Helping Hands and or other causes
- Actively support the Youth and have more contact with them.
- A joint lesson, invite to our class
- Christmas Tree sales
- other Projects
- Boy Scouts - they seldom are mentioned
- With the Library so close by, is there a way we can have a bigger part in it
- I say this knowing many class members are active - Carol D, Linda, Nancy S, Wilma, others -
- support them and the Library.
- Ownbey Teachers-prepare a formal (they are very brief, according to practice here and the guidelines) book review for the Library Web Site on books used in Ownbey Lessons.
- Investigate an Endowment Program
