Spent part of the day dealing with voicemail / autoattendants

I helped configure a rudimentary autoattendant setup so that when AT&T releases the church's main line people won't go into thin air.  I wrote a more complex set of behaviors/logic but need the Rector around to work through the logic/steps.

I also had to be in the office to answer the verification calls for the broadcast voice mail providers so it shows the proper office number in the caller id.

Communications Configuration

As the communications systems are either very ridged or very loose at this church it makes it tough to implement tools like email distribution lists, web site and configure things like the phone system.  Sometimes there are very ridged lines and committee/s oversight that only a few people know about, other times it is adhoc or the Vestry who oversee but they only meet once per month normally.  In developing a communications plan and simplifying the process for certain things like approving use of Church facilities by groups inside the church --  we need an online system that can function and handle facilities scheduling.

I created an org chart to try and make sure organizations fell under the right hierarchy but really need to have it blessed and get some additional feedback so I can help make sure I configure things to help facilitate better communications.

I did create a distribution "Action List" that send to the Vestry Ex-Com, Judy and for the short term myself so that we can clear out and take to a point of resolution long standing complaints/issues/ideas people in the church have so we can track them to resolution which in many cases will be the "why" we can't or are not able to move forward but in an official response.  My hope is that this will help clear the deck of baggage so that we can help people begin to move forward.

Credit Card Processor Discussion Goes to Finance Committee

Vestry assigned it to the Finance Committee to come back with a recommendation next month.  Need to talk with Don White on it.

Survey sent post attendance as part of follow up

I think there was an excellent survey or list of areas to cover with someone in that first call back and/or emailed out as well.

It covered areas like parking, etc.

National Urban League - Combination Site

http://iamempowered.com/

Usability Consulting

Another area that doing a more massive web project can get us is a shared usability / user experience consultant to really help us identify and resolve key issues and develop "standards" to really make the experience the best possible.

Episocpal ID / Emergency Call Card

Another area that I think could be done much better as we have an aging denomination is handling contact in case of emergency info, hospitalization, call for a priest at a hospital, etc.

An ID card linked to a database and phone number should be able to link that person to a congregation, emergency contact and an on call priest in case of hospitalization.  Similarly if there is a medical directive and organ donor that too could be on the card / in the database.

Could also track those taking care of someone at home - older parent, children, etc. to see that their needs were met.  Including things like family pet, etc.

Vertical Repsonse (Email, Survey & Postcards)

http://www.verticalresponse.com/pricing/non-profit/

Options are pretty good.

Current Dream Tech "Wish List"

• Label Printer 
• Labels
• Postage Online Account like Stamps.com
• 2-3 more PCs in the office (touch screen all-in-one)
• Backup solution for office PCs
• Digital Projector and portable screen
• PC/notebook record video for ustream
• Decent H.264 compatible video camera / audio for streaming (Firewire or USB 2.0)
• ipad/kiosk PC for visitor/attendee sign-in
• ipad or ipod touch for usher & welcomer
• kiosk or mounted ipad screen in the narthex to list upcoming events/welcome messages
• kiosk PC for child care check in
• Printer for child care check in (possibly label printer)
• Printer for name badges as part of check in process
• shared printer for attendance/on demand printing
• Software/hardware for Cafe/Internet sharing connection
• WiFi high gain external antenna and cabling
• Server PC of church area
• 1 or 2 laptop or kiosk PCs for use of those without internet access at home or to do updates to the back end/community software
• 5-10 PCs or laptops to do a lab -- including mobile carts so they could be secured

Internet Cafe Software / Solutions

Cafe Software (Has Library / Non-Profit Discount)
https://www.provisio.com/en-US/Shop/Shop.aspx?GroupIdx=15
https://www.provisio.com/en-US/SiteKiosk/VoIP-Telefon.aspx

Antennas
http://www.wifi-link.com/product.php?class1_id=643&class2_id=658

Moving towards an ideal solution - longer term

Currently reviewing several Church Management Solutions (ChMS), CRMs, Broadcast Email/Campaign Marketing Provider, Broadcast Voicemail, Google Apps, Workflow Automation, Automated Customer Service, Survey Solution, etc. to develop an integrated solution for a denomination of churches to handle day-to-day process management of their offices, develop automated or standard work flows, etc.

Specifically preparing them to handle an increase of contacts directly or funneled through a separate web site/phone system that will be backed by a sizable and ongoing community outreach & advertising campaign.  Goal of the campaign is to develop interest and feed/assign prospective members/leads out to local congregations and have them be able to route, process, follow up and be accountable – all online enabled.  This includes tracking and follow up with people with both fall out of the process as well as people who then are transitioned to attendees and later members.

We may specifically need assistance in integrating one of the online SaaS Church Management Solutions (Fellowship One, Community Church Builder, etc) with a CRM and Google Hosted Email apps to track communication/touches out to members and record that to their record.

We are potentially looking for a partner to handle development work to bridge a possible ChMS with a more functional CRM and then automate some workflows in between.

OffiSync - Enabling Collaboration

OffiSync - Enabling Collaboration

Another awesome add-on to help make Google Apps (Docs) and Microsoft Office work seamlessly. Support Office 2003, 2007 and 2010.

What scares me about ACS...

The following comment on a private user group:

"You discovered a workaround for what is the non-existent Resource Groups--a collection of Resources grouped as a common grouping to apply to events in a routine manner. Since FS does not have Resource Groups or departmental / stewardship attributes to assign to resources, you found a way to at least tag a resource to a department indirectly by applying to an event. The event record then acts like a stub for attaching resources that are related to a department or other stewardship oversight. Genius!"

I know I probably don't understand the implications or even the terminology and why it is important -- but as a potential user with a pretty standard IQ -- this boggles me. Someone just learning the system or forced to use it -- this is the kind of thing that as soon as the pressure is released -- people back slide from tracking things electronically because it is too difficult. Unfortunately if you don't track things -- then you never know whats happening or happened.

In software terms, it appears that ACS may suffer from the "Inmates Running the Asylum" i.e. applying programmer logic to every day user experience / user interactions.

Expensive tool need to look at further

http://www.unifyer.com/church/default.asp

Some churches are using this to unify communications.  Not sure on the exact functionality and what if any other tools out there may already exist or might be built-into an online crm or ChMS system.  If it is just a one-way tool to post to social network sites -- there are free ones of those.

Church Software, Web Based | Church Community Builder, CCB

Church Software, Web Based | Church Community Builder, CCB

Another option for a web based community with ChMS like functions. They are trying to be more friendly/open to Twitter, etc. Some of the twitter post out functionality could be made by using the "email to post" option direct w/twitter but also with other providers that repost to multiple sources simultaneously and they too accept items via "email to post" then syndicate across multiple sites.

Once again, Church Community Builder has gone and created new, innovative technology tools that integrate their web-based church management software with the ever-changing outside world of communications technology.

Today, I helped them announce a new feature that combines text messaging with Twitter. Who would have thought? This is a great idea -I’m not sure that anyone else out there is doing this. Here are the basics:

CCB Twext™ Offers the Following Benefits:

Group Texting: In addition to email and mail merge, every Group Leader has the option to communicate with their Group participants via Text Messaging.

Twitter™ Integration: If a group within the church has its own Twitter account, the Group Leader can add that account to their CCB Group. When utilized, a Text Message sent to the group will also immediately post as a Tweet on the group Twitter™ feed. This further extends the reach of the Text Message to those who may not receive text messages but are a member of the Twitter group.

Member Controlled: Group members have full control over their ability to receive text messages. They must proactively edit their CCB profile before receiving them. This ensures people don’t end up paying for text messages they do not wish to receive.

PhoneTree, Phone Tree, Message Services, Phone Messaging, Voice Messaging, Appointment Reminder, Emergency Notification, Text-To-Speech, Church Communication, Lab Test Results, Phone, Call, Communication by PhoneTree

PhoneTree, Phone Tree, Message Services, Phone Messaging, Voice Messaging,
Appointment Reminder, Emergency Notification, Text-To-Speech, Church Communication,
Lab Test Results, Phone, Call, Communication by PhoneTree

Another outbound voicemail option w/texing too.

ServiceU for your Church

ServiceU for your Church

Another event scheduler, fee collector and online donor solution.

Alternative solution for online donor management

http://www.donortools.com/

If we went with a ChMS / CRM without good donor tools and reporting or bad online donation/giving -- an external site that just does this very well might be an option.

Another Church Specific ChMS / CRM Option

http://www.faithhighway.com/church-management-software-and-other-church-software.php

They also do the Sermon Connect service.
http://sermonconnect.com/

More resources for Church Marketing

Three more sites to check out on Church Marketing

• ChurchCrunch.com
• ChurchMarketingSucks.com
• AnthonyCoppedge.com