17HOW EMMIE ;12/24,09:3012/17ccz15church
Video tape meetingsWe use a portable video camera to tape our stake Primary leadership and training meetings. We review the tapes later to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses. Those unable to attend the meetings can check out tapes for their wards. We recently taped our meeting with Michaelene Grassli, Primary general president, and have gained new insights by watching it again. - Janet M. Mason, Weymouth, Mass.
Keeps several reports
I'm a ward executive secretary and used my home computer to keep several reports. The "callings and sustainings" report helps to keep the bishopric up to date, especially on sustainings and setting people apart. The home teaching and visiting teaching listing allows us to see at a glance who visits specific families. Another report includes a list of members and their callings and shows the people who don't have callings. These tools help keep us focused on the most important tasks. - Craig Pattberg, Russelville, Ark.
Speeds up scheduling
Shortly after my parents bought a used computer for me, my mother came to me with the following problem: Every spring our stake held a women's conference in which each woman would fill out a form listing about a dozen classes she would like to attend in order of preference. With about 250 of these forms, about a dozen sisters spent a week scheduling four or five classes for each sister. Classes also had to be limited in size. I wrote a computer program that did the planning and printed out everyone's schedule. Now scheduling takes one person four or five hours. - Elder Bradley Simpson, Taiwan Taichung Mission
Identifies sisters' needs
In my calling as Relief Society educational counselor, I identify the sisters who need extra attention by using a program called Symphony on my computer. With this program, I give various categories of sisters certain codes. It is then possible to sort the list of sisters by these codes and know immediately which sisters have similar needs. - Elva H. Shaw, Winfield, Ill.
`The Primary Show'
A Primary teacher used a video camera to help a shy boy who would not talk in front of people. Together they made a video with him performing his part well. It was a turning point for the boy to see himself on video, talking to the entire Primary and doing a good job. For a Primary quarterly activity, we showed slides of individuals doing class service projects. We included less-active children by taking pictures of them serving at home. Several children who had never attended Primary came to see themselves in "The Primary Show." - Lethia Ellis Smith, Lawrence, Kan.
Has variety of uses
In the elders quorum, we use our computer to produce a monthly home teaching newsletter, update home teaching lists, write lesson schedules, make tickets and flyers for events and file personal information on quorum members. In early-morning seminary, we use it to produce bulletin board information on lessons, reading schedules, etc. The computer also makes invitations, certificates, newsletters, programs and illustrations. - Scott and Kendra Garner, Fort McMurray, Alberta
Verifies if job done
Try copying meeting notes every week onto a single word processor file. Then, by using the search feature, you can see when a individual or event was discussed and what followup action was or was not taken. This file also may be edited at the end of the year as part of a historical summary of the organization. - David K. Maxwell, Syracuse, Utah
Organize video library
Before publishing my first newsletter, I learned to use our home computer. I also found and learned to use a newspaper software known as the "Newsroom." The software is fun to use and takes you through the stages of writing a newspaper. These stages include files for a copy desk to help choose type sizes and headlines and a photo lab for graphics and pictures. There's a layout file for organizing the stories and illustrations on the pages, and a press file for printing the paper for publication. - Tina B. Glass, Albuquerque, N.M.
Track missionary work
We owe a large part of our stake's missionary efficiency to computers. More than two years ago we installed a computer "bulletin board" in the full-time mission office that has information gathered from weekly reports turned in by the full-time missionaries. Every Saturday night I call the mission computer and download the week's statistics for missionary activity. I then make them part of the agenda for my 6:30 a.m. meeting with ward mission leaders and give copies to the bishops. We also use database software to keep track of stake missionaries, investigators and new converts. - Rick Bennett, San Jose California East Stake mission president
Use for announcements
Since being called as Relief Society president, I use my computer to type announcements each week. Then the next week, I update or delete what is or is not needed. I also add a special note or poem for our Young Women/Primary presidencies and give them a copy. We also make agendas for presidency meetings and visiting teaching conferences. - Beverly J. Conner, Kingwood, W.V.
Helps the Webelos
I use my computer in my Webelos calling. I type a weekly letter to my Scouts. Each week I erase the paragraph at the top and type a new greeting. I add the new events and reminders at the end of the letter. We have our lesson plans outlined three months in advance. The parents and boys are reminded about what is coming. - Corinne B. Walker, Loveland, Colo.