Friday, November 18, 2005
A big thankyou and latest developments..
Just a quick note on the blog this week to say thankyou to everyone who has given money towards 'First Impressions'. The project will have a large impact on how we work in the Parish Office and the warmth of welcome we will be able to give, Carol and myself are very grateful.
We are developing the plans for the entrance of church, improving the welcome area and making the office a fit place to work. So do pop in and talk to us about the improvements and please feel free to bring any sugestions you may have.
There have been many developments in the Parish Office and many more about to happen, so it has been a busy but very productive and fullfiling time.
Here are some highlights from the last 12 months:
Grapevine re-vamp.
Regular issues of Grapevine, rota's on-line with major updates to the web site.
Blog!
Re-arranged the office so we use the space more efficiently with more space for volunteers.
Wireless network installed - printer and networking now wirless.
Computer and donation by a church member of a flat screen monitor (saves space).
Computer specified with wireless mouse and keyboard so it can be used to power a projector for worship.
New colour laser printer to replace ageing inkjet printers and taking the pressure off the duplicator.
Printing templates set up with standard settings for most of our day-to-day needs.
Re-cycling of printer cartridges with a local company who pay us for any they collect.
Stock paper now recycled. Waste paper now re-cycled or re-used.
Parish Directory reformatted with just telephone numbers and more useful information - large print version created.
Standadised many stationery items so they can be bought in bulk at lower cost.
Heaven & Earth DVD and CD produced with material from the St. Helen's celebration weekend in May 2005.
Computer filing re-arranged to be more user friendly and logical.
Large posters can now be created in-house and sent electronically to the printers.
Rollcall members database replaced by an easier to use and more flexible address book.
Calendar now totally computerised, with the different areas of church life in one calander.
Fee's account (such as wedding, funerals etc.) invoicing streamlined.
Computers sourced, specified, purchased and installed for the Vicarage and SHYP.
New Menu for Oasis.
Wireless networking to join the Vicarage and Parish office has been purchased (to be installed).
ADSL broadband packages and technicallities have been researched (to be installed).
To-do events and regular activities (renewal of insurance, check heating etc.) now computerised with automatic reminders.
Caretaking arranged for Emmaus room with new booking forms and proceedures.
Office 'Wikki' (electronic notepad) so notes and proceedures can be filed and searched easily - essentially forming a 'living' office handbook.
Spring books now recorded in a database that automatically creates weekly reports and can be managed by volunteers - also runs of a local (secure) web server so can be assesed by any computer on the local network.
Up and coming:
Purchase a projector with funds kindly given by the Bishops Development Fund, for use at PCC, SHYP and in worship.
Finish installing a wireless WAN to the Vicarage.
Install shared ADSL broadband connection with Parish Office and Vicarage.
Burial database now web based (local network at the moment) - just automatic recovery software to finish writing.
Database for church inventory and inventory needs updating after the building work.
Terrier needs updating with recent building work.
Look to consolidate utility bills and search for cheaper prices.
Weekly information sheet for the parish to design and launch from January.
Grapevine to go monthly with more focused and wider ranging editorial - hopefully from January.
Communicate strategic long term planning in a clear and understandable way.
Disaster management planning for St. Helen's.
First Impressions!
St. Helen's festival 2006.
As you can see we have been busy. None of this would be possible without the help of so many people, both volunteers, staff, PCC, parishioners and the public. So thankyou to everyone for your continued support. If there is anything in the work of the Parish Office which you would like to be involved with please do call me, no one can be an expert in all areas and we appreciate any help that can be given, however large or small. Serving in the office is a real pleasure, not only the satisfaction of getting jobs done, but also a fantastic opportunity to meet people, share God's love and carry one anothers burdens.
We are developing the plans for the entrance of church, improving the welcome area and making the office a fit place to work. So do pop in and talk to us about the improvements and please feel free to bring any sugestions you may have.
There have been many developments in the Parish Office and many more about to happen, so it has been a busy but very productive and fullfiling time.
Here are some highlights from the last 12 months:
Grapevine re-vamp.
Regular issues of Grapevine, rota's on-line with major updates to the web site.
Blog!
Re-arranged the office so we use the space more efficiently with more space for volunteers.
Wireless network installed - printer and networking now wirless.
Computer and donation by a church member of a flat screen monitor (saves space).
Computer specified with wireless mouse and keyboard so it can be used to power a projector for worship.
New colour laser printer to replace ageing inkjet printers and taking the pressure off the duplicator.
Printing templates set up with standard settings for most of our day-to-day needs.
Re-cycling of printer cartridges with a local company who pay us for any they collect.
Stock paper now recycled. Waste paper now re-cycled or re-used.
Parish Directory reformatted with just telephone numbers and more useful information - large print version created.
Standadised many stationery items so they can be bought in bulk at lower cost.
Heaven & Earth DVD and CD produced with material from the St. Helen's celebration weekend in May 2005.
Computer filing re-arranged to be more user friendly and logical.
Large posters can now be created in-house and sent electronically to the printers.
Rollcall members database replaced by an easier to use and more flexible address book.
Calendar now totally computerised, with the different areas of church life in one calander.
Fee's account (such as wedding, funerals etc.) invoicing streamlined.
Computers sourced, specified, purchased and installed for the Vicarage and SHYP.
New Menu for Oasis.
Wireless networking to join the Vicarage and Parish office has been purchased (to be installed).
ADSL broadband packages and technicallities have been researched (to be installed).
To-do events and regular activities (renewal of insurance, check heating etc.) now computerised with automatic reminders.
Caretaking arranged for Emmaus room with new booking forms and proceedures.
Office 'Wikki' (electronic notepad) so notes and proceedures can be filed and searched easily - essentially forming a 'living' office handbook.
Spring books now recorded in a database that automatically creates weekly reports and can be managed by volunteers - also runs of a local (secure) web server so can be assesed by any computer on the local network.
Up and coming:
Purchase a projector with funds kindly given by the Bishops Development Fund, for use at PCC, SHYP and in worship.
Finish installing a wireless WAN to the Vicarage.
Install shared ADSL broadband connection with Parish Office and Vicarage.
Burial database now web based (local network at the moment) - just automatic recovery software to finish writing.
Database for church inventory and inventory needs updating after the building work.
Terrier needs updating with recent building work.
Look to consolidate utility bills and search for cheaper prices.
Weekly information sheet for the parish to design and launch from January.
Grapevine to go monthly with more focused and wider ranging editorial - hopefully from January.
Communicate strategic long term planning in a clear and understandable way.
Disaster management planning for St. Helen's.
First Impressions!
St. Helen's festival 2006.
As you can see we have been busy. None of this would be possible without the help of so many people, both volunteers, staff, PCC, parishioners and the public. So thankyou to everyone for your continued support. If there is anything in the work of the Parish Office which you would like to be involved with please do call me, no one can be an expert in all areas and we appreciate any help that can be given, however large or small. Serving in the office is a real pleasure, not only the satisfaction of getting jobs done, but also a fantastic opportunity to meet people, share God's love and carry one anothers burdens.
