20110202 Suggestions for Ownbey Meeting of Officers and Committee Chairs Thursday February 3, 2011 and comments for 9/7/2014

http://ownbeyss.blogspot.com/2011/02/suggestions-for-ownbey-meeting-of.html
 to Reatha from don Redding 8/29/2014
On 8/14/2014 11:27 AM, Reatha Andrew wrote:

Dear Ownbey Family, Last night at our final Summer Supper of the season, Don H announced that our lesson on Sep 7th will be "What is the Future of the Ownbey Class?" We'll have open discussion about "all things Ownbey" -- membership, class officers, lessons, teachers, socials, missions... In preparation for that, would you please take a few moments to respond to the following questions? Thanks. [i will compile the results so we can have some data to present on the 7th] 1. How long have you been a member of the Ownbey Class? Since 1967 a. If you remember the exact (or approx) year you began coming, list that: 1967 b. If you are no longer a member, list the years -- again, exact or approx -- you were in membership: 2. What drew you to the class? do not remember 3. What keeps/kept you coming back? Friends, habit, loyalty, some lessons 4. If you no longer attend, please share why -- health issues, family obligations, now live out of town...I really look forward to this answer. I just hope folks who do not come at least 75% of the time will tell why they miss so much. I do not understand why some "regular" members miss so often, including teachers. I think the lack of interest by James in Sunday Schools is partly to blame as well as all the conflicts, extra programs, choir needs, emphasis on younger people/new classes, and extra services for the Sunday School Hour. I think I shared with you his assessment that Sunday Schools were Banal Click Here. Further I told him when he first came we were doing a book of his on class, and he said he would try to come by; he never has. 5. What future do YOU envision for our class? I worry Ownbey will lose attendance/become smaller as members continue to age out, move, are unable to come, feel no obligation/loyalty to come, find excuses for not coming, attend the worship services etc at same time as ss, and lose interest. There is nothing wrong with becoming smaller perhaps. The way Sunday Schools are devised it is inevitable we see smaller classes and or mergers as time passes. 6. Other comments/questions: Several times I responded to similar questionnaires and shared copies with the then officers and chairs (and had available on the blog for others). Last time was around 2012. I have not revised it much but all along I have added some notes. Glance over it if you want . . . The link to that posting is Click Here. Good Luck! Take as much space as you want/need -- i kept the spacing short for ease in sending this :-) Thanks again! Reatha - Th - 11:15am >From James:

(This is updated  2/2/2012 although not all revised) Not Current at link
Sent (good portion of this)  to  President. Officers, and Committee Chairs
on 2/2/2011 but never discussed as a whole; additions since then through about early 2012 in Blue and some not noted

Suggestions for Ownbey Meeting of Officers and Committee Chairs Thursday February 3, 2011
(Here are ideas I have. Implementation would require class approval of many of these suggestions)

1. Methods of feedback including class meeting
1. A Suggestion Box
2. In 2011, 
1. asking for suggestions is a great start, thanks, 
2. as is the Officers and Committee Chair Meeting  2/3/2011 to review what folks are doing , etc.
   
3. Meeting of old and new officers and chairs at start of each year to review Handbook, Job Descriptions, make plans, etc. Invite whole class.
4. Class meetings, scheduled during Sunday School hour or other times.
5. Surveys with results shared with class, not  just a summary.
6. President  Talks  before classes a/k James Howell did when he came
7. Questions - Ask what  people want out of class or to make it better - 
1. friends and fellowship
2. service efforts or not, 
3. fellowship or not, socials, 
4. Bible Study, 
5. Methodist beliefs, 
6. teachers, 
7. subjects.
8. Change of format with more or less time for lessons
9. Should we start or end earlier or later
8. Feedback during year by folks on Church Wide  Committees so we understand what is going on at MPUMC. such as: 
1. Strategic Plan, 
2. Administration Board actions, 
3. Finance  Committee decisions, 
4. the  current Sunday School  program, 
5. the Wednesday night program
   
9. Get the Clipboard around to all each Sunday
10. Weekly report to members  - email, written  or what, but also to non email members.
    
2. Training
1. Periodically Barbara has Sunday School Training session; determine if done now
2. and make sure  class knows about them  and that officers, chairs, and members are encouraged to attend.