First Quarter 2002 Update
We would like to update you on the accomplishments for the first Quarter 2002 and our plans for second Quarter 2002. Since the first quarter 2002 had challenges due to budget constraints, we implemented the near zero cost solutions as we provided our mission offering to those in need.
We are pleased to report that we accomplished the near zero cost goal this past quarter. Therefore, we did not have to draw on any funds from the Computer Ministry budget. This goal was accomplished by refurbishing donated inventory given to us by Argus Health Care, Village Church Kingdom.COM, and Hillcreast Bank. We anticipate that we can continue to operate within this near zero cost model for the Sister Berta's Computer Donation program and future inventory needs in the 2 Qtr 2002 plan. The applicaiton for funding to implement the Adult Ministries Computer Workshop/Lab project 2 Qtr 2002 is in progress.
The One for Many offering is the most efficient model that the Computer Ministry organizaitonal skill set can produce at this time. I recommend that we continue to use this One for Many offering model as demonstrated in the accomplishments of 1 Qtr 2002 and defined in the plans for 2 Qtr 2002.
As I anticipated, the demand for requests of the Computer Ministry offerings exceeds the supply of what we can produce in a quality and timely manner. I recommend that we focus on the 2 Qtr 2002 plans and complete these goals. Once we complete these 2 Qtr goals, we will be better prepared to handle requests of One for Many offerings in the second half of 2002. Therefore, new requests for the Computer Ministries services and offerings outside of the 2 Qtr 2002 plans are being deferred into 3 Qtr 2002.
First Quarter 2002 Accomplishments
Mission for Ministry January announcement - successful announcement of the Computer Ministry to the Church. All chartered members of the Ministry participated in this announcement and were key in generating interest within the congregation. New members have joined the Ministry and all have valuable skills plus the enthusiasm to contribute to the team effort of this Ministry.
Completed internal skills transfer education for new Computer Ministry members. All members are educated and empowered to pursue their desired contribution to the Computer Ministry.
Job Search Workshop - provided the computer infrastructure and equipment for Lee Klien so she may conduct her workshop for those in need.
Baptist Seminary - Delivered computers to Mark Braden for the Spring semester seminary students.
Operation Breakthrough - Established the relationship with Sister Berta Sailer's Operation Breakthrough Computer Donation program and the Computer Ministry. The Computer Ministry will be the factory to build computer systems for Sister Berta. Sister Berta will serve as the distribution channel get these computers to the families that need these computers. Sister Berta is best qualified to identify the families in need within her community.
Dream Factory - Delivered computer system to Bradley Burger. Preliminary discussions on the ongoing relationship for future opportunities for the Dream Factory volunteers and the Computer Ministry to work together have been held. Further defintion of this relationship will be established sometime after July, 2002 due to other plans in 2 Qtr 2002.
Second Quarter 2002 Plans
Continue supplying computers to Sister Berta Sailer. Arrangements are being made with Sister Berta to pick up computers ready for her. The next step is to offer training for families receiving computers from Sister Berta's computer donation program. The Education team within the Computer Ministry will provide training to these families at St. Vincent's using a subset of materials from the Basic Computer Training classes.
Pilot the Basic Computer Training within Rm. 181 at Village Church (VC) in April lead by the Education team. The purpose of this pilot is to conduct this training, validate class materials, survey the students for suggestions on improvements/modificaitons/additional class content, and begin building a computer literacy skill base within the volunteers for other VC outreach programs. The Education team will work with Meridee Jordan to provide the announcement materials including course descriptions, target audience, and schedule for classes which may start either in June or 3 Qtr 2002.
Install and implement the Adult Ministries Computer Workshop/Lab in the permanent location at VC lead by the Installation team. The installation date is targetted for May, 2002. When this installation is complete, computer based one for many offerings can be done as defined in the Adult Ministries Computer Lab/Workshop Grant application.
Build an inventory of computers ready for donation lead by the Hardware/Software team. The goal is to have 40 computers as deliverable inventory with a basic configuration of Hardware and Software. The purpose of having this inventory is to shorten the turn around time starting from a request for a computer offering to delivery of this offering. Current turnaround time is six to eight weeks; the target is to shorten this time to three weeks.
Submitted by Tony Liu
Second Quarter 2002 Update
This is an update on our accomplishments second quarter of this year and our plans for the third quarter.
Ken Smith and I met with Bob Sawyer and the Mission Ministry committee on May 20, 2002 to present a proposal of how our two ministries may work together. Bob and I agree that the our two committees working together brings a stronger offering for the church. We presented to the Mission Committee the need:
for us to use the strengths of two ministries together
to help identify future projects for the Computer Ministry
to help prioritize the projects qualified by the Mission Ministry
for the Computer Ministry to focus on.
I recommend that we continue to work with other ministries of the Church to combine our strengths together as a Church family. For example, we have developed and scheduled a class in the Computer Workshop/Lab that will be part of the Art Ministry curriculum in October with Anne Bruso, Art Ministry Committee head. I will personally take the responsibility of contacting Patsy Shawver to see how the Computer Ministry and the Front Porch Alliance can partner together. I ask for your guidance of other committees that we should partner with.
We have taken a new direction to empower the members of the ministry to use their collective creativity in producing offerings for the Church. I have presented to members of the Computer Ministry the strategic vision of providing offerings that will help the Church family. We will continue to focus on the tactical projects that will contribute to this vision. I will continue to work with you to keep our focus on this strategic vision. I have announced that Ken Smith will be responsible for the tactical projects and empowered the team leaders to provide leadership to their team members following Ken's leadership.
We will use quarterly and monthly checkpoints to follow this vision.
This empowerment is an important step in the evolution of the Computer Ministry. We have many creative and talented people involved with the Ministry. I feel we have evolved as a family that requires an environment for their creativity to excel in concert with the common vision we all share. I feel we will continue to provide the quality of offerings that will help the Church family.
Second Quarter 2002 Accomplishments
The Hardware and Software teams delivered five computers to Sister Berta at St. Vincents Project Outreach
The Hardware and Software teams delivered the computer system to Bradley Burger of the Dream Factory
The Hardware and Software teamsdelivered two computers to the Salvation Army
The Installation, Hardware, and Software teams completed the first phase of the Computer Workshop/Lab in Room 355
The Education team taught three "Very Basic Computer" classes (one class in April and two classes in June) to the congregation in Computer Workshop/Lab
The Hardware and Software team has built an inventory of systems for future projects to improve our delivery time of offerings for the Church
Third Quarter 2002 Plans
The Education Team will teach the three session "Very Basic Computer Class" starting September 4 through the 18.
We will provide a computer to Charlotte Davidson for the Front Porch Alliance one-for-many offering.
We will teach the Computer Ministry Orientation class in July and August for new members.
We will complete Phase Two of the Computer Workshop/Lab in Rm. 355.
We will continue to support the our partners involved with community service one-for-many computer offerings (i.e. Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, St. Vincents, Baptist Seminary).
We will continue to to form our partnership with the 4H After School Academic Program (ASAP) community leaders to deliver a one-for-many offering.
Submitted by Tony Liu
Third Quarter 2002 Update
This is an update on our accomplishments third quarter of this year and our plans for the rest of the year.
We recommend that we continue to work with other ministries of the Church to combine our strengths together as a Church family.
I met with Patsy Shawver to discuss how the Computer Ministry and the Front Porch Alliance can partner together.
We will determine strategic projects that we can work together for next year at the appropriate time.
We did deliver the computer offering to the Front Porch Alliance SISTAS project.
The new direction to empower the members of the ministry is working very well. This direction allows them to use their collective creativity producing quality offerings for the Church.
This empowerment is a positive change managing the Computer Ministry with high quality delivery of our offerings.
The most important element is the involvement of the membership helping each other. It is quite common for members to volunteer assistance and get involved with little direction from the leadership.
Members participate on multiple Computer Ministry teams, or focus on one team. Members help each other, working many days a week, and continue to produce a quality offering to the Church.
We recognize that the demand for our offerings is exceeding our capacity to produce a quality offering. We continue to get requests from the Community for an offering from the Computer Ministry.
Operating under a near-zero-cost model since the beginning of the year makes it difficult to meet the demand for our offerings, yet the demand will always exceed what we can supply.
The solution proposed is to limit the number of partners listed in order by priority. Currently we have partnerships with the Adult Ministries, Front Porch Alliance, Missions Ministry,
Children's Ministry, Art Ministry, Sister Berta at St. Vincent, Grandview Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, and the Baptist Seminary.
For 2003, we should limit new community partners that we will support as defined by the priorities set by the Church.
We established a new Support Team. Jim Wann will be the key Support Team person from the Computer Ministry for the Adult Ministries' Computer Workshop/Lab.
Steve Skare will be the key Support Team person for Children's Ministry - Kingdom.com and Sue Dolquest's digital movie project.
Samm Skare will become the 2003 Adult Ministries representative from the Computer Ministry.
Third Quarter 2002 Accomplishments
Provided a computer to Charlotte Davidson for the Front Porch Alliance one-for-many SISTAS offering.
The Hardware and Software teams delivered five computers to Sister Berta, St. Vincent's Project Outreach.
The Support, Hardware, and Software teams completed the second phase of the Computer Workshop/Lab in Room 355.
The Education team taught the "Very Basic Computer" classes to the congregation in Computer Workshop/Lab in September.
The Support Team prepared Rm. 355 for the "Job Search Workshop" for Lee Klein in September.
Fourth Quarter 2002 Plans
The Education Team will add the Internet topic to the "Very Basic Computer" class for 2003
We will complete the First Presbyterian Church "Tutordotte.com" installation
We will complete the Baptist Seminary student's single computer offering
We will work from Thanksgiving through New Year preparing the Computer Ministry for 2003
We will prepare for the January 11&12, 2003 "Minute for Mission"
An update the Session is scheduled for November 4, 2002 on the Computer Ministry progress and plans.
Submitted by Tony Liu
Fourth Quarter 2002 Update
The Computer Ministry continues to provide computer
offerings to help the Church family. We met the major
milestones of 2002 to establish a firm model for 2003.
We wish to say "Thank You" for the outstanding
assistance Greg Barnes and the members of the Food
Pantry did for us. Due to their help, we were able to
receive the many computer donations given to the
Church. Also, the generous space recently given to us
at the 99th and Mission Road Outreach Center allows us
to safely store these computer parts. The help and
support of Greg Barnes and his Food Panty volunteers
is appreciated by all of us in the Computer Ministry.
We established in 2002 the necessary teams and
partnerships to continue into 2003. The members of
the Computer Ministry stand on a firm foundation of
Friendship and Relationship which enhances the ability
of us to work successfully together. Also introduced
in 2003 was the empowerment of all teams to work
together as they see fit to create their Outreach or
In-house zero cost offerings. These offerings were
delivered to our strategic partners and members of the
congregation. We intend to continue this model into
2003 and I will focus on maintaining this homogeneous
fellowship and teamwork as we continue to bring
offerings to the Church in 2003.
4th Quarter 2002 Accomplishments
The Education Team established the materials for the
first quarter 2003 "Very Basic Computer" daytime and
night class schedule by adding the Internet topic. We
doubled the number of classes offered to meet student
demand. We added Debra Steele to the core set of
Teachers on the Ed Team. The Computer Ministry web
site was updated with these new schedules.
The Hardware, Software, and On-Site Teams completed
the installation of the First Presbyterian Church
Outreach "Tutordotte.com" six computer one-for-many
lab.
The Hardware and Software teams provided three
computers to the Salvation Army
The Research and Development (R&D) Team developed
better tools to save us time testing and creating
computer offerings. R&D created a standard procedure
for the Hardware and Software teams to create high
quality offerings efficiently.
R&D created a zero cost solution as a alternative
offering which we are evaluating for appropriate
placement.
We updated the VC Session on November 4, 2002 of the
Computer Ministry progress and plans.
1st Quarter 2003 Plans
The Education Team will establish the practice,
tutoring, and assistance Friday afternoon weekly
sessions.
The Ed TEam will train new members as teachers and
lab assistants "chimes" to meet student demand with
future classes. Another day/night time series of
"Very Basic Computer" class will be taught in March to
meet growing demand.
The Computer Ministry members will host a table in
Friendship Hall each Sunday in January between
services to promote awareness and recruit volunteers
and computer donations.
We will provide Linwood Presbyterian Church with one
computer plus telephone wiring for internet access.
We will provide Eastminister Presbyterian Church
with one computer plus teacher orientation.
We will deliver five computers as part of the
one-for-one offering to Sister Berta's St. Vincents
Project Outreach center.
R&D will work with the Documentation Team to provide
a manual of standards, procedures, and tools for the
new members to use in creating offerings. The purpose
of this manual is to maintain the high quality
computer offerings that we create and support.
R&D will continue to do research to discover
additional zero cost application software for
one-for-many or one-for-one computer offerings.
R&D will research better and more efficient ways for
the members of the Ministry to communicate with one
another electronically.
Submitted by Tony Liu