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Dr. Joanie Edwards said in a comment on the Faith Circle blog:

Pat Fesmire and I have tossed around trying to contact "whomever is in charge" to get permission to put together and offer the opportunity to produce a Church wide yearbook. Jackson First UMC does one every year, and Richard and I really enjoy looking through it to see who is still "breathing", and who is newly married, or has had a baby in the past year, etc. I did this a long time ago when I attended the CP Church and was totally in charge. It was a lot of work and I was lucky to be able to recruit some great help, but I would be willing to do it again and Pat said she would help me. Olan Mills took the pics and I am pretty sure they still have church "DEALS" on free photos with no obligation to purchase anything. In the back of the Jackson First UMC yearbook, there is a section for pics of current inactive members, and a place for a memorial page to those who want their loved ones remembered. What do you all think? I remembered that you could have your pic made, not buy any, get a free 8 x 10, and be under no obligation to purchase a yearbook. If I get the go-ahead to do this, I will look into it with careful eyes and ears and find the best bargain. I need some input......

I'd had similar thoughts over the last few weeks. It would be *lots* of work, but if we wanted, we could do the directory ourselves and have it printed in much the same way as Olan Mills and others at Kinkos...

Dr. Joanie needs some input. What do you think?

I think a new directory is a great idea. I'm open to either way...but I think a more relaxed, fun directory would be a new twist. Just real pictures of real families in their everyday clothes.

While we're at it, I'd love to see new choir robes. Are most churches still using choir robes?

Oh -- Olan Mills offers "Free" Church Directories so long as we have 35 families sign up... Which is not a bad deal....

[ours]

My only concern about using a portrait/photography company is the burden it may place (even if it's only a perception) on our membership to "prepare" for the portrait and to purchase pictures.

Even though companies that do church directories offer them "free", we know that they're in it for the money

Folks know that Olan Mills and other companies use these church directories as opportunities to sell pictures. They actually make a pretty hard sell. I would hate for an individual or a family to choose not to have their picture taken/be included in the directory because they feel they can't afford to purchase additional pictures. Since this is a "professional" photographer, folks usually feel like they need to "dress up" (even though we're not terribly formal in church) -- it would be a shame, too, for people not to have their picture taken because they don't have the clothes.

I'm not against a new church directory or the companies that provide them -- not at all. I'm very much in favor of a new directory! Our church family has changed enormously since the last directory.

I do believe that if we spread out the responsibilities, we could easily produce our own directory (and keep it up to date). We could even include information that has traditionally not been included in the directory. Really, all we need is someone to take pictures (we'd set up several nights), someone (or several someones) with Microsoft Publisher to format the pages, and the Church Council's agreement to fund the duplication. The end-result would be professionally prepared and bound by Kinkos (or another printing company). I think the cost to the congregation and the church would be less if we do it ourselves... and it would be ours.

We could also easily do an online directory with the same pictures.

I could go either way, but lean toward the most inclusive option.

What are your thoughts?

What a good idea!

Dr. Joanie Edwards said in a comment on the Faith Circle blog:

Pat Fesmire and I have tossed around trying to contact "whomever is in charge" to get permission to put together and offer the opportunity to produce a Church wide yearbook. Jackson First UMC does one every year, and Richard and I really enjoy looking through it to see who is still "breathing", and who is newly married, or has had a baby in the past year, etc. I did this a long time ago when I attended the CP Church and was totally in charge. It was a lot of work and I was lucky to be able to recruit some great help, but I would be willing to do it again and Pat said she would help me. Olan Mills took the pics and I am pretty sure they still have church "DEALS" on free photos with no obligation to purchase anything. In the back of the Jackson First UMC yearbook, there is a section for pics of current inactive members, and a place for a memorial page to those who want their loved ones remembered. What do you all think? I remembered that you could have your pic made, not buy any, get a free 8 x 10, and be under no obligation to purchase a yearbook. If I get the go-ahead to do this, I will look into it with careful eyes and ears and find the best bargain. I need some input......

I'd had similar thoughts over the last few weeks. It would be *lots* of work, but if we wanted, we could do the directory ourselves and have it printed in much the same way as Olan Mills and others at Kinkos...

Dr. Joanie needs some input. What do you think?