MLS 3.0 Issue: Standardized calling names

Discussions around using and interfacing with the Church MLS program.
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terrysackett
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MLS 3.0 Issue: Standardized calling names

#1

Post by terrysackett »

I downloaded the most recent version of MLS yesterday (13 Jun 2009), and used it for the first time today. Here are two issues I have encountered:

1. [Editor's note: the first issue is in the original post].

2. The list of standardized callings with which to replace custom ward callings is a great idea! However, when I tried to convert my assistant Wolf den leader, the closest logical position name that was offered was "Den Mother". The position of den mother is, of course, obsolete and was discontinued by Boy Scouts of America in 1976.

BSA found that both male and female den leaders prefer to be called "Den Leaders", and not den mothers, and therefore officially directed that the change be implemented in all instances. The phasing out of all references to "Den Mother" was completed by 1979. It somehow found its way into MLS after all these years.

I hope this is helpful, and I'll be looking forward to the next update!

Terry Sackett
Stewart Ranch Ward Clerk
Las Vegas Nevada East Stake
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drporray
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Organizational Positions Not Displaying Correctly/Missing

#2

Post by drporray »

We are a branch within a stake here in Orem. After the update to 3.0 was installed, our Branch President's position was relabeled as "Sunday School Instructor - Course". When I delete that position and add him back in as the Branch President, the only selection that is available is "Acting Branch Leader". Does the stake have to complete a step for this to show correctly?

Also, after the upgrade our Single Adult Representative (not YSA Rep) was deleted from the organization and there is no MLS-delivered position. I had to create one. There is one, however, for the Young Single Adults.
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calebpusey
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#3

Post by calebpusey »

drporray wrote:We are a branch within a stake here in Orem. After the update to 3.0 was installed, our Branch President's position was relabeled as "Sunday School Instructor - Course". When I delete that position and add him back in as the Branch President, the only selection that is available is "Acting Branch Leader". Does the stake have to complete a step for this to show correctly?
This can sometimes be remedied if you go to the Individual Record for the BP and then click the "Reset Organizations for Member" link. This will reset the tables in MLS for him and allow you to add him as the President. Also, make sure that you don't have a custom position for the Branch President.

drporray wrote:Also, after the upgrade our Single Adult Representative (not YSA Rep) was deleted from the organization and there is no MLS-delivered position. I had to create one. There is one, however, for the Young Single Adults.

As for this one, this has been submitted to the team for an add to the standard list. :cool:
Caleb
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johnshaw
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MLS 3.0 Issue: Ward callings normalization

#4

Post by johnshaw »

I ran through my list this morning and found many improvements that can be made:

1. There is an internal conflict in the list, there is a Primary Pianist, a Choir Accompianist, and Priesthood Pianist/Organist, but nothing for Relief Society. We need to agree what to call this position, Pianist or Accompianist, and add one for the Relief Society.

2. I ran into the same issue as previsouly stated, though I couldn't find it. Den Leader instead of Den Mother.

3. Ward Employment Specialist seems to be missing, also Public Affairs, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, no Seminary Callings, Stake Auditor, Stake Assitant Executive Secretary, Stake Computer Specialist, Scoutmaster, there is a young single adult rep, but no single adult rep. Ward Website Administrator (there is a District, but no Ward or Stake)

4. We don't have a large enough YM or YW organization to have a calling called Laurel Advisor, or Adventurerere Advisor, but we need a YM Advisor or YW Advisor generic calling. What about a YW Personal Progress, or YM Personal Progress type callings.

5. There isn't a Ward Home, Family, Personal Enrichment leader (there is a RS counselor for the position and a Stake Position, but no ward - also no Enrichment committee

And this for me is the big thing.... I chose to organize my ward with custom definitions which resulted in a nicer way to VIEW the Callings By Organization... I basically created custom organizations for Ward Mission, Ward Music, Activities, Seminary, etc... I liked it, but now I'm back to that Miscellaneous bucket.

The CHI specifies many callings in a ward and stake, and I don't think this list is as comprehensive as that was. I would think we would want to at least duplicate what's in the CHI. I guess this was a beta release that went out to many other computers, so I'm hoping this feedback goes to the right place.

I do have to say Kudos.... I have always found it difficult to Name some of the callings that my Bishopric's come up with. A standardization is very nice, and hopefully buillds into the new LUWS and Stakes to view leadership positions in Ward easily.

***anyone heard of an Acting Ward Leader?
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aebrown
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#5

Post by aebrown »

jshawut wrote:Ward Employment Specialist seems to be missing, also Public Affairs, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, no Seminary Callings, Stake Auditor, Stake Assitant Executive Secretary, Stake Computer Specialist, Scoutmaster, there is a young single adult rep, but no single adult rep. Ward Website Administrator (there is a District, but no Ward or Stake)
Remember, you are just looking at the callings from a ward perspective. The list available in Stake MLS is quite different. In Stake MLS, you can indeed see Stake Auditor, Stake Assistant Clerk--Technology Spc, Stake Website Administrator. I'm not sure why some stake and district callings show up at the ward level, and others don't, but they do show up at the stake level.

And there are certainly are some strange omissions -- there is no Ward Website Administrator, and no YSA adult leaders (just the YSA rep).

There's no Assistant Executive Secretary at the ward or stake level, but that's not a calling in the handbook, so maybe that's the reason.

As for Scoutmaster, that is indeed there, but is under the Boy Scouts organization -- I'll bet you were looking under Young Men.
atticusewig
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#6

Post by atticusewig »

I am somewhat suprised that they left out Employment Specialists.
I imagine this calling is becoming more and more important in units.

Under the new system, I had a question about Primary Callings:
How do you record combined classes ? For example, if we have a
Valiant 10-11 class, do we record the teacher as both a
Valiant 10 & Valiant 11 teacher ? Also, the Primary seems to be
missing Nursery workers & leaders (my understanding was when
nursery was involved the "Primary Worker" calling was instead
"Nursery Worker") as well as Activities/Achievement Days workers.

To help accomadate large active wards, I think that each calling
should have a matching Assistant calling. I know we have an
Assistant Mission Leader - another calling missing from the
official list.

Finally, I'm glad we can still keep some of our custom callings.
In our baby-filled ward, this means we get to retain the
calling name "Shusher" for our "Ushers". :)

- Atticus
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aebrown
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#7

Post by aebrown »

atticusewig wrote:Under the new system, I had a question about Primary Callings:
How do you record combined classes ? For example, if we have a
Valiant 10-11 class, do we record the teacher as both a
Valiant 10 & Valiant 11 teacher ?
Although there are standard callings called "Primary Worker - CTR 5" or "Primary Worker - Valiant 12", there is still the basic "Primary Worker" calling, which has some benefits. MLS allows a calling in the Primary to be connected to a particular class. That doesn't change the title of the calling, but that connection is shown in places such as the Callings by Organization report or on the individual member record.

So if you have combined classes, one approach would be to simply attach a person with a simple "Primary Worker" calling to the Valiant 10-11 class.
atticusewig wrote:Also, the Primary seems to be missing Nursery workers & leaders (my understanding was when nursery was involved the "Primary Worker" calling was instead "Nursery Worker") as well as Activities/Achievement Days workers.
There is a calling "Primary Worker - Nursery" (and even "Primary Worker - Pre-Nursery", although I didn't think a child is in Primary until they are 18 months old). Different wards call people who work in the Nursery different things -- the whole point of standardization is to pick one name, and it often won't be universal. You can also use the technique I described above, and simply call the people "Primary Worker" and assign them to the Nursery class.

There is a calling called "Activities Day Leader" in the Primary organization.
lajackson
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#8

Post by lajackson »

jshawut wrote:no Seminary Callings, Stake Auditor, . . . Stake Computer Specialist,

I found Seminary Teacher and Auditor. The stake computer specialist became the stake technology specialist and is now the Assistant Stake Clerk--Technology, which is there in the standard list of callings.
jshawut wrote:there is a young single adult rep, but no single adult rep. Ward Website Administrator

The single adult issue has been raised to the developers. I found Website Administrator on a stake login, and assume it will be there for the wards, but have not checked.
jshawut wrote:***anyone heard of an Acting Ward Leader?

Yes. A stake president was the Acting Ward Leader of a ward during one critical point in its existence. Normally, though, the first counselor would take care of things if needed. [grin]

Actually, I think this is a church Hq designator. When a ward is approved for creation and assigned a unit number, it is created in the directory system. The Acting Ward Leader, usually the stake president, receives initial distribution center shipments and other items from CHQ until the first bishop is called, sustained, ordained (if needed), and set apart, and that information is reported to CHQ. So I think Acting Ward Leader is a placeholder for Hq.
scion-p40
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#9

Post by scion-p40 »

1. There is an internal conflict in the list, there is a Primary Pianist, a Choir Accompanist, and Priesthood Pianist/Organist, but nothing for Relief Society. We need to agree what to call this position, Pianist or Accompianist, and add one for the Relief Society.

Pianist and accompanist are not one in the same. A pianist *plays* the piano, while an *accompanist* follows the music director. These assignments require differing skills. It is the person directing the music who keeps the vocal and instrumental music together. Therefore, prelude and postlude are played, but music accompanies voices. Just a pet peeve. . . . I will follow whatever we are told to do.
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terrysackett
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#10

Post by terrysackett »

jshawut wrote:3. Ward Employment Specialist seems to be missing, also Public Affairs, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, no Seminary Callings, Stake Auditor, Stake Assitant Executive Secretary, Stake Computer Specialist, Scoutmaster, there is a young single adult rep, but no single adult rep. Ward Website Administrator (there is a District, but no Ward or Stake)

Scoutmaster came up in the list in my ward under "Boy Scouts - Scoutmaster"

I would add that it would be nice to have the Scouting position names consistent with the names BSA has for them. I'm not referring the position name of scoutmaster, which is the correct BSA name. I'm talking about, for one example, using BSA's "Pack Committee Chair", instead of "Cub Scout Committee Chairman".

There another half-dozen or so examples, but I'll have to go back to MLS and write them down so I can submit them.
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