Page 1 of 4

MLS remote access

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:21 pm
by bcraig-p40
I am a ward clerk and have a suggestion for MLS. It would be great to access MLS at home with a secure login to request records and make other updates. This would also be great to input home teaching and visiting teaching remotely. This would save members a lot of time, gas, and money in fulfilling their callings. Our stake has started doing some bishop training meetings by telephone to help save time and fuel with high fuel costs these days.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:28 pm
by marianomarini
Maybe it can be done through a remote control software (VNC) and an Internet connection. This require branch's Pc always ON. Also this allow only one user at the time.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:18 pm
by russellhltn
It's been requested by many to expand LUWS to do those functions on-line.

As for remoteing the ward PC, the policy allows it for "diagnostic purposes" but there's nothing I know of that permits that for general use.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:46 pm
by lajackson
We were also supposed to have someone at the unit computer, although that requirement has not been specifically enumerated in more recent instructions.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:15 am
by bcraig-p40
Thanks for the response. If we could request membership records and perform other functions such as updating addresses, phone numbers, reporting VT and HT online at home without having to go to the church, that would be a great feature.

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:20 am
by daddy-o-p40
Amen. We all recognize the need for an scaled back online version of MLS. However, it is just a fantasy for now.....

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:42 am
by Ivan-p40
What is the church's policy concerning remote access? With secure programs such as gotomypc.com, there should be very little concern. I also echo the concern about the cost and time involved with travel. We also deal with the fact, that when we have meetings, we also do the computer work/reports, but that means that potentially there are 3-4 of us competing for a single computer at the same time. Bottlenecks and travel would be greatly relieved by allowing remote access. Also, now that we have wireless internet in our building, having remote access would allow us to live access and utilization of MLS in our stake presidency meetings, PEC, etc. from another room other than the clerks room.

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:41 am
by aebrown
Ivan wrote:What is the church's policy concerning remote access?
There doesn't seem to be unanimity on the interpretation of the policy. But you can read this post and those that follow it and draw your own conclusions in consultation with your priesthood leaders.

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:27 pm
by RossEvans
Ivan wrote:What is the church's policy concerning remote access? With secure programs such as gotomypc.com, there should be very little concern.

I don't see how GoToMyPC could possibly be allowed within current Church policy and procedures, since using this application typically entails leaving the MLS computer running unattended.

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:58 pm
by Ivan-p40
I'm not sure that I've seen this policy - could you please reference this statement. Any remote access program, not just GoToMyPC, would require the computer to be left on. Most business, I would venture to say, do leave at least their main servers turned on. MLS is still password protected, and the door to the clerk's office should be locked and only accessible to those who have permission. Furthermore, at least with GoToMyPC, one can blank the host screen and lock the host computer keyboard and mouse, preventing any unauthorized use or observance from occuring while remotely connected. I'm not a computer expert, but I simply don't understand the resistance to remote access.
boomerbubba wrote:I don't see how GoToMyPC could possibly be allowed within current Church policy and procedures, since using this application typically entails leaving the MLS computer running unattended.