Unconfirmed Address -- Send Records or Not?
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:07 pm
Like every other unit in the church I am trying to clean up the membership records. I want to get the records into the hands of the units where the members live. We cannot help them if they are not here. I am utilizing online resources in an attempt to locate people. In general it is very unhelpful, but from time to time I have success. There are cases where I "feel" I have found the person, based on name, age and possibly some other secondary information, but I have no real way to confirm it. The phone numbers generally are not present or don't work.
So, at this point I feel I have a few options and I'd like some advice on what might be the best course of action. 1) I can either send the records to the address specified and if the unit investigates and find the person not there, expect the record to come back. 2) I can try to contact a leader or missionary in that unit and have them investigate first. Then I send the record if they are there. 3) Send a letter and see what response I get.
I lean towards #1 but I'm uncertain about sending the record if I don't know for sure. #3 seems like it would have a very slim chance of gleaning any useful information because if they aren't there I may not get a response (or postal return). If they are there they are likely not going to respond since they obviously don't attend church anymore. I would try #2, but I don't have any easy way to identify the correct unit and a person to speak with.
Does anyone else face this dilemma? Any advice?
So, at this point I feel I have a few options and I'd like some advice on what might be the best course of action. 1) I can either send the records to the address specified and if the unit investigates and find the person not there, expect the record to come back. 2) I can try to contact a leader or missionary in that unit and have them investigate first. Then I send the record if they are there. 3) Send a letter and see what response I get.
I lean towards #1 but I'm uncertain about sending the record if I don't know for sure. #3 seems like it would have a very slim chance of gleaning any useful information because if they aren't there I may not get a response (or postal return). If they are there they are likely not going to respond since they obviously don't attend church anymore. I would try #2, but I don't have any easy way to identify the correct unit and a person to speak with.
Does anyone else face this dilemma? Any advice?