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Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:55 pm
by baasha
I am the membership clerk for unit 355372 in Mesa, AZ. I have several variations of an inactive member's name, along with a birth date, but I still cannot locate the correct member. Any suggestions?

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:07 pm
by russellhltn
I'd gather more information, such as the last ward they were in and call Local Unit Support. It's possible they were only a "child of record" and never baptized. Or you may get the answer that they are in "confidential records".

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:26 pm
by lajackson
It might also be possible to speak with the member and get the correct spelling of the name, and to verify the birth date.

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:55 pm
by russellhltn
lajackson wrote:and to verify the birth date.
Make sure they're writing it down as mm/dd/yyyy and not dd/mm/yyyy. :)

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 12:52 am
by Biggles
russellhltn wrote:
lajackson wrote:and to verify the birth date.
Make sure they're writing it down as mm/dd/yyyy and not dd/mm/yyyy. :)
FWIW - In the UK it is dd/mm/yyyy

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:51 am
by russellhltn
Biggles wrote:FWIW - In the UK it is dd/mm/yyyy
Exactly. It's different on different sides of the pond.

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 2:09 am
by Biggles
russellhltn wrote:
Biggles wrote:FWIW - In the UK it is dd/mm/yyyy
Exactly. It's different on different sides of the pond.
Correction on my part - it should be dd/mmm/yyyy

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:36 am
by russellhltn
Biggles wrote: Correction on my part - it should be dd/mmm/yyyy
That's different. That's unambiguous. It's the all numeric that's an issue.

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:53 am
by lajackson
Biggles wrote:dd/mmm/yyyy
That's how Church records are kept in the U.S., also. I think all russellhltn is saying is that the key is to know which number is the month and which is the day when it is possible to interpret a written date either way.

Re: Cannot locate a member even with a name and birth date

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 3:11 pm
by davesudweeks
We are assuming, of course, that we know the inactive member is actually a baptized member? Not a Child of Record who was never baptized? Not a former member whose record was cancelled or who was excommunicated?