Ward Bulletin Online Application

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carolaskew
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#21

Post by carolaskew »

This thread is a little old, but just in case someone out there is still considering this...

I was just called yesterday to create our ward bulletin. Just have to say that I would love a tool like this. I personally don't have much desire to be "creative" with our bulletin. I want it to be accurate, and I would like to be able to update the information and produce each week's bulletin quickly and easily.

Regarding other things discussed in this thread - as far as I know, some overworked member of our Bishopric is responsible for updating our online ward website information on lds.org, and it never gets done. And I am capable of creating PDF's myself. :-) But I've been in IT for many years, so I may be unusual.
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mkmurray
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#22

Post by mkmurray »

carolaskew wrote:This thread is a little old, but just in case someone out there is still considering this...

I was just called yesterday to create our ward bulletin. Just have to say that I would love a tool like this. I personally don't have much desire to be "creative" with our bulletin. I want it to be accurate, and I would like to be able to update the information and produce each week's bulletin quickly and easily.

Regarding other things discussed in this thread - as far as I know, some overworked member of our Bishopric is responsible for updating our online ward website information on lds.org, and it never gets done. And I am capable of creating PDF's myself. :-) But I've been in IT for many years, so I may be unusual.
I thought I would inform you of some new developments by pointing you to this recently created LDSTech Wiki page indicating a Church-sponsored, Community-developed project to create a replacement for the current Local Unit Web Sites: https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/Loc ... te_Project

You'll notice there are new features being hoped for including improved calendaring and announcement & news distribution. This is probably similar to your bulletin board idea. You can bookmark the page to follow the progress of the project. It is in the very early stages, however.
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brentboylan-p40
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#23

Post by brentboylan-p40 »

Responding to original post as topic seems to have drifted a bit.

I've been wanting something like this for quite awhile but haven't been sure how to go about it. Now I think the Google Web Toolkit would be a good way to approach it. The idea is to have a few fields a person could fill out, select from, etc. Then the program is formatted and printed out with no fuss, ready to take to the material center for duplication.

One feature I would add is the choice of a few layouts. I am particularly fond of tri-fold styles as it seems to add more places to put things.
davebailey
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#24

Post by davebailey »

I know this is an old thread, but I had a similar idea over the weekend and documented it here.

https://tech.lds.org/wiki/User:Davebail ... g_Bulletin

Feel free to comment or contribute.
douglasbrimhall
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#25

Post by douglasbrimhall »

I for one have the perfect ward calling. I am the bulletin specialist, and can I please caution everyone here (in a nice manner, I hope) about one important thing about our church correlation culture as it relates to these very good and efficient-minded ideas. What starts out as a nice idea, as a solution to a singular problem in one bulletin-challenged ward somewhere, could easily turn into a correlation-minded mandate where suddenly rules and use of official approved images, software and layouts are more important than an inspired graphic or quote. I've seen it happen all too many times in my life. I remember in my own life a time where we wore the best clothes to church to pass the sacrament. Now only white shirts seem to be approved for Aaronic priesthood holders. That's not in the handbooks, but within the culture, and I don't want that same group-think thing happening to my ward's bulletin. I for one, as someone (I'm an architect) who enjoys art, history, graphic design, regional differences--and religion, I like it when I get to visit other wards, to "see how they do it". My daughter's high school choir often uses a local historic methodist church for performances, and I always like finding last Sunday's bulletin in their song book holders--just like in our chapels. I like the range of images chosen, the quotes, the features & announcements all assumed to be chosen because the ward bulletin specialist was inspired that particular Sunday to use them. At least I hope they were inspired.

Do a quick Google search for "Jesus Religious art". It can be quite depressing, despite the amount of images. Many inappropriate images, but I have found inspiring stained glass windows, and other non-LDS images on line. I don't want to be limited to the few images found on lds.org, as most are not considered art, but illustration suitable for a Sunday school lesson, but not the cover of a weekly bulletin that gets distributed via email to even those in our ward that don't attend (who if inactive may find the bulletin the only contact with the Church-I want it to be the best it can be!). Trying to do my little bit to bring good religious art to my local Mormon culture. I try to make every bulletin Christ-centered. Not church culture centered, but I have my own rule for always having a picture of Christ on the cover, to compliment the name of the church listed at the top. I have received feedback from ward members about how much they like the bulletins, from the "this week in Church history" feature to my art choices and quotes, which always are from lds.org and Church leaders. Let's leave room for real inspiration, not "which of the 17 approved images do I feel inspired to use this week?"
jdlessley
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#26

Post by jdlessley »

douglasbrimhall wrote:I remember in my own life a time where we wore the best clothes to church to pass the sacrament. Now only white shirts seem to be approved for Aaronic priesthood holders. That's not in the handbooks, but within the culture ...
Just to make sure we have correct information here I want to point out that Handbook 2, 20.4.1, does state "Ties and white shirts are recommended because they add to the dignity of the ordinance." While not required, they are recommended.
douglasbrimhall wrote:What starts out as a nice idea, as a solution to a singular problem in one bulletin-challenged ward somewhere, could easily turn into a correlation-minded mandate where suddenly rules and use of official approved images, software and layouts are more important than an inspired graphic or quote.
I agree with most of what is said. However, we do have guidelines and restrictions of which we need to be aware. On the use of the Church name and logo type - see Handbook 2, 21.1.10. We also have to be aware of, and follow, the protections afforded artwork through copyrights - see Handbook 2, 21.1.12. It is good practice to have the unit leader (stake/district president, bishop/branch president) approve any images or artwork used in something like the bulletin before use to be sure any images and artwork not pre-approved by the Church are in line with Church doctrine and standards.
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Have you tried finding your answer on the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Help Center or Tech Wiki?
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sbradshaw
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#27

Post by sbradshaw »

There are thousands of good images available at MediaLibrary.LDS.org. That's where I always go first for photos or images when putting together a sacrament meeting program or flyer. The images could be organized a little better, but there are tons of great images available for Church use.
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
hardtp
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#28

Post by hardtp »

Is the Bulletin Online App or the Meeting Bulletin App available to use right now? I would love to test or use them!...Phil
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#29

Post by russellhltn »

hardtp wrote:Is the Bulletin Online App or the Meeting Bulletin App available to use right now? I would love to test or use them!...Phil
There is no such application created by the church.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
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dbollard99
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Re: Ward Bulletin Online Application

#30

Post by dbollard99 »

russellhltn wrote:
hardtp wrote:Is the Bulletin Online App or the Meeting Bulletin App available to use right now? I would love to test or use them!...Phil
There is no such application created by the church.
Well, there should be.... Why not?
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