First Church Communications Team

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Members Present: Bill Bartscher, Bennett Griffin (Chair), Jerry Jalenak, Jerry Niebaum, Michelle Parmley, Brent Schippers, Patti Winn.

Handout: Bennett presented copies of the report created by the Congregational Growth and Development Team. Please read over and prepare to discuss next meeting.

Marketing & Communications Strategic Plan (updated May 9)

Strengths

Weaknesses

-Willing to take on challenge of 2 campuses -Open & accepting -Variety of worship opportunities -Email communication, "Tom's Tidbits" -Church newsletter, "1st Edition" -Small group activities -Special programs -U. Methodist Women/U. Meth. Men -Music program -Jubilee café & Christmas dinner -Community use of facilities (e.g. Civic Choir) -Variety of fellowship opportunities

-Congregation is divided into small pockets -Variety of worship opportunities -Monthly newsletter vs. bi-monthly -Organization -Consistency of communication -Lack of communication in LJWorld "Faith Briefs" -Marketing -Welcoming -Missed opportunities to connect with people (e.g. Farmer's Market) - Lack of coordinated communication -Church members not made aware of our marketing efforts (i.e. movie theatre ad) -No plan for the publicity

-Evangelize -- new campus -Website expansion -Master calendar -Programming that integrates both campuses -Tie into Methodist national advertising -Help us understand ourselves as a two campus church -Minister to the whole Lawrence community -Youth & children's ministry -Significant growth -Tie into social events/causes in the community (i.e. food drive) -Focused events to promote cross-campus involvement

-Static existing groups --where do new members fit? -Understanding/misunderstanding of two campuses -Poor internal communication -Fear of change -Expense of two campuses -Competition (for lack of a better word) from other churches for attention, particularly in West Lawrence

Opportunities

Threats

Additions to SWOT Matrix (at this meeting):

Strengths: Variety of fellowship opportunities;

Weaknesses: Lack of coordinated communication; Church members not made aware of our marketing efforts (i.e. movie theatre ad); No plan for the publicity;

Opportunities: Significant growth; Tie into social events/causes in the community (i.e. food drive); Focused events to promote cross-campus involvement;

Threats: Competition (for lack of a better word) from other churches for attention, particularly in West Lawrence;

Questions for Church Staff: 1) Are we still broadcasting on KLWN? 2) Do we have a marketing plan and who is in charge? 3) Do we have a coordinated marketing effort with the Kansas East Conference and the individual districts? 4) How many people in the church have email and are online?

What’s Working and Not Working?:

Working:

-Positive publicity in the newspaper

-PowerPoint presentations in sanctuary before worship highlighting events

-Lots of excitement in the congregation about new leadership and new campus

-Campus ministries (i.e. Tues night event)

Not Working:

-No coordinated marketing plan

-No plan for releasing info to public (public relations)

-Lack of leadership in marketing and public relations—need equivalent of a PR dept

-No coordination of PowerPoint presentation between the 2 campuses

-No coordination of marketing and programming

-Lack of marketing to the congregation—1^st group we need to “sell” is ourselves

We’ll continue here next week.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 16th, 7:30pm in Room 303.