MQHR Communication Committee Meeting Minutes for March 15, 2012
Unapproved
Those in attendance were Ron Wedding (Chairman), Jill Heink (minutes, articles), John Mitchell (website, LED board), Laura Hack (Formation), Pat Johnson (Library), Jane Tucker (bulletin), Sue Knies (Time/Talent)
The committee opened the meeting with a prayer for intercession to St. Isidore.
Ron noted that $1,000 is allocated for committee expenses. Pat has enough Care Notes in stock and will not need to order any for awhile. Some of the money could go to updating the computer set up that operates the LED board. John has talked to Deacon Bill Rood about getting one of the computers that Rood & Riddle no longer uses.
Updates:
Website –John talked about the Spanish translation the Website Committee has put in place on the MQ website. Visitors can click on a link to read the home page in Spanish via Google Translate. The link is marked as using Google Translate and that it is experimental. Laura recommended that the committee have a Spanish-speaker check out the translated content to make sure that the translated content is basically OK. The Website Committee is also looking into using another web page service that would provide better design and linkage for the parish web page. The cost for the site would be a few hundred dollars a year.
Time and Talent – Sue talked about some of the tweaking on this year’s form, which will be distributed at Mass this weekend (March 17-18).
Outdoor Sign – No word on any changes needed for sign policy or if it is approved. Looks like sign is updated on a regular basis.
Directory/Bulletin –
Suggestion Box – there was one suggestion in the box this month, from a UK student, who included contact information. Laura offered to talk with the student.
Info Center – No problems seen or reported.
Library – Pat had some trouble with the shelf falling, but Bob repaired it for her. She is stocked up with Care Notes for now.
LED Screen – As reported earlier, John is checking into getting a used computer from Deacon Bill Rood to update the software for the screen.
Newsletter – The next newsletter deadline is April 13. Jill asked if we could include congratulations messages in the newsletter for baptisms, weddings and quinceaneras. Laura pointed out that while quinceaneras have a religious component, they are not sacramental events. Baptisms had been included previously in newsletters; Jill suggested that perhaps they could be included again, but just use first names and not include the parents’ names. Congratulations could appear just once every three months.
New Business – Laura relayed a request from Fr. Dan that the Communication committee explore ways to further publicize MQHR to the wider community. Laura gave the example that this year MQHR will be included in the Lexington Herald Leader’s list of VBS. MQHR has not advertised before because the VBS runs at capacity, but it was felt that it’s important to let the wider community see that MQHR has this programming and encourage people to call MQ. Twenty slots are reserved in the 2012 VBS for people who respond from the newspaper notification. Some other possibilities brought up include more advertising for Fish Fry’s, checking with local hotels to make sure they have MQHR’s Mass schedule and directions on hand, etc.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is set for April 19 at 9 AM.