Guidelines for the Commons Coming Events
Guidelines for the Coming Events Slide Show in the Commons
1. Why is the church using slides to highlight events; why not use the existing bulletin boards?
The Commons had become chaotic looking due to: mismatched furniture, inadequate storage for needed supplies, bulletin boards that were out of date or overloaded with notices, and signs and posters taped on glass doors and windows. A Commons Committee was tasked to make the Commons more welcoming for visitors and more useful for members. Many changes have been made including the use of slide shows. One screen highlights the ministries and outreach efforts of the church. The other screen highlights upcoming events.
2. What types of events should be publicized on the "Coming" screen?
The screen should be used to publicize church-wide events, that is, events that any member or associate can attend such as a SEA class, family dinners, a march, lectures, etc. The slides can also advertise special events like concerts, musicals etc. which are open to the public. They should not be used to notify committee members about their meeting dates or information pertinent only to one committee or ministry.
3. Who creates the slides?
The slides are currently being created by Ruth Leopold. They are posted to the screen by Mark Smith every Sunday. When Ruth is away, the slides will be created by Kathy Farinola.
4. What is the deadline for requesting a slide?
To publicize a church-wide event, a slide should run for several weeks. For example, "Little Women" was advertised for over a month in advance of its performances. Every week, the slides are created by Thursday afternoon and posted the following Sunday to run for (at least) a week. Please submit requests for slides by emailing them to Ruth Leopold: ruthaleopold16@gmail.com and Kathy Farinola: kathleenmary@nc.rr.com two Thursdays before the targeted Sunday for them to appear. Attach any image you want to appear on the slide to the email as a JPG file. Ruth or Kathy can drag a JPG image onto a slide. Don't worry if you don't have a suitable image to send. Ruth or Kathy will find one.
5. Can an 8 and 1/2 by 11 inch poster be dragged onto a slide?
No, the width to height ratio is wrong. The dimensions of a Google Slide when it is being created on a computer screen are 7 and 3/4 inches wide and 4 and 3/8 inches high. When a poster is enlarged on the monitor, it leaves large empty spaces on either side of the words and picture.
6. How much printed information can be included on a slide?
Don't overload the slide with too much print. Include the title of the event, its date, time and location and a brief, compelling description. (For example, an intergenerational event might include words such as "great tasting goodies and goofy games for all to play.") Be sure to include contact information, R.S.V.P. deadlines for the event and cost (if any). The slide should be about 50% image(s) and 50% print.
7. Can somebody on a committee or ministry create a Google Slide for the screen?
Yes, but the slide must be sent to Ruth Leopold and Kathy Farinola to insert into the slide show to be posted by Mark Smith. Ruth, Kathy and Mark must be given permission to edit the slide. If there is a problem such as a blurred picture or font too small to be read easily from a distance, the slide will be changed.
If anybody has further questions or concerns, please email Ruth or call her at: 919-537-8853.
1. Why is the church using slides to highlight events; why not use the existing bulletin boards?
The Commons had become chaotic looking due to: mismatched furniture, inadequate storage for needed supplies, bulletin boards that were out of date or overloaded with notices, and signs and posters taped on glass doors and windows. A Commons Committee was tasked to make the Commons more welcoming for visitors and more useful for members. Many changes have been made including the use of slide shows. One screen highlights the ministries and outreach efforts of the church. The other screen highlights upcoming events.
2. What types of events should be publicized on the "Coming" screen?
The screen should be used to publicize church-wide events, that is, events that any member or associate can attend such as a SEA class, family dinners, a march, lectures, etc. The slides can also advertise special events like concerts, musicals etc. which are open to the public. They should not be used to notify committee members about their meeting dates or information pertinent only to one committee or ministry.
3. Who creates the slides?
The slides are currently being created by Ruth Leopold. They are posted to the screen by Mark Smith every Sunday. When Ruth is away, the slides will be created by Kathy Farinola.
4. What is the deadline for requesting a slide?
To publicize a church-wide event, a slide should run for several weeks. For example, "Little Women" was advertised for over a month in advance of its performances. Every week, the slides are created by Thursday afternoon and posted the following Sunday to run for (at least) a week. Please submit requests for slides by emailing them to Ruth Leopold: ruthaleopold16@gmail.com and Kathy Farinola: kathleenmary@nc.rr.com two Thursdays before the targeted Sunday for them to appear. Attach any image you want to appear on the slide to the email as a JPG file. Ruth or Kathy can drag a JPG image onto a slide. Don't worry if you don't have a suitable image to send. Ruth or Kathy will find one.
5. Can an 8 and 1/2 by 11 inch poster be dragged onto a slide?
No, the width to height ratio is wrong. The dimensions of a Google Slide when it is being created on a computer screen are 7 and 3/4 inches wide and 4 and 3/8 inches high. When a poster is enlarged on the monitor, it leaves large empty spaces on either side of the words and picture.
6. How much printed information can be included on a slide?
Don't overload the slide with too much print. Include the title of the event, its date, time and location and a brief, compelling description. (For example, an intergenerational event might include words such as "great tasting goodies and goofy games for all to play.") Be sure to include contact information, R.S.V.P. deadlines for the event and cost (if any). The slide should be about 50% image(s) and 50% print.
7. Can somebody on a committee or ministry create a Google Slide for the screen?
Yes, but the slide must be sent to Ruth Leopold and Kathy Farinola to insert into the slide show to be posted by Mark Smith. Ruth, Kathy and Mark must be given permission to edit the slide. If there is a problem such as a blurred picture or font too small to be read easily from a distance, the slide will be changed.
If anybody has further questions or concerns, please email Ruth or call her at: 919-537-8853.