[shannon_heslop]

There have been some great ideas on the last several posts. Babydawn, I believe you when you say it's not easy to carry out the new program. Sounds like you were doing a great job!! We do email here -- at least I hear we do. I've not gotten any, but I know others are getting them (I've given them my email address twice, but apparently there has been a problem.) Great direction you gave Suzie. That is exactly what I'd recommend doing too. And thanks Queenangie for your ideas.
I know I suggested reviving some of the great ideas they did have and sending around a sign-up sheet for people who are interested -- you could also have people check if they were willing to head up the group and also put down email addresses and phone numbers, so then you would know who to contact when something is coming up. I'm hoping they will do that. I visit teach the counselor over homemaking so I'm hoping that if I keep putting in my two bits, something will happen. I've offered to help and head up stuff too. I know there are others who would be willing as well.

[Firespice]

Thanks ladies I LOVE all the advice.

the last meeting was better - but we have a ways to go still. its was 2 1/2 hours and we meet twice a month. i will bring a timer to the next one .... 1 hour limit!

Bullitne board .......... we are in a VERY old building. when i walk striaght through a hall ... my sholder have 4-6 inches clearance on either side. when you pass people in the hall you are uncomfortable close. (beautiful building ..... but has its drawbacks) and BTW i live in Southern Cal right across next to the LA harbor. I have now found out that the emergancy prepaidness people have been using RS buliten board for a long time now becuase no one utilized it. so i will have to talk to the bishop about it. we need it back badly. ALso the bulliten board is in a bad spot for people seing them. exaple anyoen in primary would have to walk a very long way just to see it before walking back to leave. I want to figure out a better way of contacting YW and Primary ladies. our ward is small enough RS only has about 10-20 ladys show up every sunday the rest are serving in YW or Primary. (if 20 show up I would be VERY suprised)

We have a walk and talk (walked a nature trail) last week .... 3 RS pres showed up and 3 others. mostly i think becuase it did NOT serve hte needs of the ladies in our ward. only old ladies went. people with kids would not have wanted to do this and it was too early for the dads to be home to baby sit. (again not my idea)

I want to do that poster board with pockets for information on grop activities. I spoke up adn said we need more monthly activites ... i was told its too much and the ladies should be socializing on there own. So i still need to push that more. I think i will pray and just say ... I have this started .... so and so is heading it up ... and just get things running.

I had a long talk with the lady who had this calling before me. (i feel MUCH more comforatbl talking to her then RS pres) she siad RS pres did same thing to her and she jsut had to talk to her about it. so i see hope for hte furture.

So i am goig to focus on things starting in Jan. this year is very busy with stake activities so we are OK for now. jsut need thigs up and going in the slow times of hte year. It will take me that long to get a working plan too.

So i was told i have an uphill battle - but i am called for a reason, so i need to get it done.

suzie

[babydawn]

You know, I wouldn't discount the walk as a failure. The whole idea of the groups is to get smaller groups of women together with similar interests so that they can build friendships and to help them to feel apart of Relief Society. Our stake lady said that even if only one gal showed up to an activity, to count it as a sucess, because that way, the leader and that gal will have an opportunity to get to know each other better one on one. The groups don't need to be huge. And they don't need to cater to everyone. That is why this program is so great. I know that before this happened there were a few activities that we wanted to do and couldn't because it would exclude the women who were not married. (Marriage classes, enrichment date night, etc.) Now that is something that could be done because like I said, it doesn't have to cater to everyone, just some members. You seem to have found one activity that had an okay turnout, I would stay with that one, and then try to focus on some others for the other sisters in your ward who didn't go.

I love your attitude! You were called for a reason, don't let anyone tell you different.

[Firespice]

Yes we are keeping the walk and talk, the older ladeis like it.

what were your ideas for marrage classes and enrichment date night? that sounds like fun and soemthign the younger members of our ward would like.

Our ward is very weird. We live in a very expesive area - those people are all the old people. (who bought 40 years ago before when they could buy for 30,000 instead of the 1 million they go for now)

then halfway in the ward boundiers .... there is a lower income area ..... mostly apartments. this is where the younger people in our ward live (and actully most of them go to the spanish speaking ward instead of our ward)

then we have AF millitary housing in our ward.

So our ward is VERY fluid. the only people who have really been there for years are the older people (who own homes) people like myself and my husbadn are in an aprtment and most of our friends wither have moved out of state or are looking too, to find a better life for there family. so the younger people where we live are very fluid as well.

and the militray - well you never know when and how fast soem one is transferred!!!

it is VERY hard to figure out things that everyone would like. any ideas for a demographice like ours??? i jsut love sudjestions!

suzie

[babydawn]

We have a huge turnover in our ward since 75% of the homes are starter homes and then there are apartments as well. Many people are not here for long. I would just try to offer a wide variety for the sisters and make it known that any suggestions are welcome.

I went to an Enrichment several years ago in my old ward. It was a "date night" Enrichment. At that, there was a speaker who talked about how to improve our marriages, we played the "newly wed" game, and I don't remember what else, but I remember it being fun. I tried to do a dinner type date night with a class or two on improving our marriage. It never happened, but could now.

[newbiemum05]

thanks for all the fab suggestions - I written down a lot of these ideas to take to my RS Presidency (I am secretary) - I feel I need to work a little more with the Primary and YW secretaries to get information out to those sisters serving outside of Relief Society on Sundays. I may discuss a revamp of the RS notce boards too (we meet in the chapel so currently have about a 12"x12" space and that includes space for newsletters, VT message an VT reports.
I sometimes feel there is a need for some more spiritual messages in enrichment. Since the advent of the new program attendance is very low but the counsellor in charge of Enrichment is very negative and basically shouted at everyone in a first sunday lesson, saying we had to get our numbers up because we were getting hassle from Stake leaders (this was in no way the case - they encouraged us to put the sisters not the program first). I was embarrased by this and just keep my head down as I'm just the secretary.
Any ideas how I can, as the RS Secretary, do more to help the new enrichment guidelines work ??

[Mim23]

The new program is focused on letting the sisters choose which activities fit into their schedules. There should be no pressure to attend. The exception is to the four quarterly activities, which should be a bigger deal. If the sisters aren't coming out, then a reassessment needs to be made about the activities offered. It may be that they are not meeting the needs or interests of the sisters.

I think that it has been a tough adjustment in many wards, as they have struggled to find what works best for their ward. The sisters are truly the focus. Numbers shouldn't matter too much. As secretary, all you can do is suggest that the focus change when you have a presidency meeting. You could also suggest a poll to find out what activities and classes and the sisters are interested in. The new year is a great time to do one of these polls. Good Luck!