Tag Archives: Check In
Secrets for successful check-in
Posted on 03. Aug, 2010 by Kenny.
Two weeks ago, Fellowship Technologies held a webinar about check-in. It was for any church using any check-in system; however, it was very heavy on the Fellowship One. If you’re curious about Fellowship One and think your church might look into it as a check-in solution, you need to watch this video. However, there were several nuggets that I took away that had nothing to do with F1 specifically. So, even if you don’t use Fellowship One, it might be worth your time to watch this webinar.
It is an hour in length and I don’t expect everyone to watch it, so in the next day or so, I’ll also post some of the things I really got out of it.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Why Fellowship One rules
Posted on 03. Aug, 2010 by Kenny.
If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know that we use Fellowship One at Gateway Church here in Austin. You’ll also know that I’m a big fan. This week I have a handful of posts about F1, specifically about check-in. However, I thought I’d begin this little series of posts explaining why I’m such a big fan.
- Fellowship One was not the first church management system I’ve used, but it was the first check-in system I’ve used. The church I was at decided to switch to another system, which we used for 18 months before switching to another system. Two years later they switched yet again. I’ll just say that the two years after leaving F1 were not very fun when it came to check-in.
Continue Reading
Using an iPad for check-in
Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by Kenny.
I have to admit, this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen relating to check-in. This has me interested enough that I’m about to run out and get an iPad to try this out for myself. I’ve actually already asked to borrow someone’s iPad so I can play with it. Check it out.
Now this is Fellowship One check-in, but because they’re using remote desktop to accomplish this, they could really use this with almost any check-in system. You can read all about how they did this on the Fellowship One developer’s blog.
In some ways, I see this being a really cool way to offer an assisted check-in that is cool and personable. We currently don’t do any self check-in, but this would allow us to still do assisted check-in without it feeling like the volunteer is on the other side of the counter.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Secrets of successful check-in
Posted on 20. Jul, 2010 by Kenny.
Does that entice you to read below? I’m really late in getting this post out, but Fellowship One is hosting a free webinar (only one hour long) about having a successful check-in process. Anyone is invited to attend the webinar, even if you don’t use Fellowship One. I really don’t know if it’s going to be a big pitch for Fellowship One, but even if you don’t use F1, I’d plan to participate. I’m sure you’ll learn some good stuff.
Here’s what I do know. Fellowship One REALLY knows check-in. Trust me, I’ve seen and used many of the other leading check-in solutions and I’ve not experienced any that come very close to Fellowship One. Seriously, I love Fellowship One. Even if you’re not using F1 and it’s unlikely that you will switch, I’m sure there’s something you can learn from the guys who do it best.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
What do you call your check-in area?
Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by Kenny.
I’ve been working more on our policy manual and I’m editing our section for check-in volunteers. Actually around Gateway, we don’t call them check-in volunteers, they’re called boat volunteers. Why, because the check-in area is dominated by a giant boat.
First of all, I really hate calling them boat volunteers. That at all doesn’t describe what they do. However, it does make it easy to know wehre they serve. Second of all, we don’t have a boat at our South Campus. So, I need to rename this area totally. Other options could be check-in (blah) or hospitality (boring). I’m also trying to avoid confusion with the adult welcome/hospitality team that uses terms like frontline, connection, connexus and guest services.
So I’m looking for something that is unique for Gateway (no confusion), descriptive (if possible I don’t want people guessing what it is) but fun and energetic.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
I <3 Austin
Posted on 12. Jul, 2009 by Kenny.
Why do I love this place so much?
Good food? Yes
Good music? Yes
Beautiful surroundings? Yes
There are a lot of things I love about this town, but today I say so for one reason.
1 out of every 3 people is a computer genius. Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme but just about everyone I meet is in the technology industry.
This morning one of our check-in computers was down. When logging into Fellowship One, it was trying to look for updates but never launched check in. Not a huge deal, but it was one of the frontward facing computers that gets a lot of traffic. A husband of one of our volunteers saw that the computer was down so he asked if he could take a look at it.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Self check-in kiosk
Posted on 30. Jun, 2009 by Kenny.
I need some ideas.
I’m thinking of launching two self check-in kiosks in August. At my last church, we switched to all self check-in and it was a really good deal. It was so much faster. Here at Gateway we’re using Fellowship One and they have a great self check in mode. I want to start with two stations and eventually move to three of four as I think it will really streamline our check-in process.
So, here’s where I need your help. If you have self-check in kiosks that are permanent installations, tell me about them. I have more than enough mobile kiosks and I may use them to begin with, but I really would like to install them on the walls.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Check-in Stations
Posted on 15. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
Looking for good stand alone cabinets for your check-in stations? I’ve actually got a great solution for you.
Almost two years ago when we launched our Denton Campus at Cross Timbers I came across a forum for Shelby systems (don’t get me started on Shelby… I’ve got some baggage there) that had a source for check-in cabinets. Since it was a new campus launch and we had the money to make this kind of expense, we bought them… and they are very nice.
Check out their web site here: Cornerstone Cabinetry
I was back at Cross Timbers a few weeks ago and took several pictures and planned to post them here on this site as a resource. Then out of nowhere I got a postcard from them in the mail (perhaps you did too).… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Training timeliness: Room closures
Posted on 01. Jul, 2008 by Kenny.
So, we’ve been talking about timeliness. As I’m hearing from others, it’s an issue everyone faces. On the weekend people show up late. So here is the big question or questions:
Do you have a “too late to check in” policy? If so, how late is too late?
Some of us have to close rooms because they get too full or there aren’t enough volunteers. I’m not talking about that though. I’m talking about closing rooms because service is halfway over. As children’s ministers, we know why we close the rooms:
- Letting kids in half-way through the service is distracting to the other 17 kids in the room.
- Kids coming in half-way through the service won’t get the full experience possible.
Continue Reading
