Scheduling?

[Magus]

Apologies in advance if this is a topic that has been beaten to death. I did perform a search but didn't really find anything that seemed to match.

Our church has grown a bit over the years and it occurs to me that we need a way to wrap our head around volunteer scheduling.

What are others here doing? Our audio techs (two of them) long ago shared a YAHOO calendar and they seem intent on using that. But it seems to me that it would be nice to have something that works as follows:

Overall calendar presenting a view of all involved. The Church Administrator could use this.

A way for each individual to maintain their own calendar as well as choose other calendars to include.

I've suggested moving to Google calendar for this but it seems there isn't any real traction here. Not sure how we might be able to entice folks to adapt.

Thoughts? What do others use?

Cheers... Rick

[Gracetech]

It's not free but Planning Center Online handles all that you are looking for plus give your church a hub to plan services and to disseminate that information to all that are involved. I've heard of some other versions of PCO out there and they may be worth a look. I'm sure someone will chime in with there names shortly.

crt

[[Admin] osborn4]

If you don't have more than 10 people to schedule, Planning Center Online is free.

[Jay M]

Couldn't you just go ahead and start using a Google calendar? Even if they don't want to use it often, they can at least log in to see when they are scheduled.

We are pretty low tech. We create a schedule for the year in excel and email it to everyone. Each week the person in charge sends an email reminder to the people who are scheduled that week.

15 years ago the reminder wasn't necessary, but times have changed.

~Jay

[VoltNHalf]

We use Google calendar & a weekly reminder as well. I'll have to check out Planning Center Online though - wasn't aware of that resource!

[Paris MkVI]

We have been using a calendar and closed website on Groupsite.com. We are switching to Google Calendar.

If you have authority, it is up to you to show the benefit and help them change over to Google Calendar. Then mentor someone with administrative gifts to do the scheduling so you are not doing it.

If you do not have the authority, how can you effectively influence the person who does? Answer that question, and you will be on your way. How would the switch help them? How would it make their life easier? How can you show them a demo?