154 – Getting and Keeping Volunteers

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This week the WELSTech Podcast is again focusing on the work of the church and school office, particularly the job of managing and motivating volunteers.

The discussion:

Happy to help – Continuing the focus on the church and school office, Martin and Sallie share ideas for recruiting volunteers and motivating them to come back for future service.

The interview:

Neil Hankwitz(17:33) Volunteering for missions – Imagine managing 3,000 volunteers per year. The staff of WELS Kingdom Workers (WKW) including Communication Manager, Neil Hankwitz, do just that. Neil joins Martin and Sallie to share stories from his 18+ years of experience coordinating home and world mission volunteers.  Hear how WKW is planning to “go social” on their updated web site, connecting like-mined volunteers with stories of service in missions.

Ministry resources:

(30:24) Installment 1 of Martin’s “Facebook for Churches” journey

Picks of the week:

  • (32:34) The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd – Eight seasons of family friendly podcast available for free download
  • Maximizing productivity with multiple monitors
    • How-to Guide from Epinions
    • Use two of the same monitors or at least use the same screen size and resolution – Example HP 20″ Monitor
    • Laptops need …
    • Desktops need …
      • A graphics card with two VGA heads

WELS.net feature:

(43:02) Lectionary on Google Calendar

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(55:33) Episode 155 – Gail Potratz joins Martin and Sallie to discuss highlights from the Minnesota and Wisconsin teachers’ conferences.  (Release date 10/27/10)

The featured artist:

(56:35) This week we close with the beautiful piano music of Dawn Gehlhar – All through the Night from her CD titled ”Inspirations”

Get involved:

153 – Tech Cobbling

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we return to our monthly book discussion and have the special privilege of talking with one of the authors, Lynne Schrum.

The discussion:

Millennials and Gen Zs – In Chapter 2 of Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin the focus turns to today’s students and teachers and the technology experience and expectations they bring into the classroom.

The interview:

Lynne Schrum(13:20) A chat with the author – Lynne Schrum, author of the current WELSTech book selection, joins Martin and Sallie with tips for leaders to help them identify where they are in terms of technology integration and work within the various comfort levels of all types of teachers to provide “just in time” training on the tech tools of today.

Ministry resources:

(41:05) Google Translate Adds Latin

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:12:47) Episode 154 – Office workers will want to tune in for next week’s discussion of all things volunteer related.  (Release date 10/20/10)

The featured artist:

(1:13:34) This week we close with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – You Are the God from their CD titled ”Led by the Light”

Get involved:

152 – Those Evil E-mails

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This week the WELSTech Podcast centers around the effective use of e-mail.

The discussion:

E-mailWhat kind of e-mailer are you? – Is your electronic correspondence short and to the point, prompt, respectful and without error?  Martin and Sallie talk about e-mail best practices and share new ways to use the tool effectively.

Ministry resources:

(24:48) Create a “Free Bible” page from YouVersion – youversion.com/free-bible

News in tech:

(28:38) Xmarks is going out of business

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(38:08) View the Love In Action video series from Special Ministries

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(49:00) Episode 153 – We’ll continue our book discussion of Leading 21st Century Schools, looking at chapter 2 and talking with author Lynne Schrum. (Release date 10/13/10)

The featured artist:

(49:44) We close the podcast with music from Cross to Glory (www.crosstoglory.com) – The Father’s Song from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

Get involved:

151 – Gail’s Back!

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This week WELSTech welcomes back our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, and we talk about technology accountability for teachers.

The discussion:

Technology accountability – After a summer hiatus, Martin and Sallie are happy to welcome back to WELSTech Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI.  Gail shares her ideas about encouraging teacher technology proficiencies and discusses the plan they will follow in her school this year.

The interview:

Dr. Bernard Bull(21:12) Information Literacy – Dr. Bernard Bull, Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI, talks with Gail about teaching digital natives to be educators and shares advice for all teachers of today’s digital native students.

News in tech:

(38:38) Double authentication coming to Google

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(57:37) Follow WELS online:

Community feedback:

  • (59:39) Pastor Emile Burges from Trinity in Caledonia, WI shared a suggestion for a Office Administrator Conference.
  • Terry Baier from First Lutheran in La Crosse, WI is considering  the possibility of collaborating with other congregations to share a software support position
  • E-mail WELSTech with ideas, comments or inquiries about either comment

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:04:15) Episode 152 – WELSTech addresses “The Evils of E-mail” as we share tips and tricks for managing your overwhelming e-mail inbox. (Release date 10/06/10)

The featured artist:

(1:05:50) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Thy Strong Word from their CD titled “In His Time”

Get involved:

149 – Calling All Secretaries

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This week on the WELSTech podcast we begin a new series focusing on the technology used by church and school secretaries and administrators.

The discussion:

Something new on WELSTech – The new fall season of podcasting is in full swing and there’s a new topic to explore!  With this episode we kick off a series which will focus on the important role of office administrator or secretary for the church and/or school and the technology they use to do their jobs.  Martin and Sallie encourage listeners to share the podcast with office personnel and talk about ways to help them network and share ideas.

The interview:

Joanne Nemmers(16:45) Managing the school office – Joanne Nemmers, school secretary for Calvary in Dallas, TX talks with Martin and Sallie about life in the school office.  Find out about her favorite piece of office equipment, the challenges of after-school-care accounting and more.

Ministry resources:

(35:36) KidBlog.org

News in tech:

(38:36) Google Instant Search – Introduction video & details

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(52:39) Visit the WELSTech Wiki for online worship links and add your congregation

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:04:20) Episode 150 – Next week we explore Flickr photo sharing for churches and schools plus we talk with designer Diahann Lohr from Adunate Word & Design. (Release date 09/22/10)

The featured artist:

(1:05:45) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – Forgiveness Is Grace from his CD titled “The Way”

Get involved:

148 – Sallie’s Pick

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This week the WELSTech Podcast “hits the books” with the kick-off of a new book discussion.

The discussion:

Leading 21st Century SchoolsA new book selection – Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin (browse sections on Google Books) is the latest book discussion selection for WELSTech.  To get the ball rolling, Martin and Sallie highlight Chapter 1 and apply the concepts to school leaders, teachers and pastors.

Ministry resources:

(19:19) Men’s Network

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(41:47) Episode 149 – Joanne Nemmers, school secretary at Calvary in Dallas, TX, joins Martin and Sallie as we look at technology in the school and church office.  Encourage your office administrator to tune in!  (Release date 09/15/10)

The featured artist:

(44:01) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Press On from his CD titled “Climb the Mountain”

Get involved:

147 – WELSTech Road Trip: Wrap Up

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This week the WELSTech Podcast includes a summer Road Trip recap and the return of some of our favorite features.

Christmas 2010 Scavenger Hunt:

 Clue #2

clue2

Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Additional contest details available here.  Have fun!

Road trip:

roadtrip02cReliving the trip – Coming off of an 11-week virtual tour of the synod, Martin and Sallie revisit each stop and reflect on the lessons learned.  From managing the church office to integrating technology in the classroom, from video conferencing for counseling and Bible class to video closed captioning, from Bible study software to pastoral blogging, the Road Trip highlighted creative uses of technology to assist with and further gospel ministry.

Ministry resources:

(26:30) Seminary Video Library (RSS)

News in tech:

(27:47) Updates to Office Web Apps and Facebook Docs

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(39:52) Episode 148 – We kick off a brand new book discussion, this time looking at Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynn Schrum and Barbara B. Levin.  (Release date 09/08/10)

The featured artist:

(41:15) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Forged in the Fire from his CD titled “Abandon”

Get involved:

146 – WELSTech Road Trip: MI, PA and FL

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This week the WELSTech Podcast summer Road Trip wraps up with a round table discussion of three leading Bible software packages.

Road trip:

roadtrip02c(5:16) Bible software – On this week’s final virtual road trip, Martin and Sallie travel via the magic of technology to three destinations at once!  Pastor Steve Bauer from Faith in West Newton, PA, Pastor Dan Witte from Risen Savior in Lakewood Ranch, FL and Pastor Aaron Frey, President of Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, MI, participate in a lively discussion about their favorite Bible software tools, Accordance, BibleWorks and Logos respectively.

  • Visit the WELSTech Wiki Bible Software resource page for helpful links, reviews, screen shots and more. While you are there, create an account and add your Bible software experience to the page!

Pastors Bauer, Witte and Frey

Road Trip Tracker
The WELSTech Road Trip Tracker

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(54:59) Episode 147 – Our travelin’ days are over so we pause to reflect on the summer “Road Trip” series and get back into the swing of things with our normal features.  (Release date 09/01/10)

The featured artist:

(56:20) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – When Love Is Found from his CD titled ”Abide With Me”

Get involved:

145 – WELSTech Road Trip: Citrus Heights, CA

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The WELSTech Podcast Road Trip travels to California to hear the tech-in-ministry success story of St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights.

Road trip:

roadtrip02c(3:20) Technology serving St. Mark’s – Joining Martin and Sallie today are Maren McPeak, Webmaster, and Matt Bauer, Principal, from St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights, CA.  Listen as they share technology ideas from their church and school including use of their web site, iTunes, Facebook and Moodle.

Maren McPeak and Matt Bauer

Citrus Heights CA
The WELSTech Road Trip Tracker

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(36:34) Episode 146 – The summer 2010 WELSTech Road Trip series wraps up with a virtual visit to three states as we compare and contrast Bible study software.  (Release date 08/25/10)

The featured artist:

(37:44) This week we feature the music of  Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Fight the Good Fight from their CD titled ”Church Bells”

Get involved: