156 – Microphones, Janet Jackson, and Milk

This week the WELSTech Podcast discussion includes congregation tech topics such as wireless microphones, projection solutions, electronic signs, online social media presence and more.

The discussion:

New Tech in Sleepy Eye – Martin and Sallie review the newest techie additions in Sallie’s congregation, St. John’s in Sleepy Eye, MN.

• Martin’s blog post on FCC changes
• St. John’s purchased three wireless mics and two receivers
  • An earset mic
  • A lapel and handheld mic with receivers

Tech Planning – Mark Salzwedel, a member of Christ in Eden Prairie, WI, wrote WELSTech because his congregation was looking for direction and contacts to assist with some technology planning they are undertaking.

• Audio/video resources
  • Presentation software for worship
  • Projectors
  • Video cameras
  • Streaming and recording video
• Internet outreach
  • Is there a place for Twitter in your church?
  • Interview with a blogging pastor – 138 – WELSTech Road Trip: Liverpool, NY
  • Create a Facebook page for your church – 081 – BWTG: Facebook Pages
• Electronic sign
  • Stubblefield & Sonssss

Ministry resources:

• (23:13) Videos from WELS Churches group on Vimeo
• Martin’s Facebook for Churches Journey, Part 2 (Part 1)

News in tech:

• (23:13) Now There’s Church on Facebook from Leadership Network
• Collaborative gifting via eBay

Picks of the week:

• (25:40) YouTube Time Machine – yttm.tv
• Remember the Milk – Productivity task list

Of interest:

(32:15) View the live video stream of WELS Regional Choral Fest from Manitowoc Lutheran High School at wels.net/streams/live

• Pops Concert – Friday, November 12 at 7 p.m. CST
• Sacred Concert – Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. CST

Community feedback:

• (33:42) Our Facebook group page included a post by Jimmy Holub with links to
  • Inkscape – a vector drawing tool for creating logos
  • Open Office – office software
• We’re looking for software recommendations to manage child care programs.
  • We previously interviewed Shelley from ProCare Software
  • Jason Schmidt suggested using Google forms and spreadsheets
  • Andy Ognenoff pointed us to force.com
  • Laura Kamin shared a sample spreadsheet (.xls format) which is used at Eastside in Madison, WI
• Debbie Spriggs shared a link to an article on How To: Use an Interactive Whiteboard from Tech & Learning Magazine.  Sign up for a free subscription to their print magazine.
• Martin shared several links to a free PDF download of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  Check out the full list of free eBooks from Planet eBooks.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:55) Episode 157 – WELSTech hits the books as we look at chapter 3 of Leading 21st Century Schools.  (Release date 11/10/10)

The featured artist:

(46:05) This week we feature the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries (http://www.crosswalkphoenix.com/worship/music.aspx) – You Are My World from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

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