The 2008 Trinity Church Directory
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It's time again to update our church directory.
As you may recall, we produced an in-house directory last time in 2005, and we were taking pictures for months, trying to get members to come in for the sittings and then trying first one method and then another to get the pages printed. It turned out to be quite a wearying, lengthy and expensive proposition.
So, when Olan Mills came calling recently, it seemed to be a godsend.
BENEFITS OF AN OLAN MILLS CHURCH DIRECTORY
This family portrait company has been in the business of producing church directories for years and years. The current Mr. Olan Mills is Olan Mills, III--the third generation of the dynasty. They are the Number One church directory company in the country, and there are a bunch of perks for us at Trinity when we have our directory done by them.
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The cost of producing the directory is free.
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Every family that sits for a portrait to go in the directory gets a free 8" x 10" portrait.
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The sign-up process has been streamlined--and there is even an on-line sign-up.
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They give each family with an appointment a friendly reminder right before their sitting.
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There are opportunities to get your portrait taken even if you cannot make the Trinity appointment schedule.
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The time it takes for them to deliver the finished directories once the pictures are taken is about a month and a half.
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They provide an on-line pictorial directory that can be updated with new members during the 2-3 years between new hard copy directory production.
Now, of course, we do not represent Olan Mills to be a pure philanthropy, giving away free directories to churches.
They are able to do the church directories for free only because there are many church families who want to purchase extra copies or more finely crafted versions of their portraits for various purposes. We saw that desire for current portraits when we did our in-house directory.
The sales staff at the photographic sittings will review the four or more poses with the family immediately following the picture-taking and will assist them in selecting the best pose. No doubt they will encourage purchasing the photo packages that they are their primary business. You are under no obligation to purchase any photographs.
You will receive the portraits--the free complimentary portrait and the photo packages you may have ordered--approximately 4-6 weeks after photography.
We are planning on about 120 families or individuals to have their portraits made during the 3 days the photography team will be at Trinity on the following dates:
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Friday, April 25 - 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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Saturday, April 26 - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, May 6 - 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (the "Make-Up" day)
The first step that we want you to take is to SIGN UP for a picture-taking appointment--"the sitting." The photography teams will be at Trinity only on the three dates listed above. In order to be in the "Family Photos" section of the directory, you must have your portrait taken by Olan Mills. (Note: There are a couple exceptions which are covered in the FAQ section below)
To have this done you must sign up for the day and time you want to come to Trinity and have the photos made. This process has been made simple by Olan Mills by providing three resources.
ONLINE SIGN-UP
They have developed a mechanism for you to sign up from the comfort and time schedule of your own home--ONLINE SIGN-UP. Some of you with email addresses on file at the church have received the announcement of this feature in which there is a 1-click link to the sign up process. I have placed a link to the sign-up page on our church website. A lot of you have already signed up. The rewards for the "Early Birds" who sign up right away are the larger number of available appointment slots so a time that is convenient for the family is likely to be available and the email reminder that they will receive right before the day of the appointment.
During the online sign-up, there are a couple of issues you should know about.
PASSWORD: First, you are asked to give a password. It's not a secret way to continue the sign-up process--YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN PASSWORD. It is for you to make any corrections later, such as rescheduling a time, selecting the appointment which you may not have done before saving your responses, adding a name, correcting a misspelling or other wrong information that may have inadvertently been given the first time.
MAKE APPOINTMENT: The sign-up takes place in two successive forms. The second form pops up after you save the first form. You are not through with the process until you pick the date on which you want to make the appointment by clicking on one of the two red boxes on the calendar on the second form. You then get a list of available times. Click on the time you want, highlighting it and then click on the button named "Submit."
PHOTOGRAPHY TICKET: When you complete the sign-in process online, they suggest that you fill in and print out your appointment ticket and bring it to the sitting. You may or may not be able to do that! If you click on that option and you cannot see this form, you need to download a more current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (available on the Olan Mills website at the sign-in page).
If you do see this form, you can fill in the information only in the Red Zone like I have done for mine, and then print it out. Use the print command button on the Adobe Acrobat Reader, not on your browser to print the ticket. This will save you some time at check-in on the day of your appointment.
They will fill out this form at the church when you come to your appointment if you do not have it.
You will be sent an email confirming your appointment immediately after you complete the sign-up. This will be your claim for that appointment time if you want to bring it with you. We will know what the schedule for picture-taking is already, though. BE SURE TO EXAMINE THE CONFIRMATION CAREFULLY. If it contains incorrect or incomplete information, you can go back to the welcome screen for the online sign-up and choose to edit the appointment or edit the details instead of making an appointment.
DEADLINE: The ONLINE SIGN-UP will be operational and available to you from now until April 6--a period of 4 weeks.
SIGN-UP AT CHURCH
Beginning Sunday, March 23 (That's EASTER SUNDAY!), there will be sign-up stations at church. Mainly, we will have Sign-Up team members in the narthex on Sundays before and after the 10:30 a.m. worship service. There will be a station in Fellowship Hall during Wednesday Night Soul Food supper. At all other times during the week, you may drop by the church office and make your appointment Dot Scarbrough is leading the Sign-Up Team.
SIGN-UP BY OLAN MILLS PHONE CALL
If for some reason you fail to sign up by Monday, April 14--Monday after the A-Day Game--Olan Mills will give you a telephone call offering to schedule your portrait sitting, starting on Thursday, April 17. The call will be made from Chattanooga, so please, if you screen your calls, answer a call with the 423 area code or the caller ID of "Church Directory."
Those of you who signed up online will receive an email reminder of your appointment a day or so before the date.
Those of you who signed up at church will receive a telephone call from Olan Mills in Chattanooga. The same comment for those who screen their telephone calls applies to these reminders: Please answer a call from area code 423 or a caller ID of "Church Directory."
Once you're signed up for an appointment and get your reminder, it's your responsibility to get to the church and arrive a few minutes before the time you have scheduled. Please be punctual. If a sitting is delayed, it is very difficult to get back on schedule without short-changing the time allotted to one or more of your fellow church members.
As of this date, we plan to set up the photographer's studio in the Sunset Funset parlor and the check-in will take place in the Sunset Funset kitchen.
When you arrive, you will be greeted by Trinity hosts and hostesses who will secure any additional required information that was not provided during sign-up. The wait for your sitting should be brief as long as everyone arrives promptly and no unusual unexpected requests are made of the photographer.
We hope that this will be a painless experience for you, and we know that you will be proud of the new up-to-date church directory that will be produced
You can expect to get your new directory at the end of summer, just as the fall semester at UA begins.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ'S)
Q I have a son/daughter in college/military, etc., and I do not want my family picture taken without them: or, I will be out of town on the photo dates: or, I am physically unable to leave my home.
A Give a picture of you or your family member no larger than 4" x 6" to your church coordinator. It will be included on a special page following the Family Section of the book. you will also need to turn in a signed copyright release form if a professional photographer took the picture. Only professional pictures by Olan Mills are acceptable without a copyright release. Snapshots are the simplest way to submit a photo for the directory. No copyright release is required for snapshots. you will receive a free directory.
Q My husband/wife is not a member of the church and does not want to be in the directory, but we would like to have our family portrait made together. Is this possible?
A Yes. Schedule an appointment. Tell the photographer your situation and he/she will take several poses of those who want to appear in the directory and some more of everyone together.
Q We have always wanted an extended family portrait done. Can we have that done?
A Yes. Please reserve an additional appointment time for the extended family poses. Each smaller family group will need to sign up for appointments one after the other, then all will come together. The extended family sitting will not count towards credits or for a complimentary directory or portrait.
Q How much does this cost?
A There is no charge for the sitting, you will receive a copy of the directory and a complimentary 8x10 Custom Color Portrait as a gift from Olan Mills for participating in the program and selecting a pose for the directory. If you wish to purchase extra portraits, you may place an order with the Portrait Consultant that day.
Q What are the prices of the portraits?
A When you come for your sitting, Olan Mills Portrait Consultants will explain the different finishes and special pricing options available. You will see your poses electronically on a color computer monitor. You will be able to order your portraits at this time. The finished portraits will be delivered to your home approximately 4-6 weeks from your photography date.
Q If I want to purchase extra portraits, when and how do I pay for them?
A Pay for them at the time of selection. Olan Mills accepts cash, check, and all major credit cards. A package and handling fee will apply to every order. Olan Mills guarantees customer satisfaction.
Q How many poses will be taken?
A Normally, there will be four poses of the entire family group and one pose of each individual in the group.
Additional poses may be taken by the photographer upon request and as time permits.
Q May I have my picture taken with a pet?
A No. Due to liability and health regulations, we cannot photograph animals. The only exception is Assistive Animals covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Q I do not have transportation to the church.
A Tell your coordinator or a committee member and they will try to help arrange transportation for you.
Q May we use our picture from the last church directory?
A No. Unless you are physically unable to come in and submit an actual picture as in question 1.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Call Louis Buettner, 343-2467
NOTE: I have updated this sign-up information several times as questions from members have come up and I received new information from the Olan Mills representative. If you become aware of any other problems, please contact me as soon as possible. LEB