Good Projector for small groups

My Bishop has asked that we perhaps get some projectors for our building that other wards in the stake can share) that we will keep in the Stake Library. What precipitated this was the recent release of training videos for young men and women. I believe the number of people viewing these videos, at one time, will be relatively small. Just wondering what brand projector is good for this and it's price range.

It seems to me that just a relatively good size external computer screen might do as well.

Anyone have any thoughts.

wsplawn wrote:Anyone have any thoughts.

Check with FM Group first. They may allow you to have one projector per building.

Note sure what FM is but we are in a fairly well-off Stake and already have a projector for stake events. If additional projectors are not too expensive, it seems, the Bishop wants a few more.

Any suggestions?

wsplawn wrote:Note sure what FM is

FM = Facilities Management Group. They're the people responsible for (among other things) maintaining the buildings, paying bills related to the buildings (such as utilities), remodeling, networking equipment, phones, etc.

The standard way to interface with the FM Group is to work through the high councilor who is designated as the Physical Facilities Representative (PFR).

wsplawn wrote:we are in a fairly well-off Stake and already have a projector for stake events. If additional projectors are not too expensive, it seems, the Bishop wants a few more.

The FM Group may supply an additional projector for you, or at least may have recommendations (and may be able to purchase projectors at reduced rates even if the stake provides the funds).

wsplawn wrote:we are in a fairly well-off Stake and already have a projector for stake events. If additional projectors are not too expensive, it seems, the Bishop wants a few more.

Any suggestions?

If the stake is so well-off at this point in the year there is to much of the LUBA being taken from the wards. My suggestion would be to give the funds back to the wards where it should have stayed in the first place.

wsplawn wrote:Bishop

I missed this the first time around. This type of thing falls under the stake more then it does the ward. I suggest you contact the Stake Technology Specialist, or if you don't know who that is, the Stake Clerk.

With all due respect, as gently as I know how, and with no offense intended, the question has to do with what projector is best - in the opinion of others.

wsplawn wrote:With all due respect, as gently as I know how, and with no offense intended, the question has to do with what projector is best - in the opinion of others.

The best one is the one purchased through the FMG using FM funds, and not giving LUBF to FM.

I would imagine that most of us got our projectors though the FM group, so it's whatever is currently on their order sheet. I've never "shopped around".

Part of that, is about using the funds as the church as intended them to be used.

Well, I imagine if one or two Bishops want to spend their own funds for their own purposes, it won't cause the stake or church headquarters too much consternation, but I'm willing to learn whatever you want to teach me. Would you mind starting with the definition of FMG, FM Funds and LUBF?

wsplawn wrote:Well, I imagine if one or two Bishops want to spend their own funds for their own purposes, it won't cause the stake or church headquarters too much consternation, but I'm willing to learn whatever you want to teach me. Would you mind starting with the definition of FMG, FM Funds and LUBF?

FMG: Facilities Management Group, responsible for managing church buildings and other facilities.

FM Funds: Facilities Management Funds (the FMG budget).

LUBF: Local Unit Budget Funds (the budget the ward or stake uses to fund activities and other local unit programs.

wsplawn wrote:Would you mind starting with the definition of FMG, FM Funds and LUBF?

FMG = Facilities Management Group. They're the ones that pay for things that are part of the building, including the TVs in the library and the clerk computers.
FM Funds = The funds that FMG uses.
LUBA = Local Unit Budget Allowance, which is intended to fund ward activities and small offices supplies.

If the ward buys it, the ward has that much less cash to fund activities for the members. Most likely this will fall on the youth camps in the summer since they are allowed to raise funds. If FM Group buys it, then the ward's budget is not hit.

wsplawn wrote:Well, I imagine if one or two Bishops want to spend their own funds for their own purposes,

The funds is not there for the Bishops own purposes. They are there to fund ward and stake activities and supplies, which do not include computers, printers, copiers, TVs, projectors, or VCR/DVD players.

Here is some training resources on the principles and purposes for the Local Unit Budget Allowance. You should also consult Handbook 1 and 2 for further understanding.

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1990/05/teach ... s?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1990/05/the-l ... y?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1990/05/rise- ... k?lang=eng

wsplawn wrote: it won't cause the stake or church headquarters too much consternation, but I'm willing to learn whatever you want to teach me.

Its not wither it would cause problems or confusion, it about using the correct funds for the correct purposes.

I think what he is asking is "What if a bishop wants to buy a projector from his personal funds and donate it to the ward. What kind of projector should he get?"

wsplawn wrote:Would you mind starting with the definition of FMG, FM Funds and LUBF?

FMG = Facilities Management Group, sometimes shortened to FM. This organization was explained already.
FM Funds are the funds allocated by the Church to manage Church facilities and equipment for facilities. This is to relieve this burden from stakes and units and place it in the hands of professionals to reduce facilities operating costs.
LUBF = Local Unit Budget Funds. The preferred term is LUBA (Local Unit Budget Allowance). The Local Unit Budget Allowance (LUBA) program was implemented in 1989 to allow local units to fund their programs using funds supplied by the Church.

When stakes and wards need equipment covered under the responsibilities of the FMG then they should coordinate first with the FMG to determine the FMG's ability to support the need. The point of contact between the stake and FMG is the high councilor for physical facilities. Just like local units plan their programs and activities to fit within the allocation provided so must the FM Group.

The budget planning for facilities expenses is a bit more lengthy than planning for stake and ward programs and activities. The FMG does planning for the following year in the spring while most stakes and units do their planning in the fall. So if a stake or unit has a need that should be filled by the FMG then they have to coordinate that need with the FMG in the spring of the year before the need. Unfortunately most stakes and units are finding shorter term needs that can't wait for the FMG planning cycle. This is when FMG responsibilities to support equipment needs fall short.

TinMan wrote:I think what he is asking is "What if a bishop wants to buy a projector from his personal funds and donate it to the ward. What kind of projector should he get?"

Problem there is what if the Bishop want's to pay out of his own funds for a new Meetinghouse that has a roller-skating rink inside, or what if a Bishop wants to pay out of his own funds for a Trip for the Youth to go on a World-tour visiting countries on all 7 continents. Whether it is small or large there is little room for Donating to Budget. Budget comes the same to everyone, which was a PURPOSE of moving to the self-funding. You had wealthy wards doing all sorts of stuff, EQ Parties in Hawaii, etc...

That is the reason to use FMG funds where they should be used.

Problem is generally lack of planning, right now, everything you identify is for purchase in 2014. The budget process starts April/May of 2013 to be submitted by July 2013 for 2014 projects, etc.. If a Stake Fails to gather, ongoing, their needs, get them into the Budget for FM, then the process doesn't work, and putting it back on track is nearly impossible.

Stakes who have been 'just buying stuff ourselves, not waiting for FMG' enable the lowering of budgets for FMG because the demand is not there and normalizes the budget lower than should be necessary.

Thank you all for your input. I am considering all that's been said.

Best Regards

JohnShaw wrote:
Problem is generally lack of planning, right now, everything you identify is for purchase in 2014. The budget process starts April/May of 2013 to be submitted by July 2013 for 2014 projects, etc.. If a Stake Fails to gather, ongoing, their needs, get them into the Budget for FM, then the process doesn't work, and putting it back on track is nearly impossible.

Oh.

How was I supposed to budget for the capabilities for 6 classes to play videos all at the same time last April/May when I didn't find out about the new curriculum until a month ago?

wsplawn: For what it is worth, we are looking at using 24 inch Samsung monitors with speakers built in and hook ups for ipads, laptops, and USB drives. As well as streaming input capabilities.

We also used 3 old routers and a booster to put Wi-Fi capabilities into our building because the FM group told us that our building was too old and had too much cinderblock to make WI-Fi possible. So if we wanted it, we had to do it ourselves.

Which we did.

Our Elders quorum had to cancel their trip to Hawaii, but they will survive.

Large monitors seem the way to go to me. I hadn't thought about built-in speakers. What kind of built-in hook ups for ipads, and laptops are you talking about? My understanding is that it's just a matter of plugging the monitor into the back of a computer (laptop or whatever) with a regular monitor cable.

We have already purchased 5 flash drives and downloaded the videos to them. If I had a big monitor (with speakers) I'm supposing it's just a matter of plugging in the flash drives and using them like another hard drive. Our internet connection at the stake center is spotty at best for good streaming.

Sorry, I am far from a geeky person. That is why I was hoping someone else would answer your question. On the back of the monitors we are looking at, there are about 6 or 8 different plug in connections. There is a place to plug in an IPad, (but we need to purchase a separate cord, apparently) and I have been told that you can even plug your IPhone into the same spot. There is also a place to plug in a lap top. There is a connection for an antenna hook up. And on the side there is a spot to plug in flash drives. There is no DVD slot. I don't think. Which is causing us to pause. But I think we will go ahead as we haven't found anything we think will work better for us.

be careful of a USB port, not all of them will support video, specifically mp4

VGA + sound, HDMI, RCA, and Video supported MP4 over USB are what you are looking for

TinMan wrote:How was I supposed to budget for the capabilities for 6 classes to play videos all at the same time last April/May when I didn't find out about the new curriculum until a month ago?

Don't know why that should fall on your shoulders. If the church though it was important to have that capability, they would have told the FM group to supply it. Or at the very least, sent a letter saying just how to fund this.

If you will bear with me a moment longer. Why would a monitor have a slot to plug-in a flash drive? In order to access whatever is on the flash drive you would need a mouse wouldn't you? And some sort of processor?

Are you suggesting that you could plug a flash drive directly into a monitor and access the videos without the use of an external processor? Just wondering. I'm not a geek either, but in today's world - who knows what's possible?

TVs these days are digital, so they already have a processor. The question is, what formats do they support?

If it is of interest, the link below will take you to a Samsung 40 inch Smart TV that will play direct from a flash drive. It sells for around $300.00

https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... J8BEOUNMAA

wsplawn wrote:If it is of interest, the link below will take you to a Samsung 40 inch Smart TV that will play direct from a flash drive. It sells for around $300.00

$300 X 6 = 7.2 YM who do not go to camp without personal funds or fundraisers.

I wonder does that fall under "ward budget does not have sufficient funds to pay for". http://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2- ... eng#13.2.8

wsplawn wrote:If you will bear with me a moment longer. Why would a monitor have a slot to plug-in a flash drive? In order to access whatever is on the flash drive you would need a mouse wouldn't you? And some sort of processor?

Are you suggesting that you could plug a flash drive directly into a monitor and access the videos without the use of an external processor? Just wondering. I'm not a geek either, but in today's world - who knows what's possible?

It doesn't have a mouse, but does have a remote and everything is menu driven.

You linked to a TV, but the Television part is pretty usless. That is why we are looking at just monitors for less money.

russellhltn wrote:

TinMan wrote:How was I supposed to budget for the capabilities for 6 classes to play videos all at the same time last April/May when I didn't find out about the new curriculum until a month ago?

Don't know why that should fall on your shoulders. If the church though it was important to have that capability, they would have told the FM group to supply it. Or at the very least, sent a letter saying just how to fund this.

So what is all the concern about how to play the videos in the new curriculum if, as you say, the church doesn't think they are important?

It falls on my shoulders because I have young men and young women leaders and Sunday School teachers asking me how they can play the videos for their new lessons. It is a little frustrating when the Church says, "here is all this great stuff for lessons, but don't ask us how to access it."

[Moderator Note: The posts continuing the discussion about funding has been split off to the thread Funding Good Projector for small groups Please keep the discussion of this thread focused on the OP topic. Please post any related but side issues in another thread.]