Meeting Counts

I understand the need to do attendance counts so quarterly reports can be filed and budgets can be derived. However, I am at a loss as to why counts are necessary at other events. For this last General Conference our stake was asked by the Presiding Bishopric if we would voluntarily do a count of members who viewed General Conference at their church building rather than at home. Additionally we have been asked at our stake (on the western slope of Colorado) to do counts during three sessions of the Fort Collins, Colorado Temple dedication which will be broadcasted to our stake building and then immediately send that information to the committee secretary for the dedication. And one more - after each Stake (or District) Conference we do counts during each session and fill that in on the conference report sent to Salt Lake. My question is what does the Church do with this information? For the life of me I don't see what possible use counting general conference viewers at local unit buildings could be used for any worthwhile purpose. A couple of our unit clerks asked me as the stake clerk why we were doing counts for general conference and I have no idea so I though I would ask.

As a "satellite operator" (before the title of STS was created), I did counts a long time ago for the broadcasts. I wasn't aware they were still doing it. I'd imagine that they're just wanting to have a general idea of what the members are doing and if a low or high count suggests they need to make adjustments. I don't know as they're using it for anything specific, but more like a "general health" indicator to spot trends. Perhaps they're adding it to the streaming stats to know how many people are watching conference.

In some areas, the number of people who attend General Conference at a Church building is low, because it's so easy to access in other ways. It's possible the Church is evaluating if that's a widespread trend. If it is, the Church may want to direct the resources they put into satellite broadcasting into other things, like improving their internet or TV-based broadcasting. Attendance is a good way to determine budgets, not just on a ward level, but also on a Church department level.

Additionally, tracking attendance on a stake or area level can help set goals towards a stake or area plan.

I have never been asked for an offical count of general conference stuff.(over a decade tending broadcast stuff) Likely we are not far from removing the satellite stuff from most wards and stake centers. In most places it is an unnecessary expense. Mostly I am alone in the building during general conference sessions and it has been 3 years since I even had the missionaries. Now we still have decent numbers at priesthood because the 2 bishops are trying to make that a bit of an event. But the bishop does ask for who was there simply to know.

As for other big events that may be used in event planning for other areas. For example I know from SA conferences that a good rule of thumb is that final registration counts will be about 1 1/2 times the preregistration count. I know that because of long term experience with those numbers. Betting the event planners for big events like temple open houses have similar rules of thumb based on counts or population or other things. It at least provides an idea of how you are doing vs some other sets of numbers even if they are unofficial.

jirp wrote:Likely we are not far from removing the satellite stuff from most wards and stake centers.

Maybe on the next technology refresh. The church just got done replacing all the satellite receivers. So it would appear we'll keep that for the next 8-10 years at least.