"Send a Message" - Custom filtered email lists

Recently the Send a Message application was updated to include more lists (mostly Stake calling related), but also with this line in the release notes "Providing the ability to filter potential recipients by searching for calling and unit name". This is useful, but the results can not be saved as a custom list. Would it be possible to add this functionality?

I know that many secretaries of organizations choose to curate their own email lists instead of using the church provided ones, and some lists may simply be useful for localized needs. For example, in Virginia/Maryland/West Virginia/Washington DC the church has officially supported an annual "Day To Serve" and has representatives at the stake and ward levels that coordinate service activities.

Maybe the Bishop, Stake President, or other individual calling could be the gatekeeper on creating lists - or maybe that doesn't need to be considered. Right now when you use the application, under "Add Recipients" there are drop downs for:

• * Stake Callings
  * Ward Callings
  * Members

Maybe a fourth one could be:

• * Local Unit Created Lists (or something shorter with that idea)

Thoughts?

Release notes I mentioned: https://www.lds.org/help/support/clerk- ... ng=eng#4.1
Day To Serve website: http://www.daytoserve.org

jondrice wrote:Recently the Send a Message application was updated to include more lists (mostly Stake calling related), but also with this line in the release notes "Providing the ability to filter potential recipients by searching for calling and unit name". This is useful, but the results can not be saved as a custom list. Would it be possible to add this functionality?

I could see saving the list of callings as a custom list, or perhaps the list of emails in a short-term list so you can edit/add before hitting send, but I can't see saving the list of compiled emails - that would defeat the purpose of have a list that updates with changes in callings.

jondrice wrote:This is useful, but the results can not be saved as a custom list. Would it be possible to add this functionality?

This is something we have considered, but we do not have plans to add this functionality at this time. There's a broader strategy related to custom lists we are working on before we consider an enhancement like this. We also continue to focus on transitioning the remaining MLS functionality to LCR such as custom reports.

Is the broader strategy publicly available somewhere? Or is it internal only at this time?

I am being told that the Bishopric cannot have full access to LCR, is this correct. I am the membership clerk and frustrated with their saying this and not filling out baptism form and ordination form.

Bishopric does have access to LCR, but not as much as the bishop. Nor would they have membership functions like the clerk.

Someone else will have to address those specific forms.

snh3 wrote:I am being told that the Bishopric cannot have full access to LCR, is this correct. I am the membership clerk and frustrated with their saying this and not filling out baptism form and ordination form.

Bishoprics counselors can print baptism/confirmation and Aaronic Priesthood ordination forms just like the clerks do (Membership > Ordinances, select the ordinance type, search for the member, then click the button to print the form). But only the bishop and clerks can record the ordination after it takes place.

jondrice wrote:Is the broader strategy publicly available somewhere? Or is it internal only at this time?

At a high level, we're looking at the possibility of allowing custom lists to work between systems such as LDS Tools, LCR, and maps.

Just wanted to add my thoughts about why this would be helpful and our use case. We would like to use this tool for sending out reminders and agendas for Stake Council. We need the ability to select which callings should receive those emails (not all stake callings, just presidents for some, but then other miscellaneous callings such as Self Reliance Specialist, Stake Trek Committee Chair, Missionary Preparation Instructors, etc.).

As a work around we have a custom report with names of everyone in the callings who should be in attendance and their email address. This can then be copied and pasted into personal email for distribution.

We are working on a weekly email list of announcements now that we have transitioned to a 2 hour block and don't have as much time for announcements in Sacrament Meeting and don't have weekly priesthood or YW opening exercises. The problem is, not everyone in the ward wants to be on the list. So we can either select all, then have to go back and delete the members that don't want to be on the list each week, or we can save the list and send the same list each week out of gmail, but it would be static, not dynamic, so any changes made to email addresses or changes in membership wouldn't automatically get picked up.

russellmorgan wrote:We are working on a weekly email list of announcements now that we have transitioned to a 2 hour block and don't have as much time for announcements in Sacrament Meeting and don't have weekly priesthood or YW opening exercises. The problem is, not everyone in the ward wants to be on the list. So we can either select all, then have to go back and delete the members that don't want to be on the list each week, or we can save the list and send the same list each week out of gmail, but it would be static, not dynamic, so any changes made to email addresses or changes in membership wouldn't automatically get picked up.

This is exactly why I was reading this thread. We are sending a weekly email, and I need an easy way to make a list that excludes selected individuals. And new ward members would be automatically added to the list. So it would be kind of an "everyone but certain people" list.

supermyers wrote:

russellmorgan wrote:We are working on a weekly email list of announcements now that we have transitioned to a 2 hour block and don't have as much time for announcements in Sacrament Meeting and don't have weekly priesthood or YW opening exercises. The problem is, not everyone in the ward wants to be on the list. So we can either select all, then have to go back and delete the members that don't want to be on the list each week, or we can save the list and send the same list each week out of gmail, but it would be static, not dynamic, so any changes made to email addresses or changes in membership wouldn't automatically get picked up.

This is exactly why I was reading this thread. We are sending a weekly email, and I need an easy way to make a list that excludes selected individuals. And new ward members would be automatically added to the list. So it would be kind of an "everyone but certain people" list.

It is my understanding that functionality does not currently exist. Whether or not this is on the list of things to do is unknown (this forum is simply user-to-user tech support and not an official support arm of the church). The only way to get this request to those who set the priorities of the developers is to send feedback from the Send A Message page (or any other page on LCR).

We send out a weekly email blast as well but the Executive secretary does that and I have not heard him express any complaints. We also post it on a private ward facebook page (for those who prefer that to email) and the organizations use other methods (text) for the members who need that. We have some who don't use digital methods so we have to communicate with them in the method they need (they are the customer of the communication, after all). Remember that sending a weekly email is just one of several options that were suggested to consider. None of those options are required. The ward council is responsible to council together and determine the best way to communicate with the ward members.