How can I send an e-mail to all YM or YW ward leaders in a stake?

This seems like it should be so easy to do, but if it is, I can't figure it out. A stake YM president often needs to send a message out to all ward YM presidents (or presidencies). Same for YW, RS, or Primary leaders. I can think of other lists that would also be helpful, like all ward bulletin coordinators, all ward mission leaders, etc.

I searched for a little bit here in the forums and didn't find anything about this, if it's been discussed (or resolved) somewhere else, just point me in the right direction!

Thanks!

The situation for sending group messages as you describe really depends on whether you are using the classic LUWS or the new directory.

Within the classic LUWS only a website administrator can send broadcast e-mail messages. There is a limited selection of groups to which these broadcast messages can be sent. But I recall that the groups you mention with the exception of ward bulletin coordinators and ward mission leaders are available. The website administrator's personal e-mail address appears as the sender in the message. Using the classic LUWS broadcast messaging is rather clunky and not very efficient because of the preset and limited message groups and necessity for a third party, the website administrator, as an intermediary for all messages.

We do not know what the fully developed messaging for the new directory will entail. Currently members can send messages to individuals with a listed e-mail address or to leadership groups within each unit of their stake. Those leadership groups are as they are organized within the directory. Since I am not a stake leader I do not know what group messaging capability they have in the Leaders Tools. I suspect for now they must select the leader group in each ward to send a message to all the leaders within the stake for a particular group.

For now, if the stake YM president wants to send a message using the new directory to all unit YM leaders he must go to the directory for each unit, select Ward Leaders and Organizations > Young Men and then click the "E-mail Young Men Leaders" link below the "[Unit Name] Ward Young Men" caption.

jdlessley wrote:We do not know what the fully developed messaging for the new directory will entail. Currently members can send messages to individuals with a listed e-mail address or to leadership groups within each unit of their stake. Those leadership groups are as they are organized within the directory. Since I am not a stake leader I do not know what group messaging capability they have in the Leaders Tools. I suspect for now they must select the leader group in each ward to send a message to all the leaders within the stake for a particular group.

The ability for stake leaders is rather spotty, but it is a bit more than you suspect -- which gives me hope that more options for emailing groups are on the way.

I know, for example, that my stake president can email all the bishops, all the bishoprics, all the HP group leaderships, and all the EQ presidencies. So this shows that cross-ward leadership groups are possible. But I as an assistant stake clerk do not have any of those options, which is unfortunate, since my stake president is much more likely to ask me to send a message than to do it himself.

I don't understand why this part of the leader tools would need to be so restrictive -- I can see all the bishoprics, and I can go to each ward's leadership directory and email each bishopric -- so why not make the same cross-ward groups available to me as the stake president can see? But the bits and pieces that are implemented do show a promising future, so I'll be patient.

jdlessley wrote:The situation for sending group messages as you describe really depends on whether you are using the classic LUWS or the new directory.

Within the classic LUWS only a website administrator can send broadcast e-mail messages. There is a limited selection of groups to which these broadcast messages can be sent. But I recall that the groups you mention with the exception of ward bulletin coordinators and ward mission leaders are available. The website administrator's personal e-mail address appears as the sender in the message. Using the classic LUWS broadcast messaging is rather clunky and not very efficient because of the preset and limited message groups and necessity for a third party, the website administrator, as an intermediary for all messages.

We do not know what the fully developed messaging for the new directory will entail. Currently members can send messages to individuals with a listed e-mail address or to leadership groups within each unit of their stake. Those leadership groups are as they are organized within the directory. Since I am not a stake leader I do not know what group messaging capability they have in the Leaders Tools. I suspect for now they must select the leader group in each ward to send a message to all the leaders within the stake for a particular group.

For now, if the stake YM president wants to send a message using the new directory to all unit YM leaders he must go to the directory for each unit, select Ward Leaders and Organizations > Young Men and then click the "E-mail Young Men Leaders" link below the "[Unit Name] Ward Young Men" caption.

According to the Local Unit Directory I find this:

«
Callings in MLS that give you administrative access to the directory include the following:

• At the ward level:
  • Bishop
  • Acting ward leader
  • Bishopric first counselor
  • Bishopric second counselor
  • Ward executive secretary
  • Ward clerk
  • Ward assistant clerk
  • Ward assistant clerk - finance
  • Ward assistant clerk - membership
  • Website administrator»

That last title "Website administrator" is one of my responsibilities. Yet, it appears that I can no longer send email blasts any way other than by the LUWS, and furthermore I find no place where I can log in as an administrator to make necessary chages to the lists. For example in the HP Group for my ward I am listed as an Instructor -- but I am no longer an Instructor, and the newly set apart Instructor (of four weeks standing) does not appear. Under "Classic" this is easy for me to fix. Whazzzup?

dbirley wrote:That last title "Website administrator" is one of my responsibilities. Yet, it appears that I can no longer send email blasts any way other than by the LUWS,

You will need the ward clerk to change your position from a custom position the standard position if you want to have the rights mentioned.

dbirley wrote: and furthermore I find no place where I can log in as an administrator to make necessary chages to the lists.

Once you have the correct positions then once you are logged into the directory you have the options you need visible.

dbirley wrote: For example in the HP Group for my ward I am listed as an Instructor -- but I am no longer an Instructor, and the newly set apart Instructor (of four weeks standing) does not appear. Under "Classic" this is easy for me to fix. Whazzzup?

If the ward clerk changes this in MLS then it will automatically send up to church headquarters and show up for you.

Do stake leaders have the ability to send emails to groups in all units of the stake now? For example, if they want to send something to YM/YW leaders in each ward/branch and each bishopric or branch presidency in the stake can they do it through the "Leader Resources" or "Clerk Resources" where it says "Send a message"?

Our stake leaders and clerks have never used these tools so that is why I'm asking. I'm trying to guess based on what my husband can do as a counselor in our branch presidency. If it is possible, I'll inform my stake contact and tell him where to look.

I appreciate any help anyone can offer.

kristaanncook wrote:Do stake leaders have the ability to send emails to groups in all units of the stake now? For example, if they want to send something to YM/YW leaders in each ward/branch and each bishopric or branch presidency in the stake can they do it through the "Leader Resources" or "Clerk Resources" where it says "Send a message"?

Stake YM/YW leaders currently have no access to "Leader Resources" or "Clerk Resources"

I think they can use the directory and in each ward go to "Ward Organization" and send an email that way. But I'm not 100% sure. You can try it under your login. If you can do it for other wards, then most likely so can they.

I'm concerned about whether stake leaders or stake clerks could send it out from their tools. Can it be done?

kristaanncook wrote:Do stake leaders have the ability to send emails to groups in all units of the stake now? For example, if they want to send something to YM/YW leaders in each ward/branch and each bishopric or branch presidency in the stake can they do it through the "Leader Resources" or "Clerk Resources" where it says "Send a message"?

Yes and no. There are only a limited set of groups of leaders in wards that certain stake leaders can send messages to using the "Send a Message" feature. These are just bishops, bishoprics, high priests group leaderships, elders quorum presidencies, and Relief Society presidencies. Nothing for your example of YM/YW leaders. And even those groups are available to only a few stake leaders; the stake clerk and stake president can do it, but not assistant clerks (I don't know about stake presidency counselors).

Great! This establishes it can be done by somebody.

This suggests that the Church wants information going out only at certain levels and under priesthood authority. Most of these groups seem to be bypassing this and setting up their own private email lists.

Am I wrong in thinking the Church is setting up its policy and procedures by allowing only leaders it wants to email groups to be allowed to do so?

Does the Church make its email policies explicit anywhere?

kristaanncook wrote:This suggests that the Church wants information going out only at certain levels and under priesthood authority. Most of these groups seem to be bypassing this and setting up their own private email lists.

The Leader and Clerk Resources tools are continuously being developed. We have information that auxiliary and organization leaders access is under development. Any assumption that what currently is provided is an indication of restriction or limitation is not valid. The email group lists are a convenience. Any leader can use the Directory to compose any custom email list to suit their calling needs.

kristaanncook wrote:Am I wrong in thinking the Church is setting up its policy and procedures by allowing only leaders it wants to email groups to be allowed to do so?

The group email lists provided in Leader and Clerk Resources is provided as a convenience so that leaders do not have to build commonly needed email lists. This does not restrict them from creating any other lists they feel then need.

kristaanncook wrote:Does the Church make its email policies explicit anywhere?

The only policies with regard to email addresses I can find is in Handbook 2, 21.1.15.

I would think that any private lists compiled by individuals would run the risk of running afoul of privacy, confidentiality and spamming laws. I wouldn't want to risk it.

The Church's tools have the necessary legal notice tacked on the end of the emails telling people how they can digitally remove themselves as required by law.

Private email lists wouldn't have that. I'll stick with the Church's tools. They are safe.

kristaanncook wrote:I would think that any private lists compiled by individuals would run the risk of running afoul of privacy, confidentiality and spamming laws. I wouldn't want to risk it.

Can't say as I agree with that interpretation.

kristaanncook wrote:The Church's tools have the necessary legal notice tacked on the end of the emails telling people how they can digitally remove themselves as required by law.

Private email lists wouldn't have that.

Not if you use the directory. It uses your private email client so there's really no difference.

I'll stick to having my emails to church members sent out under priesthood authority, through the Church's tools.

kristaanncook wrote:I'll stick to having my emails to church members sent out under priesthood authority, through the Church's tools.

Be aware that limiting your email procedures to only use "Send a Message" has limitations, not only in who can send the messages, but also to whom the messages can be sent. For example, the scenario you mentioned in your first post in this thread talked about sending a message to "YM/YW leaders in each ward/branch"; that is simply not possible at this point, no matter who is sending the message.

So each stake, ward, and individual is certainly welcome to make their own decisions on how this is done. But such decisions should be made with an understanding of the consequences of that decision.

Has it really been almost 2 years since I started this thread? I'm glad it's found a little new life. It would be extremely helpful for a member of the Stake YW presidency, for example, to be able to broadcast an e-mail to all of the ward YW presidents, or Bishops & YW Presidents, or Bishops, YW Presidents and councilors, or for that matter to everyone subscribed to the Stake YW calendar.

This kind of functionality would help drive a renewed importance to keeping callings updated in MLS, and keeping personal information (especially e-mail addresses) current on LDS.org. This also takes the responsibility off of the shoulders of the stake leaders of maintaining big e-mail lists and puts it back on the ward organizations to keep the MLS information updated. I don't see how privacy is the issue, because we know these lists exist all over the place and are being used daily and are being used improperly (not using Bcc to hide e-mails from each other). Privacy would do nothing but improve with a proper implementation of e-mail groups on lds.org.

Just my opinion.

I'm perfectly aware of consequences of decision making.