> Communications 

TNUMC.org now archiving news stories (from TNUMConnects 11/30/11)

Ever wanted to reference a line from an old article you once read from a TNUMConnects eBlast? Now you can!

The Tennessee Conference website, TNUMC.org, has now employed a blog feature that will archive all news stories posted on the website. "Until now, most of the content featured on the NEWS section of the website appeared for an avergage of about 14 days before being cycled off of the page" says Communications Coordinator Kevin Sparkman.

"To keep the NEWS page current we will still continue to roll most content off of the page after a few weeks, however, instead of those stories disappearing forever they will now be stored on a blog page for easy reference." Sparkman also stated that the blog page will be part of the TNUMC.org website structure, not an separate site that will guide visitors away from the TN Conference site.

> View the NEWS Archive page

Sparkman added "As of November 29, 2011, all news stories have been archived including content that was still visible on the site dating as far back as June of this year." Content can be easily referenced by year, month, category, or by keyword.

A screen-shot of the interactive blog page:

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United Methodists launch free mobile app (from TNUMConnects, 11/2/11)

Mobile device users can easily access information about The United Methodist Church on the go with a new free United Methodist application. Developed by United Methodist Communications and Music City Networks, the app is now available for free download for iPad and iPhone. It should be available for Android smartphone users by the end of next week.

The application enables mobile access to daily devotions, news, videos, photos, social media sites and a searchable index of United Methodist churches by geographic area. The “Ask InfoServ” feature connects users who have questions about the church or requests for resources with church staff who can help.

“We created the app so that we could deliver information about the denomination to people in a way that’s fast, simple and easy to use,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications, the global communications agency of The United Methodist Church. “The features available now are just a start. Our goal is to roll out new offerings over the coming months.”

Hollon said that in early 2012, another new mobile application will be launched that will make it easier for users to connect with the United Methodist General Conference, the meeting of the denomination’s top policy-making body which occurs once every four years. The 2012 meeting will take place April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla. The application will allow delegates and other interested parties to track proposed legislation, as well as to conveniently keep up with scheduled events and access information about the meeting locale.
 

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
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RSS and what it can do for YOU! (from TNUMConnects 3/9/11)

Long gone are the days of static websites. If your website is not updated daily or offers some variety of social interaction tools (such as a blog or the ability to add comments), consider it dead.

In an effort to keep the TNUMC.org website alive and well, the Office of Communications is establishing RSS feeds in key areas of ministry to keep you informed - instantly - of what's going on. Now that's an instant connection!

What is an RSS feed?
According to wikipedia.org, "an RSS feed (most commonly expanded as Really Simple Syndication) is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works - such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video - in a standardized format. An RSS document (which is called a 'feed,' 'web feed,' or 'channel') includes full or summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates and authorship. Web feeds benefit publishers by letting them syndicate content automatically. They benefit readers who want to subscribe to timely updates from favored websites or to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place."

In other words, if you really want to know what's going on - subscribe to a TN Conference RSS feed! For example, if you want to stay tuned directly to all things Disaster Relief you can subscribe to their feed and receive automatic updates to your email, desktop, and even mobile device each time someone in the Conference Center adds as item to their LATEST NEWS page.

What does RSS do for me?
It's 'simple.' Once you subscribe to a feed, all you have to do is sit back and watch the updates roll in to your device. Currently we aren't posting as much daily news as CNN, NBC, or even local news channels (we don't recommend sitting by your computer to watch the feeds drop in, feel free to go about your daily business!), but this service will give you the peace of mind in knowing that you will automatically be made aware of updates, in real time, to ministries that are of specific interest to you.

For several years TN UMC communications regularly maintained several blog sites that would feature specific ministries and other news items. One issue with this was that not all of the ministries featured on the TNUMC.org website had a satellite blog. For example, if you did not check the website on a regular basis (or one of the blog sites for that matter), you may not have known that a training event was occurring or that a VIM team needed an extra volunteer. RSS feeds trump blog sites by their ability to send you the information you're seeking instantly without having to manually visit other websites. Furthermore, you will no longer have to remember external URL addresses or maintain a "TN UMC" folder in your bookmarks - just know that you can access and subscribe to feeds with ONE CLICK from one website…TNUMC.org!

I already get the weekly eBlast, why do I need to subscribe to RSS feeds?
Great, thank you for reading the TNUMConnects - keep receiving those eBlasts (and tell your friends, colleagues, and church members to sign up)! Subscribing to an RSS feed will allow you to see information posted on the website that will either not be featured on an eBlast, or that will be posted between eBlasts. We want you to receive your information as soon as possible without inundating your INBOX with emails and multiple daily messages. Other examples of information you will receive via an RSS feed are messages telling you that an important update was made to the website (something that you might want to know about, but doesn't necessarily warrant a Conference-wide news story), a time-sensitive form is available for download, or an urgent message about an event cancellation.

Who should subscribe to RSS feeds, and what feeds should they subscribe to?
If you are a member of the TN Conference, clergy or laity, you should subscribe to RSS feeds that either directly pertain to your involvement in the church and/or your specific interests. For example, if you are a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry, you should be a subscriber to the "Board of Ordained Ministry LATEST NEWS" RSS feed (found: HERE) and also other ministry area feeds that are directly or indirectly involved with that Board.

Each ministry that involves a committee (as categorized by the Conference Council on Connectional Ministries: "Advocacy, Nurture, Outreach, Witness") now has a LATEST NEWS page with subsequent RSS feed link (found at the top right-hand side of the page). The link is denoted by the universal symbol for RSS feeds, shown here:


In addition, the Office of Communications will also indicate when a page has been updated in the chart provided on the main MINISTRIES page at TNUMC.org (found: HERE).

How do I subscribe to RSS feeds on the TNUMC.org website?
CLICK HERE to watch a short video tutorial, it will guide you in subscribing to our RSS feeds.


(Please watch this informative video - it's only a few minutes long and it will help to show you how easy subscribing to RSS feeds really is!)


Now that you've been introduced to RSS feeds and have watched the video, we hope you can see the value in what specific RSS feeds can offer in keeping you informed. We encourage you to log on an subscribe today!

If you have any questions regarding RSS feeds and the TNUMC.org website, please email the Office of Communications (email).
 

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
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UMR names new managing editor (from TNUMConnects 3/3/11)

DALLAS, TX - UMR Communications announces that Sam Hodges, a veteran journalist with 33 years
of experience at daily  newspapers, is joining UMR’s news staff as Managing Editor. He is to begin his position late March.

Sam worked most recently for the Dallas Morning News. His original assignment was the religion beat and later also covered suburban schools. An award-winning journalist, author, and editor, he is a longtime admirer of the Reporter and believes writing about religion is “one of the best beats going.”

He and his wife attend Grace UMC in Dallas where he sings in the choir and is a member of the finance committee. He reports that in his spare time he is an avid reader, a birdwatcher and struggling pianist.

More details appear in a story in the March 11 issue of The Reporter or you can read about Sam online at www.umportal.org  (story).

Be watching the national pages for Sam’s byline and influence as he and The UMR news staff continue to tell the stories of mission and ministry for the United Methodist Church in the pages of the Reporter.
 

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
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