Training
From LDSClerks
The stake clerk has responsibility for training other clerks and secretaries throughout the stake; the ward clerk has this responsibility in the ward. Each person with any kind of record-keeping responsibility also has an individual responsibility to obtain any training needed.
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[edit] Responsibilities
[edit] Stake Clerk
The stake clerk is responsible to:
- Coordinate training for those involved in record keeping throughout the stake, including assistant stake clerks; ward clerks from each ward; assistant ward clerks from each ward; and quorum, group, and auxiliary secretaries from each ward.[1]
- Use the online lessons for training in the stake.
- Give clerks an opportunity to discuss the lessons with himself or one of his assistants and ask any questions they may have.
Record-keeping training in a stake is most successful if the stake clerk leads the training process and follows up to make sure training is accomplished.
Training sessions should be held:
- When a new ward clerk or assistant stake clerk is called.
- When a new record-keeping program is introduced.
- When a clerk asks for help.
- When a financial or membership audit indicates that there is a problem.
The training should include clear instructions explaining:
- The responsibilities of the ward clerk or assistant stake clerk.
- Church record-keeping policies and procedures.
- The confidentiality of records.
- How to use the Member and Leader Services (MLS) software.
As this training is accomplished, it will provide knowledge, direction, and motivation to those involved with stake and ward record keeping. Training sessions should also help clerks understand the value and importance of their work.
[edit] Ward Clerk
The ward clerk is responsible to:
- Provide supervision, direction, support and backup to assistant ward clerks and quorum/auxiliary secretaries
- Make sure assistant ward clerks and quorum/auxiliary secretaries are fully trained
- Train bishopric members to understand their responsibilities for record keeping on request
- Request help with training from former clerks and secretaries, upon approval of the bishop
- Contact stake clerks as needed for assistance with training
Training should be held when:
- A new secretary or assistant clerk is called
- New record-keeping software is introduced
- A current secretary or clerk asks for help
- A quorum or auxiliary leader asks for help for a secretary under their direction
- Record keeping challenges are noted by a leader, ward clerk, or stake auditor
Training should include clear instruction explaining:
- Responsibilities of secretary or clerk
- Church record-keeping policies and procedures
- Time lines and procedures for compiling and preparing reports
- Procedures for accomplishing necessary tasks
- Confidentiality of records
- MLS software training
[edit] Online Training
Record-Keeping and Auditing Training is provided by Church HQ and is the best source of training new leaders. It can be accessed in two ways:
- On lds.org, under Serving in the Church, Melchizedek Priesthood, Record-Keeping and Auditing Training
- On clerk.lds.org, Training link
[edit] Downloading the Lessons
The lessons may be downloaded from the above location; they may also be downloaded in a wide variety of languages from mls.lds.org. Beginning with MLS 2.6, the downloaded lessons are to be installed with MLS, and they are accessible from the Help menu of MLS. They may be installed in multiple languages, and the language MLS is running in will determine which language version of the training will be run from the Help menu.[2]
The lessons may also be downloaded by anyone interested in taking the lessons offline, and for use in group or individual training sessions.
[edit] Using the Online Training
The lessons are in Flash format. The index page (both online and in downloaded format) contains a link that allows you to download the Flash viewer if it is not already installed on the computer.
The lessons contain navigational aids that can help you as you view the lesson. The menu at the right of the lesson alllows you to:
- Pause/Play
- Move to the Previous/Next screen
- Control the volume of the audio (or mute)
- Expand the menu for further options
With the menu expanded, you will see new options:
- Controls along the bottom of the lesson screen that serve the same functions as the mini menu described above, as well as a slider to move you to any point within a particular screen
- A three-tabbed control at the right labeled:
- Thumb: Thumbnails for each screen so that you can quickly move to any particular screen in the lesson
- Notes: The complete narration of the current screen. This is useful if you cannot listen to the audio portion of the lessons (your computer has no speakers, or others in the area would be distracted by the audio), or if you want to copy some of the text to another application for training purposes.
- Search: A text search to help you find text anywhere within the lesson. A search results list will display links to each screen that has matching text.
[edit] Printing the Online Training
In addition to being viewable online, each lesson can be printed (from a PDF format). The printed versions are available:
- In each lesson, near the end (generally the next to last screen), a print icon will appear in the bottom right corner next to the Continue button. Occasionally the lesson will mention that the lesson can be printed, but often the print button appears with no comment.
- For the downloaded versions of the lessons, the main index page for the lessons contains a PDF link immediately to the right of the link to each lesson.
- The Training page on lds.org was updated in November 2008 to include the year each lesson was last updated, as well as a link to the PDF version of lessons updated in 2008 and later.
- There is also a post[3] on LDS Tech that contains links to many of the PDFs on lds.org, although the links in this post are no longer valid for lessons updated in 2008 and later.
[edit] Resources
- Record-Keeping and Auditing Training.
- Example of a training tracking spreadsheet used by one ward.
[edit] References
- ↑ The Role of the Stake Clerk
- ↑ Message from StoddardCE dated Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:21:26 -0400 from LDSClerks mailing list archives at http://lists.mormonstoday.com/pipermail/ldsclerks/2007-August.txt
- ↑ Post on LDS Tech Discussion Forum.
