Small Group Finder Options

[sw...@crosswaycc.org]

We are looking to update our small group page. Currently we do a pdf file for group listings. We like a search option but there are a few things we are not excited about with the standard Elexio Portal Group Finder option. We have played around with Google Maps a little too.

Is anyone else using a third party solution for this area? If, yes can you share your site page.
Thanks.
Sarah

[Tom Kline]

Sarah,

Tom Kline from Elexio here. Thanks for your post! I'm curious to know what you'd like to see changed about the Group Finder. We're soon to be releasing a new version of the Portal, and knowing what you're looking for may be helpful as we look towards making enhancements in the future.

Kind Regards,

Tom Kline

[Josiah Rocke]

Tom, here's the annoyances:

1. The google map is unreliable. And it's the default view! I'm really not sure where the map centers on....and it often doesn't show any groups by default!
2. Why not start off with a more interactive: "Okay, let's find you a small group! Here's three simple questions to help us find the perfect spot for you!" Then turn each filter category into a question with the same check boxes.THEN a map of groups (or list with an option to click the map? or both?) that fits their selections is displayed.
3. What if the leader doesn't want his/her email out there for everyone to see (if you have it on the front end of your site, literally the entire world could see your cell number!)....how about a way to send a message or somehow indicate your interest in a particular group OR GROUPS so that it shows up in the database? Even better, it sends a message out to the group leader(s) saying "So and so was checking out your small group and would love to chat!"?

A couple other things f that have pretty much made the portal useless for small groups:

1.You can't add or remove people to small groups through the portal! Leaders DO NOT LIKE having to send an email about changes! If they could take attendance on the app, they would be all over that. But logging onto a web browser and then not being able to make changes is a big deal.
2. Ditto on ministry teams. How about a ministry team finder? And the ability to "sign up"....all the statuses exist in the back-end "interested" involvement, etc. If I lead a ministry team, and someone indicated they are interested, it would sure be nice to be able to see them in my ministry team along with the basic contact info like the other team members...

[sw...@crosswaycc.org]

Hi Tom -

Our biggest thing was not being able to take the address out of the finder. I understand you need this for the map feature but it made people uncomfortable that it was their personal address. Also some people didn't mind their email but didn't want a phone number.

Thanks.
Sarah

[Tom Kline]

Josiah & Sarah,

Thanks for your feedback. Very much appreciated. Josiah - Love the idea on a 'workflow' to help you find a group. Sarah - thanks for your input on hiding email or address. I can understand that security concern and other churches have voiced this as well.

So you're aware, as we think through what we add in 2016, giving users more control (eg. Small Group leaders managing their own small groups), as well as areas that are congregation facing (Portal/Mobile), are items we're giving strong consideration.

A couple follow up suggestions that may be helpful:

1. Small Group Finder: You can control which view (map vs. list) loads by default. This can be managed under Home > Options > Portal Option > Group Finder.
   
   
2. Hiding Personal Address: You could use a generic address in the central area (eg: town-square), or church address if you'd like. (I know that my church has done this in some situations where an individual did not want their house address listed, or when group location rotates). A note regarding this could be placed in the group description. (Ex: Location: Varies - but within (town-name) area). You could also skip adding an address altogether, though it would remove that listing from the map. That said, if the default view is list, that may not be terribly important.
   
   
3. Hiding Leader Emails/Phone Numbers: In May, we plan to release a new version of the Portal. In this new version, there's not a way (yet) for clients to show/hide leader email/phone numbers. That said, if you contact Elexio, we could do this for you. (Note: it would currently be all or nothing; hide all emails or show all emails). Keep reading...
   
   
4. Capturing Small Group Interest: With the above in mind (leader phone numbers or emails hidden), you would need an alternative method for people to express interest. Database Web Forms is a great tool to capture people's interest and get that information in the Database. Here's some high level directions:
   
   
1. Add a page on which the small group finder appears. 
   
   
2. Add some descriptive text asking visitors to fill out a form if they's like more information about a given small group.
   
   
3. Add a Database Webform beneath the Small Group Finder solely for small group Interest.
   
   
4. In this form, add a "choose multiple" field and list out your small groups by name. Add an action to each item that, when selected, will mark the person as 'interested.'
   
   
1. (If you have too many small groups to intelligibly display in one field, you could create several 'choose multiple' fields sorted by some sort of grouping: location, gender, childcare, etc. Alternatively, you could create a several separate forms and link to them from your Small Group Finder page).
   
   
5. Once people fill out the form, they'd be marked as interested in the Database. In the Portal, if you're a leader of Small Group, people marked as interested appear so that you can follow up and also take attendance with them included, should they come. You could also send out an weekly automated email to all Small Group Leaders on who has indicated interest, so that they can follow up with contact information, etc. 
   

Again, thanks for your input. Please know this influences future product development!

Kind Regards,

Tom Kline

[Sandy Mann]

We also do not use the small group finder because it puts the leaders phone number(s) and email address(s) right out there for all the world to see.
Another reason we do not use it is because it uses the group name with no option for a friendly name to be entered for the Group Finder view. We name our groups with coding that is for our internal use. These long sometimes cryptic names are not good for displaying on the group finder.

Tom, when you say "All or nothing" do you mean that Only in the Group Finder will the emails and phone numbers be hidden? because we do use the membership directory and we do not want that information hidden in the directory unless the person specifically marks their contact information private.

Sandy