Facilitationg Groups at a FamilySearch Center

Bruchele Cleverly

Does anyone have advice on hosting groups (ie. YM/YW, RS/EQ, YSA, or Single Adults) who want to plan activities at a FamilySearch center?

I am wondering how best to facilitate groups planning to come to the FamilySearch center for their activities. I feel like groups are difficult with limited space, computers, and consultants to help. Is there guidance on this in the handbook or operation guide? How do other FSC Coordinators handle these types of requests/situations? Do you have groups that just show up, without contacting you ahead of time?

I am a little concerned about groups crowding out non-member patrons when they plan to come, during our public operating hours. Just curious how best to handle these types of situations without causing offense to the groups or the patrons from the community.

Jaelene Starr

Usually we have groups come to our center when we are closed. We have a calendar in the center where we have the group reserve the time. We ask that they have their ward consultants coordinate it and run it. Usually we have a consultant in the ward that already has a key. If they don't have a key, we will run down and unlock the center for them. If the group is large, we have the consultant request help from other staff members. Tonight we have a group coming in, and this time they requested that I teach something to them first. So I am going to be here tonight for this group, usually i have the ward consultants run it themselves. We ask that if they have a laptop or Chromebook to bring it. We have found that the youth, and especially YSA, prefer using their own computers over the center computers.

For the youth we recommend lots of adults, so an adult can sit by them to assist. If the group is especially large, we have 2 per computer.

Bruchele Cleverly

Thank you, Jaelene Starr. That was super helpful!😊