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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 10, 1984
PAGE 5
UPDATE FROM MAIL PROCESSING
Reminder About "Church Information" Calls
Every week, a number of brethren call on our WATS lines to request infor
mation about Sabbath services in various cities across the United States.
This is especially true during summer vacation time and around the holy
days.
We are happy to provide this service to members, but would like to
give a few reminders about these requests.
•
Members should try to avoid calling at the last minute. We are staffed
with volunteers Friday evening and all day Sabbath rather than with
regular operators. Also, it may be difficult to get through while the
telecast is airing on Sabbath morning.
•
Services are sometimes held at a different time or location, particu
larly just before or after the Feast.
We generally are not aware of
such changes.
(However, we will usually give a minister's phone num
ber and recommend that he be called.)
•
Since Church location information is confidential and issued only to
members, it is necessary that we ask for a member's name and address so
we can verify his status.
•
Please be patient.
Processing these requests may take several min-
utes, especially when fewer operators are available.
Once again, our number is 1-800-423-4444 in the continental U.S.
Callers
in Alaska and Hawaii should call collect at 1-818-304-6111.
These numbers
are also listed in the inside front cover of The PLAIN TRUTH and GOOD NEWS
magazines.
Audiovisual Programs Greatly Aid MPC Training
To keep current with our ever-growing needs, Mail Processing has made use
of audiovisual aids, mainly slide shows and video tapes, to more effective
ly train new employees.
The old adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" is often true in job
training.
Slides and films provide visual instruction in procedures and
equipment usage.
They also ensure that all employees receive the same in
formation about a particular task or job.
This is especially important in
the Telephone Response (WATS) section, since upwards of 1,500 employees and
volunteers work there each year.
Upon being hired, all MPC employees are shown a video presentation about
the department as a part of their orientation. Other programs include such
topics as using our specially designed phone system, adding names and ad
dresses to the computer files, mail reading and "telephone personality."
These audiovisual presentations have not replaced personal instruction by
supervisors and on-the-job experience.
However, we have found that they
effectively complement these traditional methods, resulting in more thor
ough training. In this way, employees are better prepared to handle the in
creasing volume of mail and phone calls.