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Google Apps for Places of Worship

February 2, 2012 in Church IT, google, Technology with 0 Comments

Hi, I’m Derek and I don’t blog much…

So I got an email today that I expect to be pretty big news in the Church IT circle. After Google took Places of Worship off the eligible list for Google Apps for Non-Profits the middle of last year, they have now come back and thankfully changed their mind it seems. Places of Worship and some other 501c3s are back on the accepted list as long as they meet the other requirements, here’s the email so you can read it with your own eyes.

Hello,

We are always evaluating ways to improve the Google for Nonprofits Program and we’re excited to share some new developments with you related to our eligibility guidelines for the program.

Organizations under the following categories may now be eligible for the Google for Nonprofits Program:

  • Places or institutions of worship
  • Programs requiring membership and/or providing benefit solely to members
  • Websites with a primary focus on selling goods, products or services
  • Car, boat, and real estate donation websites
  • Consumer credit counseling

All other Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines must be met to participate in the program. As always, your organization must have 501(c)(3) status and have received a letter of determination from the Internal Revenue Service to be eligible for Google for Nonprofits. To learn more, please visit GuideStar.

We will be rolling out the updated eligibility guidelines over the next few days. If you believe your organization meets the updated eligibility guidelines for Google for Nonprofits and are still interested in receiving program benefits, you can log in to re-apply here.
Sincerely,The Google for Nonprofits Team

While I’ve had Woodland on Google Apps long before this became an issue and they grandfathered us in when it happened, I know many others are still wanting to have the debate of Google Apps versus Exchange and now you still can!

So in the comments, why do you thing Google changed their mind?

Finally! A WordPress Theme for Live Events

November 12, 2010 in Church IT, Technology, video with Comments Off

Finally there is a theme made for and designed specifically for live events.  I’ve been doing live streaming of our church services and other special events for close to two years now on a wordpress theme but have never been able to find a theme that does exactly what I want.  I’ve searched every which way I could think of involving live streaming, live broadcasts, live video, etc and always been dissapointed. Now Live Theme has what I want with these great features:

  • Twitter Stream
  • Countdown Timer
  • 10+ Backgrounds
  • Video bumpers
  • Facebook integration
  • Schedule display
  • and more!

A quote directly from the livetheme site:

Live Theme is a video-centric WordPress Theme designed for live event broadcasting, community interaction, and all around awesomeness. Yes. Awesomeness.

Go check out Livetheme that is based of the very popular and award winning Standard Theme!

Worship song recorded with only 7 iphones

November 1, 2010 in church, Church IT, video, worship with Comments Off

As I am doing more and more with video and worship, this has my wheels turning, more coming as I try out a few things that most would consider out of the box :)

Five things I took from the 2010 CITRT

October 26, 2010 in Church IT, citrt with 3 Comments

Anytime I go to a conference, training, meeting, pretty much anything I try to look back on it and figure out what I took from it.  While it’s not always specifically about what I got but key learning points, bits of info, people I met, etc.  So here’s a look at 5 things I took from today’s Church IT Roundtable:

  1. While we do IT it’s not about the technology it’s about the people
  2. We are not alone in this, there are other guys and ladies that have had the exact same problems we’re having right now.  Just for the fall 2010 Roundtables there were 179 people (last count I heard) that all want to see each other succeed and came to meet with others to prove it.  Remember that even if you are a “1 man shop” your team is out here rooting you on.  Find another local Church IT person(s) and meet regularly with them over the phone, over lunch, however you need to, and use them to vent, to pray, and to encourage.
  3. You can’t please everyone all the time, and that’s okay.  Along with that it’s okay and healthy to say “no” because somethings can’t be done because of time, budget, manpower, etc.
  4. Every platform, OS, phone, etc, etc, etc will not fit every person, ministry, or church, we have to know the environment of who we are working with and where we are working at to know what the “best fit” will be, it won’t be perfect because they were all created by people, but when we take the time to match the real “needs” and not listen to what everyone “wants” we’ll empower people to do the most ministry.
  5. While we do IT it’s not about the technology it’s about the people. (Yes, I put that twice on purpose)

Also check out Andrew’s highlights from the Fall DC CITRT Meeting

I’d be interested to hear some of your insights!

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