Example 1:

You have a quarterly event to clean up the community grounds.  You need volunteers to do specific tasks such as:

• Rake the leaves and pick up litter
• Deliver and spread mulch
• Pick up donated flowers and plants
• Plant the flowers
• Sign up for weekly garden watering
• Paint the fence

Why not enable your volunteers to sign up for specific tasks, or to sign up for shifts as necessary through the website?  It is easier than calling around or putting up sign up sheets for days on end.

Example 2:

Every time you have a meeting, it gets derailed.  You have an agenda, but the topic always veers to something else and before you know it, everyone is about to leave and no progress has been made.

Why does this happen?

One possibility is that your community has concerns but no mechanism to voice them - so given any opportunity for an audience, they will take it to voice their pressing concerns.

Another possibility is that your community needs more time for the conversation than is available.  Part of being a community is the social aspect... and re-charging socially is part of why we gather.  Unfortunately it sometimes takes away from the business at hand.

So how could technology help in this area? 

• An online forum is one answer.  Concerns could be voiced and moderated - leading to an open discussion on possible solutions, without taking away from valuable face time meetings.  Volunteers who show the interest in solving the problem can be empowered to take the lead.
• Member surveys to determine priorities is also a great way to ensure that the agenda reflects the most critical business for the group
• Another possibility is to initiate deeper conversation ... or at least stage the agenda for the meeting ahead of time in a blog/comment format.  This will allow you to make inroads and drive the conversation more directly during a real time meeting.

Example 3:

One of your volunteers is tasked with calling everyone and reminding them about an event that is scheduled.  Or to remind them that dues are to be paid, fundraising money must be turned in, etc.  This type of communication can be time consuming.

By using technology you can:

• Send a newsletter or mass email your congregation or membership
• You can send text message reminders 
• You can manage a community calendar that can be emailed, printed etc.