SUR-vey SAYS!

Did you ever watch the game show “Family Feud?” It pits two “family” groups of five people against each other as they try to guess answers to questions posed to them by the friendly host. Actually, they attempt to read the minds of a surveyed group of people. They gain points based on knowing the answers that a majority of people give. In the version I best remember, Richard Dawson pats the hands of the struggling contestants, calls them all “darling,’” encourages them to chance a guess, and makes faces with us as they offer a bizarre suggestion.

Now imagine that your vestry is one group of contestants. We know the questions on the survey. But how can we guess the correct answers– or those that most people choose– unless you answered your survey?

You know that you got it in the mail. Did you fill it out and send it back to us? Did you put it aside to complete later? Stop reading right now. Find it. Fill it out. Be (cont’d on pg. 2) honest. Answer all the questions. If you need more room, use another page. Get your spouse to give some input. Mail it right away (we gave you the stamped envelope!). Or bring it with you to church on Sunday and drop it into the box at the entrance to the Fellowship Hall.

We truly want to know what you think. We need to have your responses by June 8, because your vestry will meet for a full day on June 14. This will give us time to compile the answers before we discuss them.

Our annual vestry retreat gives us an opportunity to review our accomplishments during the past year. We plan our targets for the remainder of the year and beyond. Our long-range goals may extend past our individual terms of service. Thus we have a great responsibility.

So tell us what you think. Be truthful. Be specific. Offer suggestions for new classes or fundraisers or hymns. Tell us if you like something we do. Let us know if you dislike something. Tell us what you look for on the website, or if you’ve never been on it. Tell me what you want to read in this newsletter. Tell us what you want your church to be.

We promise to read your answers. We may not be able to incorporate every idea or change. We may take a long-range view and delay implementing it, even if we agree, because something else has a higher priority, or a more pressing need. We have that obligation as your leaders. But share your wisdom with us.

Give our “family unit” a chance to earn some points. That means we can all win. Just let us know, as avuncular Richard Dawson cries, what “SUR-vey SAYS!!”