JustServe
3. JustServe Introduction and Stake and Ward Implementation


“3. Checklists for Implementing JustServe in Coordinating Councils, Stakes, Wards, and Missions,” JustServe Community Service Guidebook (2020)

“3. Checklists for Implementing JustServe in Coordinating Councils, Stakes, Wards, and Missions,” JustServe Community Service Guidebook

3.

Checklists for Implementing JustServe in Coordinating Councils, Stakes, Wards, and Missions

Leaders are encouraged to read and become familiar with the JustServe Community Service Guidebook, register on JustServe.org, and give community service as time and circumstances permit.

Directors of communication and JustServe specialists at the area, coordinating council, and stake levels coordinate closely with the welfare and self-reliance managers.

Priesthood leaders may request reports on the progress of JustServe and inspiring stories of community service.

Refer to JustServe.org/admin for help in assigning roles and boundaries, setting up organizations, and posting projects on the website. In order to access this page, you will need to create an account and log-in.

Area Seventy

  1. For each of your coordinating councils, call a Church communication specialist assigned to JustServe who has some daytime availability and is comfortable working with computers, meeting community leaders, and training others. The coordinating council director of communication may fill this role if necessary. He or she should serve on the communication council under the direction of the coordinating council communication director.

  2. Hold a JustServe introduction meeting for stake presidents and the mission president as part of a coordinating council meeting. Teach stake presidents how to implement JustServe by organizing a stake JustServe working group.

  3. Regularly discuss JustServe in coordinating council meetings.

  4. Share successful practices and community service stories.

Area (or Country) Communication Director or Area (or Country) JustServe Specialist

  1. Using your JustServe.org administrative privileges, extend administrative rights to the coordinating council directors of communication or coordinating council JustServe specialists. Teach them how to work with organizations, set up organization pages, post projects, and use the website.

  2. Under the direction of the Area Seventy overseeing JustServe, train coordinating council communication councils on all aspects of JustServe.

  3. Respond to inquiries and feedback from within the area as needed.

  4. Be a resource to assist the Area Presidency, Area Seventies, and stake and mission leaders in implementing JustServe in each coordinating council and stake within the area.

Coordinating Council Communication Director or JustServe Specialist

If the Area Seventy calls a coordinating council JustServe specialist, he or she should serve on the communication council under the direction of the coordinating council communication director.

  1. Using your JustServe.org administrative privileges, designate roles and Church and civic boundaries for each stake director of communication and JustServe specialist.

  2. Teach stake JustServe administrators how to set up organization pages, post projects, and use the website.

  3. Review projects from the public that escalate up to you. If the project meets JustServe guidelines, post and approve the project or contact the submitter to discuss ways to better prepare the project for posting.

  4. Once the JustServe website is populated with 15–20 projects per stake, encourage members and others in the community to register on JustServe.org and use the website.

  5. Be a resource for training and supporting the mission JustServe specialists, and assist them as needed when training missionaries.

Area and Local Welfare and Self-Reliance Managers

Area welfare and self-reliance managers should coordinate with the area JustServe specialist, and local welfare and self-reliance managers should coordinate with JustServe coordinating council specialists to become valuable partners. Area and local managers should do this by:

  1. Raising awareness by sharing successful practices about JustServe with local Church leaders and Area Seventies.

  2. Collaborating with area and coordinating council JustServe specialists about community resources, needs, and local contacts.

  3. Sharing feedback and successful JustServe practices from other areas and coordinating councils with the JustServe specialist.

Stake President

  1. Call a stake Church communication specialist assigned to JustServe who has some daytime availability and is comfortable working with computers, meeting community leaders, and training others. The stake communication director may fill this role if necessary. He or she should serve on the communication council under the direction of the stake communication director.

  2. Where stakes cover large geographic areas, stake presidents may encourage bishops to call a ward JustServe specialist to find projects within ward boundaries. Ward specialists should serve on the stake JustServe working group and participate remotely if necessary.

  3. Organize the stake JustServe working group.

  4. Once there are 15–20 projects posted on JustServe.org that are within or near stake boundaries, encourage members to register on JustServe.org and regularly give community service as individuals, families, quorums, Relief Societies, classes, and wards as time and circumstances permit.

  5. Share successful practices and community service stories.

Stake JustServe Working Group

The stake JustServe working group’s primary responsibilities are to implement JustServe in the community and introduce members to JustServe. The working group is led by the stake communication director or the stake JustServe specialist, if one has been called. Other members of the working group include the stake Relief Society president or her representative, the high councilor responsible for missionary work, full-time missionary zone leaders, one stake Young Men leader and one stake Young Women leader, a single adult representative, a stake welfare and self-reliance specialist, and others as needed. Faith-based or community leaders may also be invited to participate.

  1. The stake JustServe working group should coordinate closely with both the stake welfare and self-reliance working group and the stake communication council as they reach out to organizations in the community.

  2. The working group should meet often until a sufficient number of projects have been posted. When 15–20 core projects have been established, the working group meets as needed to fulfill its responsibilities.

  3. For information regarding successful practices for implementing JustServe, missionary community service guidelines, desired outcomes, and frequently asked questions, see sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 in this guidebook.

Each bishop designates a counselor to be responsible for JustServe in the ward and to be the primary contact for the stake JustServe working group. The designated counselor should be kept aware of JustServe opportunities but is not asked to attend all working group meetings.

Meeting Groups

Welfare and Self-Reliance Working Group

Communication Council

JustServe Working Group

Stake presidency member*

Welfare and Self-Reliance Working Group

Communication Council

Stake JustServe specialist

Welfare and Self-Reliance Working Group

Communication Council

JustServe Working Group

✓ (Lead)

Stake communication director

Welfare and Self-Reliance Working Group

As needed

Communication Council

JustServe Working Group

As needed

Stake Relief Society presidency member

Welfare and Self-Reliance Working Group

JustServe Working Group

Mission zone leaders

JustServe Working Group

As needed (where approved by mission president)

High councilor for missionary work

JustServe Working Group

Young Men and Young Women leaders

JustServe Working Group

Single adult representative

JustServe Working Group

Welfare and self-reliance specialist

JustServe Working Group

Others as needed

JustServe Working Group

*Note: It is recommended that the same stake presidency member sit on both the stake welfare and self-reliance working group and the stake communication council. He will be the point of contact for JustServe working group matters that need to be escalated to the stake presidency.

Responsibilities

  1. Identify and reach out to faith-based, nonprofit, community, and government organizations to introduce JustServe and determine their volunteer needs. Using the general guidelines in “JustServe Stake and Ward Implementation,” evaluate the opportunities and post them on JustServe.org.

  2. To maintain a viable and sustainable website and to provide a variety of volunteer opportunities to meet the interests and skills of members and other volunteers, a minimum of 15–20 recurring projects should be maintained within or near the boundaries of the stake. Try to offer opportunities within the boundaries of each ward. Remember, JustServe.org is not for posting priesthood assignments or Eagle Scout projects (see sections 4 and 6 in this guidebook).

  3. As soon as possible, give qualified community organizations administrative rights to manage their own volunteer projects. Refer to JustServe.org/admin for help in authorizing administrators and boundaries, setting up organizations, and posting projects on the website. In order to access this page, you will need to create an account and log-in.

  4. After 15–20 projects are available within or near your stake, introduce each ward to the JustServe initiative by teaching members the purpose of JustServe. Show them how to register as a volunteer and search for opportunities on the website (see JustServe.org/resources).

  5. By communicating with the zone leaders or the mission JustServe specialist, inform full-time missionaries of opportunities to participate in JustServe projects.

  6. Assist service mission leaders in identifying appropriate community service opportunities for young service missionaries.

  7. Encourage JustServe participants to share positive experiences in Church meetings and on social media.

  8. Frequently review and update the JustServe projects, and maintain contact and cooperative relationships with community service organizations.

  9. Provide JustServe reports on metrics and success stories as requested.

Recommended Responsibilities for Stake JustServe Working Group Members

Stake Communication Director or Stake JustServe Specialist

If the stake president calls a stake JustServe specialist, he or she serves on the stake communication council. The stake communication director or stake JustServe specialist, if one has been called, also serves on the stake welfare and self-reliance working group. The stake communication director or JustServe specialist plays a key role in introducing JustServe in the community.

  1. Serve as lead of the stake JustServe working group, and be the primary resource to identify, post, and maintain at least 15–20 projects within the stake boundaries.

  2. Review projects from the public. If the project meets JustServe guidelines, post and approve the project or contact the submitter to discuss ways to better prepare the project for posting.

  3. Frequently review JustServe projects.

  4. Maintain contact and build relationships with participating organizations.

  5. When requested, assist the stake Relief Society president or her representative in introducing members to JustServe.

  6. In welfare and self-reliance working group meetings, report on matters related to JustServe, such as participating organizations, service projects of general interest, needs in the community, and so on.

  7. Encourage JustServe participants to share positive experiences in Church meetings and on social media.

Stake Relief Society President or Representative

The stake Relief Society president or her representative plays a key role in making members of the stake aware of JustServe as a resource.

  1. Introduce the stake council to JustServe, and invite them to register. Report on JustServe at stake council meetings.

  2. Introduce stake members to JustServe, and explain how to use the website and app. Encourage individuals, families, quorums, classes, and wards to give community service as time and circumstances permit.

  3. Use the stake JustServe specialist as a resource for stake and ward training. Training materials and other resources are available at JustServe.org/resources.

  4. As you become aware of projects that meet the community-based JustServe guidelines, share that information with the stake JustServe specialist so that he or she can work with the organization to get the project posted.

  5. Communicate with ward bishopric members about JustServe project opportunities, and encourage members to invite the people they minister to, returning members, investigators, and friends to join them in service opportunities.

  6. Encourage JustServe participants to share inspiring experiences in wards, quorums, and classes.

High Councilor over Missionary Work

  1. Help missionaries find service opportunities on JustServe.org or the app.

  2. Encourage the working group to post service projects that enable missionaries to serve with those of other faith (or no faith) traditions.

  3. Help establish JustServe in the stake as a resource for ministering, reactivation, and activity planning for children and youth.

Mission Zone Leaders

  1. Ensure that hours of service are reported.

  2. Be familiar with the missionary JustServe guidelines.

  3. Make the JustServe working group aware of service conflicts such as transfers, zone conferences, interviews, and missionary teaching priorities.

  4. Receive authorization from the mission president if service requires missionaries to leave their zones.

  5. Be prepared to share success stories as a result of missionaries’ service.

Stake Young Men Leaders, Stake Young Women Leaders, and Single Adult Representatives

  1. Help the working group post projects suitable for and of interest to youth and single adults.

  2. Promote JustServe to all youth and single adults in the stake.

  3. Remember not to overwhelm the youth with too much service.

Other Working Group Members

  1. Members of the stake communication council may serve as members of the stake JustServe working group.

  2. The ward bishopric member who has responsibility for JustServe may help identify service opportunities within the ward and help teach ward members how to use JustServe for ministering, with children and youth, in classes and quorums, with families, and for ward community service. He should not be expected to attend all working group meetings or post projects.

  3. Returning members or friends of the Church with relationships in the community may be invited to participate in the working group. They are not called and set apart.

Counselor in Ward Bishopric Responsible for JustServe

  1. Be the liaison between the stake JustServe working group and the ward council.

  2. Occasionally, when invited, attend the stake JustServe working group meeting to give input and receive direction.

  3. Encourage individuals, families, quorums, Relief Societies, classes, and all ward members to give community service as time and circumstances permit.

  4. Invite JustServe participants to share positive JustServe experiences.

Mission President

  1. Teach missionaries community service etiquette and safety guidelines (see “Missionary Community Service Guidelines and Etiquette”).

  2. Call a mission JustServe specialist to coordinate with stake and coordinating council JustServe specialists to help find appropriate community service opportunities for missionaries. The mission JustServe specialist may be a local calling, a service mission for an individual or couple, or a responsibility for a mission president’s counselor. In missions with large geographical areas, it may be helpful to call more than one mission JustServe specialist.

  3. Track the missionaries’ hours of community service each week. Missionaries are authorized to have up to 10 hours of community service per week (or more with the mission president’s approval).

  4. Give permission for missionaries to serve at community service projects close to their assigned area that have been approved or found on JustServe.org (see Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ: Supplemental Information [2019], 7.2, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Mission JustServe Specialist

  1. Help the mission president engage missionaries in community service projects posted on JustServe.org. The coordinating council JustServe specialist may be a helpful resource.

  2. It is not the responsibility of the mission JustServe specialist to post organizations or projects on JustServe.org or attend working group meetings. However, it is appropriate for specialists to make the JustServe working groups aware of service opportunities where volunteers are needed.

  3. Service is an opportunity to meet and interact with other members of the community. Projects with large numbers of missionaries often do not facilitate this interaction and are generally discouraged. Receive authorization from the mission president before scheduling multizone service projects or before missionaries work outside their assigned zones.

  4. Occasionally join missionaries in service projects and share your observations with the mission president, the coordinating council, and stake JustServe specialists.

  5. Monitor missionary community service hours. Note companionships for whom service hours are fewer than expected. Call the zone leaders to see if all service hours were reported, and assist in finding appropriate service opportunities.

  6. Periodically train missionaries on section 5, “Missionary Community Service Guidelines and Etiquette.”

  7. If there are no appropriate service opportunities in an area, notify the mission president and seek assistance from the coordinating council or stake communication director or JustServe specialist.

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