#acl All:read

= Roster Progress Report to Council =
||<:> 22 Apr 2014 ||
|| ||
||<:> JohnHurst ||
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||<:>(with moral support from DavidMorgan and WarrenGreenwood) ||

= Overview =
 * Roster programs (almost) completely rewritten
   * technical details, see http://ajh.co/~ajh/parish/rosters.html
 * salient features described at RosterNewSystems
 * introduction to the rosters at ChurchRosters
 * additional user options introduced
 * plug for workshop, Monday, 28 Apr 2014, 2-4pm (room 4)

= Particular Features (1) =
== User Control ==
 * intensity under individual control
   * also gives a 'rest' or 'exclusion period' under individual control
 * individual allocation periods can be set by each individual
   * RosterWelcomeLongExample
   * RosterWelcomeShortExample
 * automatic allocation requires no coordinator intervention
 * automatic allocation ensures rosters always complete (subject to adequate numbers)
   * we plan on a 4 week minimum, so that Office Door roster is always complete

= Particular Features (2) =
== Email and Management ==
 * email reminders and 'alerts'
 * when people allow short notice, swaps become unnecessary
 * coordinator alerts if no allocation possible
 * short allocation periods make rosters more welcoming to newcomers
 * roster coordinators can choose their allocation span, and whether to use manual or automatic allocation
 * automatic rosters can be manually populated - people can volunteer ahead of time

= Potential Problems and Further Work =
 * some rosters cannot be filled under current constraints (welcome, vestry)
 * do we need welcome rosters for 8, 4:30 and 7 services?
   * if not, difficulties with unfilled welcome rosters vanish
   * [[RosterVestry | vestry roster]] is adequate in long term
 * we still do need more volunteers!
 * we argue for relatively short allocation periods - allocating a year in advance means that new volunteers not easily accomodated (see RosterWelcomeShortExample)
 * Automatic allocation should/can avoid people being rostered for mutually exclusive duties, or even rostered twice on the same day.
 * plan for different views of rosters, particularly for people wanting paper copies; e.g., [[attachment:PreachingPlanAuto.pdf]], generated automatically from RosterPreaching
 * allow for email opt-out?