Shortly before we were married my now-wife was called to chair the activities committee with the first order of business being the Ward Christmas party. She pointed out that she would be out of town getting married during said party and would thus be totally reliant on her committee members (who were complete strangers to her) for the execution of whatever plans were made. A good exercise in delegation, she was told, so she reluctantly accepted. We were told later that Santa showed up, but that nothing else got done.

MCQ–I ave always felt sorry for that aspect of things. I was at a really excellent Christmas party once, except that the Activities Committee had asked the Primary workers to take the kids out and do kids activities with them. Sure, it meant that the rest of us had a kid-free easy time, but those poor Primary workers!

Last Lemming–ugh.

Sally–exactly! I don’t know a single Primary, YW, or RS President who does not magnify their calling to the extent that their calling essentially becomes an extra full-time job. Having to worry about another activity–yuck. I think this will result in dramatically fewer activities (perhaps of lesser quality), which will probably be hunky dory for the leadership circle in wards (who already knows everyone and is busy), but them rest of the ward members who might need those activities to feel integrated, well, good luck.

That said, I am a strong advocate for SIMPLICITY. If we could have simple activities that maximize socialization an minimize 5 poor committee members slaving in the kitchen, that would be great.

I don’t see it changing much. The same people will plan and execute the activities, but they will just do it under the auspices of the ward council.

So no rogue activities…

The best calling I ever had was activities committee. A lot of work, but you could see the fruit of your labor readily. Plus, we had a lot of leeway, and could mostly do what we wanted.

As I see it now, activities will fall under HP/EQ/RS leadership, with people added as needed to help out. Without the incentive of making the executive decision, what will the turn out be like for those who will help out?

Perhaps the intention is that a Primary quarterly activity would become a family activity. And the YM/YW could be responsible for the whole Halloween party rather than just the spook alley. The elder’s quorum could do a family bbq instead of a male-only bbq. This wouldn’t mean that every activity of every auxiliary or quorum would turn into a family activity, but 1/year for each group would be plenty of ward activities. Yes, the activities would probably not be as elaborate, but is that always bad?

But here’s the big problem, if there is no AC anymore then all of those people will have another calling. And all of the people on the Ward Council have another calling too. So anyone who is asked to plan and coordinate any activity will already have another calling. That seems like a recipe for very lame activities or resentment or major fatigue and guilt.

I’ve always lived in a ward like Joanne’s, with an emphasis on simple except for 2 or 3 major holidays. From some of the comments about this on the blogs I get the impression that over the top, time consuming, black-hole activities are a result of the hothouse conditions along the Wasatch Front and not a reflection ward activities elsewhere.

I am surprised at some of the comments. Although the activities committee per se is gone — it by no means is the end of activities or that already burdoned YW Presidencies. It just means that for each activity (and the church encouraged that there be just as many as before) members will be asked individually, as a group to plan and execute each activity. This will allow for more members to be involved and not just the same ones each activity. I for one am excited and think it will help make each activity better. In my ward the activity committee seems burned out from one activity to the next.

My husband and I were the activities committee chairmen for 2-ish years and LOVED it! We had great activities and always had a majority of the ward show up, not only to the activity but also to help set up and clean up. Yes, it’s a lot of planning and work but what calling isn’t (that is, if you’re actually magnifying your calling as we all should be doing…)? It will be interesting to see how this new idea works.

I am promising myself that this is the last comment I’ll make about ward activities. Michelle, I’m also surprised, but I’m surprised at comments like yours I’ve read on this topic. Maybe it’s because I’ve always lived in a ward where the activities committee is a facilitator and a coordinator for ward activities. They create the plan, they create the framework and then they make assignments. So lots of people have always been involved in our activities.

You say, “It just means that for each activity (and the church encouraged that there be just as many as before) members will be asked individually, as a group to plan and execute each activity.” as if this is an improvement over the old system. Honestly I can’t imagine how that could be. Before you had one or more people with a calling to plan and coordinate activities in the ward. That was their job, they had nothing else to worry about. Now you have, as you point out, people who already have very busy and demanding callings being asked to do one more thing in church. Planning and coordinating take time, creating an activity that is meaningful and fun takes mental effort, how is it better to ask people already committing their time and mental effort on other important callings to do what formerly was done by someone with no other commitments?

Correct spelling costs extra, David. Sorry man, this is free.

I was on the activity committee long enough to plan and execute the Trunk/Treat party and plan for the Xmas Party. I loved the T/T party. It was allot of work. However, I was able to correct something I observed happening in previous Activity Committee activities. I decided to not allow to be overwhelmed by doing all of the work myself. I placed the onus of decoration and participation on the ward members. They brought pre-carved pumpkins for judging(they were displayed in the parking lot and then brought inside for decoration of the cultural hall) Games were provided by the members in the parking lot by their cars.
I did supply a fog machine and some simple decorations in the cultural hall. Items that I had already. We borrowed the stakes projection system and showed a movie on the wall. We all had a great time.
The upcoming ward Xmas party-Families are expected to ADOPT a table and decorate with a center piece following simple safety guidelines. Additional displays will be of what people wish to setup on the tables along the side of the cultural hall. The only problem I have with all this is the idea of potluck. I do not trust many peoples kitchens. If they have pets, no way do I eat their stuff.(All potluck containers must have clearly marked names for identification.)

Myra – amen to the clearly labeled containers. I have been blessed with food poisoning twice by eating at church events not to mention flossed by teeth with much animal fur. I am very careful now…