How many of you enjoy going to the DMV? Standing in line. Filling out forms. Talking over the desk at someone? Not too many of you, I would think. Unfortunately, it would seem that our Front Desk has been suffering from the DMV complex due to the physical layout and structure of the building. One of our plans this summer is to take a hard look at the layout of the Front Office so that the engaging moments of encounter with our faith can occur for those individuals and families that come to our campus. Our Front Desk volunteers already attempt to provide a warm welcome, but they are stuck behind a huge and imposing desk, which limits their connection to people. Some of the ideas we need to think through:
- Physical Layout – The Front Desk needs to be both welcoming and engaging while providing our Parish Family and visitors an opportunity for some private discussion. We will need to rework the layout with our architect and Construction Manager, Gates Construction, to determine the most efficient and effective structure to go from “DMV” to “Concierge”
- Communication – The Front Desk is the first place people connect to our Parish environment, both over the phone and in person. It is the top priority of our Front Desk to make that connection and assist the person asking for help. We need to explore everything from self-service kiosks for people making reservations for a CAO or CYO events to greeters that can walk people around our campus to their activity or priest meeting.
- New Location – We will have a new desk in the Pulte Family Life Center, which will have different hours from our current Front Desk. While it may be more focused on the programs, events, and activities going on within the Life Center, it will naturally have to provide answers to similar questions and have the ability to connect with our liturgical and sacramental needs as well.
If you have had a positive or negative experience with our Front Desk in the past few years, I would love to hear about it. If you have any suggestions for improvements that will help us become the Concierge service you deserve when you engage our church, please contact me. Thank you so much for your support as we reimagine the Catholic Church experience here at St. John.