What is going on today at St. John's - electronics...

The new furnances were programmed, and a group of us trained how to set them on the computer in the office! Hurray - control of the furnance - something we have been lacking on the old one for several years (other than "on" and "off"). Now on the new one there will be some tweaking to do, but at least there is some control! The new furnances replace the old, inefficiant system from the 1960's.

Also, the microphones are being installed from the ceiling in the Church. The Sound Design team went up 42 feet from floor to beam in the main sanctuary to hang the wire, and then hid it along beam and archways to connect to the sound recording system. This install is pictured here. This will allow us to have professional quality recordings on our website AND to issue CD's of the Choir as well.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow VPM is installing 14 survellience cameras around the inside and outside of the Church for security (both while we are in the building, and recording it while we are out). It will also allow the staff to access the cameras via internet while off property (in case of an alarm going off). The one camera in the main church has an audio channel as well, and we are looking into connecting it to the website for a 'live streaming cam". The security system was installed in the early 1990's, and the video system will be patched into it.

How is all this being paid for? One large gift paid the $80,000+ for the new furnance. Another anonymous gift is paying for the microphones/sound installation, and a portion of the gift from the estate of Paul Irwin is paying for the security system upgrade.

Now to find a way to pay to upgrade the 1930's/1970's lighting in the Church and/or Chapel!!!! Any takers?