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Apr
28
Written by:
host
4/28/2009 7:00 AM
 Even if you are a total tech geek, it's easy to start losing control of all of the cables, power cords, and remote controls in your midst. This is especially true when you work or serve in a church, because often those various tech-bits are handled by many people. Here are 10 steps to getting those wires and remotes organized.
Supplies needed: Electronic labeler (if available); some sort of attachable cable label (I like to use something similar to these, but if you have any of those old dot matrix labels lying around, they'll work OK); thin-tipped permanent black marker; rolling cart; clipboard with paper/pen; two cardboard boxes; cable ties (or garbage bag twist ties); technically-minded teenager or two. (Even if you are a gadget guru, it's a great way for a teen to share his or her knowledge with the church.)
- Load up the cart with all of the various supplies.
- Go from classroom to classroom, closet to closet, and office to office. Each time you come across a cable, cord, or remote, use your labels to identify what it belongs to. Ideally, indicate the room and equipment it is for, and stick it on or attach it to the cord/cable/remote. When applicable, place it near the plug that goes into the device rather than by the power supply.
- Use the electronic labeler to create stick-on labels for televisions, indicating what channel should be used, e.g. "Select channel 4 for DVD" or where the item belongs when not in use, e.g. "Closet by Room 123." Labels can also be used to clarify which set of plugs are to be used on the back of a TV, DVD player, computer, or other piece of equipment, or which buttons to push to operate a remote.
- Test items as you go to make sure they still work correctly. Any time you come across something that is missing, broken, or without batteries, make a note on the clipboard for later.
- Use the cable ties to organize messy cables together.
- Any time you come across a "stray" (an cord or item that has an unclear purpose, or that has been moved from its proper location), put it in one of the boxes.
- Any time you come across a "dead" or obsolete item, put it in the other box.
- Eventually, you will probably have a few items that need to be returned to another room. Do that next.
- If you can determine what the additional stray items are for, label those.
- Throw away, recycle, or donate the obsolete and dead items. Save the strays for church staff members, audio team members, teachers, etc. to look through and claim. Store the rest away in a labeled box for a few months, and if they are still unclaimed, you can likely get rid of them.
~ Tim Gossett
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