Gathering registration opens on October 9, 2011 , but you can start to enter your data online in September. In keeping with our hopes that groups mark the Gathering registration opening in worship and with a celebration, and not spend the whole day watching a leader type away at a computer, we have programmed the registration site for a “soft opening” in September.
What does this mean?
This means that, throughout the month of September, you will be able to access your congregational account, do your data entry and save the information. When October 9 rolls around, all you will need to do is hit the “submit” button, print your confirmation page, and send it with payment to the address listed on the page. Sounds easy, and it is!
Each congregation should select one adult to serve as Primary Leader. The Primary Leader is the main point-person for the group; communications and other correspondence between the Gathering office and the congregation are channeled through the Primary Leader, and the Primary Leader’s email address becomes part of the log-in for the congregational account.
To start the process, you’ll need your five-digit congregational ID number (don’t forget the leading zeros, if you’ve got them!), and the Primary Leader’s email address. Your congregational account holds all of your congregational group’s information: your Region/Synod, your congregation’s address, the names of all your adults and youth, your t-shirt sizes, your emergency contact information, and your financial information. In February your housing assignment will be posted to your account, and later in the spring you will access your account to see the rotation schedule to which your group has been assigned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Gathering.
This information is kept live and online for the duration of your Gathering experience. Logging on is easy! We hope to make it viewable on a smartphone!
Look for the link to the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering adult and youth registration forms in the August gNews, as well as on our Facebook page and the Gathering website. Print them and give them to your group to fill out, and you’ll have plenty of time to collect information ahead of time and then enter it into your congregational account!