tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post8045807919625553449..comments2023-10-16T11:37:22.472-04:00Comments on being sarah marie: Olan Mills and Church Directoriessarah mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18016489034529811005noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-87060143312671303092009-12-06T18:49:03.191-05:002009-12-06T18:49:03.191-05:00Hi, Sarah!As irritating as your experience with th...Hi, Sarah!<br><br>As <i>irritating</i> as your experience with the Big O-M has been, you haven't even scratched the surface of this snarky organization.<br><br>If you did submit a photo you had taken for inclusion in the Church Directory, they would not normally place your photo in proper alphabetical order. Rather, O-M would include that photo on a special page. The page is especially designed to scream: <br><br>"Hey! The losers on this page were too cheap (or thought they were too <i>special)</i> to have our <b>professional</b> photographer take their photo. Rather, they submitted this childishly poor amateur photo. We don't want you to think for one moment that we took this lousy photo. So, we're putting on a special page. This, of course, will help guarantee that these folks will be overlooked by the majority of those using the Church Directory. And, (we hope) subject them to sufficient ridicule that they will never again dare not to have <i><b>us</b></i> take their photo."<br><br>The other really annoying thing that O-M does: they copyright each photo. That's right. Oh, yes, it is a photo of you. But, O-M holds the copyright. And, they have a whole department at their headquarters who tries to track down any cases of their photos being used in print media without obtaining (for a relatively significant fee) permission.<br><br>Don't you just love 'em?<br>Dean K. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15786590951784972199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-47175041285924737892009-11-25T02:37:03.678-05:002009-11-25T02:37:03.678-05:00Six phone calls most certainly crosses the line. ...Six phone calls most certainly crosses the line. I assume you've told them "no, we're not interested"? I also agree with Becks - I don't think it is legal for your church to give out information for solicitation, even if it is connected with the church's plans. Our church directory (ironically!) has a note printed in it that no information in it may be used for solicitation purposes.<br /><br />And whoever the anonymouse Olan M. commentor is, he/she is hilarious. :)Emily (Laundry and Lullabies)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16367630628716619991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-4643056747151954642009-11-24T17:21:06.823-05:002009-11-24T17:21:06.823-05:00Hi Sarah,
It's Olan again. Can you believe it...Hi Sarah,<br /><br />It's Olan again. Can you believe it? I hope I'm not being any bother.<br /><br />But, I wanted to be sure you know that even if for some psychotic reason you want to make the baby Jesus cry by not appearing in your church's photo directory, you will still have the opportunity to buy a photo directory at no cost to your church! Owning a church directory is a great way to learn what all the good people in your church look like smiling awkwardly before a cloudy blue background. Seriously, I own thousands of church directories, and I look at them all the time.<br /><br />So, I'll be contacting you soon about purchasing your church directory. Perhaps you'll want two - one for the home and one for the car. Please tell me your email address so that I can also conveniently contact you in that way. Also, we know where you live.<br /><br />Warmly,<br /><br />Olan M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-58685056212423054432009-11-24T17:00:12.044-05:002009-11-24T17:00:12.044-05:00Hi Sarah,
This is Olan again. I see you have a pi...Hi Sarah,<br /><br />This is Olan again. I see you have a picture of yourself and Favorite Boy up in the corner there, which means maybe you already have a camera. That's great! If so, you can take your own church directory photo, but you need to do it with a sort of cloudy blue background. Just send us the photo and we'll start calling you soon about which photo package you'd like to order.<br /><br />I'll talk to you soon.<br /><br />Your friend,<br /><br />Olan M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-76214229719935648852009-11-24T16:55:36.323-05:002009-11-24T16:55:36.323-05:00Hi,
This is Olan from Olan Mills. We just wanted ...Hi,<br /><br />This is Olan from Olan Mills. We just wanted to be sure you remember to schedule your photo session for your church photo directory. Church photo directories are the best things ever!!!<br /><br />I'll talk to you soon. (What time are you having dinner tonight?)<br /><br />Thank you,<br /><br />Olan M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-49441323524015691352009-11-24T16:40:48.007-05:002009-11-24T16:40:48.007-05:00I think it's actually illegal for any organiza...I think it's actually illegal for any organization to distribute your personal information without your consent. Did you, at some point, consent in writing that your church has the right to distribute your information to 3rd parties? Because if not, then they are breaking the law. You could, theoretically, file a class action lawsuit on behalf of your entire congregation! Although I am sure that you don't want to sue your church (hehehe, that's a funny thought!), you might what to double check the laws in your area, and send a cease and desist letter to your church administrator. Especially since they have been so rude! :)Beckshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12764693424856370645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-90783939546100014842009-11-24T15:14:26.173-05:002009-11-24T15:14:26.173-05:00I would find the situation irritating too. Howeve...I would find the situation irritating too. However, I also had to laugh out loud when I read this post--sorry! Did the email you received back actually include all caps?ashleighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05829741597166960650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611566.post-64288032366712825822009-11-24T14:51:22.232-05:002009-11-24T14:51:22.232-05:00You are most certainly not the only one who finds ...You are most certainly not the only one who finds it upsetting. I am not sure I would have been able to tone down my letter that much. Good job!Ruth Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12652908734091070984noreply@blogger.com