By Danielle Ellis
Church members in the Las Vegas area have been taking more responsibility for weekly building maintenance for several years, but the transition will be complete on August 1, 2010. On that date, the Church Facilities Management will officially turn over all weekly cleaning responsibilities to the members. Weekly housekeeping includes cleaning bathrooms, wiping doors and glass, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, trash removal, etc.

“I really believe it is a healthy thing for members to do,” said one Facilities Management employee. “We love and care for the things we spend our time on. When we care for our church meetinghouses we have greater respect and love for them.”

The Church has six Facilities Management offices in the Las Vegas valley, and though one office didn’t want to speak for the others, the whole Las Vegas region has been encouraged to have member cleaning programs.

The FM employees will still be actively involved with each building, doing high dusting, stocking the closets with cleaners and supplies, changing light bulbs and the like. They will also continue to do maintenance, such as piano tuning, and project cleaning, such as shampooing carpets and removing scuffs from the gym floors. Exterior work will also continue to be their responsibility.

The other benefit for the Church is a cost reduction, which is in keeping with official Church policies to keep the Church fiscally sound even in tough times. “I really believe the cost savings is secondary,” said the Facilities Management employee. “This is about the members being involved.” She continued, “When I was a kid, my parents volunteered our family to care for the building. I have happy memories of cleaning the church every Saturday.”

To help maintain your building, take part in the weekly cleaning assignments. Many hands make light work, so add your name onto the list. You can also be sure to clean up after activities. If you have an activity in the cultural hall, make sure to clean up the bathrooms too before you leave. Our feelings for the Lord are always reflected in the way we care for His houses.