Verifying addresses

[munaish]

What is the reason addresses in the ward directory need verification? Or do they need it?

What criteria should a ward membersip clerk use to verify an address?

[jdlessley]

What is the reason addresses in the ward directory need verification?

This is to ensure the location has been accurately plotted. All the variables such as new development construction, accuracy (or inaccuracy) of sources providing input for the location, and so on can sometimes lead to questionable location plotting.

Or do they need it?

Not necessarily. But the confidence level of the accuracy of the location by those who are going to use that address plot to navigate to the address is increased if it has been verified. It also helps when doing things such as emergency preparedness to have a verified location address.

What criteria should a ward membersip clerk use to verify an address?

If someone uses the location plotted on the map and can use that to find/visit the household then that is my criterion. The sources used to verify can be as simple as the family living at the address telling you that it is accurately plotted. I use local GIS mapping resources to verify a location. If the address is new construction and hasn't made it onto the local GIS maps then I will drive out to find the address. In the past year I've only had to do that about 3 times. I have found that for addresses that have been around for enough time that the data used by Google Maps, the source for the Ward Map, is accurate. Correlating that information with the local GIS maps helps up the confidence level.

[munaish]

Thanks for the thorough reply! I didn't realize verification had to do with the map, particularly.

[jgilleland]

Is there anything in the Gen'l Handbook or elsewhere telling whether or not a Branch Pres can ask fulltime missionaries to go to an address asking if a member lives there? In other words, do we have written guidance from the church indicating if missonaries can be given a weekly assignment to check three to five addresses in the branch directory to learn if the named families actually live there or not?

[russellhltn]

Is there anything in the Gen'l Handbook or elsewhere telling whether or not a Branch Pres can ask fulltime missionaries to go to an address asking if a member lives there? In other words, do we have written guidance from the church indicating if missonaries can be given a weekly assignment to check three to five addresses in the branch directory to learn if the named families actually live there or not?

Check 33.6.4, second paragraph.

I'd image this should probably be discussed with the mission president before doing this in the quantity you're suggesting.