YM/YW activity times. . . is there a rule or standard?

[Guest]

So I dropped my daughter off at the church earlier this evening for YW. She's only been in a few weeks and she's my oldest. As far as either of us knew, they were having an activity at church and I could pick her up a couple of hours later as per the usual. 

 

Thankfully, I had her take my phone, because we've had an issue with leaders being late, activities ending early, etc. and I wanted her to be able to call me from anywhere. If she didn't have the phone and her dad didn't text her, we would not have known that the leaders decided to take the girls to the temple 30 minutes away. I would have sat in the parking lot at the church wondering where on earth my daughter was. 

 

What's most annoying though, is that it's after 10pm on a school night and they're still not back. I texted her an hour ago and she said the phone was almost dead but she'd contact us when they get back to the church.

 

Is this normal? Aren't there rules about what time activities should end?

[pam]

I guess this is subject to interpretation but according to the CHI it states:

 

Parents or guardians should be informed and give consent when youth participate in a Church activity. Written consent is necessary if an activity involves travel outside the local area (as determined by local leaders) or staying overnight. Leaders may also request written consent for other activities when they feel it is appropriate.

 

https://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/activities/13.6.15?lang=eng#136

 

Under parental permission.

 

What constitutes local area?  To me something 30 minutes away is not within a local area.

 

When I was  a Primary President if it was outside of our ward boundaries we needed to get parental permission.

[Guest]

This is not acceptable at our ward.  Activities need to be planned and if it is not held at the Church, then parental permission is necessary.  Regular activities are to start at 7PM and end promptly at 8:30, unless otherwise approved by the parents.  The leaders don't like it if the parents are not there to pick up children - or have arrangements for supervision - by 8:30.

 

If this happened at our ward, somebody is going to have to answer for it.  Just because the temple is only 30 minutes away doesn't mean that you can just drag the kids anytime it crosses somebody's mind.  These things need to be planned.

[MarginOfError]

My feeling is that, unless it is in the ward boundaries, parents need to be notified and sign a permission slip before the leaders can take the girls anywhere.  Even within the ward boundaries, if the activity is going to leave the building, parents must be notified* (even if only be mass e-mail).  

 

And 10:00 is far to late to be out on a weeknight.  Especially without parental permission.  I'd raise a holy stink about his one.

 

 

 

* Full disclosure: we sometimes take our scouts to the park just down the road without really notifying parents.  However, we also leave a few adults at the church where we meet to greet parents when they come to pick up their kids, and we make it a point to be back by the normal ending time.  The boys never, ever get into our cars without a signed permission slip.

[estradling75]

Sounds like your Young Women's program is either disorganized and/or has problem communicating.  Unfortunately this is not all that uncommon.  The reasons for this can be all over the map, but your answer/response should be pretty standard.  Go have a nice talk to the Young Woman's president about expectations.  From that talk you should have a clearer understanding of what your next action should be (if any)

[Jennarator]

Make friends with the leaders.  They can let you know what is going on.  Sometime the girls are not paying attention when announcements are made.   Maybe see if there can be a facebook page (secret group, so not everyone knows YW things going on) or something so people can know what is going on.  My daughter is one of two young women in the wole ward.  We still have a FB page and the leaders post activites there so parents and YW can know what to wear or bring, if it is early or going to be late....those type things.  

[Palerider]

These activities should be planned ahead of time and even the parents should know what the plans are etc.... I would ask how come you were not aware of this activity.