Following the COVID pandemic, members of the Newburgh United Church identified the need to highlight activities of the church and the broader community to encourage people to come together and be energized again for the welfare of all.
Led by Jeff Sloan and Betty Ann Armstrong of the congregation, a project to replace the external sign on the front lawn with a new electronic version that would contain messages of activities at the Church and in the larger Newburgh community was agreed to.
The project would be coordinated by Ken Clarke of Newburgh, who worked with Samsung and its distributors to acquire two TV screens that could work outdoors, back-to-back in the extremes of the Canadian climate.
The project was much more complicated than was anticipated.
Willis Manufacturing of Odessa, worked with Clarke and Samsung to create a secure cabinet for the TV monitors and to make sure that the specifications would support the manufacturer’s warranty.
Willis was patient and attentive with Samsung’s requirements with respect to their design changes based on the need to utilizing the existing wooden support structure that was built and has been maintained, by David and Wendy Hunt (church members).
Much effort was required to remove the old manual sign that has been their “face to the world” and which has served the church well for many years.
Ultimately, Willis and Samsung were able to agree on a cabinet for the appropriate TV’s that provided the needed security from vandalism, the extreme Canadian climates, that would fit into the existing frame structure while providing the environment climate needs of the Samsung’s TV warranty.
Don and Lorraine Yeomans (church members) worked hard to prepare the frame for the new sign. Lyall Cook helped with planning the electrical upgrades. A local electrician, Chace Allison, was very helpful and attentive with advice and worked to update the wiring and lighting. The LED lights and church sign was prepared by All About Signs in Napanee.
Much effort was required to choose and learn the slide management system from Samsung VXT CMS, as well as to create the slides that are presented. Hats off to Valerie Grieve (church member), Alana Cassibo (church secretary) and Ken Clarke who have met these challenges.
The system is set up with a waterproof speaker and for the first few weeks we presented a video by Newburgh musician David Archibald and one of his videos of his song “Hometown (Napanee) by David Archibald” on the sign. The church now has a series of slides that highlight church and community activities in a very appealing electronic visual format with optional audio input.
“All in all, it was a more challenging project than we had first imagined it to be while staying on budget. Ken had to use his considerable know-how and connections to bring everything together. We are very pleased with the installation, which is more visible, flexible and appealing to look at” said Jeff Sloan, of the Newburg United Church.
The church will be conducting a formal unveiling of the sign soon where we will acknowledge the many hands that went into its creation.