Iowa County WI Chapter

The Southwest Wisconsin Regional Financial Office (RFO) of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans announces the Iowa County Chapter has earned a Chapter of Excellence award for its volunteer contributions to the local community in 2007. The award acknowledges the chapter�s leadership and members for organizing and implementing fund-raisers and service projects to address area needs.
�Thrivent Financial members show their care and compassion for others every day by participating in outreach projects through their chapter,� said Steve Schultz, manager of Lutheran community services for the Southwest Wisconsin RFO of Thrivent Financial. �The Chapter of Excellence award is one way to recognize and thank the Iowa County Chapter for all their volunteer work and service in 2007.�
11 out of 26 Thrivent Financial chapters in the region earned the excellence award in 2007. From holding a community-wide auction to raise funds for a child with cancer, to building a handicap-accessible play area at a local park, our members helped to make a difference every day through our chapter system. 77 Chapter activities were conducted by the Iowa County Chapter, resulting in 22,355 volunteer hours. Funds raised by these local teams totaled $93,520, which were combined with $29,710 from Thrivent Financial for a total of $123,230 that went to assist people in need in Iowa County.
As a membership organization, Thrivent Financial is focused on meeting its members� needs around financial security, as well as helping to improve the quality of life in the communities where members live. As a result, Thrivent Financial creates programs to encourage members in turn help congregations, schools, nonprofits and individuals in need. Each Thrivent Financial member is a member of one of 1,357 local chapters though which he or she can participate in volunteering, educational activities and social events.
�We listen to our members and our members are listening to what their community needs,� said Brad Hewitt, senior vice president of fraternal operations for Thrivent Financial. �We are proud that we can put our tools and resources to work through our members to deliver this kind of targeted help.�
Iowa County�s 2007 Chapter leadership board was comprised of Orville Olson, President; Leonard Pishion; Vice President; Jean Christen, Financial Director; Julie Koss; Records Director; Edith Goodweiler, Congregational Service Team Director; Ruth Krause, Asst. Financial Director; Jim Nelson, Community Service Team Dir.; Ethan Erdman, Communications Director; Kip Bakken, Internet Advisor; Dianne Evans, Thrivent Builds Chapter Specialist; Cathy Bramlett, Financial Representative Advisor.
In order to earn the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans� Chapter of Excellence status in 2007, a chapter had to meet ten key hallmarks including conducting youth-adult volunteer programs and using 100 percent of the funding available to support service projects through the chapter�s programs.
Anyone with ideas for projects or questions about how to apply for funding in 2008 should contact Orville Olson, President of the Iowa County Chapter, (608)935-3919