The Lancaster County Chapter Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans met on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at Southwood Lutheran Church, 9300 S. 40th Street, Lincoln NE. The meeting was opened with devotion and prayer. President Phil Wittig called the regular monthly chapter meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Board members in attendance included: Phil Wittig, Jan Beck (7:10), Kristy Plander, Billie Frost, Judy Janssen, Sally Mertens, Margaret Simmons, and Tim Wiggins. Advisory Board members present included: Linda Stubbendick and Roger Simmons. Members of the Board absent with notice included Jeff Peterson and Keith Plummer. Visitors present included: Shirley Hunt-Financial Associate and Fritz Moss, Kathy Moss, Jim Eggen and Linda Eggen, congregational co-coordinators and guests from Southwood.

Reports

Records Director: The minutes of May 22nd monthly chapter meeting were approved as printed and distributed.

New Chapter Members: The motion was made by Jan Beck and seconded by Kristy Plander to admit into membership in the Lancaster County Chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans as of June 25, 2007 – 52 benefit members, 7 associate members and 23 youth members for a total of 82 new members. The motion passed.

Financial Director: Kristy Plander provided the June financial report to the Chapter Board prior to the meeting. The Financial Report was filed for audit.

Congregational Service Team Director: Tim Wiggins provided a report to the Chapter Board prior to the meeting. He has received information that several congregations have completed Care in Congregations (CIC) activities. He continues to work with some congregations to establish lead coordinators and also with congregations that have less than three coordinators.

Youth Director: Sally Mertens submitted a written report. The BRIDGE Bike Ride was held on Saturday, June 16th with an estimated $10,000 raised with sponsors and pledges. The day was warm so most riders and walkers finished a little earlier than usual. There were 10 youth involved (6 helpers/4 riders) and seven adult volunteers

Events Director: Judy Janssen reported on her research concerning tickets to a Lincoln Saltdogs game. Tickets must be ordered 14 days prior to the date selected. Seating is based on date ticket order and deposit is received. If the even is a rainout, it is rescheduled. The Saltdogs have a no refund, no exchange policy. The next Faith and Family Night is Sunday, August 5, 2007. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Sally Mertens that Lancaster County Chapter co-participate in the Faith and Family Night offering tickets for $3.00 per ticket on a first come, first served basis up to $2,000 from Operating Funds to supplement the cost of the ticket. The motion passed. Judy will contact the Saltdog office for more information and Tim Wiggins will email the congregational coordinators to publicize the event. Publicity will be emailed to the churches for their bulletins early in July.

Communication Director Report: Margaret Simmons reported that the newsletter has been completed and should have been received about mid-June. The newsletter will be on the website

President’s Report: Phil Wittig had provided a written report to the Board prior to the meeting. He reported the highlights of his report. Highlights included –monthly Chapter Leaders’ conference call on Monday, July 9th; Leadership, Relationships & Horses at Camp Carol Joy Holling on July 12th & 19th and recognition who are outstanding Thrivent volunteers at Fall Event. Phil also discussed recruiting chapter officers and Thrivent Builds congregation. By consensus several Board members agreed to try and attend the morning session of Leadership, Relationships & Horses on Thursday, July 12th from 9-11 a.m. By consensus the Board agreed that time was too short to recognize outstanding Thrivent volunteers at the 2007 Chapter Fall Event. Phil appointed a Task Force to determine the criteria for Volunteer Recognition of outstanding Thrivent volunteers. Members of the Task Force are: Phil Wittig (chairman), Linda Stubbendick, Roger Simmons, Dennis Engelbart and Judy Janssen.

Action Items

Community Project Team Director’s Report: Keith Plummer provided Board members with the ‘Care Abounds in Community’ (CAIC) activity requests prior to the June 26th chapter meeting. All CAIC approved requests are being funded 1:1 unless otherwise noted.

Project #07-30242-37: This project from Our Savior Lutheran had been approved at the May 22nd meeting in the amount of $800. The event is a fundraiser for the Friendship Home and the Cancer Society and will be held on July 16, 2007. The project was in question due to having funds being designated to two recipients.

The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost to rescind the motion passed May 22nd for Project #07-30242-37 that had two recipients for funds designated. The motion passed.

An updated request was received from Our Savior Lutheran for Project #07-30242-37 in the amount of $400 for the Friendshiip Home. The event is a fundraiser titled ‘Festival of Tables’ to be held on July 16th. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost to approve this project for $400. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-38: This request was submitted to the May 22nd chapter meeting but tabled due to needing more information. The information for the Jayci Yaeger benefit fundraiser was provided and the event was held on June 24th. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost to ratify the previous email vote approving this project for $2500. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-39: This request from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was submitted after the last chapter meeting in the amount of $2500 for the Stepp family. The event was a fundraiser held on June 24, 2007 and is titled ‘Congregational Picnic’. This request was approved by email due to of the event being held prior to the chapter meeting and date the request was submitted. The motion was made by Billie Frost and seconded by Kristy Plander to ratify the previous email vote appoving the project for $2500.

Project #07-30242-40:This request is from Sheridan Lutheran Church in the amount of $800. The event is a fundraiser with Charlie Brown’s Kids and will be held on July 24, 2007 at the Rococo Theatre and is titled ‘Evening of Jazz with the Darryl White Quartet. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost to approve this project for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-41: This request is from Our Savior Lutheran in the amount of $400. The event is a fundraiser the Cancer Society and will be held on July 16, 2007. The project is titled the “Festival of Tables”. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost to approve this project for $400. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-43: This request is from Faith Lutheran in the amount of $4500 (maximum individual amount is $2500). The event is a fundraiser for David McMahan and will be held on July 15, 2007. The project is titled the ‘Bake Sale and Music Concert’. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost to approve this project for $2500. The motion passed.

Advisory Reports

Director of Member Engagement Region 378 report: Dennis Engelbart sent the following report. Thrivent Financial will have a booth at the Nebraska State Fair from August 25th through September 3rd. Volunteers will be needed to staff the booth. Thrivent Financial will also have a table at the Camp Carol Joy Holling Benefit quilt auction on July 28th.

Thrivent Builds: Linda Stubbendick, Chapter Specialist reported that the dedication for Habitat for Humanity House #1 was held on Saturday, June 9th at 9 a.m. This home is located at 1709 N. 30th St., Lincoln for Zenobio and Melissa Gomez and their four children. The Wall-raising for the second house located at 4215 West Thatcher (one mile north of Shoemakers) for Akot Tong and Ayak Kual and six children was held 10 a.m. on the same day. The house at 1511 D Street, Lincoln for Jesus and Martha Esquival has not been started at this time.

Linda continues to recruit Thrivent Builds champions in congregations. Congregations need to raise $25,000 as the chapter portion of Thrivent Builds funds for the 2007 Builds. At this time the congregations in the chapter are behind where they were in 2006.

Financial Associate: No report

Next meeting: The monthly chapter meeting in July will be held at Faith of Our Fathers Lutheran Church, 15580 E Street, Roca, NE on July 24, 2007 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.