The Lancaster County Chapter Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans met on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at Peace Lutheran Church, 9831 N. 145th Street, Waverly, NE. President Phil Wittig called the regular monthly chapter meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and opened with prayer. Board members in attendance included: Phil Wittig, Jeff Peterson, Jan Beck, Kristy Plander, Billie Frost, Judy Janssen, Keith Plummer, Margaret Simmons, Sally Mertens and Tim Wiggins. Advisory Board members present included: Linda Stubbendick and Roger Simmons, Others present included: Dennis Engelbart and congregational coordinators from Peace Lutheran – Doris Maahs, Rita Nelson and Anita Retzlaff. President Phil extended the Board’s thanks and appreciation to Peace Lutheran for hosting our monthly meeting. Members of the Lancaster County Chapter Board each introduced themselves.

Reports
Records Director: The minutes of the February 27h monthly chapter meeting were approved as printed and distributed. The February 27th meeting minutes will be posted on the website.

Board members were requested to each list their volunteer hours since the February 27th meeting not including the time they attended this meeting. Jan reminded the Board that she had stationary, envelopes and thank-you notes available for Board members.

Correspondence: Phil read a thank you from the Bill Beck family for the memorial given to Messiah Lutheran Church at the time of his death.

Financial Director: Kristy Plander provided the March report to the Chapter Board prior to the meeting. She also announced that the $1000 from Thrivent for ‘Join Hands Day’ had been received. There being no questions the March report was filed for audit.

Congregation Service Team Director: Tim Wiggins has received reports from several congregations who have completed ‘Care in Congregations’ activities. He has sent requests to those congregations who currently have less than three coordinators and also the congregations that still need to designate a lead coordinator.

Youth Director: Sally Mertens will be meeting on Friday, March 30th with a group of youth to discuss forming a team and to determine the what activities they would like to have to involve Thrivent in youth activities. Dennis Engelbart, Thrivent staff, reported on the “Urban Plunge” that is held in Omaha. She will also be working on youth activities for Join Hands Day.

Events Director: Judy Janssen informed the Board that the Chapter Fall Event will be held on Sunday, October 14th and Lincoln Lutheran Jr/Sr High School. The activity will involve a picnic type meal, musical entertainment and carnival games. She will work with the Youth Director to have youth involvement and the Communications Director to publicize the event. Tim Wiggins will send information to the congregational coordinators to share with members in each congregation.

Vice President: Jeff Peterson is beginning to work on Nominations for the 2008 Chapter Board. He will confirm with current Chapter Board members their commitment to serve another year.

Communication Director: Margaret Simmons has the March newsletter completed and it has been approved. She will do some ‘Care Abounds in Communities’ and ‘Care in Congregations’ activity summaries in the next newsletter. The deadline for the next newsletter is June 1, 2007.

Internet Director: The position is currently vacant. Jeff Peterson has agreed to take on some of the duties until a new Webmaster is appointed.

President: Phil Wittig had provided a written report to the Board prior to the meeting. The following actions were taken from information included in his report.

Action Items
Chapter Board Retreat: The motion was made by Tim Wiggins and seconded by Keith Plummer that the contract with Camp Carol Joy Holling for the Chapter Retreat on November 4, 2007 from 1:30 to 8 p.m. be approved at a cost of $11.25 per person ($10 for evening meal; $1.25 for snacks) and the $175.00 fee for the room is waived, The motion passed.

Camp Luther 40th Anniversary: Phil distributed the letter with the date of event, program and help request at the February 27th meeting. Dennis Engelbart will correspond with Camp Luther staff about needing more specific information and a request in order to consider matching funds.

CAIC funds for Vacation Bible School: Phil distributed an e-mail received at the February 27th meeting. Phil will appoint a Task Force in April to develop some guidelines for the Board to consider. The consensus was that VBS would not be funded by Lancaster County during the summer 2007.

Memorial: Due to the emergency nature of the business this was completed since the February meeting and action is needed to record the action in the minutes. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Jeff Peterson that a memorial be given to Messiah Lutheran Church in honor of Bill Beck. The motion passed.

New Chapter Members: The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Sally Mertens to admit into membership in the Lancaster County Chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans as of March 26, 2007 – 31 benefit members. 6 associate members and 8 youth members for a total of 45 new members. The motion passed.

Volunteer Recognition: In 2006 the Chapter put an ad in the Lincoln Journal-Star as part of their Volunteer Recognition and discussion followed concerning whether we wanted to do the same in 2007. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost that the ad for the Lincoln Journal-Star be approved. The motion passed. Phil will be responsible for putting the ad in the paper and ask that the bill for the ad be sent to Kristy Plander, financial director. A request will be made to the Financial Associates to have the large Thrivent Banner with the message “Thank You Volunteers” be displayed in front of the Thrivent Office.

Community Project Team Director’s Report: Keith Plummer presented 11 ‘Care Abounds in Community’ (CAIC) activity requests that had been received since the February Chapter meeting. All CAIC approved requests are being funded 1:1 unless otherwise noted.

Project #07-30242-09: This request was approved via e-mail due to the activity being held prior to this Chapter meeting and the need for the funds for health/medical expenses. The project activity requested $2000. and was titled “Chili Cook Off” and was held on March 11, 2007. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander to ratify the email approving the project. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-10: This request is a service project for the Bridge Prison Ministry is titled “Muriel’s Fund held by LFS Foundation”. The activity will be held on March 31, 2007 at 9 a.m. with a group of UNL students doing volunteer work to fix up a house for the Bridge Prison ministry program in the amount of $800. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-11: This request is from Orphan Grain Train and is titled “Orphan Grain Train – Lincoln Satellite Division”. The activity will be held on May 20, 2007 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and will be a Wisconsin Fish Feed for $1000 in honor of Pastor Clint Poppe’s 10 years of service. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $1000. Jan Beck asked for clarification as per Chapter guidelines that the amount should be $800 for an organization rather than the $1000 requested. The maker of the motion and the second agreed to the clarification. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-12: This request is from Messiah Lutheran and is titled “Easter Sunrise Benefit Breakfast”. The activity will be held on April 8, 2007 and is a medical benefit for 4 different individuals with health needs. The request is for $8000. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project. Jan Beck moved to amend the motion and Margaret Simmons seconded the amendment that the Chapter request four applications be submitted (one for each individual) with 24 separate households (six households per individual) be listed as the service teams for the activity and a request of $2000 per individual. The amendment passed. The amended motion passed.

The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Margaret Simmons that we request these new requests by April 1, 2007 and that Keith void this project number and assign new projects number when the new requests are received. The motion passed. Keith will inform the Chapter Board when the new requests for this project are received.

Project #07-30242-13: This request is from Prince of Peace Lutheran and is titled “Easter Breakfast”. The activity will be held on April 8, 2007 and the funds raised will be given to the Lincoln Food Bank for the LPS Backpack Program. The request is for $200. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $200. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-14: This request is from Friedens Lutheran and is titled “Kraut Burger Sale and Luncheon”. The activity will be held on May 6, 2007 and is a benefit for Crystal Renae Anderson. The request is for $2500. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $2500. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-15: This request is from Lincoln Lutheran Community Choir and is titled “Lincoln Lutheran Choir Spirit Concert”. The activity will be held on April 29, 2007 at 3 p.m. and the request is for $800. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-16: This request is from Orphan Grain Train and is titled “Orphan Grain Train – Lincoln Satellite Division”. The activity will be held on June 24, 2007 at St. John Kramer and is a noon Fish Feed. The request is for $800. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-17: This request is from Orphan Grain Train and is titled “Orphan Grain Train – Lincoln Satellite Division”. The activity will be held on April 22, 2007 at Trinity Lutheran Walton and is a noon Fish Feed. The request is for $800. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-18: This request is from Orphan Grain Train and is titled “Orphan Grain Train – Lincoln Satellite Division”. The activity will be held on June 24, 2007 at Good Shepherd and is a noon Fish Feed. The request is for $800. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-19: This request is from Jonathan Jank and is titled “Jank and the Perfect 5th in Concert”. The activity was held on March 25, 2007 and was a concert to raise funds to send Jonathan to tour China with the Concordia University Wind Ensemble from May 7-28th. The request is for $1000. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander to fund a trip to China with Concordia University. The motion failed.

Thrivent Builds Specialist: Linda Stubbendick gave this report for Julie Ferri who was unable to attend the meeting. The ten percent of the Thrivent Builds that is by donation from congregations is $25,000. There are many volunteer opportunities to be involved in Thrivent Builds. The first wall raising was scheduled for February 10th; however due to extreme cold weather the actual wall was raised on February 17th. Tentatively the wall raising for the second house will be May 19th. Friedens Lutheran is being considered for the site to host the refreshments for this event. The third house may be built either in Hallam or the 38th & Leighton area.

There will be a training meeting on April 15, 2007 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 4325 Sumner St, Lincoln. Information will be sent to the congregational coordinators who will be asked to bring a Thrivent Builds Champion for their church and also to invite their pastor and Council president.

The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Keith Plummer that the Chapter allow up to $450 to include refreshments, lunch and postage expenses for the Thrivent Builds event. The motion passed.

Announcement: The next monthly Chapter meeting will be at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington St., Lincoln on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

There being no further business, Phil adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.

Jan Beck, Records Director
Lancaster County Chapter

New Members of Lancaster County Chapter since 03/26/07 through 04/22/07:

Benefit Members: 31
Associate Members: 9
Youth Members: __4

Total Members: 44