The Lancaster County Chapter Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans met on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5315 S. 162nd Street Walton, NE. Prior to the meeting Pastor Robert Wentzl provided a tour of the church to some of the Board members. President Phil Wittig called the regular monthly chapter meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. and opened with prayer. Board members in attendance included: Phil Wittig, Jan Beck, Kristy Plander, Billie Frost, Judy Janssen, Keith Plummer, and Margaret Simmons. Board members absent included: Sally Mertens, Jeff Peterson and Tim Wiggins. Advisory Board members present included: Dennis Engelbart, Linda Stubbendick, Roger Simmons and Brent Stehlik, Others present included: Financial Associate, Reindeer Siefkes and Trinity Lutheran Congregational Coordinators--Tim Malone, Shirley Retzlaff and Pastor Robert Wentzl President Phil extended the Board’s thanks and appreciation to Trinity Lutheran for hosting our monthly chapter meeting. Members of the Lancaster County Chapter Board each introduced themselves. The congregational coordinators did not stay for the meeting.

Reports

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 September 24, 2007 – 63Benefit members, 5 Associate members and 16 Youth members for a total of 84 members. The motion passed.

Congregational Service Team Director: Tim Wiggins provided a written report prior to the meeting. He reported that Care in Congregations activities had been completed at Southwood Lutheran, Redeemer Lutheran and Friedens Lutheran. An e-mail newsletter was sent to the Coordinators with information about the Fall Festival, becoming a Board member and the new Chapter Volunteer Recognition program. Mt Olive Lutheran now has a third coordinator and has named a Lead Coordinator. Four churches still need a third coordinator and two churches need to designation a Lead Coordinator.

Financial Director: Kristy Plander provided the August report to the Chapter Board prior to the meeting and had some printed copies of the report available at the meeting. The August report was filed for audit. Lancaster County has $21,373 left in Care in Community (CAIC) funds. This year Lancaster County has logged more than 14,000 volunteer hours in CAIC projects. The motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Billie Frost that we approve up to $3500 for the Fall Event and up to $1,050 to purchase plaques each congregation for the Chapter Volunteer Recognition program from operating funds. The motion passed. Kristy has communicated with the contact person for four CAIC projects that are late in reporting.

Youth Director: No report.

Events Director: Judy Janssen had provided a report prior to the meeting, which included a schedule, menu and duties to be assigned for the Fall Festival to be held on Sunday, October 14, 2007 from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Lincoln Lutheran Middle/High School. Several Board members volunteered for some of the jobs at the Festival. Judy Janssen will keep the Master list of assignments for the day. Board members have been requested to attend the presentation of the Chapter Volunteer Recognition program in Room 00 at 2:30 p.m. on October 14th. Time was spent going over all the information presented. Board members are asked to wear their Thrivent shirts or vests to the activity.

Vice President: Jeff Peterson provided a written report prior to the meeting. Currently the position of Congregational Service Team Director is an open position for the 2008 Lancaster County Board. Phil has provided him some names that Jeff will be contacting.

As Internet Director, Jeff submitted a printed report. A few updates have been added to the site, which includes the new guidelines and some photos from the Saltdogs game and two CAIC events. Jeff is always looking for information and photos to put on the site. The site has had about 620 hits since spring.

Communication Director: Margaret Simmons provided a written report at the meeting. She has sent several postcards prior to the most recent events and also for Fall Festival. She has also been working with the committee on the Fall Festival and has compiled the newsletter that will arrive in September.

President’s Report: Phil provided a written report prior to the meeting. He highlighted the unveiling of the Chapter Volunteer Recognition program at the Fall Festival and the Board Fall Retreat on Sunday, November 4th at Camp Carol Joy Holling. Phil requested all Board members to attend both events.

Action Items

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

Project #07-30242-55: This project request for $800 is a fundraiser from the Trinity Lutheran School and is titled “Hallelujah Harvest”. The activity will be held on October 28, 2007 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran School. The event will be a carnival-like atmosphere as an alternative to Halloween. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve this project request for $800. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-56: This project request is a hands on activity for $800 from the Lutheran Student Chapel (LCMS) the Lutheran Student Center (ELCA) and Beta Sigma Psi (Lutheran fraternity) to paint the inside of the Gathering Place (local soup kitchen). The event will take place on October 14, 2007. The funds could be used to purchase supplies and paint. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve this project for up to $800 for the purchase of paint and supplies only. The motion passed.

Project #07-30242-57: This project request is a hands on activity for $400 from the American Legion and the Lincoln Optimist Club. The event to repair the restrooms at Sherman Field, 222 South Street will be held October 12-13, 2007. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Kristy Plander that we approve this project to repair restrooms for up to $400. The motion passed.

Director of Member Engagement Region 378: Dennis Engelbart that the response of 32 members from Lancaster County was significant support from this chapter in manning the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans booth at the State Fair. Six hundred and thirty-three households registered during the Fair. Tabitha helped sponsor a Health Fair during two days of the Fair. Dennis also commented on the booth at Husker Harvest Days and some upcoming events at Camp Carol Joy Holling and Sheridan Lutheran Church.

The Nebraska Fraternal Congress Convention will be meeting at Camp Carol Joy Holling on Friday, November 3, 2007 from 2-7 p.m. Jan Beck expressed an interest in attending and Jeff Peterson was mentioned as a possible attendee.

Thrivent Builds Specialist: Linda Stubbendick reported the she, Julie Ferri, Reindeer Siefkes and Brent Stehlik has met to discuss fund raising ideas for Thrivent Builds. Linda presented Thrivent Builds 100 which will be a joint venture with the Financial Associates and the Board. This project may be coordinated with the Volunteer Recognition in April 2008 or with Join Hands Day in June 2008. The idea is that 100 people would raise $100 ($10 from 10 people) and work on the house one hour. On October 30, 2007 there will be s fund raising activity at Sheridan Lutheran Church involving ‘The Waffleman’. Board members were to guess the number of pieces of cereal in a container. Roger Simmons and Jan Beck tied for being the closest and will receive tickets to ‘The Waffleman’.

The second home in northwest Lincoln is nearly ready for dedication. The third home on ‘D’ Street will be a two-story home and all the permits have been approved. The Board needed to decide what action to take on the Thrivent Builds Chapter Application for 2008. The motion was made by Billie Frost and seconded by Kristy Plander that Lancaster County Chapter Thrivent Builds apply to partner with Habitat for Humanity for the building of two homes in 2008. The motion passed.

Announcement: Roger Sasse who was involved on the Lancaster County Chapter Board and Lutheran Brotherhood (before the merger) for several years is retiring as Director of Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (NLOM) in October 2007. To acknowledge his years of service on the Lancaster County Chapter Board the motion was made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Keith Plummer to give a campership in the amount of $100. to Camp Carol Joy Holling in honor of Roger Sasse’s retirement. The motion passed.

The next monthly Chapter meeting will be at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2788 Franklin Street, Lincoln NE on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

There being no further business, Phil adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.

Jan Beck, Records Director
Lancaster County Chapter