CHAMPAIGN COUNTY THRIVENT CHAPTER MINUTES
The March 2004 meeting of the Champaign Chapter of
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was called to order at
6:40PM at St Andrew's Lutheran Church in Champaign.
Judy, Norm, Paul, Bob, Erwin, Bobbie and Rick Craig were in
attendance, along with Richey Vanderspool and Ronda Craig
(St John Champaign's Congregational Coordinator).
The visitor was welcomed and introductions were made.
It was M/S/C to add new members to our chapter. 11
Benefit Members, 1 Associate, 2 Youth for a total of 14
members were added.
Minutes for the previous meetings A packet containing
November 2003, December 2003, January 2004 and February
2004 minutes were reviewed; with minor changes to the
attendees it was M/S/C to approve the minutes as modified.
A welcome was made to the visitors at the meeting, and
thanks for the hospitality provided by them.
Financial Report --Changes from the $5277.57 reported
last meeting - $1600 was deposited for the CYM project and
$1000 Join Hands Day funds were deposited for a total of
$7827.57.
The Community Youth Ministry project reportedly
generated more income than was initially reported -- the
figure reported was $16,000; the question is can we update
the figures on the web site after the project is marked as
completed. Erwin will contact Pastor Martin and
finalize the accounting for this project and get all
paperwork in so we can distribute the $1,600 to them.
Hours Worked This Month -- A new feature starting last
month will be a report from Chapter Leaders stating how
many hours were spent on Chapter activities during the
month. This will help us report these hours. It
includes hours preparing for activities, doing duties as
Chapter Leaders, or attending Thrivent Functions. It
is very important to get hours worked reported, as Chapter
bonuses are tied to hours put in by the chapter and on
projects done by the chapter.
Reported hours this month: Judy -- 5, Bob -- 3, Norm --
10, Paul -- 1, Erwin -- 5, Bobbie -- 2, Rick -- 2
Chicken dinner -- it is to be held May 16th. LB
did this in the northern part of the county. It was a
good draw -- lots of attendees and fellowship. $200
to rent and arrange for the guys who fry the chicken.
They handle cooking, we clean. We need 10-12 adults
to work 8AM to 2PM that Sunday. Advertise through the
branch mailing -- RSVP by May 9th. Chicken, Baked
Beans, Potato Chips, Applesauce, Relishes, Corn.
Attendees bring deserts. We can do this for about
$500, purchase chicken etc. Concern is that there
won't be enough workers -- we need firm commitments from
board members to pull this off.
Congregational Coordinator Training to be done in the
1st half of 2004. Paul will arrange with the region
to come, Norm volunteered Trinity as a site,
Champaign Fire Department Engine # 15 (Mattis Ave), has
a project to send packages to troops in Iraq. Include
devotional material. They figure $100 including
postage to send packages for 4 months. Norm presented
the Grant Application that he found and customized, after
discussion it was decided to pass the grant application to
the group and have them consider it as a project using this
form.
Habitat for Humanity. Bruce Dani couldn't make the
meeting but contacted Norm. He's put in charge of a
Lutheran House in Champaign county, and will need help from
the chapter to advertise it to the Lutheran churches in the
area, and perhaps have projects during the building season
to get volunteers and donations. Thrivent Regional
has kick-started the project with a $10,000 donation for
this house. Door offerings, volunteer supply, etc.
Tim Beaulin from Boy Scout Troop 17 asked if we could
help to purchase a flag. A sample design showing
Thrivent's name was given; it was pointed out that Thrivent
might have to OK the use of their logo. $216.20 for
the flag and reletter the trailer with the Thrivent logo on
it. It's publicity in parades, the fourth of July,
etc. It was M/S/C to approve usage of operating funds
to pay for this, once logo approval is done. Rick
will talk with Thrivent to find out if there is an approval
process.
New Projects
EIFB -- Request $800 to do project. Can pay
for the boxes that the food is sorted into, or do it off of
food purchases, EIFB will provide receipts that will be
matched by the $800. It will be a work project with
several people attend. M/S/C to approve this.
Asked for $25 to provide snacks for the kids. It was
suggested that we do this as a Join Hands Day Project.
Join Hands Day -- we need to ensure that we have
projects to spend the $1000 that we have available.
We need to make sure Pastor Martin still is aware that he
can make use of Join Hands day funding. We need to
distribute packets to the churches that promote Join Hands
day projects.
It was M/S/C to add Richey L. Vanderspool to the board
as the Youth Director position. She was welcomed as a
member of the board.
Wilma Suits will pick up information from Lynette.
More discussion ensued about the criterion for the grant
application; it's been changed based on that discussion.
Advertising the available of grants to the
churches. We need to do a better job of that.
Respectfully submitted,
Norm Fisher, for
Lynette Renfrow