The May 2004 meeting of the Champaign Chapter of
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was called to order at
6:00PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Urbana. Present:
Judy, Norm, Paul, Bobbie Richey, Bruce, Financial
Associates Darrell Brant and Rick Craig, along with Ronda
Craig (St John Champaign's Congregational
Coordinator). Absent: Walter, Lynette, Erwin.
It was M/S/C to add three new members to our chapter.
Minutes for the previous meetings The minutes for April
of 2004 were reviewed; it was M/S/C to approve the minutes.
Hours spent on chapter work: Judy 2, Richey 4, Bruce
Dani 4, Rick Craig 1, Ronda Craig 1, Norm 12, Darrell 1.
Congregational Coordinator report: Three churches have
used up all their funding; several others haven't done
anything yet. Communication with them will be done
shortly to ensure that they are on track for the year.
Projects:
Relay for Life of Champaign County -- May 22nd.
There are three teams organized in Lutheran Churches that
have applied for funding for this fundraiser. This is
a fundraiser supported by the American Cancer Society
(ACS), with individual teams "competing" to raise funds for
them. Home Office was contacted and they said it was
a good project, potentially getting a lot of publicity for
the Thrivent name. Trinity Lutheran Church in Urbana
requests $1,600 and expects to raise $3,500. St
Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana requests $1,600 and
expects to raise $4,000. Lutheran Church of Mahomet
requests $800 and expects to raise $1,600. It was
elected to consider them together, perhaps putting a cap on
the amount for this fundraiser. After discussion
regarding the process and procedure it was M/S/C to approve
the three requests. It was asked if we could provide
additional items out of operating funds -- water bottles,
T-shirts, advertising, etc. It was pointed out that
the ACS has done this for several years and had most things
covered; if we have more time next year we can perhaps look
at this with each project. Project numbers 6,7,8.
M/S/C to approve a 50% supplement up to $700 for All
God's Children Preschool Garage sale (Lutheran Church of
Mahomet) to be held on Sept 10-11 2004. Project
number 10. We funded this last year.
M/S/C to approve the Barney Foundation Fundraiser for a
50% supplement up to $1,600. Project number 9.
Join Hands Fundraisers -- Richey is looking into these
more. It was suggested perhaps to do something with
or for the Don Moyers Boys and Girls club.
Ross Bendickson is at home and recuperating. He
has been at a FA meeting a few weeks ago; his stroke has
affected him greatly.
St John Lutheran School Library has been completed.
Todd Hammond benefit: Darrell Brant brought up a family
in Gifford -- Todd Hammond -- who died recently. A
person in his early 40s died due to cancer a few weeks
ago. Has two or three kids. The church in
Flatville is doing a fundraiser for the family in two
weeks. The church didn't think to come to us
previously, but this is the type of fundraiser that we want
to be involved in. It was M/S/C that we approve a 50%
supplement up to $5,000 for this family for the fundraiser
with the expectation that Darrell will arrange to get the
forms filled out and get pre- and post-event advertising as
well as advertising at the event regarding the Thrivent
supplement. It was decided that this exception could
be made to our normal process since the project originated
in a Lutheran Church and it's going to happen in the near
future (before our next meeting). Normally we prefer
more advance notice, allowing advertising of the Thrivent
connection to the project.
The painting of the Boy Scout trailer has been
completed. (funded using operating funds pre a
previous meeting).
Emergency Services Support Team: There are issues
regarding this; it really doesn't fit into Thrivent's
concepts of a fundraiser OR a work project. Much
discussion ensued regarding what is a valid work project;
the information from CHIP states that it must bring
together at LEAST 6 households at the same time in the same
place and must include meaningful work, and there must be
an outcome or product. We M/S/C to continue the two
projects as we previously approved them, but we need to
learn from it and not approve projects like this in the
future.
Habitat: Grace is not going to participate in the
fundraising because they are going to do something for
empty tomb. The question is why don't they ask for
funding through us. We need to enhance
communications. The $10,000 funding from the regional
office and any funding provided by the chapter are
completely independent. We can indeed provide funding
for fundraisers by the habitat group. We need to
through email send out another mailing advertising the
habitat for humanities project. This mailing needs to
perhaps correct the term "team" to "committee" or something
-- perhaps the term team is scaring people off.
Advertising, advertising, advertising is needed to promote
the availability of this board to provide assistance to
Thrivent members.
Chicken Dinner -- much discussion ensued, giving out
assignments to various board members.
It was M/S/C to adjourn since the Congregational
Coordinator Training Session was to be held immediately
following this meeting.
Next meeting: June 8th at Lutheran Church of Mahomet,
July 13th at St Paul in Gifford. Any congcoords can
be met with at 6PM if they have any questions -- from any
church in the area. Any Thrivent member is welcome to
attend these meetings as well, as long as they realize that
it is a business meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Norm Fisher