CHAMPAIGN COUNTY THRIVENT CHAPTER MINUTES
PRELIMINARY NON-APPROVED MINUTES
The June 8th, 2004 meeting of the Champaign Chapter of
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was called to order at
6:30PM at Lutheran Church of Mahomet. Present: Judy,
Norm, Erwin, Paul, Bobbie, Richey, Financial Associate
Darrell Brant and Host Congregational Coordinator Dick
Vollmer. Absent: Walter, Lynette. Some members
were missing because there was a Habitat for Humanity
Steering Committee Meeting this evening as well.
It was M/S/C to add eighteen new members to our chapter.
Minutes for the previous meeting: May of 2004 were
reviewed; after minor corrections (spelling of Richey's
name, time of meeting), and review of the section on the
Emergency Services Support Team, it was M/S/C to approve
the minutes. There was discussion on requirement of 6
members working on a given project.
Minutes for the previous meetings The minutes for May of
2004 were reviewed; after minor corrections (spelling of
Richey's name, time of meeting), and review of the section
on the Emergency Services Support Team, it was M/S/C to
approve the minutes. There was discussion on
requirement of 6 members working on a given project.
Financial Report was distributed; after some discussion
(determining how much the Chicken Dinner cost us) it was
M/S/C to approve as presented. St John's Library
Project is complete; ESDA Project requested 50% funding;
because of error of entry there is some bookkeeping to get
it straightened out. Todd Hammond project -- don't
have closing information as of yet.
Ross Bendickson was seen last week; he is recuperating
and is out and about at various events. A get well
card was distributed for signatures. Lynette Renfrow
was seen by Norm recently; she's out and about but still
undergoing chemo. A card was distributed for
signatures for her.
Hours spent on chapter work: Judy 25, Richey 6, Norm
20, Darrell 14, Bobbie 24, Dick Vollmer 4, Paul 10, Erwin
2.
Chicken Dinner: Had an estimate of 210 attendees
(including workers); would have had more if it wasn't
graduation and another fundraiser being held that
day. Had the right amount of leftovers -- our
estimates on purchase of food was pretty good.
Congregational Coordinator report: Home office has a
method of sending mail to congregational coordinators that
we will make use of in the near future.
Projects:
#10: All God's Children Garage Sale -- waiting for the
event in September
#09: LSSI Barney II -- waiting for November, the completion
of the event.
#13: Thomasboro Volunteer Fire Department: Pancake
Breakfast, raise money to buy firefighting, rescue and EMS
equipment.. M/S/C to approve 50% up to $800 matching
funds.
#14: Rantoul Fire Department: Dan Culkin; in 2001 Dan was
diagnosed with a form of leukemia; in Dec of 2003 he
underwent a bone marrow transplant which was successful,
but health insurance didn't cover everything. Fire
Department is having a pork chop sandwich dinner from
4PM-7PM on June 12th. Hope to raise $8,000, would
like to receive $5,000 match. There will be alcohol
sales at the event, which raises a concern. It was
M/S/C to approve a 50% match up to $1,000 for the pork
dinner only (and free-will donations); any alcohol sales at
the event will not be covered. There was concern
about a project with alcohol, and it was stated that the
Todd Hammond benefit raised $24,000 without including it.
Daman Reifsteck from Tolono, congcoord at St Paul,
Sadorus, called Judy 3-4 weeks ago to ask about a
project. Judy covered our requirements with them, but
the application came through AFTER the project raising
$4000 had been completed. After discussions on this
and knowing the home office rules, it was necessary to
reject this request. Judy will contact him and cover
the fact that projects have to be pre-approved.
Richey helped out with the EIFB project; it was
suggested that we ask the Craigs to contact the Boy Scouts
and see if they can arrange to do a $200 project under Join
Hands day.
04: Emergency Support Services Team / 05: Kevin McAndrew
Care Kit: Final report doesn't list multiple people; only
one person with hours listed. There has to be better
handholding of people to understand how projects are
intended to be accomplished. Bobbie will attempt to
contact the two projects and get enough information to
finalize them.
03: Belarus Mission Fund Raiser: Money is passed on to
them; project completed.
12: Todd Hammond Benefit; $24,000 raised, excellent
project.
06, 07, 08: Relay for Life projects; projects not yet
finalized; Norm will ensure everything is done. This
was an excellent project; hundreds of people were there,
they had a stage and let Judy have the mic around 8:00, and
she presented the check and as she announced each team the
teams clapped for themselves, etc.
Given the success of the Chicken Dinner, it was
suggested that we have a picnic for CongCoords. We
need to ensure we have the right mix of congregational
coordinators -- ensure that we have people there that are
active and will do projects. Perhaps have a training
session at the picnic to ensure we communicate information
to them.
Habitat for Humanity Lutheran Build -- groundbreaking is
now Tuesday, June 22nd at 6:00PM. Discussion
regarding who is actually presenting the check and what the
check amount is for. Peggy from the Regional Office
will be here.
Email for media advisory's to be sent out from Peggy;
had sample forms showing what can be sent to the media to
attend our events.
It was stressed that the operating funds are to operate
our business and support the leaders. Have a year-end
dinner for the board members, have picnics for the
congregational coordinators, do events that advertise the
Thrivent name locally, etc.
Project #15: It was M/S/C to approve a chapter supported
project of 50% up to $1,000 match for fundraising for the
Habitat project through September 15th. Checks will
be mailed to our treasurer, and we will match it and
present it to Habitat.
A point from Judy -- if someone wants to have a project
but has a problem finding 6 members, they can be associate
members -- $10 a year and anyone can be an associate
member. Even board members can be associate
members. An idea was for the chapter to provide
funding for some members to become associate members.
It was felt that this wasn't an appropriate use of chapter
funds, but we should make sure people are aware of this
option.
Regional Financial Office has a $60,000 grant intended
for the two Lutheran camps -- LCMS (Camp CILCA by
Springfield) and ELCA (Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center
in Oregon). The RFO will be contacting all Thrivent
members by mail in the next month or two. They are
looking for both fundraising and volunteer time donated to
the camps. Each church in the region will be asked to
raise $400, and $100 from this $60,000 will be added to it,
the total goal is $300,000 donated to the camps.
Dick Vollmer stated that he has a list of all Thrivent
members of LCoM who have email addresses in case we ever
need to send an email to them. It was suggested that
this might be a good idea for other churches in the area.
It was M/S/C to adjourn around 8:15.
Next meeting: July 13th at St Paul in Gifford.
Aug 10th at St Paul in Sadorus. 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
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