that brings youth and adults together to improve their own communities.
A benefit of the day comes through the friendships that will be made
across generations. The new partnerships will be an important first step
in brining more young people into leadership roles in many
organizations. JOIN HANDS DAY was started eight years ago as a way to
help bring visibility to who fraternal benefit societies are and what
they do. This one day is an opportunity to generate awareness about the
powerful impact we have across the nation every day through the
grassroots volunteer efforts of our members in communities big and
small.
In addition, it's designed to bring youth and adults
together to identify, plan and conduct activities that help and improve
their communities; while building lasting friendships across
generations. We encourage our service teams to partner with volunteers
from other fraternal benefit societies and strive to conduct activities
on May 6 to help bring more awareness to fraternal benefit societies and
the good they do for society.
Early to mid-February:
All congregational coordinators and all chapter presidents,
congregational service team directors, communication directors and youth
directors will receive an envelope of JOIN HANDS DAY materials that can
be provided to members interested in conducting a JOIN HANDS DAY
activity: quick-reference guide/checklist; request for funding form;
promotional items flyer; reporting form and instructions for reporting;
bulletin insert.
March 13: March 13: JOIN HANDS DAY
teleconference for all chapter leaders and congregational coordinators —
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Central time. Phone: 1-800-446-2782 (toll-free);
confirmation number: 16827669 (recording available until March 27.
Phone: 1-888-843-8996 (toll-free); passcode number: 16827669.
March 1: $1,000 JOIN
HANDS DAY seed money deposited into every chapter checking account. This
seed money can be used to purchase supplies for an activity, or to
purchase refreshments or promotional items such as T-shirts. Unused
funds will be removed from chapter checking account on Aug. 3.
April 1 to June 30:
While chapters are encouraged to conduct JOIN HANDS DAY activities on
May 7, they are allowed to conduct activities between April 1 and June
30.
May 4: Optional:
If a chapter service team would like its activity to be considered for a
national JOIN HANDS DAY Excellence Award, it also needs to pre-register
the activity at
www.joinhandsday.org by May 4. In addition, the chapter service team
must complete the JOIN HANDS DAY post-activity report, also found on
www.joinhandsday.org, by July 13.
May
5: JOIN HANDS DAY! Activities must be held on this day for
national recognition.
June 30: Last day to
conduct a Thrivent Financial-hosted JOIN HANDS DAY activity.
Aug. 1: To account for
the full use of the JOIN HANDS DAY seed money, chapters must report JOIN
HANDS DAY activities online as Locally Supported Activities by Aug. 1.
The use of Care Abounds in Communities® program funds with the JOIN
HANDS DAY seed money IS NOT permitted. JOIN HANDS DAY activities that use
JOIN HANDS DAY seed money must be reported as Locally Supported
Activities after the activities are completed. There is no need to
enter an online Request for Activity Funding as you would for a Care
Abounds in Communities activity.
Aug. 5: JOIN HANDS DAY
seed money not reported will be withdrawn from accounts.
October: National
winners announced.