WANTED: Persons with caring hearts to determine how best to distribute funds to needy people and nonprofit organizations in our community, or to help their congregation. Elections for the Arlington County Chapter Leadership Board are scheduled to take place on two Sundays in November, November 7 and November 14. Thrivent Financial for Lutheran members are needed to run for leadership positions.
CHAPTER LEADER POSITIONS: Through the Care Abounds in Communities™ program, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for members who, through volunteer activities, want to aid people and nonprofit organizations needing help in the community. The chapter leadership board is responsible for reviewing funding requests and deciding on the amount of funds to provide for each request. New people are now being sought for chapter leader positions to help continue the fraternal benefit tradition of helping others. At the beginning of 2004, Thrivent Financial appropriated $11,300 to the Arlington County Chapter for this purpose. As of September 20, approximately $7,900 has been awarded to worthy charities.
REQUIREMENTS for volunteer positions: A Thrivent Financial member, a desire to help others, and five to 12 hours per month of volunteer time.
BENEFITS: A smile on the faces of others you've helped and a good feeling in knowing you've made a difference in someone's life.
The chapter leadership board consists of Thrivent Financial members, elected by members in the chapter. The chapter leadership board is comprised of five required elected positions, five optional elected positions and a number of advisory people who are appointed by the elected leaders. The top five leadership positions listed below are elected and required in order for the chapter to operate. The other five positions are optional elected positions. Elected members serve for one year, January to December, with a maximum of four consecutive terms in any elected leadership position. If the four-consecutive-term limit is met, the member must take a two-year break before he or she can be re-elected to another board position. Descriptions of duties are:
PRESIDENT: Oversees the planning and strategic direction of the chapter leadership board; schedules and conducts regular meetings; provides direction and oversees activity level of service teams; ensures with the support of the vice president that the chapter leadership board election occurs; ensures that the annual financial audit occurs; mentors the vice president; welcomes and admits new members; installs new chapter leaders; solicits input from advisors.
VICE PRESIDENT: Provides leadership to the chapter leadership board in the absence of the president; together with or in the absence of the president undertakes the presidential responsibilities as described above; with assistance from the president, oversees the Fall elections of the chapter leadership board.
RECORDS DIRECTOR: Provides leadership to the administrative functions of the chapter leadership board; receives and processes correspondence to and from community service teams; maintains accurate and up-to-date records, planning calendars, and meeting minutes; submits necessary nonfinancial reports to the Operations Center; verifies that reporting is accurate.
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: Plays a significant role in maintaining financial records for the chapter leadership board; verifies and tracks requests from service teams for program funding; responds to service teams regarding board approval of requested project/funding; collects and retains receipts from service teams for all Care programs; verifies service team expenses and year-end financial reporting to the Operations Center; maintains financial records of income and expenses for the chapter leadership board and respective service teams; authorizes fund tranfers.
CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE TEAM DIRECTOR: Supports the congregational service teams by encouraging them to form and initiate projects that qualify for congregational program funds; plays a significant role in working to increase member engagement and growth in congregations with the chapter; monitors congregational coordinator vacancies; supports recruitment efforts to fill vacancies to assure funding occurs through Care in Congregations® programs; serves as a liaison between the chapter and congregational coordinators; trains and supports congregational coordinators; encourages congregational service teams to conduct projects to qualify for funding; provides follow-up to congregational servcice teams to assure projects are completed, funded and reported to the Operations Center; provides feedback to the chapter leadership board on the progress of congregational service teams.
ASSISTANT FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: Assists the Financial Director in maintaining financial accounting; supports financial director in all assigned duties, fills in, as necessary, when the Financial Director is absent; may seek to eventually fill the leadership position of the Financial Director.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Supports service teams and the chapter as they communicate with the congregations and communities; also acts as the liaison with the Operations Center; develops and distributes communications to service team and members; serves as backup to the vice president as legislative contact for the chapter; invites elected officials to attend chapter activities; invites public officials to attend chapter activities; and other duties as assigned.
COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM DIRECTOR: Supports community service teams by encouraging them to form and initiate activities to qualify for funding; provides follow-up to community service teams to assure activities are completed, funded and reported to the Operations Center; provides feedback to the chapter leadership board on the progress of community service teams; evaluates and monitors progress toward member engagement and growth goals via community service teams.
YOUTH DIRECTOR: Looks for opportunities to involve youth in chapter and service team activities, service-learning projects and programs at educational sites; organizes teams of youth or students to lead a project or form a community service team; make youth groups aware of opportunities to get involved in community service teams; promote Thrivent Financial programs to youth at churches; support and represent youth and their involvement at the chapter leadership board meeting.
EVENTS DIRECTOR: Determines appropriate recognition and events sponsored by the chapter leadership board; develops plans to recognize chapter leadership board members and service team volunteers; works with Manager of Lutheran Community Services to plan gatherings or recongition events; provides guidance and expertise to service teams in planning project and events; designs and sets up displays at events in cooperation with the communications director.
Well, there you have it -- descriptions of all chapter leadership board positions. If you are interested in running for any of the positions on the chapter leadership board or just have questions, please call or e-mail any chapter leadership board member listed below. They would love to hear from you.
President: Anne Kauzlarich akauzlarich@cox.net (703) 536-3486
Vice President: Tom Maxwell t.maxwell@att.net (703) 536-3842
Records Director: Sharon Brickhill brickhil@hhmi.org (703) 979-3629
Financial Director: Allan Jenson allan.jenson@ey.com (703) 250-8451
Congregational Service Team Director: Carl Hoffman choff@erols.com (703) 527-0358
Community Service Team Director: Elaine Roeseler roeseler@verizon.net (703) 533-3696
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