Lower Columbia Chapter

Four page newsletter: Fall Activities

Four page newsletter: Fall Activities

Lower Columbia Chapter, Fall Newsletter 2011

ELECTIONS

We still need 1 candidate for a position on the board this year (Vice President.) This is a great opportunity to make a difference in your church and community. Consider serving on the Chapter Board. Talk to you church Advocate, or any Chapter Board member for more information, or visit one of our monthly board meetings. You may contact: Jon Ostrand 360-991-3584 or Bob Baldwin 360-636-4575.
Elections will be held on Sunday, October 30th after each service.

Vice President (elected, required) Responsibilities are to provide leadership to the board in the
absence of the president.
    .. Oversee planning and strategic director on the board.
    .. Provide direction and oversee the activity level of service teams.
    .. Ensure that the chapter leadership board election and the annual financial audit occur.
    .. Serve as legislative contact for the chapter.
    .. Invite elected officials to attend chapter activities, especially highly visible activities.
    .. Track and retain documented record of elected officials attendance at chapter activities.
    .. Serve as the leader of the Nominating Committee, to identify future chapter leaders.
    .. Ensure recognition of volunteer efforts.
How much time will this position require each month? about six to ten hours a month.
This position serves one year with a maximum of four consecutive terms.
Access to e-mail and the Internet highly encouraged.

There are two other positions available if anyone would like to volunteer for those. They are Events
Director and Youth Director.
All elected chapter leadership positions are considered "open positions" each year, even though
there may be some members who have not completed their four consecutive terms.
Ballots and biographies of each candidate will been given to the Lead Advocates for each Church
within our chapter and they will handle the election. If you have any questions for any of the remaining positions that are open please contact me at (360) 577-6992 or kennedygm@comcast.net.

CHAPTER BOARD OFFICERS

President: Jon Ostrand - 360-991-3584 or kaletsgo@msn.com
Vice President: Rick Loewen - 360-636-5997 or rickardyth@gmail.com
Records Director: Mary Kennedy - 360-577-6992 or kennedygm@comcast.net
Financial Director: Robert Reistroffer - 306-636-5125 or breistrof@aol.com
Director of Congregational Advocates: Bob Baldwin -360-636-4575 or baldwin@iinet.com
Community Service Team Director: Carol Thompson - 360-425-3733 or duanecarolthompson@q.com
Past President: Ivan Olson - 360-636-2181 or ivabet912@comcast.net
Website Consultant: Jim Johnston - 360-274-4626 or jejohnston1@comcast.net

CARE ABOUNDS IN COMMUNITIES

Here is a list of some of the churches and the projects they have finished:
           Emmanuel - Food Baskets - Emmanuel Lutheran Church
           Faith - Coffee Stop - Recipient - Hospice
           Gloria Dei - Coffee Stop - Recipient - Children's Justice & Advocacy Center
           Grace - Flea Market - Recipient - Emergency Support Shelter
           Grace - Coffee Hour - Recipient - Salvation Army
           Stella - Spring Champagne Brunch - Recipient - Youth and Family Link
           Trinity - Coffee Hour - Receipient - Social Ministry Outreach for local needy children

Thank you for all your hard work on these projects to help raise funds for these community needs.

I know some of you still have projects that still need to be finished or that are set for later in the
year. There is money still available for those who would like to do more projects. Get you paper work
into Bob Reistroffer and finish your project and then complete your final paperwork.

WEBSITE

If you have pictures or an article about your projects we would like you to share them with everyone
please send them to Jim Johnston at jejohston@comcast.net he does our website for our chapter.
To see things that are posted on the website go to www.lutheransonline.com/lowercolumbiachapter
and it will take you directly to our chapter website.
You can find Newsletters, Minutes, Pictures, Advocate meetings, Forms, Lower Columbia Congregations, 2011 Officers.
Thank you very much to Jim Johnston for doing the website for us.

TOY ASSEMBLY

Hard to believe just a few months away is time for Toy Assembly. We will be assembling toys at
Bethany Lutheran Church, 2900 Parkview, Drive, Longview, WA.
We ask everyone to come and help put these toys together that we give to Salvation Army for children
in our area for Christmas.
There has been a variety of toys to be put together from doll buggies, high chairs, doll houses, bikes, tricycles, wagons and so much more. It changes from year to year on what Bethany can get with their
project money but there is always bikes.
Bring your own tools. Come have fun and fellowship with other members from the other churches in our chapter.
More information will be sent out on the date and time.

THRIVENT BUILDS

Anne Anderson, the Northwest Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity coordinator, has asked if our Lower Columbia Chapter Lutheran Churches would liked to join with Habitat for Humanity in building a home in 2012. That would be our third home in six years. As in the past, we would provide fifty percent of the labor and ten percent of the construction cost. Habitat for Humanity would provide the other half of labor and 20 percent of the cost. Thrivent would provide the remaining seventy percent of the cost.
Would each of your churches like to join again in this project? We must submit the application for Thrivent Builds funds by October 3rd, 2011.
If your church is interested in working with Thrivent/Habitat for Humanity Build please let Bob Baldwin know. I can be contacted at baldwin@iinet.com or Ph.360-636-4575. Bob Baldwin
Director of Congegational Advocates

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is always looking for individuals to help with building homes in the area you
can contact them at 425-6177.

THRIVENT CHOICE

Choice Dollars: Eligible benefit members can help direct funds all year long to thousands of Lutheran nonprofit organizations like schools, camps, colleges – or even to their Lutheran congregations.

Participation is simple and easy, without any complicated forms to complete. You'll be able to direct Choice Dollars in a way that's convenient for you. Visit www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say “Thrivent Choice” for more information.

OTHER EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS

We are hoping to have another education workshop in October here is a list of some of the workshops
that Thrivent has:
       Charitable Giving: How to Make a Difference by Giving Back
       College Matters: Ways to Avoid Costly Mistakes and Discover Funding Sources
       Economy and Investment Outlook Update®
       Financial Independence. It is women's work.
       From Me to We: Working Together to Create Your Financial Future for engaged couples and
                                newlyweds.
       From We to Three
       Heart-to-Heart: As Your Parents Age
       Identity Theft: What You Need to Know
       Job Transition Strategies
       Making a Difference: Sharing your time, talents and treasures
       My Legacy Matters: Living and Planning a Meaningful Legacy
       My Life, My Plan: Creating a Life Plan Based on Your Values
       My Retirement Matters
       More Than Money Matters®
       Parents, Kids and Money Matters®
       Parents, Teens and Money Matters®
       Real Money Talk for Women
       Your Social Security Statement: Understanding Your Retirement Benefits and Opportunities
       Real Money Talk for Women delivers financial education for women of all ages.

Let us know if any of these sound interesting to you and which one you would participate in. Thank you.

For members, by members.
This newsletter was written by volunteer leaders of your local Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Chapter to keep you informed of chapter news. If you have any questions and/or comments about the content of this newsletter or would like to learn more about chapter activities being planned in your area, please contact one of your chapter leaders. Go to Thrivent.com, click on Locate a Chapter, enter your ZIP Code and click on your chapter's name.