Four page newsletter: Galveston County Chapter Gazette - Spring 2005 Issuel| Four page newsletter: Galveston County Chapter Gazette - Spring 2005 Issuel | | |
| GALVESTON COUNTY CHAPTER GAZETTE – SPRING 2005 |
Did you know that our chapter has its own Web site? The next time you're online, check it out at www.lutheransonline.com/galvestoncountychapter. You will find the newsletters, leaders and the updated calendar. Give us some feedback, too!!
| MEET YOUR GALVESTON COUNTY CHAPTER LEADERS |
Following are the newly elected leaders for the Galveston County Chapter
President:
Garret (Cotton) Miller is now retired after 29 years with Petro-Texas and Texas Petrochemicals working as a pipe fitter and Safety Specialist. He has been married for 47 years and has three daughters, Carol, Diane, and Sharon and four grand daughters, Sarah, Meagan, Hannah and Rose. He taught firefighting and Foam application at Texas A & M for 25 years with his plant fire crews. He also serves as Council President for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Santa Fe, as Zone 2 chairman for the Lions International District 2SR, as Commissioner on the ESD board for Santa Fe Fire and Rescue. He can be contacted at 409-925-2615, cmiller17@ev1.net
Vice- President
Bjorn de Mander has seven years experience in financial analysis, reporting , and budgeting for a major medical center, where he managed the implementation of a benchmarking system for 200+ clinics and supervised two financial analysts. Previously he built pro formas, provided business plan analysis, and performed due diligence analysis for clinic acquisition projects. He holds an M. S. in Finance from University of Houston – Clear Lake, His wife, Lara, is an attorney and they have two daughters, Emma and Anna. Bjorn can be contacted at 409 986-4212, BedeMander @hotmail.com
Records Director
Dr. MaryAnn Waldon is retired after 39 years in the teaching field, 14 in Elementary School and 25 at Texas Southern University. She is a lifetime Lutheran and has been a member of Hope Lutheran for 30 years. She has served as president of two state organizations in Texas: The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Alpha State and the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. She is married and has five children , two step children and twelve grandchildren. She serves as President of the Hope Lutheran Ladies Guild, as Stephen Ministry Leader at Hope and the Prayer Circle Leader. She is presently doing consultant work in education. MaryAnn can be contacted at 281-332-2775, mbwaldon@earthlink.net
Financial Director
Paul Garrett is a retired accountant with 34 years experience with BP. He has been an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Texas City for 20 years. He services as the Chairman of the Board of Elders. He is very active in Bible Study and in the Journey Bethlehem which Peace conducts each year at Christmas time for the community. Paul is married to Dorothy and has three children, Troy, Dean and Jennifer. Paul can be reached at 281-316-1508, fourjs@hal-pc.org
Congregational Service Team Director
Jimmy Fundling is a lifetime Lutheran – baptized, confirmed and married at First Lutheran in Galveston, and is very active there in many ministries. Jimmy is a graduate of Texas A&M , and worked for forty years for American Indemnity Company as a Property & Casualty Underwriter and Officer. He retired from AIC in 2002. He and his wife have been married for 45 years, and have two grown children. Jimmy has served for two years as Assistant Financial Director for Galveston County Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Jimmy can be reached at 409-744-5023, jimmyfun@sbcglobal.net
Assistant Financial Director
Sandra Devall is a life time Lutheran, native Houstonian and retired school teacher. She is a member of Faith Lutheran in Dickinson where she serves on the council for Evangelism, serves as the Sunday School Curriculum Coordinator, and the new member coordinator. She and Bill, her husband, have six grown children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. She has a passion for single parent families and spends her volunteer time in the community towards that effort. She is a master gardener and for quiet time she reads, water colors and hugs her grandchildren. Sandra can be reached at 281-337-1260, sidevall@earthlink.net
Community Service Team Director
Carolyn Howard is a lifetime Lutheran and has been a member of Peace Lutheran Church for over 20 years. She has served in the following capacities at Peace: Sunday School Teacher, Board of Education Chairman, Youth Counselor, Choir member, Chime Choir member and Vacation Bible School superintendent and teacher. She is a widow who has 8 grand children and 4 great grand children. She served 7 years as an accounting assistant for the City of Seabrook and eleven years for Harry M. Stevens, caterers for the Houston Astrodome Suite Manager. Carolyn can be reached at 281-337-4377, csh5407@aol.com
Events Director
Janet Tessmann is the wife of Pastor David Tessmann at Peace Lutheran Church in Texas City, serving there for 8 years. She is a life-long Lutheran always looking for ways to actively serve our Lord. She has been married for 35 years and has three children, two sons and daughter. As the wife of an Army chaplain for 21 years she served in many volunteer capacities, herself, and professionally served as an Installation Volunteer coordinator for Army Community Services. Jan served 36 years as a Girl Scout Leader, and has written programs for girls. Her work experience includes managing a Thrift Shop and serving as a Family Service Officer for Army Community Service. Janet has served for two years as Vice President of Galveston County Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Janet can be reached at , 409-938-3612, jltess@aol.com
| CONGREGATION COORDINATORS SESSION |
An information session was held on Sunday, March 6, 2005 at Faith Lutheran in Dickinson from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00p.m. Coordinators and Chapter Leaders present represented eleven of the twelve congregations in the chapter. In attendance were five Financial Associates from the Clear Lake Office and Dee Terry, the Manager of Lutheran Community Services. Each shared information with the group. Seven members of the Board of Directors were also present. Three separate sessions were held including information about getting on line with Thrivent Financial, a financial information session on processing and completing forms and an information sharing session. A meal was served at the conclusion of the afternoon and door prizes were awarded.
| MEMORIAL LUTHERAN WILL BEGIN SERVICES IN NEW BUILDING ON EASTER SUNDAY |
After the devastating fire on February 9, 2004, Memorial Lutheran Church purchased property at 2021 - 29th Street in Texas City that included a small church building. This church has been renovated and the first service at that location will be on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. The Join Hands Day Activity for Galveston County Chapter in 2004 was used to assist Memorial Lutheran following this devastating fire.
| SHOW YOU CARE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY |
Show you care for your community through an exciting Thrivent Financial program called Care Abounds in Communities™. Through this program, Thrivent Financial provides funding to support members like you who want to make a difference. Accessing supplemental funds for fund-raising efforts or funds to purchase supplies for hands-on service activities is easy through our chapter leadership board. Your first step is to form a community service team—a team of volunteers that conducts an activity to help individuals, families and/or qualified not-for-profit organizations. Then you can contact our chapter leadership board for more information and help. Board members are listed at the beginning of this newsletter. Contact any member of the board for assistance.
| GALVESTON COUNTY CHAPTER BOARD WILL HONOR PASTORS AND SECRETARIES OF CONGREGATIONS IN THE CHAPTER |
Pastors and secretaries of the twelve congregations in the Galveston County Chapter will be treated to a special luncheon in late April. The date and place will be announced at a later date. This will be the 3rd annual event to show appreciation for the support that is given to the Galveston County Chapter by the churches in the county.
| LOOKING FOR SOME FUN EVENTS TO ATTEND |
Memorial Lutheran will hold a Night on the Town Game night at the Heritage Room of Nessler Center at 1700 5th Avenue North in Texas City on April 9 from 6:00 p. m. to 10:00 p.m. This is a fun night!! There will be games, raffles, door prizes, auctions, free snacks and drinks. Community participation is encouraged. Ticket prices are $20 for advanced purchase and $25 at the door. Proceeds will go to support the Texas City Day Nursery, This is a Care Abounds in Communites™ Project.
Zion Lutheran will hold their 6th Annual Island Cajun Fest on Saturday, April 23rd at 11:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. at 6910 Yucca Drive in Galveston. There will a live auction by Chuck Lawrence and live music by Bayou Roux group. Enjoy family fun with crafts, games, music, a bake sale, beer and food. Have a great Saturday with friends and family. Mark these events on your calendar now! Funds raised will be supplemented thru Care Abounds in Communities.
Many items will be available at the Memorial Lutheran Church yard sale at 410 – 10th Avenue N. on April 14, 15, 16. Shop from 9:00 a. m. to 2:00 p. m. You never know when you will find that special treasurer you have been wanting. Proceeds from this sale will be supplemented with Care in Congregations® funds and will go to the Memorial Building Fund.
| WHO ARE THE CHURCHES IN GALVESTON COUNTY CHAPTER??? |
The churches in Galveston County who are a part of the Galveston County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are as follows: Christus Victor Lutheran in League City; Faith Lutheran in Dickinson, First Lutheran in Galveston, Hope Lutheran in Friendswood, Lakeside Lutheran in League City, Memorial Lutheran in Texas City, Peace Lutheran in Texas city, St. John’s Lutheran in Santa Fe, St. John’s Lutheran in Galveston, St. Paul’s Lutheran in Galveston, Trinity Lutheran in LaMarque, and Zion Lutheran in Galveston. Each congregation receives funds which can be used at the discretion of the church under the direction of the three Congregation Coordinators for their church. The amount received by each congregation is based on the number of baptized members in the congregation. Need to know more. Contact one of the Galveston County Chapter Leaders.
Bring your ideas for JOIN HANDS DAY to the next Galveston County Board of the Directors meeting.
The purpose of JOIN HANDS DAY is to bring youth and adults together to identify, plan and conduct activities that help and improve their communities. Galveston County Chapter of Thrivent Financial engaged in a great JOIN HANDS DAY assisting Memorial Lutheran after a fire in 2004. Great things can be accomplished again this year!
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