Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has announced the Regional Chapter Response to help our friends and neighbors effected by Hurricane Ike. Thrivent Financial has designated $250,000 to help the victims of  Hurricane Ike in the Texas Region and Louisiana.

To apply for this additional funding, form a service team of a minimum of six Thrivent member households and execute a fundraiser or a hands on service activity.  A general appeal/collection is an acceptable method of raising funds.  (Example:  door collection at your congregation)  If you wish to apply for this special funding, please send your completed request form to me, David Kuhlmann, telephone 713-686-3088 or e-mail  david.kuhlmann@thrivent.com.  Local funds raised go directly to the recipient.  Also contact David if you need any forms.

The opportunity to vote is a your special privilege.   This year the Galveston County Thrivent Chapter election will be held  on November 9 from 3:30 to 5:30 at Memorial Lutheran in Texas City. Refreshments will be served.
A brief chapter board meeting will precede the election meeting.  

Candidates for the positions are listed below.
President:   MaryAnn Waldon
Vice President: Ruby Riviere
Records Director: Sheri Foltz
Finance Director:  Kathy Olson
Congregation Service Team Director: Pat Schmidt
Communications Director:  None
Assistant Financial Director: Michele Wilson
Community Service Team Director: Claudean Smith
Youth Director: None
Events Director: None

If you have a nominee that you wish nominate prior to the meeting please contact Ruby Reviere at rubyreviere@earthlink.net.  

Please come to the election meeting to vote and make your voice heard.

What a special event at the August meeting! More requests for funds than were available for Thrivent Care Abounds in Communities funds were made at the meeting.   Approved were projects to support Lutherhill Nursing Home, Houston Veteran’s Hospital, and Lutheran World Relief Quilts.  Approved also by email vote was a fund raiser for a number of local non profit groups in Texas City.  

Congratulations to all the Community Service Teams for the very worthy projects and efforts.  Begin planning now for 2009!

Four congregations have requested and used all allocated funds for the 2008 year.  Faith, Lakeside, St. John’s in Santa Fe and Zion Congregations have all held fund raisers for congregations projects.   Four other congregations have planned projects and will be utilizing all their funds.  Congratulations to all for these endeavors!

If your congregation is one of the four remaining churches that have not used their funds, you are urged to work with your Congregation Coordinators to plan a project to use them before the end of December.  Funds are not carried from one year to the next.

Each of the twelve churches in the Galveston County Chapter has three named coordinators.  If at any time a change is made in the person or persons who are to be the Congregational Coordinators, The Chapter Board should be advised, so they can approve these appointments and send the update information to the Thrivent home office.  Thanks to all who are serving in this position in their churches.  Your service is appreciated.

The most recently ratified coordinator is Joyce Ovesney from Faith Lutheran Church in Dickinson.  Welcome to Thrivent service.

Your gift to a Lutheran organization can accomplish even more through the GivingPlus® program

Are you aware that as a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, financial gifts you make to a Lutheran organization might be able to be supplemented by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans?

Through Thrivent Financial's GivingPlus® program, members can donate financial gifts to two different Lutheran organizations enrolled in the program each year, and Thrivent Financial will contribute $1 for every $2, up to $300 per year for each organization. For example, if you donate gifts of $600 or more to two eligible Lutheran organizations each, Thrivent Financial will contribute an additional $600 ($300 for each organization). In addition, Thrivent Financial will contribute an additional $25 for members who volunteer 25 hours or more at the organization receiving their gift.

All you need to do is complete a GivingPlus Member Gift form (available online or from the Lutheran organization) and submit it with your donation to the Lutheran organization. It's a very simple process.

For complete details and guidelines about this one-of-a-kind member benefit program and for copies of the Member Gift form, go to www.thrivent.com/fraternal/churchcommunity/givingplus.html.

Listed are the members of the chapter board with phone numbers and email addresses:

President: Sheryl Holland, 281-337-9072,
Email: sholland@texasairservices.com

Vice President: Ruby Reviere, 281-482-2464,
Email: rubyreviere@earthlink.net

Records Director: Claudean Smith, 409-765-5127,  
Email: claudeansmith@att.net

Financial Director:  Kathy Olson, 281-486-1682
Email: Kathy.olson@sbcglobal.net

Congregation Service Team Director: Dolores Taylor,
409-750-3402, Email: dtylr28004@yahoo.com

Assistant Financial Director:  Michele Wilson, 281-482-5519, Email: jwlsond@sbcglobal.net

Community Service Team Director: Pattye Morton, 281-480-2065,  Email: kabldg@aol.com

Internet Advisor: MaryAnn Waldon, 281-332-2775, mbwaldon@gmail.com

Financial Representative Advisor:  Jon Mientzen, 832-689-9882,  jon.meinzen@thrivent.com.

The chapter website is www.lutheransonline.com/galvestoncountychapter

Please contact any member if you have questions or concerns.