Four page newsletter: March-April 2007| Four page newsletter: March-April 2007 | | |
| Morris County NJ Chapter, March-April 2007 |
| 2006 A BANNER YEAR FOR COMPLETED ACTIVITIES! |
Forty two congregational activities were completed in 2006! That is 8 more than 2005 as we continue to expand our outreach to others and involve more congregations and service teams in volunteer activities. The chapter distributed $20,150 in supplemental funds for these 42 Care Abounds in Communities activities. Congregational service teams raised $33,934 and contributed hours of volunteer work to raise the funds.
Additionally, Morris County Lutheran Churches raised $52,020 to receive supplemental Thrivent funds of $22,415 for Care in Congregation activities.
We celebrate our accomplishments of 2006! Now let's raise the bar to completing at least 50 activities in 2007! Look to your Social Ministry committee in your congregation for activities that can receive Thrivent supplementary funds. Enhance every opportunity!
| IDEAS FOR CARE ABOUNDS IN COMMUNITIES ACTIVITIES |
Often when we are discussing Thrivent activities with congregational members and describe an activity that has received funding, their response is, "Oh, our church does that!"
So, we invite you to look for activities that are happening in your congregation that serve as an outreach to others and make a proposal to the Morris County Board for funding! Funds are often raised by conducting a special breakfast or dinner, car washes, tag sales, or by receiving a special collection.
"Hands On" activities are also supported by chapter funds. The chapter will pay for supplies and materials needed to complete a project. At least 6 volunteers must participate in the activity of painting, repairing, building, etc. to access funds.
Some ideas for charities that welcome your support: Morris County Habitat for Humanity; Market Street Mission; Food pantries; Morris Interfaith Builds; Lutheran World Relief; Katrina disaster rebuilding; Lutheran Home for children; Crossroads Bible Camp; prison ministries and individuals and groups that need assistance to meet needs caused by catastrophic illness or other emergency circumstances.
If you have a project in mind and wonder if it qualifies, just call one of the board membes to clarify!
Meeting dates - get your requests in for approval! April 19; May 17; June 21; July 18
| MORRIS CHAPTER SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ACTIVITIES |
Here is an update of the support that the local chapter can give to your congregation. No forms to fill out - just send the receipts, church name and name of person who is to receive the reimbursements.
* $100 - Postage expenses for supplies sent to college students, relief agencies, military
* Expenses for 2 cakes to celebrate special events such as confirmation, church anniversaires
* $ 10 for lunch for each Thrivent team member at a Morris County Habitat for Humanity work site
* Seed money to conduct an activity (such as a breakfast) with all of the proceeds going to a charity
Questions? Call us to discuss!
| JOIN HANDS DAY - MAY 5, 2007! |
Join hands, improve the community while having fun, and watch the power of volunteerism grow!
We encourage you to participate in the eighth annual JOIN HANDS DAY on Saturday, May 5, 2007. This national day of volunteering is sponsored by America's fraternal benefit societies, including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, to generate awareness about the impact of grassroots volunteerism. It encourages youth and adults to come together to identify, plan and conduct activities to improve their communities.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and our members strongly support the purpose of this special day and the impact it has on communities nationwide. Last year, youth and adult members conducted nearly 3,000 activities across the country. Our own Morris County Chapter put in work hours at Habitat for Humanity and provided the organization with tools, office equipment and funds from a local fund raising breakfast.
How can you participate in 2007? It's easy.
> Find a need
> Form a service team of individuals from six separate Thrivent Financial households, and contact David Bowles (email and phone listed above) to see how we can help you. We have many resources to help make your activity great, such as:
- A checklist that includes everything you need to know to conduct a successful activity and
receive funding from the chapter.
-Promotional items to help you recruit volunteers and publicize your activity for optimum
attendance.
- Funding to purchase lunch (limit $10 per team member-must submit receipts)
- Funding to purchase supplies to accomplish tasks at the worksite
- Seed money for a fund raising activity.
To strengthen the impact of this special day of service, we prefer chapter service teams to conduct JOIN HANDS DAY activities on or near May 5, but eligible activities may be held between April 1 and June 30. Also, activities held on May 5 may be considered for national recognition by JOIN HANDS DAY.
The Morris County Chapter is planning work days at local Habitat for Humanity sites. Also, our regional Crossroads Bible Camp is asking for help to get the camp ready for summer and providing a work day on May 5. There is much to be done! Just look for a project and call us so we can help you!
You’ll find that the rewards of participating far outweigh the time and effort involved in planning an activity. So tell your family, friends, congregation, confirmation classes, scout troops, and youth groups about this day, then "join hands" and see the power of volunteeerism grow!
Your chapter leadership board is here to help you along the way. Give a call or email David Bowles to receive additional information.
| YOUR LOCAL MORRIS COUNTY CHAPTER BOARD |
Two new members have been added to our board, but several important positions are still open. If you are interested in becoming a part of the board, please contact either Neil or David. We provide training for your position and plenty of support! This is a great way to become involved in a worthwhile volunteer activity and help is needed!
President: Neil Holtzman; (973) 659-9299 neilholt@optonline.net
Vice President: David J Bowles; (908) 852-9468 dbowles7@yahoo.com
Records Director: James C Mechtel; (973) 267-6433 jcmechtel@yahoo.com
Financial Director: Peggy S Burke; (973) 998-0725 pburke8248@aol.com
Congregational Service Team Director: Helen S Sanders; (973) 627-6203 hssanders@yahoo.com
Communications Director: Rev. John D Reynolds; (973) 537-7033 gsrandolphnj@aol.com
Assistant Financial Director: Thea Ella Lubrecht; (973) 527-4713 omamom@optonline.net
Financial Associate Advisor: Bruce A Kleindienst, ChFC, CLU; (973) 586-4517 bruce.kleindienst@thrivent.com
Community Service Team Director: Vacant
Events Director: Vacant (coordinates special events such as Join Hands Day)
Youth Director: Vacant (need an individual who will get more youth involved in volunteer activities)
| WE NOW HAVE OUR OWN WEB SITE! |
Keep up with chapter news by going to the Morris County thrivent web site. Go to www.thrivent.com; on top right of home page click on Chapter websites; then enter your zipcode and it should take you to the MC website
If you have announcements of events that you would like for us to publicize, just send an email to dbowles7@yahoo.com
Try it out!
| CELEBRATING THE BOSNIA INTERNATIONAL SERVANT TEAM |
A special event to celebrate the release of the Bosnia Team CD is planned for Sunday, April 22, 2007, from 6:15 - 8:15 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Princeton Junction - minutes off exit 8 of the NJ Turnpike. There will be a concert by Larry Olson (Dakota Road) and David Scherer (Agape). Food! Give Aways! Pictures and videos from the Bosnia Trips and lots more! BRING THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
The new CD is filled with music from Ken Medema, Agape, Larry Olsen and Christal Lankhurst of Dakota Road.
Morris Co. chapter will give support to drivers of car pools traveling to the event. Contact David Bowles for more information. For more information on Bosnia go to: www.servanttrips.org
For Members, by Members:
This newsletter was written and edited 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. To access your chapter leader contact information, go to www.thrivent.com; Members/Chapters; Information About My Chapter; View Leadership/Activities/Website; Chapter Leadership Board.
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