Volunteering can often be expressed as a life changing experience.  Our volunteers echoed that sentiment during Framing Week.  In an effort to allow all Thrivent Financial members in Ozaukee County to feel the excitement and emotions of the week, a volunteer at each level of involvement in the project was interviewed and asked to share their experience.

Neil Traxel, Thrivent Builds Ozaukee County Habitat Specialist:
"The first moment that touched me was when you signed in at the site, the homeowner was the first to greet you and say thank you.  The energy of everyone working together struck me.  It was powerful to just stop for a minute and look at what was happening around you.  I could see 20 people working together both inside and outside of the house.  I watched 10 people pick up a 400 pound stud and carry it into the house.  On one of the boards built into the house, a volunteer had written, 'God Bless this House.'"

Bob Eberhardt, Thrivent Builds Congregational Champion:
"As a congregational champion, it has been extremely exciting and rewarding to see how God's people will step up and take care of the needs of other people.  On the first day of the building blitz for Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, our congregation had six volunteers.  What a beautiful sunfilled day!  It was heartwarming to see the excitement in the volunteers but most of all the excitement in the home owner.  Even with the weather problems during the blitz week, First Immanuel had a total of 15 volunteers give time and energy to help with the building of a new home.  To God be the glory."

Leanne Hoppe, Thrivent Builds volunteer:
"I admired Habitat for Humanity for a long time but I never knew how to physically contribute until I heard about the Thrivent Builds week.  I went down with three other members of our congregation and I had such a great time!  Everybody was so nice and helpful!  They said that you didn't need any special skills to participate and they were right.  Everything was so well organized.  The boards for the walls were all measured, cut, and marked.  It was amazing what we accomplished in just a few hours.  It was so rewarding to see our house progress.  Our homeowner was there working alongside with us and it was wonderful to see how grateful and excited she was to see her house go up.  I enjoyed the experience so much that I can't wait to do it again.  I just can't say enough good things about my experience!"

Wow!  These are just three of the life-changing experiences that occurred so far through Thrivent Builds.  Thank you to everyone who gave of their time and talents.   Now . . . how can you get involved? . . .

We would like to encourage not only individual volunteers in our county to get involved, but our congregations too.  Several congregations in our county have already signed up to "sponsor a Saturday."  A congregation who "sponsors a Saturday" commits to bringing at least 10 volunteers.  They are finding that this is the way to generate excitement within the congregation by setting a specific day that members can set aside to help rather than offering the opportunity without a specific date.

If volunteering as an individual interests you or if you feel moved to organize a group within your congregation, please contact Michelle Buss at 262-377-0747 or Neil Traxel at 262-377-7223.  No experience is needed!  Youth are welcome!

Congregational Service Team Dir.          Financial Director                         Communications Director
Katherine Spitler                                      Paulette Healey                           Michelle Buss
katiebird1@gmail.com                             phealey308@aol.com                  mbuss1@wi.rr.com

Community Service Team Director          Youth Director                           Thrivent Builds Specialist
Lori Newhouse                                         Karl Roeske                               Neil Traxel
lnewhouse@fils.org                                 youth@fils.org                            ntraxel@yahoo.com

Ozaukee County Chapter meetings occur monthly at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Luther Conference Room.  Please contact a board member for the date and time if you are interested in attending the meeting.

Chapter leaders with the Ozaukee County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans do just that with the Care Abounds in Communities® program! And with chapter leader elections just around the corner, the time to get involved is NOW! Our chapter will have several leadership opportunities for 2006. The only requirements are: being a Thrivent Financial member; a desire to help people; and five to 15 hours per month volunteer time (depending on the position).

We very much need you on the chapter leadership board--without a full board, our chapter will not qualify for the funding that helps people and our community. Help us take full advantage of this unique opportunity to significantly impact our community and contact Annetta Teske at 262-365-0383 today to find out more or add your name to the election ballot.

If serving on the chapter leadership board does not work for you but you'd like to be involved or volunteer in some capacity, there are many other volunteer opportunities, both short-term and longer-term, available as well. We can help to get you involved in your congregation, on a fundraising service team eligible for supplemental funds, or through Thrivent Builds.  Please contact us and we'll describe how you can make a difference through the Thrivent Financial chapter system in a way that fits into your schedule.

A new resource is available through Member Benefits with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  The book is titled "Reach Out and Give."  This customized book helps parents teach children their values about helping others, donating to charitable causes and volunteering—from a Lutheran perspective. It also shows ways that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides opportunities to put those values into action. For children ages 4-8.

All Ozaukee County Chapter families are invited to join Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in celebrating the family.  Come and enjoy a Saturday morning together with a movie and treats.  Also, September 10th is Grandparents Day and this is a great way for the grandkids to inexpensively show their appreciation a day early.  Bring a friend - all are welcome!

QUESTIONS?  Contact Neil Traxel at 262-377-7223.

TO MAKE A RESERVATION:  Make your check to "Ozaukee County Chapter" and mail to Neil Traxel, 1599 N Port Washington Rd S9, Grafton, WI  53024.  Please include a note to indicate the family name, number of tickets, and movie choice so that proper accommodations can be made.  Please RSVP by September 1st.