Jefferson County WI Chapter

Four page newsletter: 3rd Quarter 2007

Four page newsletter: 3rd Quarter 2007

Jefferson County WI Chapter, Third Quarter 2007

Elections Event 2007

A heartfelt thank you; to those who came out to Turner Hall on Friday, September 21. This was Jefferson County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 2nd Annual Fish and Chicken Elections Event. The food was excellent, as was music by Sandi Webb and George “Elvis” Woldseth. Glinda Gephardt from Lane Albrecht’s Oconomowoc office put together an awesome slide show featuring many photos and page layouts from events held over the past few years.

Last year’s Jefferson County Chapter Leaders were honored for their achievement as the 2006 Wisconsin Fraternal Congress Lodge of the Year! (See separate article below.)

An extra special thank you to the following door prize donors: ISB Community Bank; Berres Brothers Coffee, Watertown; Calico Cottage, Watertown; Ebert’s Greenhouse, Ixonia; Kwik Trip, Watertown; Perkins, Watertown; Pernat’s Premium Meats, Johnson Creek; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Johnson Creek; Miller Law Office, Jefferson; B.E. Hive Salon, Jefferson; Mid-State Equipment, Watertown; Town and Country Bank; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; State Bank of Reeseville; Neuberger Law Offices, Ken and Lynn Mehringer; Jon and Shirley Nelson.

County Board members for 2008 were elected as follows:
Jon Nelson, President – 250
Duane Anderson, V. President – 251
Shirley Wiedenhoeft, Records Director – 251
Cheryl Hochmuth, Financial Director – 251
Illene Turner-Wagie, Congregational Service Team Director – 251
Lisa Kerr, Asst. Financial Director – 250
Larry Gard, Youth Director – 250
Scott Gronholz, Events Director – 251
George Neuberger, Community Service Team Director – 251

There were several write-ins for the position of Communications Director, which Lynn Mehringer will vacate as of 12/31/07. Eligible persons will be or have been contacted. Lynn is quite willing to provide website maintenance instructions to anyone interested in taking on the position. An interest in and knowledge of digital photography would be helpful but not required. The Communications Director is most helpful in getting these newsletters to the Jefferson County members approximately each quarter and special event invitations such as the elections event. Please contact Lynn or another board member if you or anyone you know might be interested in the position.

A heartfelt thank you to the outgoing board members for their years of service: Troy Milbrath - one year as Youth Director, Becky Pfeifer - two years as Records Director, and Lynn Mehringer - four years as Communications Director.

We hope to see all of you next year!

Jefferson County Chapter is "Lodge of the Year"

The Southeast Wisconsin Region issued an invitation to all 2006 and 2007 Jefferson County Chapter Board members and our spouses as their distinguished guests to enjoy a complimentary overnight celebration of our achievement as our chapter was recognized as the 2006 Wisconsin Fraternal Congress Lodge of the Year. This is a first for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Jefferson County is the first for Thrivent Financial! We were honored on Thursday, September 27th with dinner and an awards banquet with entertainment during the Wisconsin Fraternal Congress/Wisconsin Fraternal Insurance Counselors Annual Meeting at Glacier Canyon Lodge at the Wilderness, Wisconsin Dells. It was a fun evening, and we are truly honored to be chosen to receive this award. Together with a beautiful plaque commemorating the award, the Jefferson County Chapter was instructed by the Wisconsin Fraternal Congress to choose a charity for which a $250 check would be written. Past and present board members together decided Alpha Life Resource Center of Watertown would be the recipient.

Special thanks to the Southeast Wisconsin Fraternal Team for nominating us and then for all of the wonderful gifts given as a result of this achievement!

Did You Know? Care in Congregations ... by Illene Turner-Wagie

Each congregation is allotted a sum of money each year by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to use within the congregation. For 2007, program funds available for usage by the 32 Jefferson County Lutheran churches total $47,800. As of 9/21/07, $30,495 has been paid out, leaving $17,305 to be distributed. Eleven churches have used all of their allocation, but two have not used any! In the process of raising money for your churches, 5,897 volunteer hours have been spent. That's over 245 days!

If your church has money left, please use it by mid-December. Contact Illene if there is any question about what money your congregation might have left. And, of course, be sure to thank Thrivent Financial for their generosity in providing these funds for your church.

Counting Volunteer Hours

The time spent by Thrivent Financial volunteers on chapter activities is a valuable measurement of Thrivent Financials success in partnering with volunteers to help individuals, churches and communities.

Volunteer hours include all time spent by Thrivent Financial members and nonmembers:
- Planning, preparing for and working at all funded and locally supported chapter activities hosted by a Thrivent Financial chapter service team or the chapter leadership board, including travel time.
- Planning and preparing for chapter business meetings (e.g. preparing agendas, reporting, purchasing supplies).
- Attending chapter business meetings.

Your Input is Appreciated

Thrivent Financial representatives. If you know of anyone who could benefit from a career that offers Work with Purpose™, please ask your manager of Lutheran community services, Klint Knueppel at 262.695.3080 or Lane Albrecht, Regional Management Associate, at 800.559.2940 for more information about the Thrivent Financial representative career. If you prefer, you can apply, make a referral or learn more by visiting www.thrivent.com/careers on the Web. As always, your input is valued and appreciated.

Thrivent Builds With Habitat For Humanity

One of the criteria for 2007 "Chapter of Excellence" is at least four chapter leaders spending a day working at a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity site. I believe three of us have already spent some time at the Jefferson County site in Cold Spring, and the plan is for Lynn to go check it out this coming Friday, 10/19. Perhaps she'll get to meet the Executive Director, Lauren Cravens. Lauren has agreed to liason with our board as our Thrivent Builds Specialist. To volunteer at the Palmyra build for the Strege family, check out www.habitatjeffco.org.

On the World Wide Web

Check out newly added photos on our website at:
www.lutheransonline.com/jeffersoncountywichapter

Your Jefferson County Chapter Leaders

Jon Nelson, President ... nelsnfam@charter.net ... cell 920-253-8476
Duane Anderson, V. President ... juduand@charter.net ... 920-674-6007
Cheryl Hochmuth, Financial Director ... chochmuth@hotmail.com ... 920-206-0774
Lisa Kerr, Asst. Financial Director ... lisa.kerr@phci.org ... 920-699-4942
Lynn Mehringer, Communications Director ... hvacres@tds.net ... 920-699-2174
Troy Milbrath, Youth Director ... mullensicecream@hotmail.com ... 920-206-0377
George Neuberger, Community Service Team Director ... attygln@nlgslaw.com ... 920-261-1630
Becky Pfeifer, Records Director ... bepfeifer@charter.net ... 920-675-0403
Illene Turner-Wagie, Cong. Service Team Director ... ikt@ticon.net ... 920-563-7171
Events Director ... Scott Gronholz ... sgronhol@llhs.org ... 920-648-2321
Lane Albrecht, Financial Associate Advisor ... lane.albrecht@thrivent.com ... 920-675-0304

For members, by members.

This newsletter is written for you by volunteer leaders of your local Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter, and any views expressed are those of the writer. For questions, comments or to learn more about chapter activities in your area, please contact one of your chapter leaders, who are listed on our Web site at: www.thrivent.com/members. Just click on Information About My Chapter.