Vice President
Gregory H. Greiner
York, SC

Records Director
Jeffrey M. Chamberlain
Rock Hill, SC

Financial Director
Emil H. Fraedrich
Clover, SC

Congregational Service Team Director
Gary K. Farris
Clover, SC  

Communications Director
Mr Barry M. Brown
Gaffney, SC

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. The ideas were limited only by the imagination.

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 one of our chapter leaders 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 T-shirts, refreshments, supplies and more.

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—contact a chapter leader for details.

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.

The chapter system provides opportunities for members to "make a difference" by helping others through fund-raising or service activities. It also is an integral part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' mission and vision because it helps maximize the good that we do for others.

As chapter members, we help fulfill the "caring for others" portion of Thrivent Financial's mission: "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a faith-based membership organization called to improve the quality of life of its members, their families, and their communities by providing unparalleled solutions that focus on financial security, wellness, and caring for others."

In addition, we have the opportunity to play an important role in Thrivent Financial's vision: "Our vision is to be the organization that Lutherans, Lutheran congregations and Lutheran institutions seek first when pursuing their financial goals. More than creating financial solutions, we add the unique capability of enabling Lutherans to demonstrate their care and concern for others."

Through use of our chapter Care programs, we are able to "demonstrate care and concern for others."