Vice President:
Earle Dunham, Joy Lutheran

Records Director:
Wanda Meadows, Joy Lutheran

Financial Director:
Jill Hendley, Holy Communion Lutheran

Congregational Service Team Director:
Pastor Carlene Carlson-Cassem, Joy

Youth Director:
Teresa Foster, Joy Lutheran

Communications Director:
Ralph Wessinger, St. John's Lutheran

Community Service Team Director:
Freddie Wilson, St. John's Lutheran

Assistant Financial Director:
Jane Clemmer, Springs of Grace

Events Director:
Faith Reitmeier, Joy Lutheran

Jan. 1, 2006     New Year’s Day.     Jan. 2 New Year’s Day observed (main offices closed).
Jan. 5 Initial 2006 chapter Care program funding available.
Jan. 5 First day to request a chapter Care program activity for 2006.
Jan. 6 Epiphany.

January     Care Abounds in Communities® program materials mailed to chapter leaders. Mailing includes 2006 funds available to the chapter for the Care Abounds in Communities® program. All five required elected chapter leaders must be on record with Thrivent Financial before this information is sent. (Chapter congregational service team directors also will receive the 2006 Care in Congregations® program materials.)

January     Care in Congregations® materials mailed to congregational coordinators. Mailing includes 2006 Care in Congregations® funds available for the congregational service team to use for its congregation. (All three required congregational coordinators must be on record with Thrivent Financial before this information is sent.)
Mid-January     2005 Chapter Summary Report year-end statement available.
Jan. 16     Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed. (Thrivent Financial bank closed.)
Feb. 28     Postmark date to return authorization page from the year-end Chapter Summary Report.
March 1     $1,000 of JOIN HANDS DAY seed money will be deposited into each chapter's checking account.
March 1     Ash Wednesday.
April 1 to June 30     Thrivent Financial chapter service teams may conduct JOIN HANDS DAY activities during this time. JOIN HANDS DAY is May 6, 2006.
April 2     Daylight-saving time begins.
April 9     Palm Sunday.
April 14     Good Friday (main offices closed except bank).
April 16     Easter.
April 23 to 29     National Volunteer Week
May 4     National Day of Prayer.
May 6     JOIN HANDS DAY.
May 14     Mother’s Day.
May 25     Ascension Day.
May 29     Memorial Day (main offices closed).
June 4     Pentecost.
June 14     Flag Day.
June 18     Father’s Day.
July 4     Independence Day holiday (main offices closed).
July 31     Due date for chapters to report online all 2006 JOIN HANDS DAY activities conducted by chapter service teams.
Sept. 1 to Nov. 30     Time period to hold chapter leader elections.
Sept. 4     Labor Day (main offices closed).
Sept. 10     Grandparents' Day.
Sept. 17     Citizenship Day.
Oct.8     Clergy Appreciation Day.
Oct. 9     Columbus Day (observed).
Oct. 28     Make A Difference Day. (Details)
Oct. 29     Daylight-savings time ends.
Oct. 31     Reformation Day.
Nov. 10     Martin Luther’s Birthday, 1483.
Nov. 11     Veterans Day.
Nov. 18     National Family Volunteer Day. (Details)
Nov. 23     Thanksgiving Day (main offices closed).
Nov. 30     Last day to hold chapter leader elections.
Dec. 3     First Sunday in Advent.
Dec. 15      The suggested last day community service teams can submit their 2006 activity requests to chapter leadership boards. A chapter leadership board may establish an earlier deadline if desired.
Dec. 20 The last day that new 2006 activity/funding requests can be made for any of the three chapter Care programs, the last day that previously approved funding amounts can be changed, and the last day that additional disbursements can be added to an existing activity. No exceptions can be made.
Dec. 21 to Jan. 7 The functionality to enter activity/funding requests online will be shut down until Jan. 8, 2007—at which time, 2007 activity/funding requests can be entered.
Dec. 24     Christmas Eve.
Dec. 25     Christmas Day (main offices closed).
Dec. 31 The desired last day to report all 2006 chapter activities online. This is the desired deadline because 2006 activities reported after Dec. 31 will not be counted for 2006 totals.
Dec. 31 Last day for recording 2006 chapter election results
Dec. 31 Last day 2006 chapter leaders can access the online reporting system.
Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve.  

Jan. 1, 2007 New Year’s Day.
Jan. 6, 2007 Epiphany.
Jan. 8, 2007 Initial 2007 chapter Care program funding available.
Jan. 8, 2007 First day to request a chapter Care program activity for 2007.

Through the exciting chapter Care program called Care Abounds in Communities Thrivent Financial provides funding to members who form community service teams to conduct fund-raising or hands-on service activities to help individuals, families and/or qualified not-for-profit organizations.

So, do you want to help, but don't know how to get started? It's as easy as ABC 1-2-3.

This online tool—located at www.thrivent.com/ABC—is available to help you translate your desire to help into an action plan for making a difference. It provides easy steps to guide you as well as ideas, checklists and tips so you can successfully form a community service team and execute an activity through your Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter.

Here's a glimpse of topics you can read about:

Getting things started
1. Identify recipient of funds or service project.
2. Form your community service team.
3. Explore your capabilities; select your activity.

Making a plan
1. Request chapter leadership board funding approval.
2. Plan activity logistics and details.
3. Get the word out.

Do it! And Celebrate!
1. Do it! Carry out your plans to help others.
2. Celebrate completion of activity and recognize your volunteers.
3. Tell us what you did. Then pay bills and provide funds to recipient.

If you have questions about forming a community service team, conducting an activity or the Care Abounds in Communities program, please contact one of our chapter leadership board members.