Four page newsletter: Pines Chapter 2003 Review| Four page newsletter: Pines Chapter 2003 Review | | |
| Pines Chapter of Thrivent Financial : A Look At 2003 |
The year 2003 was a great beginning for the Pines Chapter. It took a little while to get going in the beginning of the year but we ended up in great shape as you will see later in this newsletter. First I want to wish each of you a very Happy New Year for 2004 and want to encourage each of you to become an active member of the Pines Chapter if you have not already done so. We can really make a difference in our Communities and Congregations if we work together. It is all about volunteering our time and skills to help others. And, by the way, we end up helping ourselves in feeling good about what we can accomplish.
| Chapter Leadership Board for 2004 |
The elected Chapter Leadership Board for the Pines Chapter for 2004 are:
President: Henry Fuhrmann - henryf@pinehurst.net, 910-695-0509
V. Pres.: Clark Russell - car658@juno.com, 910-692-6249
Records Dir: Mark Hudson - (temp. personal leave)
Financial Dir.: Debbie Schumm - danddschumm@yahoo.com,
910-692-9263
Cong.Serv.Tm. Dir: Sylvia Kremer - kremer@pinehurst.net
910-235-0367
Comm. Serv. Tm. Dir.: Don Barcus - barcus@pinehurst.net
910-949-2921
Our Chapter has established a web site which will be used to list various Chapter schedules and activities. Please feel free to view this site and see what activities are planned including dates and location. The web site is:
www.lutheransonline.com/pineschapter
| Chapter Activities for 2003 |
Our chapter started the year with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans providing us with $8,350 to be used for community and other special projects. The chapter was involved in the following activities in 2003:
>> A fund raiser was held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Southern Pines to help offset seminary costs for Sandra Burroughs from Our Saviour who entered the seminary during the summer. Chapter members planned and prepared a luncheon to raise money. Members of Our Saviour donated $926 and the chapter matched this amount.
>> The Chapter worked closely with the Sandhills Food Bank in a service project to help them move to a new and bigger building. We had 68 volunteers work on this project of which 30 were Thrivent Financial members. The chapter was able to provide $3,200 to help in the cost of materials needed in the new building.
>> Each year, Our Saviour holds a bazaar to help various non-profit organizations in the community. This year, our chapter was heavily involved in this project. Approximately 200 people donated time and items to the bazaar. Thrivent Financial had 79 people involved in this effort. The bazaar took in about $10,000 and the Pines Chapter provided another $4,224. Our chapter worked with the North Blue Ridge Chapter and the South Blue Ridge Chapter who were able to provide another $2,400 each to this effort. When all was added up, this activity provided over $19,000 to the Sandhills Interfaith Hospitality Network, the Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care, Wheels to Work and Our Saviour Discretionary Fund which is used for community needs. The other Lutheran Churches in our chapter also participated in this event. It is amazing what we can do together.
>> Our Saviour also held a special fund raiser for hurricane relief and collected $673 which was sent to the Crystal Coast Chapter for distribution to relief agencies in the affected area.
As you can see, our chapter participated in and accomplished many activities. Our community was enhanced greatly by what we were able to do together. Remember that these were chapter related activities. The four Congregations in our chapter also had their own activities such as: supporting youth activities, providing new church doors and copy machines, and support of pre-school.
>> The chapter also held a "get to know each other" dinner in October. We had over 60 people attend. The purpose of the dinner was to meet other Thrivent Financial members and for the members to meet the leaders of the chapter. We had entertainment by a youth group from St. James Lutheran Church and from one of the choirs from Our Saviour. Door prizes and a token for each attendee was provided by the chapter. It was great fun and great food. We hope to make this an annual event so please give it some consideration when you see it scheduled for 2004.
The Pines Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans covers Moore, Richmond and Montgomery Counties. There are four Lutheran congregations in the chapter: St. James, Southern Pines, Our Saviour, Southern Pines, St. Paul, Pinehurst and St. Paul, Hamlet. We have over 700 members (benefit, associate and youth) in the chapter. If you have received this news letter, Thrivent Financial has assigned you to this chapter. If you attend a church other than the four listed above, you may want to consider transferring you chapter membership to the chapter that supports your congregation. To transfer your membership, please contact Thrivent Financial at 1-800-236-3736. The chapter cannot make the transfer it must be done by you, the member.
I hope that you agree that we had a very successful first year. You need to remember that it only works through you the chapter member. You are the resource that makes this a success through your participation in chapter and congregation activities. We all know people who need help in some way. Thrivent Financial is providing a way that we can help our communities, our neighbors and ourselves. Please consider participating in future activities.
If you have an idea about an activity that would fit into the concepts of the chapter or your congregation, get in touch with one of the chapter board members or with one of your Congregatioanl Coordinators. We need at least six member families involved in a project to get it going. For 2004, Thrivent Financial has increased the amount of money available to chapters and congregations and has increased the amount that can be provided to a recipient.
The chapter is always in need of people to participate on the chapter leadership board. Under Thrivent Financial, Board members can only hold an office for four years so there will always be a need for replacements. Our Board will meet at least every other month. That's only six times a year. If you can help, please contact me. I will be happy to discuss it with you.
Thanks for your hard work,
Henry Fuhrmann
President, Pines Chapter
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