Newberry County Chapter

Four page newsletter: Fall 2008

Four page newsletter: Fall 2008

Newberry County Chapter, Fall 2008

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Newberry County Chapter Leadership Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is to proclaim the LOVE OF GOD through the promotion of volunteerism and fundraising projects which will improve the lives of people and in doing so, the Newberry County Community becomes a better place to live.

Chapter Activities

    The summer Chapter Meeting and Meal was held at Mt. Tabor in Little Mountain on July 24, 2008. Everyone enjoyed the hamburgers, entertainment and jokes by Jerry Farmer from Saluda. Thank you to Mt. Tabor for the use of their church, church members and Thrivent staff for preparing food, setting up and cleaning up. Each person's contribution made the evening's events a success.
    One of the evening activities included Chaplain Lawrence C. Dennis and Sergeant First Class Todd Griffith from the 218th Infantry Brigade honoring Thrivent and St. Matthews Church with plaques for Join Hands Day 2007. Mrs. Tommie E. Wicker also received a special gift of inscribed marbled rock which came from the mountains of Afghanistan. Mrs. Wicker accepted the plaque on behalf of Thrivent and Ms. Wanda Ruff accepted the plaque for St. Matthews Church. Generous spirits and hard work for Join Hands Day 2007 began with a collection of over 75 boxes of personal items, candles, books and magazines which were sent to be shared among the troops.
    Upon completion of the Join Hands Day 2007, Lutherans from the Newberry County Chapter led and sponsored the collection of clothing which was airlifted by the military to Afghanistan. Churches from all over South Carolina donated clothing with Summer Memorial and Good Shepard serving as drop off points. Over 200 boxes of clothing were sent. By extending a helping hand to the Afghan people, we helped our military personnel develop friendships which contributed to their safety and helped to ensure our soldiers did not become targets. When Sergeant Griffith, also a member of St. Matthews, came home on leave for the Christmas Holidays, the congregation presented him with another large box to be shared with his fellow soldiers. Fourteen more boxes of clothing for the orphan children near Camp Phoenix were sent, 7 of those boxes collected by Paul Werts of St. Paul's Church.
    The activity which began with Join Hands Day 2007 in support of a local National Guard unit has grown to include caring Christians from all over South Carolina making a difference in the lives of suffering children who have lost their parents and supporting our troops. Thank you to Pastor Kathy Harris and Pastor Herman Yoos (who has since been elected Bishop of SC Synod) for their leadership. And thank you to South Carolina's ELCW members and everyone who lived out their Christian love in the giving of their time and energy.

Your Chapter Leadership Board

President: Jerome F. Havird, Jr. (803) 924-5387 jhavirdss@aol.com
Vice President: Melissa S. Dennis (803) 276-6092 slighinc0@bellsouth.net
Records Director: Barbara Cashion Bishop: (803) 276-8739 bishopsquare1@bellsouth.net
Financial Director: Paul G. Werts (803) 364-9345 pwerts@comcast.net
Past Financial Director: Shelby D. Felker (803) 276-8636 felker@hughes.net
Congregational Service Team Director: Michael W. Willingham (803) 364-3853 musicmaryw3@aol.com
Communications Director: Elsa Hope (803) 276-1988 rmehope@bellsouth.net
Community Service Team Director: Catherine S. Boozer (803) 364-2870
Youth Director: Tommie E, Wicker (803) 276-8106 wickerte@comcast.net
Events Director: Faye W. Hawkins (803) 364-1417 gdhawk@earthlink.net
Thrivent Builds Chapter Specialst: Melinda Long (803) 276-5924 longmelinda@hotmail.com
Special Advisor: Jacqueline L. Perry (803) 276-5378 jackieperry49@hotmail.com
Financial Associate Advisor: Jim Braswell, FIC (803) 276-2755 jimbraswell@thrivent.com

Who Wants to Help Funding for Those in Need?

WANTED: A person with a caring heart to determine how best to distribute funds to needy people and non profit organizations in our community, or to help your congregation. For details about the following volunteer opportunities with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, call Jerry Havird (803) 924-5387 or email him at jhavirdss@aol.com or Michael W. Willngham, (803) 276-3852, email: musicmaryw3@aol.com.

CONGREGATIONAL COORDINATOR position. Through the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Care in Congregations program, your church - one of 25 in the Newberry County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans-- has funds available for Thrivent Financial members to conduct activities to benefit your church and/or its ministry to the community. Three congregational coordinators are required to help administer the program and initiate funding requests for the activities.

REQUIREMENTS for volunteer positions: A Thrivent Financial member, a desire to help others, and five to 12 hours per month of volunteer time.

BENEFITS: A smile on the faces of others you've helped and a good feeling in knowing you've made a difference in someone's life.

How to Help Your Congregation

Did you know that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has a program called Care in Congregations whereby funding is provided to Thrivent Financial members to conduct fund-raising and/or hands-on service activities to benefit your congregation or its related Lutheran institutions? In fact, Thrivent Financial members are encouraged to use the funds to help the congregation in its ministry to the community.
If you see a need in your congregation that could be helped through this funding, please contact a Thrivent Financial congregational coordinator in your congregation. If you don't know who your three congregational coordinators are, please contact a member of our chapter leadership board as noted in this newsletter, and he/she will help you get in touch with a coordinator.

Steps to Follow to Apply for Care Abounds in Communities Funds

Check to see when the Newberry County Chapter of Thrivent meets because all requests are reviewed by and acted upon by the Leadership Board during scheduled meetings. Here are instructions for requesting funds:

a. Form a SERVICE TEAM (must include 6 Thrivent households) to identify, plan, and conduct the activity.

b. After the Service Team decides on an activity, contact Community Service Team Director, Mrs. Catherine Boozer (803 364-2870) or Assistant Director, Mrs. Jackie Perry (803 276-5378) for an application at least two weeks prior ro a Chapter Meeting. They will then mail you a "Request for Funding" form.

c. Complete the form and mail the form to either Catherine or Jackie serveral days before the Chapter Meeting. Mrs. Catherine Boozer's address is: 360 Holland Boozer Road, Prosperity, SC 29127 and Jackie Perry's address is: 1180 Hillbrook Lane, Newberry, SC 29108.

d. Chapter Leadership Board will review the request and act on it. Request MUST go before the Board BEFORE the activity is held.

e. Catherine or Jackie will contact you via phone with the result of the Board vote. If approved, one of these ladies will send you a #1 "Report for Funding Activities" form and a #2 "Receipts Funds Raised and Expense" Form.

f. Activity should be promoted as a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans activity as well as an activity supporting the community organization.

g. Following the activity you should complete form #1 and mail the completed form to our Records Director: Mrs. Barbara Bishop, 2457 Beaver Dam Creek Rd, Newberry, SC 29108

h. The #2 form should be completed and mailed along with a check for net funds raised (made out to Newberry County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans) to the Financial Director, Paul Werts. His address is 2539 Old Jollystreet Rd, Prosperity, SC 29127. Also, it is important to include legible copies of all deposits and expense receipts from the fund raiser.

i. After the activity request is processed by Thrivent Financial, Paul will then send your organization a check which will include the total amount of net funds raised plus supplemental funds approved by the Chapter Leadership Board.

The Board looks forward to working with you in helping and caring for others in the Spirit of God's love for all people.

Leadership Board Meeting Dates

Nov. 20, 2008 7:00 PM Summer Memorial, Newberry

Chapter Members are invited to attend meetings beginning at 7:30 PM

Proposed Chapter Gatherings for All Chapter Members

Oct. 23, 2008, Elections held and meal served at 7:00 PM at Stoney Hill Community Center
RSVP by Oct. 17 to Mrs. Faye Hawkins (803) 364-1417 or Mrs. Carolyn Torrence (803) 945-7620

PLEASE NOTE: These are proposed dates; if there is a change, you will be notified. Please RSVP by dated listed so that the proper amount of food can be prepared.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

Please Vote for Next Year's Chapter Leadership Board

As a membership organization, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is unique to the financial services world in many ways. Our members choose who will represent them on the national board of directors governing the organization as well as choose their local chapter leadership board.

The election process is a very important way for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to demonstrate two required elements of a fraternal benefit society:

1. An active, viable chapter system that involves many members and
2. A representative form of government.

    Without this election process, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans would not qualify as tax-exempt fraternal benefit society and would not be able to provide the benefits to needy individuals, congregations, and communities that it does today.
    Please exercise your right to vote in your Newberry County Chapter's Leadership Board Election which will be held October 23, 2008 at Stoney Hill. We have three Chapter Leader openings which we need to fill in order to keep the Chapter going for another year: Vice-President, Records Director, and Assistant Financial Director. All elected positions serve a one year term and members may serve in an elected leadership board position for a maximum of four consecutive terms. If you know of someone who is willing to serve on the chapter board, please let Jerry Havird know by October 17.
    Chapter Leader voting must be done in person at the Chapter Leader Election Meeting. We hope to see you there!