Hurricane Irene left a wide path of destruction in eastern NC with 8,000 people with homes damaged or destroyed. As you have probably read, a great deal of the damage is on the southern part of the Outer Banks and along the Pamlico Sound. These homes are primary residences of people who have lived in those areas for generations and often make their living from the inlets and the ocean. The Lutheran role for many years has been to work with other denominations to meet long-term needs. We do this work through the NC Interfaith Disaster Response Committee which prioritizes and allocates funds raised to help the most serious situations. Funds collected through your church will help many people get back on their feet. Thrivent Financial will supplement these gifts up to a collective total of $3,000. Please make your checks and gifts to your church and mark NCIDRC in the memo line. Checks collected should be sent to the address below (a church can collect funds and send one check):

NCIDR
2600 West Vernon Ave.
Kinston, NC 28504

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
2. A representative form of government.

Without this election process, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans would not qualify as a tax-exempt fraternal benefit society and would not be able to provide the benefits to needy individuals, congregations and communities that it does today.