September 17--Hunger Walk  Bill Siebert (828) 692-7219.  
September 25--Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Asheville-will host Buncombe Correctional Center singers-Wil Hansel 670-8975 coordinator
October 1-Arts and Crafts Fair at Mt Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hendersonville will hosts crafters to help Open Arms Daycare-Ken Etterman coordinator

We desperately need a journalist student to write articles about what we are doing in our communities and keep our web page up to date.  Board members can be as young as 16 years of age.  So do you know a high school student that loves to serve in volunteer work?  This chapter board has a computer to provide for the communications position.

Now is the time to get next year's board set in place and ready to go.  Nominate or Volunteer someone to the current board so that printing of the ballots will be complete at the time of printing (write ins are always welcomed).

Select Fraternal Programs on the blue banner menu across the top.

Select Fraternal Highlights on the left side menu.

Enter your Zip Code and press find.

Now you can select your chapter, your state or Southeastern Region for a recap of your great
accomplishments.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity are creating
the largest homebuilding and fund-raising program of its kind as our
organizations expand our relationship.

The program, which will be introduced nationally this fall, includes
four components (see below) under the theme of Thrivent Builds with
Habitat for Humanity, all designed to engage more Thrivent Financial members
in caring for others and making a significant impact in their
communities:

1. THRIVENT BUILDS HOMES through which we will sponsor the construction
of hundreds of Habitat homes every year, roughly 10 to 15 homes per
Regional Financial Office (RFO). We will fund the majority of the cost for
each home through a national grant, with continued funding raised
locally by Thrivent Financial chapters and Habitat for Humanity affiliates. This
program is about much more than money, though, as we will engage our members
and other Lutherans in volunteering at the home builds and make a
significant impact on the families for whom we build and the communities in
which we build.

2. THRIVENT BUILDS GIVING will be presented as an annual challenge to
Thrivent Financial members. We anticipate adding 50 cents to every
dollar our members donate to Habitat for Humanity through this program.

3. THRIVENT BUILDS WORLDWIDE will enable Thrivent Financial members and
others to put their faith into action by participating in short-term
mission trips during which they’ll build spiritual growth and develop
global relationships working side-by-side with local volunteers.

4. THRIVENT BUILDS NEIGHBORHOODS aims to help significantly reduce or
eliminate poverty housing in a specific neighborhood by providing
sizable grants and working with local institutions and Habitat for Humanity
affiliates.

“This effort will help build homes, one of the most important assets
for families and communities,” said Thrivent Financial President and CEO
Bruce Nicholson. “Decent housing is recognized as the most significant
financial asset that helps families into the economic mainstream and
leads to stronger communities. Our increased involvement with Habitat
signifies our desire to make an even larger impact on society by working
with Habitat to achieve its goal of eliminating substandard housing.  

“This effort will involve our many members and employees who currently
volunteer for Habitat and encourage many more to get engaged in their
communities,” Bruce said. “This effort will enable Lutherans to
demonstrate their care and concern for others and make a big difference in
society.”

SIGNIFICANT IMPACT EXPECTED
Over the coming years, Thrivent Financial with its members will be
contributing millions of dollars and many thousands of volunteer hours to
strengthen families and communities and provide decent, affordable
housing for families. We expect to:

* Contribute at least $25 million of corporate funding to supplement
funds raised by chapters and congregations.

* Build 500 homes per year in the United States, and contribute to the
construction of another 500 abroad, for a total of 1,000 homes annually
as of 2006.

* Engage 100,000 volunteers who invest a combined 500,000 hours of
volunteer time in Thrivent Builds projects every year.

* Support 100 congregational mission trips annually.

“We are ecstatic that Thrivent Financial has so dramatically increased
its relationship with us,” said Paul Leonard, chief executive officer
for Habitat for Humanity International. “For 14 years, Thrivent
Financial has joined us in our dream to change lives by building affordable
homes with families in need. This partnership brings both financial
support and volunteers to help us increase our capacity and serve even more
families. It’s a great program for both organizations.”

MORE INFORMATION COMING
You’ll hear much more about the initiative and how you can get involved
as we move toward the national introduction of Thrivent Builds this
fall. In the meantime, turn up the volume on your computer and click on
this link (http://www.thrivent.com/fraternal/builds/builds.html) to see
what the relationship between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for
Humanity could achieve.

To read more about Habitat for Humanity, visit its Web site at
http://www.habitat.org/

If you have questions, please contact the Fraternal Service Center at
1-800-236-3736 (fraternal@thrivent.com) or your Manager of Lutheran
Community Services.