Two page newsletter: Congregational Coordinator Newsletter| Two page newsletter: Congregational Coordinator Newsletter | | | | This newsletter was mailed to congregational advocates in this chapter. For more information, contact your chapter leadership board. | | |
| Central Blue Ridge NC Chapter, News for Congregational Coordinators |
Can you believe the year is half over? To help in your planning for the rest of the year, this newsletter has important information and reminders that will help you in serving your congregation and community. Because our chapter is so large it is difficult to contact each of you, but I am available if you have questions about this newsletter or your duties as a Congregational Coordinator.
Paula Lindsay
Congregational Service Team Director
828-252-3248 or lindsaypb@parceng.com.
| Every Congregation Needs a Champion - A Habitat Champion! |
Our chapter plans on applying for two Habitat grants for 2007 through the Thrivent Builds program, one for Hendersonville and one for Asheville. In order to be considered for these grants every church in the chapter must have a Habitat Champion. This person must be a Thrivent Financial member willing to inform his/her congregation about Thrivent Builds efforts in our chapter and identify service teams that will raise funds in the congregation (through a love offering or small fund raiser) and provide volunteers to support these two homes. A congregational coordinator may also serve as a Habitat Champion. The application process has begun, so these positions need to be filled soon! Please contact the chapter Thrivent Builds Specialist, Ed Hauser at 828-236-1992 or eee622@aol.com with any questions or to register your congregation's Habitat Champion.
Imagine yourself as part of a group of caring people with the opportunity to decide how best to use funding that benefits people in need and your community. Imagine being able to increase the impact that money has through community involvement, awareness, additional funds raised and the caring work of many hands.
Chapter leaders with the Central Blue Ridge NC Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans do just that with the Care Abounds in Communities® program! And with chapter leader elections just around the corner, the time to get involved is NOW! Our chapter will have several leadership opportunities for 2006. The only requirements are: being a Thrivent Financial member; a desire to help people; and five to 15 hours per month volunteer time.
We very much need you on the chapter leadership board--without a full board, our chapter will not qualify for the funding that helps people and our community. Help us take full advantage of this unique opportunity to significantly impact our community and contact one of the nominating committee listed below to find out more or add your name to the election ballot.
Linda Licht Margo Rabon Jim Wright
828-699-4443 828-697-5494 828-369-9914
If serving on the chapter leadership board does not work for you but you'd like to be involved or volunteer in some capacity, there are many other volunteer opportunities, both short-term and longer-term, available as well. Please contact us and we'll describe how you can make a difference through the Thrivent Financial chapter system in a way that fits into your schedule.
| Care Program Funding Still Available |
Many congregations have not used the Care in Congregations® funds available to them. Remember, this money can be used to benefit your congregaton with either a hands-on service project (painting the church hall, landscaping the church grounds, etc.) or by supplementing money raised at a fund raising event (Silent auction, benefit dinner, appeal/collection, etc.). The project must be approved prior to the date of your event. Approval is very easy online or by calling the national Thrivent Financial office at 1-800-847-4836 if you do not have internet access. You will also need to report that your event is completed in order to receive your funds. But remember, the deadline for applying for these funds is December 20.
In addition, there are still Care Abounds in Communities® funds available within our local chapter. If you know of an individual or organization with a need, help form a service team and apply for these funds through your chapter board.
| Remember to Submit Receipts |
Every chapter service team that receives funds through a Thrivent Financial Care in Congregations or Care Abounds in Communities program must submit a "Receipts, Funds Raised and Expenses Report" to the chapter leadership board to document all donations, income and expenses.
Immediately upon completion of the fund-raiser or hands-on service activity, the "Receipts, Funds Raised and Expenses Report," all receipts or copies of receipts should be placed in a mailing envelope and sent to the chapter's financial director, Margo Rabon, 3106 Hickory Hill Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Do NOT send Care in Congregations® fund-raising dollars in the envelope—these funds should be forwarded directly to the beneficiary congregation.
| Thank You for All You Do! |
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