Four page newsletter: Summer 2009| Four page newsletter: Summer 2009 | | |
| Cape Fear River Chapter, Summer 2009 |
Many new members are needed to fill our chaper board for Care Abounds in Communities this year. The positions are for one year. Officers attend the monthly meetings and put in about 8-10 hours a month. If you are open to serving in any position and willing to be placed on the ballot please contact Vice President Howard Batts – 910-328-0522 or hbatts0522@charter.net Due to limits on time served, most of the current officers MUST step down. That makes it especially needful for you to STEP UP. Please prayerfully consider this opportunity. Thrivent members must be 16 years old, a benefit or associate member. Potential candidates must agree (verbal) to have his/her name, address, phone number and email address available on www.thrivent.com to Thrivent Financial members of the chapter and the chapter Web site on Lutherans Online (public site).
Required elected positions:
President: Provides leadership to the board.
*Vice President: Provides leadership in the absence of the president. Leads the nomination process and serves as legislative contact for the chapter.
Records Director: Maintains accurate and up-to-date records, planning calendars and meeting minutes; completes necessary nonfinancial reports. Internet required.
Financial Director: Oversees the financial activities of the chapter. Internet required.
*Congregational Service Team Director: Encourages members’ engagement through service teams in congregations.
Other positions that need filling:
*Community Service Team Director: helps with chapter-wide events in encouraging service teams from the chapter membership.
*Communications Director: provides communications with the chapter leadership and information to the community. Maintain the chapter Website.
Youth Director: coordinate churches’ youth on chapter events.
* These positions are open for leadership and must have new volunteers to fill them.
Our congregations have been working on raising funds for church projects. Thus far:
St Paul had a Super Sub sale, provided Azalea festival parking, a Palm Sunday play and a youth yard sale to raise funds for their church.
Kure Memorial is making lap quilts, held a Derby Day event to help their church projects.
St Matthew raised money providing parking for the Greek Festival.
Lutheran Church of Reconciliation held a silent auction, and a Pig Pickin to raise money for the church.
Water of Life had a yard sale and car wash.
St Peter had Supper with the Cape Fear Poet.
Messiah Lutheran held a Yard Sale.
These activities raised $18,696 and took 3,415 volunteer hours by their Thrivent folks to put together and execute the events.
Kure Memorial, St Paul and Water of Life have held events and claimed the entire amount allocated from Thrivent for Lutherans for the Congregations. The remaining congregations still have funds that they need plan for to secure the supplemental funds from Thrivent. You are encouraged to help your coordinators in any way possible.
| CHAPTER ACTIVIES for the COMMUNITY OR INDIVIDUALS |
There have been several benefits held the first half of this year to help non-profit groups outside of the church or individuals in major need. Several churches held collections of non-perishable food that was given to local Food Pantries. Toys were collected to provide Easter baskets for the needy. A Blanket Day was held to collect funds/blankets to give to homeless or refugees. One church is raising money to help a local fellowship of churches on a Habitat Project. Several groups are making prayer shawls, lap-robes or quilts for nursing home or Veteran’s nursing home facilities patients. Some of these are still in progress as they are hands-on service projects and more time is needed to complete them.
As of June 30, Care Abounds in Communities funds raised is $9,457 with 1672 hours volunteered by planners and workers. This does not include what the chapter provides in funds.
If you have a project you would like to have the chapter engage in contact your coordinators and help put it together. Funds for Community projects come from the chapter’s Care Abounds in Communities allocation of funds from Thrivent for Lutherans.
| Staying strong - Living out our mission |
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was founded to help others: financial security and caring for people in need are hallmarks of who we are. Through our chapters and other resources, Thrivent Financial members reach out and make a difference. Thanks for helping communities, congregations and people in need across the nation!
| Strength in numbers: Giving back and helping others |
During all of 2008:
Thrivent Financial provided outreach dollars of $126.2 million
Outreach funds raised and donated by members and volunteers = $183.6 million
Total outreach = $309.8 million
There are a total of 1,357 chapters in the USA
Total volunteer hours = 21.3 million
Chapter activities numbered 99,893
Members who are chapter leaders = 11,490
Homes funded and built through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity® =535
Funds donated through the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation
$18 million
At Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, we’re called to improve the quality of life of our members, their families and their communities. That’s our mission.
To achieve that mission, we need to help more Lutherans meet their financial security needs and enable them to demonstrate their care for others. We do this by adding new members and building stronger connections with current members.
The chapter leaders and congregational coordinators in our chapter system are in a unique and important role that helps to achieve this important mission. The charitable, educational and member social activities are a great way to reach out and involve more people in the organization.
Chapters are asked to host at least four educational and/or member social activities. Congregational coordinator teams are also encouraged to hold educational and member social activities. Educational and member social activities should be funded through chapter operating funds and reported as “locally supported activities.”
| Why an additional emphasis on these activities? |
Chapters do great work involving members in our organization through charitable activities, and this will continue to be their predominant focus. In addition, chapters can connect with and serve more members through member social and educational activities, which also can help to improve lives and lead to more good in the community. The more touch points we can have with members, the better.
Look for your congregation to hold an educational/social event for Thrivent. As members of the chapter, you can help put it together as well as invite non-Thrivent people to attend. We are hoping to help people become more aware of Thrivent for Lutherans as an entity and thus help them in their personal lives.
| You can make a difference as a chapter leader (mission and vision) |
Did you know that as a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, you are a part of one of nearly 1,400 groups, or chapters, of Thrivent Financial members?
The chapter system provides opportunities for members to "make a difference" by helping others through fund-raising or service activities. It also is an integral part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' mission and vision because it helps maximize the good that we do for others.
As chapter members, we help fulfill the "caring for others" portion of Thrivent Financial's mission: "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a faith-based membership organization called to improve the quality of life of its members, their families, and their communities by providing unparalleled solutions that focus on financial security, wellness, and caring for others."
Through use of our chapter Care programs, we are able to "demonstrate care and concern for others."
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