Greetings and best wishes to all of our members and supporters of your North Georgia Chapter of Thrivent Financial. As we begin the beautiful Spring and Summer seasons.  Kat Hartman, and I, Brant V. Sutphin, your Communications Director wanted this brief newsletter to make you aware of both current events, as well as ongoing Christian Outreach/Relief Efforts and Member Services available to you.

• We welcome and thank all those that attended our Identity Theft Workshop on the 14th of May. We were given a general education as to both techniques used by modern day criminals from the simplest to the more sophisticated by todays identity theft criminal, as well as practical suggestions and warning signs designed to assist in protecting yourself and your loved ones from potential financial ruin and or inconvenience in todays’ high-tech society.

Directly participate in Outreach and Relief Efforts online by designating funds through the Thrivent Choice giving program that provides two ways you can designate charitable outreach funds to your local community and beyond,

Receive information and volunteer opportunities through ThriventBuilds.com, a partnership with Habitat For Humanity to offer affordable housing to all, as well as Membership Volunteer Opportunities within your community that can be fulfilled through individual and group activities.  Also, please remember that funds are available from your Thrivent Financial Chapter for local charitable outreach activities.

To quote a recent newsletter from Kat Hartman, “If you have a ministry project that needs funding, contact any member of the board for more information.  We have two ways of providing funding:
1) If you are doing a fund-raising project, we may be able to provide supplemental funds, on a 1:3 ratio. For every three dollars you raise, we can supplement it with one. It must go to a charitable organization (501c3) but not your congregation. It can also benefit a individual or family with severe needs, such as medical care.
2) If you are doing a hands on service project---we can provide funds for supplies. If you build ramps for handicapped, paint a room for someone in need, we can help. We can even provide 50% of the funds up front! All we need are the actual receipts for the materials purchased.  Contact any of the board members for more information. There is one absolute rule: you must make application with the North Georgia Chapter board *before* the activity. We cannot help with any activities that have already taken place.
* Just remember, the funds cannot go to your congregation but to a charitable organization.
Each activity requires that six Thrivent members from different household be involved in
the project.

You can check balances, relatives gains, change contact information, and various other administrative duties conveniently and quickly.

Summer Fun Safety:  As you and your loved prepare to enjoy this Summer season, we would like to put in a quick reminder about seasonal safety.  Always remember that ANY illness or injury resulting in chest pain, loss of breath, dizziness, visual difficulties, open wounds, severe insect sting or bites and

ANY animal bite should be seen by a doctor promptly.  When in doubt, dial 911 as it may be your own life that you save.

With best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe Summer Season…
We Remain;
Respectfully,

Kat Hartman
Brandt Sutphin

President
Kathleen L Hartman
(770) 965-9759
kathar06@yahoo.com

Vice President
Mary Loretta Goebel
(706) 776-7682
goebel@windstream.net

Records Director
Kathryn Zschoche
(706) 878-3583
zschoche@hemc.net

Financial Director
Robert W Schmehling
(706) 878-3122
bobschm@windstream.net          

Director of Congregational Advocates
Shawn Ripko Hydrick
(770) 967-3658
relrip@bellsouth.net

Communications Director
Brant V Sutphin
(770) 536-3210
bvzutphen@charter.net