The Lancaster County Chapter Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans met on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at United Lutheran Church, 5945 Fremont Street, Lincoln, NE. President Jeff Peterson called the regular monthly chapter meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and opened with prayer. Board members in attendance included: Jeff Peterson, Shane Larsen, Kristy Plander, Tyler Frost, Judy Janssen, Sally Mertens, Vicki Onken, Roger Simmons and Harold Sutter. Others present included Margaret Simmons, advisory board member, Nathan Schmidt, Financial Representative, and two congregational coordinators from United Lutheran. Jeff thanked United Lutheran congregation for hosting the Chapter meeting and also welcomed Harold Sutter to the Chapter Board as Communications Director.

Reports

Records Director: In the absence of the Records Director, Jan Beck, the president appointed Margaret Simmons to take minutes for the February chapter meeting. The minutes of the January 27, 2009 monthly chapter meeting were distributed to the Board members prior to the meeting. The minutes were approved as printed and distributed.

Financial Director: The Chapter financial report for January was distributed to Board members prior to the meeting. Kristy Plander informed the Board that Care Abounds in Community (CAIC) funds in the amount of $17,000 have been designated for projects which leaves $45,132 remaining at this time. The Chapter Operating fund has a balance of$11,396.80 after spending $1,268.33. The report will be filed for audit.

Vice President: Shane Larson will be putting together a detailed plan for the 2010 Chapter Board Elections and asked what positions would need to be filled. The Records Director is in her fourth year on the Board and not eligible for re-election. The President, Events Director and Youth Director are serving their third one-year term and would be eligible to serve one more year. Shane will also be taking pictures at the Volunteer Recognition Breakfast on Saturday, April 25th.

Events Director: Judy Janssen reported that she had received one volunteer nomination from St. John, Crete. A reminder will be sent to coordinators on March 3rd and after March 11th she and Nila Koeneke will follow up with phone calls to the congregations that have not responded. Roger Simmons has contacted Ron Brown for the keynote speaker and has been given names of other individuals if Ron is unable to accept our request. The Volunteer Recognition Breakfast will be held at Sheridan Lutheran Church on April 25, 2009 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Congregational Service Team Director: Vicki Onken reported that the Congregational Coordinators Training sub-committee had met and discussed that in lieu on a training event we have a coordinators appreciation event with time set aside for discussion and idea swapping. The subcommittee included Kristy Plander, Sally Mertens, Vicki Onken and Jeff Peterson. Advisor Patty Stradley indicated that a coordinator’s training is not required. A coordinator appreciation event in a more relaxed atmosphere could increase the attendance. The congregational coordinators will continue to have access to the Internet, procedures manual and Board members regarding any questions about funding or other issues. Ideas for a coordinator appreciation event included a Saltdogs game with tailgating at Oak Lake Park, Habitat house building (concern regarding physical ability), Food Bank volunteering or Kids Against Hunger food packing. The Saltdogs will be having Faith and Family Nights on June 28th, July 12th and August 9th. These games are on Sunday evening starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $11.00 lower and $9.00 upper level. The Board decided to do a picnic at Oak Lake Park on Sunday, August 9th from 4-6 p.m. for Congregational Coordinators and their families. Complimentary Saltdog tickets would also be provided to the coordinators and family that evening. Other Lancaster County Chapter members and their congregations would be able to purchase tickets at a discount on a first come, first served basis.

Communications Director: Harold Sutter reported that he had met with Margaret Simmons, past Communications Director, to become familiar with his responsibilities. Financial representative, Arnette Garris, had requested that a postcard be sent to chapter members to publicize the chapter-approved fundraiser to be held at Lincoln Lutheran on Saturday, March 21st from 11:30-2 p.m. The postcard has been sent.

Youth Director: Sally Mertens reported that she is beginning to work on Join Hands Day, which will be held on Saturday, May 2nd. The subcommittee for Join Hands Day is Sally Mertens, Vicki Onken and Judy Janssen. She plans to send a letter to the Congregational Coordinators and hopes to get the participation of more people this year.

President: Jeff Peterson reported that the optional position of Internet Advisor needed to be filled as soon as possible. He reported the website hits since April 2007 and also asked if there were problems or enhancements for our gmail account. Generally it has worked well and the password will remain the same. He thanked Vicki Onken for making the arrangements to hold the monthly chapter meetings at sites where we have not met during calendar years 2007 and 2008

Community Service Team Director: Roger Simmons reported that he has received nine Care Abounds in Community (CAIC) requests since our January 27th monthly meeting. The ratio of funding for these projects will be 1:1 unless otherwise stated.

Project #09-30242-24: This project request for $600 is from a group of individuals for St. Mark Lutheran School. The event is a school play, dinner and silent auction to be held on March 20, 2009. The funds raised will be used to purchase new encyclopedias for the school. The motion made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve funding this project request up to $600. The motion passed.

Project #09-30242-25: The project request for $2,000 is from a group of individuals from St. Mark Lutheran Church doing a benefit for the Matt & Jill Kanzenbach Fund The event will be held on March 20.2009 and is a school play, dinner and silent auction. The motion was made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve funding this project request up to $2,000. The motion passed.

Project #09-30242-26: This project request for $1,600 is from a group of individuals doing Campus Ministry Trivia Night for Christ in the City Lutheran Church/CRAVE Coffeehouse. They want to raise money for Campus Ministry at Saint Louis University by holding a silent auction and a raffle. They are disciplining three students from Nebraska. The motion made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander to not fund this project request because of the raffle involved and the money would not be used in Nebraska. The motion to not fund the project request was passed.

Project #09-30242-27: This project request for $600 is from a group of individuals to raise funds for the Lutheran Student Center. Students will be selling concessions at Husker games during the month of May. The motion was made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve funding this project request up to $600. The motion passed.

Project #09-30242-28: This project request for $300 from a group of individuals for a hands-on project the Lutheran Student Center is doing at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on March 29. The student center is providing the meal, serving and spending time in worship & Bible study with prison inmates who participate at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. The motion was made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve funding this project request up to $300. The motion was passed.

Project #09-30242-29: This project request for $600 is from a group of individuals to raise funds for the Lincoln Lutheran Choir. The event is titled Spring Concert “Evening Prayer” which will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on April 19th. The motion was made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve funding this project request for up to $600 providing no funding is used to pay the director’s salary. The motion passed.

Project #09-30242-30: This project request for $600 is from the Optimist Club of Lincoln to raise funds for local Youth projects and the Optimist Youth Sports Complex. The event is titled “Salmon Feed” and will be held on March 20th. The motion made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Shane Larsen to approve funding this project request up to $600. The motion was passed.

Project #09-30242-31: This project request for $2000 is from a group of individuals to raise funds for the Harold Dittmer Family to assist in paying medical and living expenses. There will be multiple activities including soup suppers, spaghetti feeds, bake sales, etc. with all events completed by July 1st. The motion made by Roger Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander to approve funding for this project for up to $2000. The motion passed

Project #09-30242-32: This project request for $1,000 for a hands-on project requested by the Lincoln Area Financial Associates team. The project is titled ‘Learn ‘n Play’ and will be held at Lincoln Children’s Museum on May 1st (date changed after meeting). The event is targeted to all Lutheran preschools and elementary schools. The motion made by Kristy Plander and seconded by Harold Sutter to approve funding for this project for up to $1000 from CAIC funds and up to $500 additional monies from the Operating Funds. The motion passed.

Member Engagement Specialist: Patty Stradley was not present at the meeting but sent this report. The tickets to Adventureland go on sale April 1st and must by ordered by chapters or Financial Associates, not individual members. Payment for the tickets must accompany with no refunds. The tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis as 500 tickets total have been allocated for Nebraska. This is and must be promoted as a Thrivent Financial member social activity. (The consensus of the Chapter Board was that the President would get more information and ask Vicki Onken to promote the event through the Congregational Coordinators.
The Chapter Scorecard has been altered once again and the Significant Thrivent Participant (STP) requirement is being removed for chapters.

Announcements: The next Chapter Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 24th beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S. 84th Street, Lincoln.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Margaret Simmons
Recording Secretary Pro-Tem