The Lancaster County Chapter Board of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans met on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2788 Franklin Street, Lincoln, NE. President Jeff Peterson called the regular monthly chapter meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. and opened with prayer. Jeff thanked the members of Calvary Lutheran Church for hosting the meeting and each attendee introduced himself or herself. Board members in attendance included: Jeff Peterson, Shane Larsen, Jan Beck, Kristy Plander, Billie Frost, Judy Janssen, Keith Plummer and Margaret Simmons. Advisory Board members present included: Dennis Engelbart, Roger Simmons and Phil Wittig. Guests present included the congregation coordinators from Calvary Lutheran - Nila and Del Koeneke and Lavern Thomas.

Reports

Records Director: The minutes of the September 23rd meeting were distributed to the Board members prior to the meeting. The September minutes were presented by Jan Beck and approved as printed and distributed. The minutes from the September 23rd meeting will be posted to the website.

New Chapter Members: The motion was made by Jan Beck and seconded by Keith Plummer to admit into membership of the Lancaster County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans from September 22, 2008 through October 26, 2008 – 51 Benefit members, 5 Associate members and 7 Youth members for a total of 63 members. The motion passed.

Correspondence: Thank you notes from recent Care Abounds in Community (CAIC) projects were received from Heartland Lutheran High School

Financial Director: The Chapter financial report for October was distributed to Board members prior to the meeting. Financial Director, Kristy Plander, provided information concerning the remaining balance of Operating Funds and the Care Abounds in Community funds available through the end of the year based on previous requests. The report was filed for audit.

Event Director Report: Judy Janssen reported that 232 meals were served at the Fall Festival. Attendance was down due to four of the larger churches having a potluck and their voters meetings at the same time. Two churches were having other functions but some Thrivent members came after lunch to vote and to participate in the activities. Highlights of the event were: (1) requesting the assistance of congregational coordinators with the Fall Festival; (2) caterer was willing to try a different setup so four food lines could be provided; (3) Registration/election being handled on one side by two Board members [Jan Beck and Billie Frost] and asking members to step to another table to vote [eliminated long line waiting to register]; (4) developing new guidelines for winning Bingo prizes [recorded in Event Director’s handbook]; (5) provided more door prizes than in the past and had drawings throughout the event. Thank you notes were included with the door prizes.

Special thanks to congregational coordinators from Redeemer, Lincoln, St. John, Crete (Kramer) and Christ, Lincoln and the majority of the Board members (also some children) for helping setup for the event on Saturday. With adequate help the time involved was a little over an hour to get everything ready for Sunday. Thanks for Vicki Onken and Arnette Garris for serving as hostesses during the mealtime on Sunday and to Shirley Hunt for serving the ice cream. Thanks to Roger Simmons for serving as MC for the day and for calling the Bingo numbers along with a congregational coordinator. Thanks to Orphan Grain Train for the donation of quilts for door prizes and to Margaret for managing the door prize table. Thanks to Shane for taking pictures and for serving as the ‘floater’ to keep everything running smoothly. Thanks to Kristy Plander, Vicky Onken, Sally Mertens and the United Lutheran youth for manning the youth activities. Last but not least thanks to the Fall Event Committee members: Judy Janssen (chairman), Jan Beck, Shane Larson, Sally Mertens and Roger and Margaret Simmons.

Vice President: Shane Larson thanked everyone for all the help with names of possible nominees to the Chapter Board and the assistance with the elections.

Chapter Elections Result: Since the offices for the local chapter election were uncontested all nominees were elected to the 2009 Lancaster County Chapter Board. Terms will begin January 1, 2009 for that calendar year. There were 100 ballots cast with the individual results as follows: President-Jeff Peterson received 98 votes; Vice President-Shane Larson received 98 votes; Records Director-Jan Beck received 97 votes with one ineligible ballot; Financial Director-Kristy Plander received 99 votes; Congregational Service Team Director-Vicki Onken received 96 votes; Communications Director-Josh Norris received 97 votes with one ineligible ballot; Assistant Financial Director-Tyler Frost received 98 votes; Community Service Team Director-Keith Plummer received 96 votes with one ineligible ballot; Youth Director-Sally Mertens received 97 votes and Events Director-Judy Janssen received 98 votes with one ineligible ballot.

Communication Director: Margaret has sent a reminder postcard for the Fall Family Festival and in a separate mailing with the invitation to participate in the local election for the 2009 Chapter Board that was held at the Fall Festival on October 19. She helped purchase decorations and Bingo prizes for the Festival and set up and staffed the door prize table at the Festival. She will be sending out a newsletter soon with the election results and a second newsletter in December with the new listing of Chapter Officers and any other changes for 2009 that are known.

Youth Director: Sally Mertens reported the youth activities and expenses related to the Fall Festival. This information will also be recorded in the Events Director handbook for assistance to future Fall Event committees. Activities for youth at the Family Fall Festival included: Bounce House (11 am-3pm), Cotton Candy available during the festival, Face Painting, Pumpkin Toss, Penny Toss, Bobbing for Apples, Spider Ring Toss, Ball Toss into Maddie cutout and Bead Crafts. The youth activities were a success but Sally would like to have youth from more of the Chapter’s churches participate as helpers.

Celebrate Thrivent Event: Records Director, Jan Beck, was sent information and invitations to this Regional Event that will be held on January 23 & 24, 2009 at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln. She shared the information and provided Board members with registrations. She requested that these be completed if plan to attend prior to the Fall Chapter Retreat on November 16th. She will complete the Chapter information and forward it to Kristy Plander by November 16th. The motion was made by Margaret Simmons and seconded by Kristy Plander that the expenses for attendance at this event be paid from Chapter Operating Funds. The motion passed.

Thrivent Builds: Phil Wittig reported that the Habitat for Humanity house was moved from Sheridan Lutheran parking lot to its location on ‘X’ Street on Sunday, October 26th. Dedication of this house will be sometime in November. The house dedication for the Habitat for Humanity house located at 1833 NW 47th Street will be Saturday, November 1st at 9 a.m.

Financial Associates Reception: After some discussion the motion was made by Jan Beck and seconded by Margaret Simmons to have a reception for the Financial Associates and their families and the Chapter Board members and their families on Thursday, December 4, 2008 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The motion passed.

Care Abounds in Community (CAIC) project requests: Keith Plummer presented seven project requests for the Board’s action. The approved project requests are funded on 1:1 ratio.

Project #08-30242-72: This project request for $800 is from a group of individuals at Holy Savior Lutheran Church. The event will be held on December 11, 2008 and is titled ‘Drawn to the Light (a living Nativity) to benefit Friendship Home. The project was tabled from the September 23rd meeting due to needing clarification as to whether or not this was the same project request as Project #08-30242-64 except for a different recipient. After some discussion and clarification that it was the same project the motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve funding this project request up to $400. the motion passed. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to amend the funding for Project #08-30242-64 for Friendship Home from up to $800 to approve funding this project request up to $400. The motion passed.

Project #08-30242-73: This project request for $1000 was from a group of individuals for Lincoln Boys Choir. The project request was amended to $800 since the recipient was an organization. This event was held on October 11, 2008 and was titled ‘Waffleman/Silent Auction’. The project request had been approved via email due to the date of the event occurring prior to the October monthly chapter meeting. The motion to ratify the email vote was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve the email vote and fund the project request up to $800. The motion to ratify the earlier action passed.

Project #08-30242-74: The project request for $500 is from a group of individuals for Tabitha Meals of Wheels. The event will be held on November 15, 2008 and is titled ‘Younkers Community Day Sale’. Meals on Wheels will be the recipient of all the sales of the $5 tickets to the Younkers Community Day Sale. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve the project request for up to $500. The motion passed.

Project #08-30242-75: The project request for $2500 is from a group of individuals from Holy Saviour Lutheran Church for Sharon TenHulzen. The event was held on October 11, 2008 and was entitled ‘Husker Tailgate Party Benefit. Since this event was held prior to the meeting and supplemental funds were requested at this meeting, the Chapter Board did not approve this project request. Supplemental funds must be requested and approved prior to the date of the event.

Project #08-30242-76: The project request for $2500 is from a group of individuals from Holy Saviour Lutheran Church for Renae Mogensen (parents Joe Mogensen and Wendy Mogensen). The event was held on October 11, 2008 and was entitled ‘Husker Tailgate Party Benefit. Since this event was held prior to the meeting and supplemental funds were requested at this meeting, the Chapter Board did not approve this project request. Supplemental funds must be requested and approved prior to the date of the event.

Project #08-30242-77: This project request for $2500 is from a group of individuals at Holy Savior for the Sharon TenHulzen benefit. This event will be held on November 16, 2008 and is titled ‘Holiday Pie Sale’. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve the project request up to $1000. The motion passed.

Project #08-30242-78: This project request for $2500 is from a group of individuals at Holy Savior for the Renae Mogensen benefit. This event will be held on November 16, 2008 and is titled ‘Holiday Pie Sale’. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve the project request up to $1000. The motion passed.

Project #08-30242-79: This is a hands-on project request for up to $400 from a group of individuals on the Lancaster County Chapter Board to benefit Camp Carol Joy Holling. The event will be held as part of the Chapter Retreat on November 16, 2008 and is titled ‘Fall Retreat Hands On for Camp Carol Joy Holling. Chapter Board members and their families will do some maintenance/grounds help/work for the Camp Carol Joy Holling site. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicki Onken to approve this project request up to $400. The motion passed.

Project #08-30242-80: This project request for $800 is from a group of individuals at Messiah Lutheran School for renovated school restrooms and secure and ADA compliant to the school.. This event is scheduled to be held on November 7th and is titled ‘Trivia Night’. The motion was made by Keith Plummer and seconded by Vicky Onken to approve the project request for up to $545. The motion passed.

Director of Member Engagement Region 378: Dennis Engelbart talked briefly about the economic condition of the country. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a member-owned company versus a stock company and is not adversely affected by current economics as the stock companies are.

Announcement: The next Chapter Board event will be the Fall Chapter Board Retreat scheduled for Sunday, November 16th beginning around 1:45 p.m. at Camp Carol Joy Holling near Ashland. This is a family event and will begin with a service project for the camp. Those interested in carpooling will meet at Faith Lutheran Church at 1 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Jan Beck
Chapter Records Director