Allegan-Ottawa Chapter

---------------------------------------

What is a "hands on" activity anyway?

A hands-on service activity involves volunteer labor to assemble, develop or improve something for an identified recipient. Through its chapter Care programs, Thrivent Financial provides financial assistance to purchase necessary materials used in an activity in which chapter service team members provide the volunteer support (labor) to help an individual, family, congregation or qualified not-for-profit organization.

To qualify as a hands-on service activity, the activity must:

· Bring together at least six Thrivent Financial members from different households working together at the same time and place to help an individual, family, congregation or not-for-profit organization.
· Involve meaningful work that is directly related to the item(s) purchased with the funds. Meaningful work implies a reasonable commitment of time and effort.
· Have an outcome or product.

Examples of hands-on service activities include painting a church hall and constructing a wheelchair ramp.

To determine if an activity is truly a hands-on service activity, consider:

· Who is the recipient of the activity?
· What is the need of the recipient?
· What is being developed or improved for the recipient through the activity?
· What hands-on service will be performed by volunteers?
· What materials or supplies do the volunteers need to complete their activity?

What does not qualify as a hands-on service activity?

· Buying supplies to sponsor a social gathering that only provides an opportunity for a group of people to gather for friendly companionship. Social activities by themselves are not considered hands-on service activities.
· Buying supplies to be used to support fundraising activities (such as cooking supplies to make and sell baked goods at a fair).
· Paying for professional services (such as carpenter, landscaper, professional presenter) acquired by a chapter service team. The funds are not intended to pay for the work, but rather to purchase necessary supplies.

-------------------------------------------

Care Abounds in Communities Made Easy!
Here's a letter from a Thrivent member and beneficiary of the Care Abounds program:

Just as I was born a Lutheran, I am a Thrivent member. I can remember napkins and coffee cups at gatherings at church as far back as I can remember. My parents held life insurance policies on my brothers and me, which followed us once we left the house. Through the years, I’ve seen Thrivent match funds for one thing or another at church. But until I had hands on experience, I never realized the depth to Thrivent’s giving.

A friend of ours, a young husband and father of three, was diagnosed with brain cancer, glioblastoma, three years ago. While he is living a “normal” life and is considered a long-term survivor based on hitting the three-year mark, medical care and needs associated with long-term illness continue.

It was an honor to work with our friends’ family and friends to host a benefit dinner and silent auction this spring. This was done in order to help maintain the level of care he is receiving without concern of the financial side effects.

Well into the planning of this fundraiser with only a month before this event, the thought of Thrivent and supplemental funds for a community project entered my mind. I pulled up www.Thrivent.com on my computer and sure enough there was a funding program that reached beyond the Lutheran community, Care Abounds in Communities. The application process was so easy. All the information was available online. I downloaded an application, filled out the application and sent it off to Ross Kittleman, Allegan/Ottawa County Chapter’s financial director.

Approval was granted for up to $5,000 for $10,000 ($1 for $2) raised.

There were concerns from committee members who were unfamiliar with Thrivent. I spoke to Ross Kittleman. He helped me address the committee’s concerns by simplifying the process, yet meeting Thrivent’s requirements.

This is how it happened:
1. A bulletin insert was downloaded from Thrivent’s Web site, the benefit information was added, and inserts were copied and put in my Lutheran church’s bulletin the week before the event.
2. Thrivent napkins, cups and placemats supplied and donated by Thrivent were used.
3. A Thrivent banner was hung at the benefit.
4. Three easy forms and a check for $10,000 (a portion of the funds raised) were sent to the Allegan/Ottawa County Chapter.

In less than one week, a check for $15,000 was sent to the recipient!

The benefit was overwhelming with an outpouring of community support and love. Over $31,000 was raised (including Thrivent’s grant)!

The most recent MRI, taken last week, was "beautiful." And the icing on the cake is when the bills start coming in from this round of consultations, they will be able to pay them!

Thank you Allegan/Ottawa County Thrivent Chapter! You turned $10,000 into $15,000 with little effort on my part! What a blessing your gift will be for this family!

In Christ,
- Cindy Davis: Proud To Be A Thrivent Member

------------------------------------------------

We need you!!!

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 Allegan Ottawa Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans do just that with the Care Abounds in Communities® program! There is still time to get involved. Our chapter will have several leadership opportunities for 2008. The only requirements are: being a Thrivent Financial member, a desire to help people, and five to 15 hours per month volunteer time (depending on the position).

We very much need you on the chapter leadership board. Help us take full advantage of this unique opportunity to significantly impact our community and contact Ross Kittleman: (616) 842-4926, rosskitt@chartermi.net; or Dr. Frank Munden: (616) 392-8354, fmunden@sbcglobal.net today to find out more.

This year, the Allegan-Ottawa Chapter is able to fund projects with over $28,000 — but if we don't get some more folks to volunteer, we won't get any funds for 2008.

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 chapter system in a way that fits into your schedule.

-----------------------------------

You may have noticed?

During the months or September and October, you may have noticed some sort of activity at your church which talked about an election for a Thrivent Board or something like that. Well, here is the scoop!

Every year, the Allegan-Ottawa Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is required to hold an election of officers. These people serve as administrators for the distribution of chapter monies for the coming calendar year. In the past, these elections were held in a local restaurant and were very poorly attended. So the Board decided to change our election process and take the election to the members, since the members were not coming to the election! We are happy to report that this year’s election was a tremendous success!

Last year we held our election at the Whistle-Stop Restaurant in Allegan and a total of 12 votes were cast. With our change to holding individual elections in each church, we were able to gather 368 ballots. Needless to say, this change is huge. Our Board efforts gained much needed exposure in the congregations and we were able to answer many questions.

Most importantly, we gained three badly needed volunteers!

We welcome Robin White (St. John – Jenison), Mark Brooky (St. John - Grand Haven) and Myrtle Brant (Bread of Life – Hudsonville), who will be helping with our board activities in 2008.

Next year we plan to improve our election process and hopefully involve even more members. We need to get everyone excited about this opportunity to serve our Lord and each other through Thrivent!

-------------------------------------------

Board Election Results for 2008
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you - to all the congregational coordinators and Board Leaders who helped with our local annual election.

The results are in and the new Allegan Ottawa Chapter Board is:

Frank Munden – President - (616) 392-8354, fmunden@sbcglobal.net
Dave Daniels – Vice President - (616) 842-8345, onyes@i2k.com
Ross Kittleman – Financial Director - (616) 842-4926, rosskitt@chartermi.net
Robin White – Assistant Financial Director - (616) 777-0405, ktwhite@myrealbox.com
Myrtle Brant – Community Service Team Director (more information coming)
Ron Bessert – Congregational Service Team Director - (269) 673-6370, bessert2@aol.com
Gayle Clouse – Records Director- (616) 669-0677, geclouse@ameritech.net
Mark Brooky – Communications Director - (616) 847-9209, ke8fo@yahoo.com

Watch for future newsletters containing more contact information for our board members.

We wish you many blessings this Christmas and in the New Year!